1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Diary of John Grant Page 9

Diary Entries of John A. Grant
Charlie Company 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry 4th Infantry Division
Headquarters Platoon

November 1, 1970

There was nothing unusual about today.
I got up and started driving around 7:30 AM, making trips to
Tuy Hoa and back to our compound.
My jeep is using a lot of oil, so I have had to add a quart a day in it
for the las 4 days.
It Don’t Mean Nothin.
End of Entry

November 2, 1970

Life hasn’t been too bad for me the last couple of weeks, for the
first time since I have been in Vietnam.
I feel like I’m getting over it.
I found out that I had a flat on my trailer, plus one on my jeep,
so, I guess I will be fixing two flats tomorrow.
I painted our cooler a bright blue this evening.
There was nothing else to do. I would be reading my book but
I left it in the jeep, and the jeep is gone now.
I have 57 days left in Vietnam.
Wow, getting short!
End of Entry

November 3, 1970

My big deal for the day was changing, or fixing a flat tire.
I ended up taking the tire off of the rim 3 times.
I had another flat on the jeep, but didn’t get around to fixing it.
I went to the mess hall at 6:45 PM and ate.
After eating my late supper, I got some ice for the cooler.
After busting it up I took a shower, then came back to my room, read and
talked to Tim and Gary.
During the wee hours, we had rats in the walls making so much noise
I couldn’t sleep.
I just knew they were going to eat my toes off or something.
End of Entry

November 4, 1970

It isn’t too pleasant to wake up at first light and watch a rat run
out of your room. It was like the rat was saying, “I’m through for the night,
I’ll be back tomorrow G.I.”
My day was usual after eating fried eggs and sausage and
pancakes for breakfast.
I made my trip to the motor pool, then back
to the compound and back and forth.
I’m a terror in a jeep, especially on the sand dunes or the bunker line.
I gave a few guys a ride of their lives before lunch.
After I thought my day was through, I had to make another trip to
Tuy Hoa to pick up two guys.
Now I’m through.
End of Entry

November 5, 1970

Driving a jeep is all right, except when you have to fix
flat tires, like I did today.
I also had a leak in the radiator, which I had to have
soldered and replaced.
Otherwise, the day was the usual hassle. I drove our
new 1st Sergeant to Tuy Hoa today. I made about 4 trips all
together from there and Phu Hiep. I took the scenic trip
along the ocean today for a change.
End of Entry

1st Sergeant Gray

He became the new 1st Sergeant
for Company C in November 1970.

This is the 1st Sergeant that John
talks about in his diary entry for
November 5, 1970.

November 6, 1970

A very odd feeling struck me today.
I was up in a tower in our perimeter while we were fixing a
land-line, over-looking a village. I remembered, over
10 months ago that I was in a tower in Cam Rahn Bay, on
guard duty. It was the ending of a story and
I was the main character.
Why the ending of a story?
I heard today that I go home in 19 days instead of 53.
I couldn’t help but go into a trance and think of all
I have been through in 10 months.
The feeling is finally getting to me.
I am getting short, very short.
What is the world going to be like?
Will it accept John Grant I?
This war is finally coming to an end.
Look out world, the kid is on his way.
End of Entry

Note: There was not a better feeling than
getting a drop from country and only having 19 days left
to get to be home with my family.

November 7, 1970

Nothing exciting today. I made my usual trips to Tuy Hoa and back.
Everybody always wants you to take them here, take them there.
I’m getting tired of working for the green machine.
I guess it don’t mean nothing.
I’ll be home before I know it.
Look out Mon. 18 DAYS
End of Entry

November 8, 1970

The day was as usual until after noon when I asked the C.O. if I
would be staying back while the rest of the company goes to An Khe.
Yes, An Khe. I will be going home in 17 days.
I will be staying in Tuy Hoa as a driver for George Washington,
a Captain for S-4, and John Wallace will be traded for me.
So, he can drive for Captain Cinquino after I go home.
I am going to be transferred to HHC for my remaining days.
I will have regular hours from 7:30-11:30,
then from 1:30-4:30, then I will be off.
I go to Tuy Hoa tomorrow, leaving my friends from Charlie Company.
I’ll miss being with them.
End of Entry

Notes: S-4 is responsible for supply, transportation, logistics, maintenance
and budget issues within a Battalion. (Battalion Logistics officer).
Captain Cinquino made this happen for me. I was so happy.
HHC: Headquarters and Headquarters Company.

(Ed., "George" Washington was actually Captain Lemarse Washington, the Battalion S-4 Logistics Officer.
John was transferred to Battalion Headquarters Company to serve out his remaining days in Vietnam.)

November 9, 1970

Today I made the move.
I left Phu Hiep and Charlie Company and came to Tuy Hoa, HHC.
I drove Cpt. Washington all over today until 7:45 this evening.
I saw Doc today and he said he got a job here in Tuy Hoa, so
we will be having some good times for a few days.
My new jeep is great. It is 5 years newer and it runs like a top.
I just wish I didn’t have to leave Charlie Company
with so few days left.
I hit the snack bar tonight for 2 cheeseburgers and fries.
It still seems unreal that I am in Vietnam with all of this.
End of Entry

Notes:
Doc: Tim R. Browning, New Sharon, Maine. Just a great guy who
took care of our platoon, Roadrunner, for months.
I am feeling separation anxiety by not being with C Co.

