Last entry: June 9, 2004

Oct. 18, 1968 - Camp Evans, Vietnam
Slept late, didn't eat breakfast. Sat around half the day looking at a f_ _ _ book. Went to beer hall, drank beer & played poker. Won $4.00, was up $18.00. I plan on seeing a movie in the mess hall tonight, hope it's a good one. I love my wife so much my heart hurts sometimes, like right now! Why are there wars to take men away from the ones they love? I don't understand.

Dec. 9, 2002 - The World
After digging around in my closet, I found my diary from Vietnam. Starting today, I will post one entry per week (if I don't forget), starting with 18 Oct. 68. If you guys read this, you will know why I've never written any kind of book. Please don't make fun of my diary, you might hurt my feelings, and you guys know how sensitive I am. LOL. Well, anyway, here goes.

Oct. 19, 1968 - Foot Hills off Highway 1, Camp Evans, Vietnam
Got up at 7:00 this morning and ate breakfast, then went and took a crap. I feel better. At 10:00 this morning, we will have an air assault on a village, I hope there isn't any VC there. Maybe I can write some more this evening.

Dec. 22, 2002 - The World
There weren't any VC there, just a lot of hungry looking people. The women looked awfully bad. Went on a goat, or that is we took a goat out about a thousand meters. We were fired on by someone. We didn't fire back, because we couldn't find anyone to shoot at. We made it back to our FOB all right.

Ahhh, the foot hills, and the sands, what a lovely place to spend a few days. I never got the pleasure of working in the sands, thank God, but I did get to walk around in the hills for a few days. Seems to me that we were wet a lot. I thought it was a nasty place, but I didn't know what was coming, but was going to find out soon.

Oct. 20, 1968 - The Bridges on Highway 1, North of Hue, Vietnam
Got up this morning, and marched over to the highway, then we walked down the highway to the bridges. At the bridges, there are gook kids that sell just about anything you want. Cokes and beer are anywhere from seventy cents to a dollar. They made me point man today, whoopee (that was probably that ass hole Sgt. Gast that did that). The Head (Charles Barhorst aka The Head Monster) gave me his big knife. Going out on a goat tonight, it's raining.

Dec. 23, 2002 - The World
Well, here it is going on Christmas 2002, and I still have the knife that The Head Monster gave me on that day, and just like 34 years ago it's raining outside. Thank the good lord, I'm not out in it humpin' around in the sands or the foot hills, and not having a clue what I'm doing. I still don't have a clue, but a least I'm dry.

Oct. 21, 1968 - The Bridges on Highway 1, Vietnam
Out on a goat last night...The rain like to have washed me off my hill, boy was it a bitch out there. Went to sleep when we got back to the bunkers and slept until 2:30 P.M. Getting ready to go on another ambush.

Dec. 31, 2002 - The World
Yea I know, a day late again. What ya gonna do, send me to Nam? I don't think so!

I remember that night on that hill. It rained so hard you couldn't see twenty feet in front of your position. This was probably my first ambush, what a way to get started. There were a lot more ambushes to come after that one, some so scary that you could hear your heart pounding, and the blood rushing thru your veins. The first time I heard that sound I couldn't figure out what it was, it took me a few minutes. During my tour in Vietnam it seems like I spent 99% of my time on ambushes, lps, or humping. Well at least I survived, I think.

I want to wish everyone a happy New Year, I hope everyone stays healthy, wealthy, and maybe wiser. God bless you all.

Oct. 22, 1968 - The Bridges on Highway 1, Vietnam
The ambush was great last night, it didn't rain all night long. You could even see the stars. We didn't have any contact. I saw the sun come up this morning, the first time in a week and a half. There isn't hardly a cloud in the sky today. Right now I'm laying on top of a concrete bunker writing and watching the villagers trying to sell cokes and beer to the GIs. I get to stay in tonight...YEAH. Tomorrow we go to the Sands, you have to watch for booby traps and snipers out there. I don't know how long we will stay out there. I haven't had a shower in four days, and I sure do smell bad.

Jan. 6, 2003 - The World
Well, I just thought I smelled bad that day. I thought four days was a long time to go without a shower, boy was I wrong. Try two weeks. After awhile you can't smell anything except a gook. Naturally we didn't make it to the Sands that day, no choppers or something. I was really glad to hear that, because all the guys had told me what a terrible place it was. Lucky me, we never made it to The Sands.

Oct. 23, 1968 - The Bridges on Highway 1, Vietnam
We were supposed to move out to the sands today, but they couldn't get a chopper out to us. So it looks like we will stay here another night. This place is a rat hole! We have to go out on another God damned ambush tonight, our sorry ass Company Commander is going with us. I will write more in the morning if we make it back.

Oct. 24, 1968 - The Bridges on Highway 1, Vietnam
We just reached our ambush location. Just after the sun went down, Spaulding was putting lighter fluid in his Zippo and got it all over his hand and arm. When he tried to light a smoke, his whole arm and hand went up in flames. Daryl jumped on top of him and just about killed him. I laughed so hard I thought I would choke. What a war! You can read it all on tomorrows pages. Signing off.

Jan. 20, 2003 - The World
When Skinny lit that Zippo and his hand went up in flames all I could do was laugh. It didn't occur to me at the time how dangerous that could have been in an ambush situation. We were in the Sands and if anyone had been looking, they probably could have seen us from two miles away. I don't think we were where we were supposed to be, can you believe that? Until next week, God bless everyone.

Oct. 25, 1968 - The Foothills outside Camp Evans, Vietnam
I had my suspicions, but now I know for sure...This place is the biggest joke I have ever seen. At the exact moment I am writing this, our squad is supposed to be searching a village. All we did was walk off into the jungle about three hundred meters, sit down and shoot the bull. At least we are spread out farther enough that an ambush wouldn't kill all of us. Even our own ambushes we set up at night have been like this, as long as 2 6 is not with us. (2 6 is our platoon leader, he's a 2nd lieutenant). 2 6 is a fanatic about chasing gooks. He is going to get himself or someone else killed chasing them one of these days. I picked a nice shaded spot to bull shit. Read this to Kermit (my Step Father) if you want to. This is the honest truth.

Jan. 28, 2003 - The World
Well I know, I'm a day late again. You know how it goes, some times you just have to work for a living. Thank goodness it isn't very often. The way that I managed to get my diary home, was to send it home in my letters to my wife, every few days. When I wrote this I thought my whole 12 months in country were going to be like this. Boy was I wrong. I'm sure that any of you guys that are reading this know what happened to us on 28 Oct. that year, we started moving South. OUCH!!!

Oct. 26, 1968 - The Foothills outside Camp Evans, Vietnam
8:30AM..We are getting ready to move our platoon, we are going to hump it to the Foot Hills..Long haul, we made it without even working up a sweat...Dusk, wouldn't you know it, our squad is going on an ambush!..Misting rain, 11:00PM we are on an ambush, and the news just came over the radio (PRC25) to saddle up and come back in, I think that we are moving. I think we are going to Saigon. "The Party's Over"

Feb. 3, 2003 - The World
We saddled up in the rain and darkness to go back to the Platoon. On the way to the ambush we had to walk on a log that lay over a stream. The log was probably three feet in diameter, and going out it wasn't too bad because there was still some daylight. By the time we got back to the log, everyone had muddy boots. The guy in front of me was afraid he was going to slip and fall in the stream, so he just stopped, and I ask him, what the hell did you stop for, they are gonna leave us. The next thing I know, he is on his belly crawling across the log. I just knew everyone was going to leave us, but they didn't. I thought it couldn't be any worse than what it was up North, once again I was soooo wrong.

