- Joined
- Aug 28, 2013
- Messages
- 2,947
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 12/2018
- Country
- US
- State
- NC
- City
- Get Real
Over 50 years ago I served with 1st Field Forces Viet Nam
6th Battalion 14th Artillery along the Tri Border of Viet Nam,
Laos and Cambodia.
We were support to 5th Special Forces, were ever they went,
we went. Their camps were often shaped like a peanut. One
end was their camp the other our artillery guns. We were 8”
self propelled howitzers. We could shoot short range and up
to 12 miles out. (Special Forces were Green Berets.)
When I joined I wanted electronics, that was full and due to
my high math scores I got artillery. Upon arriving in Viet Nam
I learned I was assigned to 1st Field Forces. When I was
told what they do... I wondered what I did to deserve that.
The first day I was with the unit we got hit with 6 foot
rockets. Thought… “ain’t gonna make it” with months to
go. There was some good things though, Special Forces
get about anything they want… beer, cigarettes, snacks,
and whiskey. Other field units (infantry) struggled to
get any of that until they came back to base camp.
I was awarded several combat medals and the Army
Commendation Medal. But, one I am most proud of
is a small blue bar… the Army Presidential Unit
Award. And a red one…Army Valorous Unit Citation.
After being in the States when I arrived to my unit I
was 21 years old. Most of the guys were 18 and 19
years old. Many called me the “Old Man”
Most were draftees. The ones who didn’t come home
were not suckers and losers. Whatever to that now.
Well, it’s the War many would like to forget. as
our World War Two veterans and Korean War
Veterans leave us… the dwindling number of
Viet Nam Veterans will be left. Of the 8 of us
that worked together I and two others are still
around. Viet Nam Veterans are passing in
numbers at a higher rate than the other wars.
I don’t drink anymore but Veterans Day I’m going to
have a glass of fine wine to remember the guys of my unit.
Just a story from a 76 year old Veteran. Still around...
for now.
6th Battalion 14th Artillery along the Tri Border of Viet Nam,
Laos and Cambodia.
We were support to 5th Special Forces, were ever they went,
we went. Their camps were often shaped like a peanut. One
end was their camp the other our artillery guns. We were 8”
self propelled howitzers. We could shoot short range and up
to 12 miles out. (Special Forces were Green Berets.)
When I joined I wanted electronics, that was full and due to
my high math scores I got artillery. Upon arriving in Viet Nam
I learned I was assigned to 1st Field Forces. When I was
told what they do... I wondered what I did to deserve that.
The first day I was with the unit we got hit with 6 foot
rockets. Thought… “ain’t gonna make it” with months to
go. There was some good things though, Special Forces
get about anything they want… beer, cigarettes, snacks,
and whiskey. Other field units (infantry) struggled to
get any of that until they came back to base camp.
I was awarded several combat medals and the Army
Commendation Medal. But, one I am most proud of
is a small blue bar… the Army Presidential Unit
Award. And a red one…Army Valorous Unit Citation.
After being in the States when I arrived to my unit I
was 21 years old. Most of the guys were 18 and 19
years old. Many called me the “Old Man”
Most were draftees. The ones who didn’t come home
were not suckers and losers. Whatever to that now.
Well, it’s the War many would like to forget. as
our World War Two veterans and Korean War
Veterans leave us… the dwindling number of
Viet Nam Veterans will be left. Of the 8 of us
that worked together I and two others are still
around. Viet Nam Veterans are passing in
numbers at a higher rate than the other wars.
I don’t drink anymore but Veterans Day I’m going to
have a glass of fine wine to remember the guys of my unit.
Just a story from a 76 year old Veteran. Still around...
for now.
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