November 10, 1970

I got off about 6:15 tonight after driving Cpt. Washington all day.
I went to supper at the mess hall then went and watched
the guys play basketball at the gym.
After that, I went to the show and watched Kelly’s Hero’s.
I still don’t believe this is a war.
15 days left.
I bought a watch at the PX.
It’s a Seiko, costing $38.00
End of Entry

Note: What a change of environment from the past 10 months.
A basketball court, a gym, a PX you can buy things from,
movies, a snack bar. This was a good way to adjust to the world, coming soon.

November 11, 1970

I’m beginning to feel more at home here at 6535.
We have a refrigerator here now, so I bought a case of cokes, not
knowing everybody else did the same. We ended up with 5 cases.
I got off work at 5:20. It was an easy day to say the least.
14 DAYS left.
I plan on writing Monie now but I plan on keeping a secret of
my return on the 25th of November.
End of Entry

Note: 6535 is the grid location of this base.

(Ed., The actual grid coordinate of the terminal at Tuy Hoa Army Airfield was CQ 205424 on Map Sheet 6835-2.)

November 12, 1970

I had to take my watch back to the PX and exchange it because
the facing came off. I did this after lubing the jeep.
The rest of the day I drove Cpt. Washington around, but I sat
around more than anything else.
I’m reading the book M.A.S.H. right now.
13 DAYS left.
End of Entry

November 13, 1970

Today was normal, except I washed and waxed my jeep.
Otherwise, the day went smoothly from 7:30 to 5:30.
I naturally sat around a lot and read newspapers and my book.
I got a new pair of boots today. I don’t know why.
I guess my others got a little dirty.
End of Entry

Note:
I’m getting pretty used to transitioning from the boonies to civilization.
This is good for me, as I will be going home soon to raise my son.
Adjusting will be hard. Forgetting? Never, ever will this tour be forgotten.

November 14, 1970

Bravo Company had my jeep until 0800. I went to pick up
George Washington and he was gone. Already at S-4, I picked up
Chaplain Plunkett and we went to the terminal where we picked up
a full bird Chaplain, whom I drove around for one hour,
then returned him to his bird.
I made my daily run-arounds and I was off at 1800 hours.
I ate chow then went to the show and saw “The Games”, about
the Olympics. After “The Games”, I went to the barracks, took
a shower and got ready to crash.
End of Entry

Note: A full bird is a Colonel, (not a Lieutenant Colonel, one rank below a Colonel)

November 15, 1970

I slept until 0800 this morning, got dressed, went to see Tim (Doc Browning)
and then went to the snack bar for breakfast. After breakfast we checked out a basketball
and shot baskets until 10:30.
At 1300 I dispatched the jeep, went to S-1, and picked up
Cpt. Washington.
We hauled several items over to Alpha Company for new
transfer people for our Battalion.
I got off work at 1820 and went to chow.
The day is over.
10 DAYS today and I’ll be home.
End of Entry

Note:
S-1 is the Administration Officer that handles information of all
human resources, including personnel readiness, personnel services and headquarters management.

November 16, 1970

I woke up and it was raining.
It rained all day and is still raining, plus, winds are
blowing harder all the time.
I had another flat tire today, which I fixed about 2:00 PM.
I drove Major Clayton around the 25 miles of perimeter our
Battalion is responsible for.
We are expecting 80 knot winds tonight. At that rate, the towers
along the beach might be in danger.
I played two hands of spades and lost them both.
Howe and I stood Wilhite and Padgett.
I wrote Monie a letter and got ready for the next boring day.
8 More DAYS 9 Nights
End of Entry

November 17, 1970

Another rainy day and I’m another day shorter, so, I could care less.
The usual day occurred from 7:20 until 6:00 PM.
Running errands was the extent of my work day.
Reading up on politics was another past time experience.
I went to eat supper, then went and bought some beer,
then came back to the barracks and played spades and drank.
End of Entry

Note: The short timer mood has definitely set in. I can not wait to get home.

November 18, 1970

Today was a common day for me, running people here and there.
It stopped raining last night but the wind continued to blow.
I went to the USO tonight and played ping pong.
I was terrible at first and each opponent gave me a little
rougher game as I played.
I left about 10:00 PM and went to the barracks.
I took a shower and crashed.
End of Entry

Note: I was able to play ping pong for gosh sakes. Crazy right?
Is this really Vietnam?

November 19, 1970

Uncle George (Cpt. Washington), let me get some ham and egg
sandwiches at the snack bar while he was doing business at the EM Mess.
Later on, I drove Major Clayton to Phu Hiep and came back to S-1.
From there, I worked, as usual, until I took the Colonel to TOC
and then to his barracks.
Today was my last day of driving.
I start out-processing for the world tomorrow morning.
End of Entry

Notes:
EM Mess: Enlisted man’s mess hall.
TOC: Tactical operations center.

November 20, 1970

I started my out-processing about 0800. By 11:00 AM
I was through, except for my final processing at S-1 tomorrow.
I will complete my processing and on the 22nd I will
leave for Tuy Hoa, if the weather allows it.
The day was boring for me.
The shorter I get the worse it gets.
End of Entry

End of Diary Entries:
I’m on my way home.

I made no further entries in my diary again.
At the time of this writing, I am 73 years old.
I never read my diary all the way through for 52 years. It was too painful.