Oct. 27, 1968 - The Bridges on Highway 1, outside Camp Evans, Vietnam
We humped it back to the bridges, so we can move back into Camp Evans by truck...Didn't do much today, just drew equipment and ammunition, getting ready to move South...I took a shower today, first time in eighteen or nineteen days.

Feb. 11, 2003 - The World
I wonder how long I would be married, if I went 18 days without a shower?Hum, interesting question. Taking a shower at Evans was quite an experience. About the time you would finish, a chopper would come in and blow red dirt all over you. If you timed it just right you could dry off and make a run for the tents before the slicks and shithooks came in. Ah, what a wonderful vacation spot. Wonder what it looks like today?

Oct. 28, 1968 - Camp Evans Air Strip, Vietnam
We're getting ready to get on our plane and head South for the winter...I wonder where Kelly is and what he is doing, that sorry prick...Well Saigon here we come, Charlie is gonna get his mind wrapped up in a brown paper bag!!

Feb. 19, 2003 - The World
As I was sitting on that air strip, I was wondering where my good friend Robert Kelly was. Robert and I went thru basic and AIT together and we had decided that where ever one of us went, the other would go. When we were leaving Ft. Lewis, we were separated as we got on the planes headed for the Nam. I didn't see or hear from Robert again until I was at Ft. Hood Texas, in July of 1970. We hung together until the day we got out of the Army. After the Army I went back to work, had a couple of kids, started a business, and just continued on with life as I saw it. Robert started looking for the "pie in the sky". I would only see Robert every few years after that, and every time I would see him he looked worse. Robert was the consummate party guy....I drove by the cemetery a few days ago, and put a little First Cav. pin on his tombstone.

Well, I'm sure everybody knows that we didn't wrap Charlie's mind up in anything when we got down south. I guess I must have thought that we were a bunch of real bad asses. It's strange what youth and stupidity will do to you. I guess that's why the don't send old men off to fight wars. Oh yea I know, I'm late again. I'll try to do better next week. Later guys.

Oct. 29, 1968 - Quan Loi, Vietnam
We are about thirty miles North West of Saigon and about ten or fifteen miles East of Cambodia...This is the dustiest place I have ever seen. You can't hardly breathe in all this dust...I was taking a shower this evening and a Medivac brought in some guys from the field...There were six, five were walking one wasn't. He was on a litter, covered up with a poncho...his back was blown away. It sure pisses you off to see another GI like that.

Feb. 24, 2003 - The World
At the time I made this entry, we had only been in Quan Loi a couple of days and had not seen a lot of action. I remember watching the medics unload these guys, and noticed that there was an older lady helping them. I was told later that the lady was Martha Rae. This was when I sort of realized that you could get killed in a place like this. Then all I could think about was, hey, they are going to send us out there soon, I guess I better get my stuff in order.

Oct. 30, 1968 - Quan Loi, Vietnam
We were supposed to go on an air assault today, but we aren't going until our artillery and gun ships get here....Fooled Again, we are making a sweep thru the rubber plantation outside Quan Loi right now. Christ it's hot down here!!

Mar. 4, 2003 - The World
After they figured out that we didn't have any artillery or gun ships to support us, where we were supposed to go, they called off the charlie alpha, which was probably a good idea. We made a sweep thru the rubber plantation and set up for the night. We had a couple of rounds of sniper fire that night, but nobody got hurt. I thought it was going to be like this every place down South, boy was I wrong.

Oct. 31, 1968 - Rubber Plantation outside Quan Loi, Vietnam
We walked thru a rubber tree plantation all day, it must be 110dgs. As soon as I get to some place where I can get rid of it, this fucking flak jacket has got to go. Shrapnel or heat stroke, if the left one don't get you, the right one will!! We had a little sniper fire last night...two rounds...no sweat!!

Mar. 10, 2003 - The World
After the leisurely walks, and the monsoons up North, the one hundred plus degree and the humidity down South like to have killed me. Up North you could hump all over the place, and you would get hot, but at least you had the winds and the rains coming in off the ocean to sort of cool you off. Down South you were in thick jungle, or rubber tree plantations with plenty of heat, it was a killer. That day in the plantation, as we were headed back into Quan Loi our platoon was dragging up the rear, and off to our left we could see the air strip about one quarter mile away, and above us up on the hill. Someone had the bright idea of cutting across (me) the jungle that was between us and the air strip. As we started of into the jungle it started going down hill toward a stream. The farther we went, the more we knew we had screwed up by not taking the road like everyone else. When we came out of the stream we discovered that we were covered with leaches. Guys were striping down and checking themselves. It was really sort of funny, all these guys standing around naked in the jungle. Then we had to climb this jungle infested hill to get back inside Quan Loi. By the time we got back inside the perimeter at Quan Loi, every one was waiting on us. I think that was the last short cut that we ever tried.

Nov. 1, 1968 - Special Forces Camp, Vietnam
We were lifted out of here today....We are fixing to go on an air assault somewhere...I hope we don't hit the shit.

Mar. 18, 2003 - The World
When I wrote this thirty something years ago, I thought I would always know where here was, well I'll be damned if I know what I was writing about. I think we were air lifted to a Special Forces Camp, from Quan Loi. The only Special Forces Camp that I can remember was "LZ Odessa." If anyone can remember more than that, let me know what you remember. Even after reading my own diary, I can't figure out if we went into Billy on the first or second of November, anyone that can remember the exact date let me know.

Nov. 2, 1968 - LZ Billie, Vietnam - Platoon-Sized Patrol
We walked thru the jungle outside the perimeter for about four hours, at 12:22 PM we caught an NVA running down the trail toward us, and we killed him. Sergeant Holtz blew his brains out on the ground! After that we headed back to our FOB. About fifteen minutes later we ran into a group of NVA. regulars and all hell broke lose. They waited until we were in the middle of them before they started firing. Dudley was wounded in the arm and right side of his chest, Doc was shot in the wrist trying to help Dudley. The only way we could move was back, but first we called the rest of the Company to come get us out of there. They came in from the other side and surprised the NVA. They killed our Company Commander and one other guy. Our company killed at least four NVA that we know of. I have never been so scared in my life, I thought I was going to die. I was so relieved when the slicks picked us up and took us back into Billy. I made it all right this time.

Mar. 26, 2003 - The World
I don't know if Bill Meara and Frank Yokes can hear me, but I would like to thank those guys and the rest of 1st. Platoon for coming out there and trying to save our asses that day. One of the things that I vividly remember about that day is that when the shooting started, someone starts yelling "We're Americans, We're Americans," and I thought yea we're Americans you dumb ass, that's why they are shooting at us. I hate to say it but we really didn't have much leadership in 2nd. platoon that day. Lt. Murphy was a one of a kind guy, thank God. I'm sure he did his best, but the man had absolutely no common sense, and he damn sure couldn't read a map. When Captain Meara and 1st. Platoon engaged the NVA from the other side, it sounded like WW 3 had started. I think that if those guys hadn't came to our rescue, even though the didn't get us out, that I and about fifteen other guys wouldn't be here today. I didn't learn until thirty years later that it was only 1st. Platoon that came out there, from the sound of the gun fire I thought that it was the whole Company. That day taught me a lot of lessons, number one, when you go on a patrol, no matter how insignificant you think it is, always carry lots of water and ammo, not necessarily in that order, and never believe anything a 2nd. Lt. tell you, especially if him name is Murphy. After about two or three hours of being pinned down, we finally had a LOH come in with a mini gun and clear us a path out backwards to an old gravel road, where Captain McCaffrey's chopper landed and took our wounded out. My thoughts on this guy was, he must be nuts to land in a place like this, but I'm glad he did. He walked us off into a small clearing, and within fifteen minutes we had two or three slicks come in and get us out of there. Once again in closing I would like to say, from the bottom of my heart, thank you Bill Meara, Frank Yokes, Bill Montgomery and all the rest of those beautiful guys in First Platoon. God Bless The USA

Nov. 3, 1968 - LZ Billie, Vietnam
We are staying in the LZ today, and building our bunkers....We were hit with rockets last night...No one was hurt.

