The team name is "Average". I can recall that day as if it was yesterday. Charging from that gate of and carrying my weight. And I can say I’m literally carrying my weight or more on my back. As a small Marine around 145 pounds and about 5 feet 7, I could move in and out of tight areas as a point. On my back is a rucksack “back pack” Is the team called it in the rucksack would have been enough C Rations for this mission but I can recall running out from time to time. I recall on one of my missions working with a team of 14 Marines we went out on a 5 day mission and we were socked in by the monsoon for 10 days or so live off the land eating bugs, yes bugs about 4 to 5 inch and small green bananas. Before we were lifted out of that zone by choppers I can recall the only thing on my mind the last few days of that mission was all the food, I was going to eat why I got back to base and no more bugs for this marine looking for a large steak or two. I recall the liquid die I was put on and the case of jungle rot to my feet. But that is another story as I’m thinking back to a summer day. In my rucksack would have been rain gear, dry socks, my weapon maintenance kit, poncho liner, my camouflage blanket. I’ll can it my blankie for my grandson, camouflage paint, first aid items, map and compass, mess kit, gasmask, a canteen or two of water, my trusty camera was all ways by my side and I’m probably forgetting something. But on to my weapons now all I can say to “Charlie” is I’m packing. Ten to twenty hand grenades, gas and colored smoke canisters, extra M60 machine gun rounds, two to four clamor mines, my knife and bayonet, M16 plus 15-20 magazines. Yes this marine why packing on all my missions. Plus I would have had a ton of C4 plastic explosives with detonator. Thinking back today on this for some apparent reason I like to blow thinks up. As my wife Linda, who I love dearly is looking over my shoulder at this time and making a coy remark like I was a young dumb kid. And I reply back as I’m thinking Hoo-ya, but all those explosives were for clearing LZ “landing zone” for the choppers to land on are extractions at the end of our missions, and the C4 was for cooking our food. I don’t think she bought in to that as I’m thinking for the record a great detent for the enemy forces. But as you can see I’m literally carrying my weight.
My steps were quick and light. I’m running point that day for a small team of brothers. They’re reconnaissance Marines out of Bravo Company. We’re on a mission to locate enemy movement and report back; it’s a 5 day mission. In enemy controlled territory and my team is on the ground.
Within minutes my eyes were fixed on movement. A small group of 4 VC or NVA with small arms packs and two radios were moving along a river 200 yards or so from me on a winding trail. The enemy moved along the trail within 50 yards or so of the team and moved off down the trail into the bush. To reach higher ground our team would have to cross the river. 1st Lt. Riley ordered Sgt. Southall "at the time a Cpl" and me to move towards the river to find a river crossing for the team. We moved out towards the river moving through elephant grass as we moved very cautiously and slowly. I recall been at point arms. The grass appeared to become shorter as we approached the river. We moved over 100 yards or so before my eyes picked up movement to the right of our position. We hit the deck! A company sized unit of enemy with Chinese was moving towards our position. Carrying RPGs this company of NVA is packing and looking for a rumble. As this unit moved on the trail and the trail was now winding around me. Out gunned on this day ten to one I’m thinking back what if one of the team would have squeeze off a round or two. What if, what if can drive a man crazy same times and what if can tear your mind apart time and time again. This Company sized unit moved within five feet or so of me at times. My eyes were fixed on them, my hands were steady. I held firmly to my M16 the Sgt is 10 feet or so to my left. The balance of the team Ssgt. Romo, 1st Lt. Riley, Pfc. Brandvold, Pfc. Coy and Pfc. Plunket is 300 to 400 feet behind me in the thick bush with the radioman Pfc. Harkins and Pfc. Horne on the M60 caliber machine gun. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Cpl. Southall trying to shift from his awkward position. I’m thinking ‘Oh No’ My life why started to flashing by me. As I’m thinking and looking back on it now, it would be like the movie “Christmas store” when Ralphie said, No more turkey, no more turkey sandwiches, no more turkey period. Thinking back now, yes I can say also no more turkey dinners with my wife, my children, grandchildren, no more turkey period. With my family would have been lost forever as I’m thinking back to that summer day. Things are about to turn worse. I’m sweating a Marine only two years out of high school and it seems like a life time ago. I was as strong as I could be. Nothing ever got to me. Until this moment of this day! I’m afraid that things are about to end for me or turn worse for all of my brothers this summer day. The Sgt, whose name I can remember, is going to reposition his leg and the enemy’s all around us. As Sgt. Southall moved his leg I could hear a twig snap. Instantly one of the North Vietnamese turns and looks at me five feet or so away. My eyes were fixed on him: my hands were steady as I gripped my weapon. This moment in time seemed like an eternity to me. His eyes those eyes seem to be searching for me. But his weapon stayed shouldered as he turned back and moved on down the winding trail. Not a shot was fired.
