Poco,
The stories of Southeast Asia and especially the Viet Nam War---makes chills run up my spine every time I think back to that time. I was talking with one of my friends, just a few minutes ago--he graduated from Texas A&M and therefore had to serve in the military --Viet Nam! We were talking about the 50 caliber machine guns and that being our weapon of choice. My friend Jack, a fresh LT hit Dang and before he was sent to his remote duty station--he came under fire from the VCong. Many times at night he would literally be blown out of his bunk by incoming mortar round. We found how sad it has been in recent weeks where macho guys are parading around state capital carrying military grade equipment and arms. Wanting to destroy our political system for a bone spur president who wouldn't know the butt end of an M-16 from the barrel. I will never forget--going through basic training at FT. Benning, during one of the training sessions we had our bayonet attached and we were firing live rounds with our M-16s and we advanced to the end of the obstacle course where tthey had a truck ready to haul us out of the area--before the next group starting through the course firing live ammo. By the time you made it through the course on average you would unload several clips of ammo--so the M-16 barrel was as they say--Hotter than a Firecracker. So when you hit the end of the course you had to make a beeline for the waiting truck--trying to get your bayonet off before you jumped into the truck. Well guess what will happen if you are trying to get a bayonet detached from a M-16 while running full speed--you grab a hot gun barrel where it will burn the hell out of your hand. Our E-5 platoon SGT, was watching me--he had severe in the Korea War--he would make it up to an E-7, but the horrors he suffered in Korea---he had a drinking problem and he got busted back down--but in respect they never tried busting him out of the military--he had about 20 years service--anyway as I'm climbing into the truck and withering in pain he looks at me and said "Damn Radley--I'm a five grade graduate and you are a college graduate and I've got more sense than to grab a red hot M-16 gun barrel. He was a great guy and liked me--but he sure knew how to hurt my pride and ego."
My final point--we, the United States did not fight a Viet Name War --we fought a Southeast Asia War--that includes Cambodia and Laos. I had high school friend who was in the second year of law school at the University of Alabama, he was married and his wife was expecting their first child--his draft number was called--and he didn't have to join the military--he could have secured a deferment for a host of reason. But with in a little over six months--he was through officer's school and leading a platoon of US soldiers into battle---NOT in Viet Damn Nam. Morgan died on the battle field in Laos, Another platoon ahead of his platoon was coming under heavy fire--running low on ammo and grenades, etc. The call came in for reinforcement of their needs--Morgan being an officer it wasn't his job to lug ammo to another platoon--but he DID. Sadly, his daughter was born about two weeks later--Morgan never got to see his daughter. I HATE WAR and those who lust for more wars to show their manhood!
Just for clarification--I never fought on a real battlefield---but I wore the uniform of our military! |