Apr. 2, 2003 - The World
After working on the bunkers all day I thought it would be nice when the sun went down, well at least it wouldn't be so friggin hot. Some time after dark, probably around 9:00 PM I decided to walk over to the water trailer and fill my canteens. Just as I finished filling the last one, I looked off to the North west and seen the trail of rockets in the air, headed in our direction. I started running for my bunker and screaming incoming as loud as I could. When I tried to duck and get into the bunker, I managed to bang my head on the giant log that we had used over the door to support the roof. I went sliding in feet first, and ran over a couple of other guys. That was all the incoming that we had that night. We had Spooky and ARA on station over our location all night long, and it was really eerie with all the flares being dropped all night. With all the shadows, after a while every thing looked like a gook sneaking up on you. I don't remember sleeping a lot that night. I kept thing, well tomorrow is another day, and we get to go out there and defend all those trees from Communism.

Nov. 4, 1968 - LZ Billie, Vietnam
No entry.

Apr. 7, 2003 - The World
That was easy. I made no entry on the 4th of Nov. I don't know why I didn't, I guess just because. I did read the daily log for that day. It says we stayed on the LZ that day and that we requested permission to fire the 50 cal. because we saw movement outside the LZ. I do remember that is was hotter n hell that day, and the day before, and probably the day after. Well "Dats All Folks"

Nov. 5, 1968 - LZ Billie, Vietnam
No entry for today.

Apr. 16, 2003 - The World
Seems to me we were pretty busy for a couple of days after 2 November. That's probably why I didn't make any entries for the 4th and 5th of Nov., or maybe I was too drunk and stoned. Who knows? Come back next week for the never ending saga of "No Deros Delta"!! PEACE

Nov. 6, 1968 - LZ Billie, Vietnam
We went out to help Delta Co. this evening.

Apr. 21, 2003 - The World
We were supposed to stay on the LZ on the 6th of November, but things don't always work like you would want them to in the Army. Delta Company made a charlie alpha north of Billie at 11:50 AM that morning. By 12:50 PM they had found fifteen bunkers measuring 4ft. X 4ft. X 4ft. (short little suckers) and about fifteen pounds of TNT. At 2:15 PM Delta reported that they were in heavy contact, and had 4 WIA. all by command detonated booby trap. About 6:00 PM we were told to saddle up, and be sure to load up on extra ammo and water for the Delta guys, because we were going to help them. I remember I had enough 60 ammo strapped on me that I could barley stand up. We made the air assault at 6:30, and had all of Bravo at their location by 6:55 PM. It was dusk when we went in. The chopper that I was on, sat down next to a bomb crater, and as I was trying to stand on the skid, my foot slipped and I ended up falling into the crater head first. I think most of the shooting had stopped by the time we came in. I remember setting up for the night by a big log that we used for cover. The moon was so bright that night, it almost looked like day. When we got up the next morning, someone said that a column of gooks had walked past us during the night, and no one fired on them. I think that if 6 had known about that he would have had a stroke, if you know what I mean. That's about all I can remember about that night, if anyone wants to add anything, go for it.

Nov. 7, 1968 - LZ Billie, Vietnam
After spending the night in a bomb strike area, we made a sweep back to the LZ. We didn't see anything. I've been so busy....I almost forgot about this diary.

Nov. 8, 1968 - LZ Billie, Vietnam
Just sitting around my bunker, taking it easy...I got up at 4:30 AM this morning and made me some cocoa, it sure was good.

May 5, 2003 - The World
Some days you got the gold, some days you got the shaft. November the 8th must have been a gold day, not a whole lot was going on in my little world that day. It's too bad that youth is wasted on the young.

Nov. 9, 1968 - LZ Billie, Vietnam
WE went out today, didn't see anything..........Thank God. We left the LZ at 11:00 AM, and made a big clover leaf. Back in the LZ by 1:45 PM. Damn it's hot here.

Nov. 10, 1968 - Outside LZ Billie, Vietnam
We went out tonight to set up a small LZ.....Tomorrow we will go out to the East, and cut back to LZ Billie, to check out the damage the B-52 strikes done to the gooks.

May 27, 2003 - The World
This has nothing to do with Vietnam or my diary, but, I went to my 40th. high school reunion Saturday night, and I only have one thing to say. Damn I feel old!!

Nov. 11, 1968 - Northeast of LZ Billie, Vietnam
We headed out east from our NDP this morning...We hadn't walked 200 meters when we found gook bodies that were partially buried, Sgt. Holtz got the honor of digging them up. There were two of them, and neither one of them had a head, and they didn't smell very good. There were over one hundred bunkers, and trenches out there. We also found four bicycles that were used for hauling equipment... We had no contact today.... I hear that we are going back to the rear for a while.....Yeah, Whoopee.

May 28, 2003 - The World
I remember that when we found the bodies, that they were all bloated, and stinking. Naturally, Sgt. Holtz got the honors of digging them up. I remember that he keep puking inside his gas mask, and I thought, this guy must be nuts.... I was right, but I still love him to this day. The moving wall was in a little town, by the name of Allen, just north of Dallas over the Memorial holiday. I had never seen the moving wall before this week end. I went out and looked up the names of all the guys in Bravo 2/7 that were KIA while I was in Vietnam. I said a little prayer for each one. There is probably not a day that goes by, that I don't think of at least one of them, they are the real heroes.

Nov. 12, 1968 - LZ Billie, Vietnam
Stayed at LZ Billie all day.

June 2, 2003 - The World
Looks like we had a real exciting day on LZ Billie that day. I read and reread my diary, and the daily staff journal for that day, and there was absolutely nothing going on, just the kind of day a Grunt likes to see. Maybe it was a Gook holiday, who knows? Charlie Company requested permission to test fire their 50. Headquarters responded, go ahead, but be sure and don't shoot your own people. Ahhhh, the Army, don't you just love it?

Nov. 13, 1968 - Outside LZ Billie, Vietnam
7:30 AM-Went out on a small patrol this morning, back in LZ at 10:45...No contact...Right now I'm at one of the observation post, outside the LZ....Nothing going on...WE are getting ready to move to a new LZ.

June 15, 2003 - The World
Well, If anyone is reading this, sorry I'm so late in posting. We have done a complete remodel job on my offices, and things have been in a mess. I want to tell everyone about something really strange that happened to me a few days ago. I was sitting around one day looking at "The Virtual Wall" site, reading remembrances to guys killed in Vietnam. I did a search, to see how many guys from Dallas were killed, and it listed 261 people. I went thru and read every name, the last name listed from Dallas, was a man by the name of Gary W. Cooper, Sr., since it was the very last name listed, and on a page by it self, it sorta stuck in my mind. A few days later, on a Sunday morning, as Faye and I were eating breakfast, she tells me that she would like to go to the Macedonia Cemetery in Pittsburg, Texas someday, to get some names, and dates off of tomb stones for her genealogy study she is doing on her family. We decided to go that day, so we loaded up her truck, and took off. Within two and one half hours, we were at the cemetery searching for her ancestors. I was mindlessly walking along looking at head stones, when one in particular caught my eye, because it had a young soldiers picture imbedded in it. I could tell by the picture that It was from the Vietnam era. I read the name, it was Gary W. Cooper, Sr. I did my best 58 year old a-ten- hut, and saluted this guy. Any way guys, I just thought this was really weird, or is it just me, who knows?

Nov. 14, 1968 - LZ Billie, Vietnam
Went out on a short patrol this morning....We didn't see anything...I quit walking point today. There are three guys in my squad that are newer than me, they said they would not walk point, well, we will see about that!

