Best Friends Carl Gann, Jim Yeldig, Bernie McGuire, Larry Lovelace, John Washington
Best Moment Meeting up with my brother, Phil, in Long Binh and spending a day with him. The night before we were to meet, our base (Bien Hoa) got hammered with some rockets and hit the ammo dump. It burned all night. That morning, I hitched a ride from Bien Hoa for the short trip over to LB and met Phil. After a big hug, he asked me where my base was. I pointed over to the column of rising smoke off in the distance and said about 1/2 mile to the South of the base of the smoke.
Worst Moment I had extended my tour in RVN by about 2 months to be eligible for the 5 month early out. With about 1 month to go we were in Company formation for morning roll call when we heard incoming. Everyone scambled for cover and I dove into the gap between the nearest hootch and its protective wall of sandbags. A few rounds hit nearby and then nothing for a minute. It appeared to be clear. We all checked ourselves and no one was hit. We headed back over to our hootch and noticed the smoking hulk of a 122 right outside. There were a couple of guys who had been inside trying to sleep after all night out on the perimeter when the attack hit. They both had minor shrapnel wounds. Then there was a commotion over in the latrine about 100 ft away. One of guys that had also been on guard that night was taking a shower when the attack occured. He hit the deck, but a large piece of shrapnel traveled about 6 inches above the ground, through the wooden wall of the latrine and took his hand off. He was my replacement and his first name was Perry. He was taken to the hospital and I never saw him again. Most likely he returned to the world and was discharged.
Chain of Command Commanding General - MG Melvin Zais Chief of Staff - COL L. L. Mowery / COL M. H. Murley Adjutant General - LTC Dale H. Hayes Asst AG - CPT R. L. Sneed / CPT Joseph A. Zmugg Chief ASD - CPT S. A. Howell
Other Memories Assigned to 101st Airborne Division - but after a week of incountry infantry training, I found that my high school skill of typing was needed in the Administration Company and I gladly took a job as a clerk and became a REMF. Still had many opportunities to hug the ground. Made several courier runs to Phu Bai, Camp Eagle, and various LZ's in I Corps via C-130, Huey, Jeep, 3/4 Ton, Deuce & a half, etc. Honorable Discharge after about 19 months of active duty as an E-5. Beautiful country - lush and green with real red dirt. Stifling heat and humidity. Rain you could set your clock to. Big BUGS.