As this Company sized unit of North Vietnamese moved past me and there why picking on this day. One by one there past by me that day, one by one time seem like it stopped that summer day. Yes time stopped for me. It seems like yesterday for this proud recon Marine. The enemy moved past me with packs on their backs. I could almost make out the serial numbers on their RPGs as the enemy past by me. With their weapons shouldered, carrying heavy arms and equipment. Yes the enemy passed the team by that day, moved off into the bush and not a shot was fired this time. The Sgt and I resumed our position and moved towards the river to look for a crossing for the team. We located one and returned to our brothers with painter faces. I’m running point toward the river. My steps now are quicker and lighter. Towards the river through the elephant grass we all cross that river on this day. We all moved to higher ground. What a somber place it seems to be. 1st Lt. Riley and our radio operator Pfc. Harkins, called for artillery.
Elephant Valley March 15th, 1969
As the artillery rained down on the other side of the river as my mind wandered back to that, twig snapping and that North Vietnamese turns and looks at me. This moment in time seemed like an eternity to me. His eyes those eyes seem to be searching for me. As I’m thinking of this day with my grandson this summer day, today as a rare moment in time my grandson “Jake” what a miracle he is a living breathing miracle. He is only three years old but as smart as a whip. So picture this day one of the first days of summer ‘08 the two of us, we’re picnicking on the St. Croix river out of Stillwater, Minnesota the weather is perfect and I mean perfect. Not a bug in sight 70 degrees out a light breeze and not a cloud in the sky. Except for a boat or two on the river we seemed to be alone on the planet. Enjoy each others company that day. Just minutes before we were at teddy bear park one of “Jake” favorite parks. His mine is going a million miles a minute. Grandpa what that, what that grandpa and I’m living every minute of this day and at the some time thinking back to that one rare moment in time and this moment in time with my grandson two summer days worlds apart as my mine wondered back to the perfect day on the St. Croix river with my grandson. I’m having the time of my life this day and so is Jake and I hope to have many more days like this one. Thanks my brother’s of the bush not a shot was fired that summer day forty years ago, not a shot was fired. As the artillery continued rained down on the enemy on the other side of the river in ’69, why is this day constantly on my mind. I seem to be reliving this day over and over like that movie “Ground Hog Day” but this day didn’t have is a funny litter ground hog and Bill Murray is not in it. Like Ground Hog Day I’m living this one over and over and over it seems to never end for me. Maybe I’m missing seem thin maybe until I can get that day right in my mine maybe. As I think back to a time in ’68 on one of my earlier missions. Fairly new in Vietnam at the time on a OP “observation post” in Happy Valley on Ba Na I think of my good friend Jonsey and I had the watch that night “guard duty” it was the 1st or 2nd night on the OP the fog started to sock the hill in. Jonsey and I set in for a miserable night on the mountain top. Like two rookies we jumping to any noise we heard that night. We lobby grenades all night it seemed. Yes lobbying grenades all night I’m estimating we lobbed over 50 grenades that night thinking the enemy was trying to over run our position. It turned out to be only Rock Apes and yes not an Ape was hurt that night. But the team with us I believe lost their sleep that night. But I had a friend for life that night. Jonsey and I have stayed in contact for the past forty years now.
As I’m thinking I have thought a lot about this summer day. My wife who puts up with me, been told bits and pieces from time to time. She is my anchor in life “my world” my children are all grown now and my seven grand children who I love.
I believe they have no clue of this summer day.
And why it would still be on my mind.
The team "Average" moved out that day in March of '69. All my brothers moved out! Our steps were quick and light I’m proud to say. And to the team I’ll say thanks my brothers not a shot was fired on that summer day. Not one shot was fired on this lucky summer day.
We called for an emergency extraction on the 2nd or 3rd day of that mission. But that is another story for this Marine.
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