June 24, 2003 - The World
Can't you just see it, every time a new guy would join the squad, you put him out front. I finally figured out that you just didn't want to do it that way. When I was made squad leader, it dawned on me that you really wanted someone in front that knew what was the hell was going on. Unfortunately, the day I was wounded, I didn't have much of a choice as to who was going to be out front. Every body in my squad was new, except for one or two guys, and I couldn't see them walking point, with only a few days left in the field. As I've gone thru life, I have had some pretty difficult times, and when things seem to be more than I could handle, I just shut my eyes and think back to those days of walking point, and being in Vietnam, and all of a sudden, it all seems so trivial. So, I guess you could say, something good did come out of that war. Oh yea, everybody have a safe 4th of July.

Nov. 15, 1968 - LZ Billie, Vietnam
We didn't go out today...I just layed around the LZ and took things easy all day.

Nov. 16, 1968 - LZ Billie, Vietnam
We will go on another goat this evening... It will be the last one from LZ Billie...We move tomorrow.

July 7, 2003 - The World
I went into the local hardware store Saturday, to pick up some wood screws. As the young lady was checking me out, I said, did you have a nice 4th of July? She says, nah it was just another day. I said, you should have celebrated the independence of this great country, and she says, why? Why? I'll tell you why, go live in some other country for a while, and you'll know why you should be grateful to live in this country, and she says, I'll be grateful when they pay for my college. I took my receipt, shook my head, and walked out. Scary, huh? I hope every one had a safe, and happy 4th.

Nov. 17, 1968 - LZ Billie, Vietnam
Moved out of LZ Billie today....Tonight we have it easy...We are staying at an old French Mansion.

July 15, 2003 - The World
I've been sitting here reading the "Duty Officers Log," for 17 Nov. 68. It says, 16:42...B Co. to Bn. RTO: Lift complete to LZ Andy at this time. I think LZ Andy was the name of the LZ that was at Quan Loi. I know that when we landed, we all moved up to where the old run down French mansion was located. That was the first time I realized that there were any houses in Vietnam. I thought the whole country was nothing but a bunch of mud and grass hooches. What a small world a Grunt lives in. I remember that there was a concrete trench, with fast moving water in it, that ran by the mansion, going down the hill, towards the creek. I don't remember if I got in it or not, but I know a lot of the guys did, until someone informed us that it was a cistern. Nothing like cleaning yourself in a bunch of urine and feces. YUK!

There is one more entry in the Duty Officers Log, that I thought was sort of interesting, although it has nothing to do with any of us, I hope. The log says...20:00....Bde. to Bn: We had 01 personnel by the name of Ruben Valencia walk into our perimeter intoxicated, wearing only pants, and a gas mask. We are holding this man, until you pick him up at LZ Jake.

I'll bet that guy felt really good the next day. Sure glad the guys in Bravo 2/7 never done anything like that.

Nov. 18, 1968 - Quan Loi, Vietnam
We air assaulted out east of Quan Loi...From the clearing, where we landed, we walked out about 700 meters, and set up a small fire base.

July 22, 2003 - The World
As I'm sitting here, thinking about all the things that I need to do to get ready to head for Squirt's place this coming weekend, I have the computer dialed into the current weather in Squirt's part of Ohio. It's a hundred degrees here in Dallas, and only 69 degrees in Ashton, Ohio. It's been 100 degrees or more for the last 4 days in Dallas. Screw it, I'm headin' north. Soy fuera de aquí.

Nov. 19, 1968 - Somewhere in the jungle, Vietnam
Nothing!

July 31, 2003 - The World
That's exactly what I wrote on that day, in 1968, and that's exactly how I feel today.

Nov. 20, 1968 - LZ Sue, Vietnam
Getting ready to go on assault.

August 8, 2003 - The World
I'm just now recovering from Squirtzomania, what a reunion! I had so much fun that I can't remember what I did. I left Squirts place at 6:30 AM, Dallas time Sunday morning, drove straight thru to Dallas, and pulled into my driveway at 2:07 AM Monday morning. What a ride! I made it all the way to Little Rock Arkansas by sundown Sunday evening, then headed on down to my old home town of Texarkana, Texas. By the time I got into Texarkana it was 11:00 PM Sunday night and my windshield was so covered with bug juice, I couldn't see where I was going, so I pulled into a gas station/Dennys to gas up, clean the windshield, and get a cup of coffee.

When I pulled into the gas station, I noticed a fellow sitting on the sidewalk by Dennys. He looked to be about thirty, to thirty-five years old, and had a well worn bicycle with him. On the back of his bike, he had a basket to carry things in, and on the basket, he had a little American flag, and a sticker that said "Never Trust Your Government," and I thought, oh boy, another whacko. As I was filling up, and cleaning the windows, I hear this voice, and he says, you from around here? I said, no, I was born here, but I'm just passing through. I asked if he had put many miles on that bike today, and he says, naw, not many miles today, Jesus told me to stay right there on that sidewalk. I said, well, if Jesus told you to stay there, you better do it, or you could be in deep trouble. Then the guy says, last week I rode about three hundred miles, and went up thru the Indian Nations, and I stayed with some of them Indian people, they sure are nice. I said, yea, all the ones we didn't kill.

As the guy was talking to me, he keeps looking at my the little logo on the T-shirt I'm wearing, it says "E-Force." It's the name of a racquet ball racquet. It's a black shirt with yellow lettering. The guy says, let me ask you a question buddy, what does that E-Force on your shirt stand for? I remembered the sticker on his bike, I looked over my shoulder, then looked back at this guy, and I said, well friend, don't tell anyone, but I work for a special branch of the government. I go all over the country, and what I'm doing is collecting taxes from people that panhandle. The poor guys eyes got big, his mouth came open, and sorta froze, and he starts backing up. At this time, I'm about thru gassing up, and I said, hey dude, chill out, I'm only joking with you. The guy turns and leaves.

I got in my car, and headed for Big D, and I thought, Jeter, another job well done.

Nov. 21, 1968 - LZ Sue, Vietnam
Air assaulted out to set up LZ Suzy.....Walked out to set up small NDP.....We walked all stinkin day. God I love this fucking Army!

August 19, 2003 - The World
To anybody that reads this drivel, I apologize for not posting last week. I had a precision machine parts estimator, that has been with the company twenty years, walk out on me. I have been extremely busy the last week, trying to take up the slack, until I can find a replacement. I'll miss the guy, sorry to see him go.

Does anybody remember how far, and how hard we walked, when we left Sue? I remember that it was hotter than hell, or at least it seemed like it. The weather in Texas today, reminds me of the heat in Vietnam. Come on October, before I melt.

Nov. 22, 1968 - Somewhere outside LZ Sue, Vietnam
We went on a small patrol ..... We found a lot of trails, but no NVA, or VC.......GOOD!

August 25, 2003 - The World
You can tell from the statement above, that I wasn't no John Wayne. The less I saw of the enemy, the better I liked it. I could handle the heat, the leaches, the shitty food, being away from home, the lifers (Just kidding Top), and the sleeping on the ground, in any kind of weather, and all the other wonderful things that we got to experience in Vietnam, but I really hated getting shot at.

Today is mine and Faye's 40th. wedding anniversary. We had been married five years, when I was drafted. I can still remember the day I got on that bus, headed for Ft. Polk Louisiana. I thought I would get to go back outside the building, and tell her good bye, before we left, but I was wrong. As the bus turned the corner, leaving the bus station, she was standing on the side walk, waiting for me to come back out, and tell her bye. That was the image that I got to think about for the next three weeks, until they finally let us have visitors. Faye used to get up at three in the mornings, so she could be at Ft. Polk by noon on Saturdays, just so we could spend a night together. When I was in Vietnam, she was always sending beer, and food to me, which I did share, by the way.

