Vietnam 68-69

Huey taking off from fire base with troops, headed to an LZ in the jungle.

As my squad readied weapons and gear we were given final instructions by our squad leader, Sgt Dunn.  He told us that our squad would be one of the first ones to be dropped at the LZ, which the buzz was about it being “HOT”.  Sgt Dunn checked and made sure we had enough ammo, and that every man had ammo for Raines’ M-60.   He told us that we were to have our weapons at the ready and be prepared to return fire as the helicopters descended onto the LZ.  We were instructed to dismount from the helicopter quickly and move into position at the edge of the LZ to the right of any men already on the ground.  He stressed how important it was to return fire and secure the LZ as quickly as possible.  We knew we had to stay low to the ground and move to cover on perimeter of the LZ.

It wasn’t too long after we had been given our final instructions before we heard the rythmic thumping of the approaching Huey’s.  Everybody saddled up and checked their weapons one last time to make sure they were ready to “rock and roll”.  As each chopper touched down we loaded up and were airborne.  The helicopters trailed one after the other towards the LZ.  We sat in silent contemplation, myself thinking about what lay ahead for us.  The thought crossed my mind that our helicopter could get shoot down before we had a chance to unload, or maybe we would get shot up while we were still on board, or pinned down on the ground by hostile fire.  I wonder about who might get hit and hoped that one of them wasn’t me.  I looked around at my  friends as we rode high above the jungle, the cool wind buffeting us.  I could tell the were ready to go with their weapons at the ready and I some how felt better.

As we approached the LZ we were given the command to lock and load.  We readied our weapons and prepared to hit the ground running.  Our helicopter was one of the first to drop into the LZ.  I could see the ground rushing up toward us as our Huey made a quick descent into the clearing.  The clearing was big enough for a number of helicopters to drop their troops at once.  As the chopper ahead of us picked his spot to drop in our pilot picked a spot to the right rear of it.  I could see that the LZ was overgrown with brush and the wash of the helicopters blades was blowing it out and down in a circle.  I expcepted our helicopter to touch down, but the pilot stopped his descent about ten feet from the ground.  I looked down at the swirling brush and thought to myself, “There is no way I’m going to jump that far, the pilot needs to get closer to the ground.”  The I heard the door gunner yelling for us to hurry up and jump, that they wanted to get the hell out of there.  I hesitated another second or so and then with my feet on the skid I jumped to the ground.  I knew that with all the weight on my back the I needed to drop and roll.  I hit the ground and rolled over onto the right side of my pack.  Amazingly I didn’t break anything.  The rest of my squad was soon on the ground and moving to the perimeter of the clearing.

There wasn’t any enemy fire and all the helicopters made it in and out without incident.  Once we knew the area was clear we moved out toward our objective somewhere in the jungle.  Needless to say we were on high alert, wondering where the enemy could be and why they didn’t show at the LZ.

Maybe next time we won’t be so lucky.

I believe, Trautmann, Dunn, Schmitz, Crabtree, Crutts, Raines, Winder and Brown were all a part of this story.

I heard about a new soldier that shot himself in the leg shortly after being assigned to our platoon.  He was one of two guys that joined out 1st platoon.  The guy that shot himself had not even been out on patrol yet.  We didn’t know for sure if it was an accident out not, but we figured that he probably shot himself on purpose.  We figured that he had because we were all trained on how to handle weapons safely.  Recently, while talking on the phone with Alvin Dunn, our squad leader in Vietnam, he told me that he was in the barracks when the guy shot him self in the foot.  He said the guy intentionally pointed his M-16 at his foot and pulled the trigger.  Alvin said he couldn’t believe what he saw.   I don’t know if the guy faced a court martial or not.   A self inflicted wound was and still is considered a serious ofense.  I need to ask Alvin if he knows what happened to the guy the next time I talk to him.  I wonder if the guy is still alive today.  I know now that he wasn’t cut out to be a Rakkasan in the 101st Airborne.

My 1st Platoon was on patrol somewhere in the jungle west of Hue.  On the particular day, we were walking a trail on a valley floor with a fairly large river running through it.  As we came along side the river, it was decided that we needed to cross.  Our platoon leader, I think it was Lt Trautmann that chose a place to cross the river where the bank dropped straight done into the deep water.  The other side of the river was a gravel bar.  It was decide who would swim across with a rope and secure it.  Then it was decided who would get in the water to help with the mattresses, since I was six foot three, they picked me.  It was something I didn’t relish doing, but when the time came I slipped off the bank and into the cold, murky water.  My feet hit the muddy bank about four feet under the water.  My platoon members started dropping air mattress loaded with a pack to me as the men slipped into the water and took the mattress.  The mattress was attached to the rope stretched across the river.  It was taking forever for everybody to cross over to the other side.

After quite a few had crossed, Raines’ air mattress was lowered into the river and as it passed into my hands, his boots slide off the top of the pack and started floating away.  I jumped for them and started kicking to swim to them.  My legs immediately cramped up, and I mean cramped up!  The cold water had an icy grip on my legs.  I remember going under as my legs spasmed in pain.  I don’t think I made a sound as I went under.  I came back up thrashing my arms to stay above water.  My boots and fatigues were trying to pull me under.  I remember seeing someone jump in the river as I started to go under again.  The next thing I knew was that a strong arm grabbed a hold of me and pulled my head up above the water. Sgt Dunn swam me to shore as I tried to remain calm.  When Sgt Dunn got me to the bank, a couple of men grabbed my arms and hauled me up on to the bank, spitting and sputtering.  I thought I was a goner, like the  boots.  After I recovered, the rest of us crossed the river.

When I got across the river, Raines was blaming me for loosing his boots.  Sgt Dunn told him to shut up.  Everybody was saying how it was his fault for not securing his boots to his pack.  Raines had to walk in his stocking feet until we could meet up with the supply helicopter.  I don’t remember how far we hiked before Raines got his boots, but I remember thinking how lucky I was to be alive and how much gratitude I had for Sgt Dunn for saving me.  Thank you Sarge!

Seargent Dunn at fire base near A Shau Valley.

We were working on a fire base, fortifying the bunkers when this picture was taken of Sgt Dunn.  He was a great squad leader.  All of the men in his squad thought a lot of him.  I don’t remember what his first name was or where he was from.  I wished I would have kept a journal during my time in Vietnam and recorded the names of the men I knew and the places we went or saw.  Hopefully the letters I wrote home will contain helpful information.