Let me tell you about 5 days of action, while we are operating as a combined unit, back when I was a Lieutenant, along the Laotian border looking for enemy base camps in 1968......Aside from being the only Lt that lasted more than 2 weeks the entire time I was there, I was a bit like the Lt that took over in the story of the Band of Brothers episode just at the end of Bastogne, where they attack the town of Foy. If you remember, he takes over under fire from a Lt that panics in the field under fire. The new Lt runs across the line of fire in the open tocoordinate units, and then runs back to the other side. He is never hit, and the troops are amazed. I mention this, because the men thought I had somekind of special luck, and many tried desperately to transfer into my unit.When overrun I was wounded, but lived and fully recovered while the others died. After having 2 choppers shot out of the sky, mine is also hit, but crash lands in the drop zone where I walk away. That same day, when coming to the aid of another unit just ambushed, a medic was calling for help on top of an open hill. Everyone looked at each other, but no one would go to that obvious open ambush site. Being the leader I went. While kneeling on top of that open hill helping hold the dangling leg of the wounded man I looked over to see the NVA looking right back at me just 50 yards away. I knew I was dead, but they just looked and let us live. As soon as we carried the wounded man back, the entire firefight started again. The men were again amazed at this luck.Two additional Lt's were shot trying to take this hill, and then the Colonel tells me it's my turn. Taking this hill requires an attack right out in the open. The only change I make is to use Ranger tactics of firing like crazy, and yelling, to make your enemy think they're gonna die. We take the hill without one man wounded. Later that night I move out to ambush what I know is coming back for revenge. We get em all. I still have the souvenirs and their family photos.The very next day we get surrounded in an old enemy base camp. We all know it's the end when nightfall comes. I pass the word for everyone to use Ranger tactics of never firing at night, just throw grenades. Don't let em see you at anytime. We say our goodbyes and watch night fall. They attack all night long with some bugle they keep blowing. In the morning I check and find not one man even wounded. Two days later, after a long day, I have to do the evening scout for an alternate position. The men want to mutiny,because my being the only Lt means they always have to do this. I tell em they're right, but being an officer I have to go and will welcome the help from anyone who will join me. Scared stiff I head out into the jungle alone, only to hear my radio operator say "if one zero goes I go", followed by the entire unit. Hours later our position is under heavy artillery attack fromover in Laos. We take numerous wounded, but are not allowed to fire back into Laos. Knowing it will be suicide to stay there, I lead the unit to the alternate position I scouted earlier when they didn't want to go. We sit there all night listening to the bombardment of our old location. Every man knows they would be dead if they hadn't followed me earlier to scout out an alternate site.A couple of days later I land in a 1 ship landing zone right in the face of the enemy. I report it's hot and that tells command to leave us there. Wemake all sorts of noise, fire like hell, throw every grenade we have, and with gunship support the NVA run off. The rest of the unit arrives and we have a terrific fight. The next day I receive word that I will need to be flown out in a chopper to the rear(my mother was very ill, but lived).Instead of me leading the way as usual the CO tells a new replacement Lt to lead his unit to the pickup site, because I probably have a lot on my mind.They step on a mine and the Lt is killed. The men know I would have been leading them down that same trail, except for the change.Although I knew it wasn't true, they all consider me as having some special luck as their Lieutenant. The others come and go within 2 weeks. I not only lived, but they lived too. I knew it was just basic luck that would run out soon, and I was really scared almost all of the time, but to them I had a special touch that kept them alive. Believing in that, they followed me anywhere, but I was very careful not to exploit that advantage. I never ever risked a man without having taken all the precautions I could, and I always walked up front to be with them and be their leader.As a side note, two weeks after I left the unit 6 men were killed in one night by firing a machine gun. The men later told me that it would neverhave happened, because when I was there I always insisted "fight like Rangers, don't ever fire a weapon in the jungle at night".
Originally posted by Monk Beirut: 82,83,85,86......84 I had to catch my breath.Grenada: 83Gulf:90-91
Originally posted by Ripsnort {S} Monk