I was wounded on March 12th., 69, and then spent about three weeks in different hospitals, before I got back to the hospital in Texas. The Army sent me to Brooke General, at Ft. Sam Houston, in San Antonio, Texas. I hadn't been in my room for maybe 15 minutes, when she walks in. That's just the kind of girl she is, always there for me. It's been 40 years since we were married, but it sure was a fast forty. Sometimes I wonder how the hell she has put up with me all these years, must be my effervescent personality, reckon? I do still love her very much, and wouldn't trade her for all the R&Rs in the World.

Nov. 23, 1968 - Outside LZ Sue, Vietnam
Patrol.....Nothing

September 17, 2003 - The World
Sorry I haven't posted lately, but I have been a very busy little boy for the last month.

It has taken me this long to get back on track since one of my 20 year employees walked out on me. Still ain't sure why he did, but that's OK, things are actually working out better anyway

Nov. 24, 1968 - Outside LZ Sue, Vietnam
We did an air assault to another fire base.....Nothing but more trails...No gooks.....We walked back into Sue today....Hot Chow, Clean Clothes, and a Shower....Yea Team.

September 22, 2003 - The World
It sure didn't take a lot to make a Grunt happy back in 1968.

Let's see, what do I remember about LZ Suzy? Well, the first thing that comes to mind is the evening that my squad leader, Daryl Williams, walked out in front of our bunker to take a shit, and while he had his britches down,around his ankles, I popped a yellow smoke, and threw it at him, and it rolled right under his ass. He sure looked funny, hopping around, with his pants down around his ankles, trying to get away from the smoke. I laughed until I had tears in my eyes. I don't think Daryl thought it was as funny as I did. What the hell.....What are they gonna do, send me to Vietnam?

If you should happen to read this Daryl......Sorry Dude.

There are a couple of other things that I remember about Sue, but I'll save them for later. I hope every one had a happy Monday.

C/U

Nov. 25, 1968 - LZ Sue, Vietnam
Taking things easy for a few days....I've got LP tonight, maybe I won't go to sleep this time....Two fighter jets just flew over, the first one scared the hell out of me.

October 1, 2003 - The World
I'm probably the only guy that was in Vietnam, that ever went to sleep on LP, so for that I apologize to every one that was ever there, and all the people that were shamming in some foreign country, or the National Guard, or wherever the hell they were. I didn't know where they were in 1968, but I know where they have been, and where they are now.....The White House.

On LZ Sue, on the morning of the above diary entry, I was sitting on top of my bunker, watching a couple of jets, and a spotter plane work out, in the jungle, a couple of miles outside the LZ. They finally went away, and I forgot about them, until all of a sudden I found myself on the ground, crawling for cover.

The first one came from behind me, at about 200 feet off the deck, and as he pulled out, he did a 6 point roll. As I stood up and turned around, here comes the other one, doing the same thing. The guy was so low to the ground, that I could see him wave at us, and also see the static electricity around his wings. It was really a weird sight.

I was told later, that the static from his wings, set off some of our claymore mines. If that is true, I'm sure they got their asses chewed on, especially if 6 had any thing to do with it.

They finally went away, and I forgot about them, until all of a sudden I found myself on the ground, crawling for cover. The first one came from behind me, at about 200 feet off the deck, and as he pulled out, he did a 6 point roll. As I stood up and turned around, here comes the other one, doing the same thing. The guy was so low to the ground, that I could see him wave at us, and also see the static electricity around his wings. It was really a weird sight. I was told later, that the static from his wings, set off some of our claymore mines. If that is true, I'm sure they got their asses chewed on, especially if 6 had any thing to do with it.

If anyone else remembers the jets that day, post what you remember about them.

Happy October,

C/U.

Nov. 26, 1968 - LZ Sue, Vietnam
Still on LZ Sue......Nothing happening

October 17, 2003 - The World
On page two, of the 2nd platoon Vietnam Photos, on this site, there is a picture of me and a guy named Larry Fink. The picture was taken at AnKhe, sometime in middle Feb. 1969. Top had sent me down to AnKhe for a squad leaders refresher school, or something like that. Anyway, it was one hell of a sham.

Some way I got to hanging out with this Larry Fink guy, and we ended up in AnKhe City, in a very drunken stupor. Before we drank ourselves completely stupid, I ran out of money, so Larry loans me twenty bucks. I can't remember exactly happened after that, except we both went on our way, back to our respective companies.

I always wanted to pay Larry back his twenty bucks, but couldn't remember what company he came from, or anything else about him. All I had was the photograph.

Thirty-four years went by, then John Guillory, one of our former 3-6s found our web site, and I started emailing him. John was in Charlie Company at one time, I think before he was with Bravo. John saw the picture and made a comment about me knowing Larry. I told him that I owed the guy twenty bucks, and would really like to find him.

Last Sunday, John was in the Dallas area, and I went to visit with him and his lovely wife Carol. During our conversation, I found out that John had Larry's social security number, and he gave it to me. I went to my computer and did a search on Larry. I got the results back the next day. Larry passed away in May, 1987, at the age of 43. The next time I hoist a cold one, it will be in the honor of Larry Fink, GarryOwen Trooper.

Nov. 27, 1968 - LZ Sue, Vietnam
Nothing.

October 23, 2003 - The World
Weird, huh?

Nov. 28, 1969 - LZ Suzie, Vietnam
Went on ambush last night on the Song Bey (not sure about spelling) River.......Didn't see any gooks.

October 28, 2003 - The World
I remember that ambush very well, we saddled up at about dusk, and headed on down toward the river. I think it was just a 2nd. platoon thing, Sgt. Gast volunteered us. When we were in position, we ended up facing the river, with not much for protection except some tree limbs hanging down between us and the river. The guys in my squad tied ourselves together with some kind of rope we had. That way, if we needed to wake someone, we would just pull on the rope, and wake the other guy up.

Some time in the middle of the night, I saw the shadow of a figure coming from left to my right, down by the rivers edge, and I started pulling like hell on that rope. When it got in front of where I was, it made a right hand turn, and started coming up the bank of the river, toward where I was. My heart was pumping so hard, I could hear the blood rushing through my ears. I put my 16 on semi, and aimed right where I thought the heart should be, and just about the time I was ready to start blasting, the damn thing jumps up into a tree, and takes off........It was a big f_ _ _ ing monkey. Scared the living crap outta me. I hated ambushes, and to this day, I ain't real fond of monkeys either.

Nov. 29, 1968 - LZ Sue, Vietnam
We walked off Sue this morning....We walked all day, set up beside an old road last night. Long hump!

November 5, 2003 - The World
I went out early Sunday morning, to meet a friend that I was going trail riding with. We met at a restaurant just north of Denton Texas, for breakfast. When we were getting ready to leave, I saw this old guy, about my age, with a blue jean jacket on, and on the back he had a big old CIB sewn on the back, a First Cav. patch on one sleeve, and some other unit patch on the other sleeve. I asked him what that big old patch on his back was, a BB gun? He says naw, that's a CIB. I said, what do have to do to get one of them? He says, you had to be in Vietnam. Then I said, really, what years were you there, he says 66-67. Then I asked him about the big yellow, and black patch. I said, isn't that a First Cav. patch, and he says yes it is. Then I said, who were you with, and he says, First Cav, and I said, no, what Company were you with, and he says, uh, I don't remember. Then I tried one more question, I said, where did you guys work out of, and he says, Bell Helicopter.I guess he thought I was asking about the group of guys he was sitting with. I said, no, in Vietnam, then I got another uh..... I turned and left. It was a great day for riding my dirt bike.

Nov. 30, 1968 - Near LZ Sue, Vietnam
We walked some more today, but not as far as yesterday....After lunch we found a bunch of rice....We burned it, then we set up in an old Montagnard Village.

November 11, 2003 - The World
I hope every one had a happy Veterans Day. Lets not forget the guys that can't be with us today. Bless each and every one of them.

Dec. 1, 1968 - Near LZ Sue, Vietnam
Went on patrol this morning...We found an arrow on the trail, that pointed off down another trail. My squad checked it out...We didn't find anything.

November 18, 2003 - The World
What we found that morning was a piece of bamboo that had been shaved to a point, and stuck through a bamboo limb that was high above the trail. The first thing that 6 did, was bring up a 79, and fire some rounds off into the jungle. The guy with the 79 that day was Pete Polak. After he had fired a few rounds off into the jungle, I asked if I could fire a few, the first, and last round that I fired, was almost straight up. Not a good idea, it sure got people scrambling. I can't remember why, but I was the acting squad leader that day, and 6 told me to take my squad down the trail, and see what was down there. It seemed like every step that we took away from the rest of the company was like a hundred feet per step. We went probably one hundred yard, and the trail was blocked with a bunch of dead tree limbs. I called back to the platoon on the radio, and they told me to come on back in. I was damn glad of that!

Last weekend I went on an off road motorcycle ride in the Chihuahuan Desert, in Terlingua Texas. That's in the Big Bend area, down by the Rio Grande River that separates Texas and Mexico. In two days we rode almost three hundred miles. I saw some of the most beautiful sights that I have ever seen. The first day, me and another guy got separated from our group of five riders, and spent about an extra three and one half hours wandering around in the desert. All the time we were lost, all I could think about was Lt. Murphy. Damn I wish he was still around, so we could harass him.

Dec. 2, 1968 - Near LZ Sue, Vietnam
We moved about 600 meter north, and set up another NDP.....Earlier today, a LOH was checking out a hooch about a mile from us, and they decide to lift the roof off with their struts. They flipped upside down, and nearly killed themselves. A slick picked them up, then we got to burn the LOH....We went on patrol this evening, and checked out an old NVA base camp...We found some equipment, and two old bodies....No gooks, yea!

November 22, 2003 - The World
There are not many days in my life that I can remember exactly what I was doing on a certain day, especially if it was forty years ago, but I can tell you what I was doing on this day in 1963. I was an 18 year old punk kid, that was still wet behind the ears, and on that day I had a front row seat to history.

It was a very strange day, and yes, it did seem to be the start of a pretty screwed up decade. Be careful what you watch on TV, and don't believe all that conspiracy bull shit that a lot of people are espousing. I had started out that morning to quit a dead end job that I had. As I was driving towards Dallas, I heard on the radio, that President John F. Kennedy would be landing at Love Field in about 15 minutes, so I made a left turn on Mockingbird, and headed for the airport. I got to see him and Jackie get off the plane, and get in their limo, then they took the top off.

After that I decided that I would go down town, where Faye was working, and try to see the parade. The traffic was so bad, I had to park my car under a bridge over by Stemmons Freeway, and I started walking towards town, about a mile away. As I was approaching the triple underpass from the West, I saw the president's limo come flying by, with the secret service guy sprawled out on top of the Kennedys, and the Connallys. There was blood every where. That's what sticks in my mind after all these years.

Then I made my way over to the Trade Mart, where Kennedy was supposed to speak, and a motorcycle cop told me that they had taken him to Parkland Hospital, so I headed over there. When I got to the hospital, where a large crowd had gathered, after a few minutes someone came out and announced that the president was dead. I can remember thinking, when all the people started crying, that I needed to get home and see if I could find Faye. I was hoping that she would be home by then, and she was. We sat and watched black and white TV for days, and it just keep getting more weird every day after that.

You know, JFK was not a well liked man in Dallas at that time, but I wouldn't have wished his fate on anybody. I'm sure that event affected everyone in his family, for the rest of their lives. I know it sure changed things after that. I didn't feel so innocent after that, not that I was before. I could ramble on for hours about that day, but I won't. What I would like to see now, is for everyone who reads this, is to post on the message board what they were doing on November 22nd, 1963.

I hope everybody has a safe and happy Thanksgiving, and the good Lord knows we all have a lot to be thankful for.

Dec. 3, 1968 - Near LZ Sue, Vietnam
Delta Company got air assaulted on top of a whole battalion of gooks...Alpha company is going in to help them..Delta Company has 54 casualties. We are getting ready to go help them. I hope like hell we don't have to go into a hot LZ.

This next entry was written in my diary, that day, by Jack Curatolo, edited for lower case.

Well, we are all sitting in the woods today, waiting to be flown into action...This country isn't worth the sweat off our brow. This Army stinks...They work us like mules, 24 hours a day. I'll do all I can to help another GI, but if it's for the Army, I won't...Well, bye for now...I hope every thing comes out OK for us....I wouldn't wish the Army on a dog.

Yours Truly,
Jack Curatolo

December 3, 2003 - The World
It was 35 years ago today, that these two entries were written in my diary, one by me, and one by Jack Curatolo.

As we were sitting in an open area waiting on the choppers, I was writing in my diary, and Curatolo asked me what I was writing, and when I told him, he asked if he could write something. I told him, sure, go ahead, and that's what he wrote. I think we were getting ready to move that morning, when Delta was put into a hot LZ.

I know that Delta lost a bunch of good men that day, I believe they had 54 KIA, and most of the remainder of the guys were wounded. Not a good day for Delta. I remember sitting out in the hot sun, in an open field waiting for choppers to come pick us up, and take us into that LZ where Delta was. I was close to 6 that day, and could hear on the radio what was happening to Delta. Their guys were getting killed one after the other, and it scared the hell out of me. I kept thinking, we really need to get in there and help those guys, and at the same time, hoping the choppers would never come to get us. I felt guilty about those thoughts for a long time after that.

The choppers never made it that day, and Alpha Company walked in to help Delta. If the choppers had come that day, I would have went, and done the best I could, but I would have been one scared puppy.

God bless"No Deros Delta".

Dec. 4, 1968 - Near LZ Sue, Vietnam
We air assaulted into where Delta Company got wiped out yesterday....Still some gooks here....We found three gook bodies, and their weapons.

December 9, 2003 - The World
We didn't get choppers until the next day to go in and help Delta Company. Needless to say, all of Delta was gone by the time we got there. I checked some military records and it said they had 26 KIA and 54 wounded. They were in no condition to be in the jungle at that time. Alpha Company was there. They had walked in the day before to help Delta.

After we were on the ground inside the LZ, someone (probably Gast) told me to go out in front of our position, police up all the ammo, and any thing else I could find. It was really bad, you could see blood on the parched ground where guys had fought and died in the burning grass the day before. I was out there walking around with nothing but a 16 and one bandolier of ammo and no shirt on. I keep walking around out there getting closer and closer to the tree line, then I heard a noise in the jungle. I stood there and looked for a few seconds but couldn't see anything, so I decided I better get back closer to the perimeter. After a short time, one of the platoons headed out into the jungle on a cloverleaf. As they headed into the tree line where I had heard the noise, the gooks opened up on our guys with automatic weapons fire. Then I realized what an idiot I was for being out there that close to the jungle. The platoon came back into the LZ and 6 called in the fighter jets to bomb the hell out of them.

I really can't remember much else about that day except I know I had LP that night and it was scary as hell out there. I read somewhere that the guys in Delta gave that place the name of "LZ Bitch." I guess that would be an appropriate name for that place.

Dec. 5, 1968 - Near LZ Sue, Vietnam
Second platoon went out this morning....They made contact....No one hurt.

December 16, 2003 - The World
I had LP the preceding night, so I didn't have to go out that morning. That was probably one of the most scariest LPs I had ever been on. Just three guys, out there, with nothing but a couple claymoores, a few grenades, and our 16s. I promise no one went to sleep that night. I keep thinking more about running, than sleeping. I hadn't been back inside the perimeter thirty minutes, when I heard someone say "saddle up" were going out. That's when I reminded the squad leader that I had been out all night, without sleep. I got to stay in, while all the rest of the guys went out. They weren't out long, when the gooks were all over them. They came back into the perimeter pretty fast, and 6 called in the jets, and bombed the hell out of them. If you'll go to page 12, rows 3 and 4 of the Vietnam Photos, you can see the PICS of that air strike, that I took with my little instamatic camera.

Almost forgot, every one have a safe, and happy holiday.

Dec. 6, 1968 - Near LZ Sue, Vietnam
We went out again, with A Company........A Company had six WIA, and one KIA.

December 25, 2003 - The World
Well it's Christmas day again, and we are all a year older, and maybe a little wiser, I hope.

Like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas.

Dec. 7, 1968 - Somewhere off LZ Sue, Vietnam
We moved our LZ about 400 meters to the East... We thought we would make contact during the move, but we didn't... Just after we got there, the gooks mortared our old FOB....No one hurt.

January 10, 2004 - The World
After we had moved the 400 meters to the East, up on some higher ground, a supply bird came in to drop off some supplies. I was standing over to the right of the chopper, about 30 meters away, watching Skinny play with the chopper pilot. Skinny was pretending that the chopper was a bull, and he was the bull fighter. He would lean forward, and put his hand on the bubble canopy, and the pilot would power up a little, and make Skinny slide backwards. Everyone was standing back watching Skinny, and getting a well deserved laugh. Outlaw 6 was standing just to the left of the chopper watching Skinny, and shaking his head in disbelief.

I looked back toward the old NDP, and could see dirt flying up, where mortar rounds were coming down. The gooks were trying to walk them into where we were. I started screaming incoming, incoming, and finally 6 saw what was happening. He screamed at the chopper pilot, to get the hell out of there, and I guess the pilot couldn't hear what 6 was saying. He just shook his head yes, and keep sitting there. Finally 6 climbs up on the struts, sticks his head right in the pilots ear, and screams "incoming." The chopper pilot nearly took down a couple of trees on his way out. The chopper made it out OK, and the mortar rounds never got to where we were... Just another day on the farm.

Dec. 8, 1968 - Somewhere off LZ Sue, Vietnam
We were mortared last night.....No one hurt....We chased gooks today..Found an old NVA base camp, battalion size.

January 22, 2004 - The World
If my old memories haven't failed me, I think we were on patrol that day, and we had stopped on the trail to take a break.

Basham and his assistant gunner were set up, facing down the trail, when all of a sudden a couple of gooks come diddy-bopping down the trail, toward us. All I heard was someone say, gooks, then Roger opened up on them. I guess in the excitement, Roger missed them, and they took off down the trail.

The next thing I know, six, or somebody is throwing CS grenades at them. We put our gas mask on, and the chase was on.

I don't know about everybody else, but it was harder than hell to run with a gas mask on, keep tripping over everything in the jungle. The gooks ran into, and across a clearing, and that's when we stopped chasing them. We stayed in the tree line for a while, while the gun ships worked on the other tree line, where the gooks had gone into.

I really can't remember much else about that day. I can't remember a thing about finding a base camp, so if anybody wants to add to this, feel free to post what ever you can remember.

Other than that, not much new going on here in Big D. Life has been pretty good, but you know how fast that can change. Well, anyway, everybody take care, and God Bless our troops. Seems some things never change.

Dec. 9, 1968 - Somewhere off LZ Sue, Vietnam
We are getting ready to move again. I don't know which direction we are going. Right now I'm sitting on a jungle trail writing this diary entry...WOW! We are waiting on the rest of the company to catch up with us, it's nice and cool here...I need a new tablet, this one only has four more pages ... hope I live long enough to use them. Third platoon killed one gook, coming down the trail, and they also wounded another...WE moved back to the old FOB, it was too late to go on after the fighting stopped.

February 3, 2004 - The World
Not a lot going on in my little World lately. I've been busy racing in an eight race cross country series the last eight races, one every two weeks. My first love, besides my wife, and family has always been dirt bikes. I started racing in the middle sixties, before I was drafted into the Army, and as soon as I got out, and got well enough, I started racing again. For some unknown reason, I gave it up in the early 80s, and quit riding completely by 1985. In April of 2003, I bought my first new bike in probably 21 years. I only had intentions of going trail ridding with some other old dirt bike ridders I know.

In early December, I wanted to go ridding one Saturday, and couldn't find anyone that wanted to go, so I went out to where they were going to have a race that weekend, just to check things out. One thing led to another, and I ended up racing the next day. The first time in 21 years, I enjoyed it so much I decided to go ahead and race the whole series.

There are twenty guys in my class, and I started out in last place, in the overall standings, and I am now up too fourth place, with a chance to finish in the top three, if I do well in the last race, which will be Feb 15th.

I'll have plenty of moral support, Snag, and Kitty Johnson are coming down to thaw out that weekend. We are hoping for good weather, especially me, because I hate ridding in the mud. Hope I haven't bored you guys with all this drivel, I'll let you know how Snag and Kitty's visit turns out.I'll try not to hurt him.

Dec. 10, 1968 - Somewhere off LZ Sue, Vietnam
Well, we will try and move again today. Charlie Company leads out today, there must be something in that direction, that the gooks don't want us to see. Charlie Company was sitting on the trail today, and they were ambushed by gooks in the trees. We had to go out and help them. Me,Sgt. Williams, and Jack Curatolo went to the front under sniper fire, and evacuated some of the wounded guys. Some of their guys were so scared that they couldn't, or wouldn't move, and some of them were crying. One sniper shot the ground, between me and Curatolo, on the way out of there. I didn't tell him until we were back in the rear area. After the day was over, I realized how dangerous what we had done was, it scared the hell out of me. We won't move today.

February 9, 2004 - The World
I was never much for volunteering for things, especially if it involved the chance of being killed. The way we were volunteered for that little rescue mission was sort of typical of the way Barry McCaffrey done things when he was Outlaw 6, of Bravo 2/7.

When the shooting started, we were headed up the trail toward the gun fight, when we came upon 6 and some radio guys standing at a trail junction. As we approached, I heard 6 say to Sgt. Williams, I need some volunteers to go get those wounded guys, and your squad will do. All I could think about was, Oh shit, what am I doing here.

There was a guy, by the nick name of Spider, that was from C. Co. telling us what was going on down the trail. He said the wounded guys were down the trail, about 50 meters, and down inside an old burned out bunker. Sgt. Williams said we were going to crawl down the trail, and get those guys, and I said, as soon as you get close, whistle, and I'll come running. Never have been much for crawling, can't move fast enough.

When I heard someone whistle, I took off down the trail, and when I got there I was moving so fast, I couldn't stop, and ran right off into the bunker. Someone had a stretcher, and me and Jack Curatolo, put this wounded guy on the stretcher, and hauled ass back up the trail.

Curatolo had his 16 slung over one shoulder, and about half way back up the trail, it fell off his shoulder, and we sat the guy down for a second, so he could resling his 16. Just as Curatolo stood up straight, a sniper put some rounds on the ground, just behind him. The gook missed Jack, and the wounded guy.

We picked up the stretcher, and hauled ass. We got the wounded guy on a slick, and as me and Jack were headed away from the chopper, back to the rest of the company, the chopper blades hit a small tree limb as it was pulling out. It sounded like a 50 cal. going off, and me and Jack both hit the ground as fast as we could.

The slick made it out OK, but I think the color of my underwear changed after that day.

Dec. 11, 1968 - Somewhere off LZ Sue, Vietnam
Me, Curatolo, and Williams were put in for a Bronze Star Medal with a "V" devise..(the "V" is for valor)..WOW. I don't care if I get it or not, I was just doing what someone else wouldn't do. We are getting ready to be airlifted into another place today. The Air Force will put an arc light in here tonight.

February 27, 2004 - The World
I heard from someone that day that we had been put in for a Bronze Star Medal, probably Gast. I never heard another thing about it, until I was laying in a hospital bed in Japan. My orders had finally caught up with me, and the Bronze Star had changed to an Army Commendation Medal, with a "V." Found out years later that me and Gag got ArComs, and Daryl got a Bronze Star Medal. I guess rank does have it's privileges.

Don't get me wrong, I'm proud that Daryl got what he got, and just proud me and Gag didn't get killed that day.

I ran out of paper to write on, in my diary on the 11th Dec. 1968, so the next entry will be for December 22nd. 1968. Ain't got a clue what we did from the 11th of December, until the 21st. of December that year. Seems like I remember that we laid on a beach somewhere, and soaked up that far eastern sun.Oh yea, glad Daryl didn't get killed that day also.

Dec. 22, 1968 - LZ Sue, Vietnam
Haven't done a damn thing for the last four days.....Sure wish I could get more mail, and packages...Would love some beer...Two Red Cross girls came out to the LZ today, to try and spread the Christmas spirit.......They were not very successful.

March 92, 2004 - The World
Bummer!

Dec. 23, 1968 - LZ Sue/LZ Odessa, Vietnam
We packed up all out equipment on Sue, got on the Shit Hooks, and headed for LZ Odessa...Got to Odessa about noon, and ate lunch...Sure is a rocky place. We stayed there for a couple of hours, then we Air Assaulted out about 8,000 meters, just off a paved road. We sat up for the night in a small clearing.

March 18, 2004 - The World
I guess I'm confused. Yea I know, what's new? I wrote in an earlier post that we had been on LZ Odessa. I think we were only there one time, and I guess this was the time. I don't usually read ahead in my diary, I like surprises. There are pictures on the site, of when we were there. If anyone wants to know which pics it is, drop me an email.

Jackson.........Out

Dec. 24, 1968 - Small NBP off LZ Sue, Vietnam
I had LP last night. We thought the gooks were trying to sneak up on us, so we blew two claymores when the noise got real close. This morning there wasn't anything there, probably some type animal.

While the other guys were on patrol, I cooked the ham that my Mom sent me. When the guys got back, we had ham, and beer for breakfast, sure was good....Me and Head have been arguing all morning, I just love to piss him off.

April 16, 2004 - The World
Head, if you read this, sorry. Don't know why I just loved to piss you off, can't think of any reason, of course it's been thirty some odd years ago. If I ever see you again, you get a great big hug. How's that big boy?

Dec. 25, 1968 - Somewhere on a little chickenshit NDP, Vietnam
It just doesn't seem like Christmas over here. The choppers brought out a large Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, and all it did was make me sick. I rode _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _'s ass last night....He stood up and tried to kick me... I wish Williams hadn't stopped me, I would have beat the shit out of him....Might do it today, just for grins.

May 3, 2004 - The World
I left that name out on purpose, wouldn't want to cause any hard feelings after all these years. Besides, I don't have a clue as to why I was ridding that persons ass. Probably pissed because I had pulled LP God knows how many days in a row, and the food sucked, it was hotter than hell, my back hurt from humping all day, and 6 thought all of us was as brave (crazy) as he was.

Oh yea, and it was Christmas Day, and we were all stuck in this ass hole of a country, and all I could think about was being home with my family.

I think that some times we got ourselves stressed out, and said and did things that we probably regretted later. Any that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Dec. 26, 1968 - Somewhere off LZ Sue, Vietnam
We are getting ready to walk out to the road, and go on an air assault...There will be ARVN soldiers with us, they will go in first. I doubt if there will be anything there.

We are on the ground, it's a green LZ...We will walk off the LZ in a few minutes.

May 14, 2004 - The World
This was one of the only time I can remember that we had the ARVNs with us on an air assault, and I;m glad it was the only time.

When we moved off the LZ, we were walking parallel with the ARVN, who were about one hundred yards to my left. Never heard so much noise coming from a group of guys that were supposed to be moving quietly. They were jabbering on, and on about something. They had all kinds of pots, and pans that they were humping. It sounded like a band on Gypsies moving through the jungle.

When we stopped for the day, we were on the edge of a swamp. Of course I had OP on the other side of the swamp. Me and three other guys set up behind a big old tree that had fallen down.

I was sitting there, looking up into this tree that was right in front of us, and I saw a giant lizards up in the tree. I radioed back to the LZ, and asked for permission to shoot it. CP said go ahead. I hit the lizard with the first round, and this bad boy comes flying out of that tree, and hits the ground running. I put one more round in him, and he quit moving. The ARVN came over to see what was going on. They asked if they could have him, and I said hell yea, I don't want him. Within thirty minutes, they had him in a pot cooking him.

This was one of the few nights that I didn't have LP, and boy was I glad. It rained like a cow pissin on a flat rock that night. Seems like the only cover I had that night, was my steel pot. Nothing like laying in the mud, and water, with nothing but a steel pot to keep your face, and head dry.

Ahh, those were the days.

Dec. 27, 1968 - Somewhere off LZ Sue, Vietnam
We walked down the side of the river, and set up another NDP.

Dec. 28, 1968 - Somewhere off LZ Sue, Vietnam
We moved out today, and set up another NDP.....The ground has big rocks in it, it's hard to dig.

June 1, 2004 - The World
Ahhh, the life of a grunt, hump, dig, hump, dig.SOSDD.

Dec. 29, 1968 - Somewhere off LZ Sue, Vietnam
We are going to walk out about 2,500 meters towards the road...We will set up an ambush, it ends tomorrow at noon. We will be point squad....Well, here we are, leaches and all. The 2,500 meters turned out to be 6,500 meters. You walk all day with ammo, claymores, and a couple hundred rounds of 60 ammo strapped around your God damned neck, it feels like it's going to break off, you end up going in circles. We went the wrong way three times, then you finally end up on a dirt trail. It can sure give you a case of the ass.

June 1, 2004 - The World
You could say I was pissed. That's the way most of us stayed for our whole tour. War is not fun, and people need to remember that.

Dec. 30, 1968 - Somewhere off LZ Sue, Vietnam
Well, our ambush went as usual, all fucked up. If we ever caught a gook, we would probably kill each other...We set up beside the river this evening.

Dec. 31, 1968 - Somewhere off LZ Sue, Vietnam
Going on another ambush today, and tonight..We will be back tomorrow.

June 1, 2004 - The World
Well boys, and girls, that's the last 1968 entry. Next week I'll finish this little project, then I'm done.

Jan. 1, 1969 - Somewhere off LZ Sue, Vietnam
Wouldn't you know it, another ambush last night. One sprained ankle, one shrapnel wound, one guy shot in the knee, leaches, snakes, water buffalo, and a flock of giant fucking birds. That's the only way to bring in the new year, maybe I'll have better luck on the next one.....We humped to a new NDP today, it only took about an hour to get there....Polak just came back from R & R today, he has fifty-three days left over here.

June 9, 2004 - The World
It's been so many years ago, that I can't really remember much about that ambush. I probably wasn't a happy camper for one reason, or the other, but hey, I wasn't ever a happy camper over there. I think the only person that bitched more than me, was Polak. Zimmer, if you read this, how about putting your two cents worth in on this one. Maybe you can jog my memory.