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

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

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

March 1970

March 8, 1970

It’s not too often a man walks up a trail in the woods and comes upon a fellow G.I. with the remarks as such:
“Have you heard the news yet Grant?” “No” I said. “Congratulations your wife had a baby boy.”
“She did” I said. “When did you hear that?” “Oh, when you were down getting water, they radioed it in.
It was 8 pounds 8 ozs I think. Born March 6th. “
I couldn’t think of a better way to start this dialog. I’m the proudest man on earth.
Dear God, see that my wife and son are safe and healthy while I am away.
End of entry.

FYI: When I returned to the NDP there were many guys waiting to congratulate me. When I opened my package from home this diary was in the package.
A few days later my brother sent me a package with cigars in it. I passed them out and the guys lit up. I didn’t because I hate the smell of cigars.

March 9, 1970

I’ve been shamming the most part of the day. We secured the LZ for a couple of hours and then we were given the chance
to take a bath down at the stream. That’s the first bath I have had for two weeks. Tomorrow we should get clean clothes and bravo sierra.
We got hot chow this evening plus nine more Charlie rats (c-rations) to make a total of 17 meals in my ruck. We received pony today
and made several trips from the pad to the Nov. lima. (Night Location)
End of entry

FYI:
Bravo Sierra: beer and soda
Pony: Mail
Charlie Rats: C-ration meals

March 10, 1970

Sooner or later our sham had to end. I had just gotten through packing my ruck to go out on bushwack and Charlie opened up
on the NDP. Everybody had been too lax and noisy. Luckily no one was hit.
I’m out on bushwack now and we are all a little jumpy. We smell pot in the air. Charlie mikes and trips are out up and down the trail.
I won’t sleep good tonight. Nobody will.
End of entry.

March 11, 1970

We were CA’ ed out of our location to another this morning. The chopper couldn’t land because of tree stumps and bushes.
We had to jump about 5 feet to the ground with our rucks on. As soon as we hit the ground, 5 men walked into punji sticks.
This is when I received the M-79. Someone had to take it over after the last 79 man (Selleck) hit a punji in the knee.
I carried more weight today than ever before. Over 100 or 115 lbs. on my back. We humped until it got dark
and laid our bed rolls out and crashed.
End of entry.

CA’ ed (combat assault via helicopter)
Punji sticks: made out of bamboo with sharpened tips, covered with feces, pointed upwards to imbed into your legs.
Many times, punji sticks were buried in a hole and covered up with leaves etc. If you stepped into the hole many punji sticks would penetrate your leg.
Very painful.

March 12, 1970

We got up before it was light and packed our gear. We moved slowly down the mountain, on line, eight meters apart.
Along the way we found hooches and over a ton of rice, cross bows and bunkers. At 4:30 we stopped for the night
and no one had water so we dug a hole in a dried-up riverbed to draw up water and build a small creek to clear the water.
We stayed there almost three hours filling one canteen cup every minute and one half.
Pimp hit a punji stick which almost went clear through his calf. He was dusted off.
End of entry.

Pimp was the nickname of one of our guys and to this day I do not know his real name.
He was from New York and was actually a “pimp” apparently before he was drafted.

Dusted off: being taken for medical attention via helicopter to base camp.

This was one of the few times we were all completely out of water so we never had to do that again.

March 13, 1970

We have been playing this game the lifers have been planning for us for three days now and it is paying off in certain aspects.
Today we uncovered a hooch complex and much rice and other dink necessities for cooking and actually surviving.
If we can cut off their food supply, we can win this war.
We ran into a blue line today and filled our canteens with good clear water and I was able to wash up a little.
This humping is kicking my ass. I must have sweat a quart of water at least today. War is not only hell, it’s frustrating!
End of entry.

Lifers: Career soldiers in charge.
Blue Line: A blue line on a map is a river or creek.

March 14, 1970

We have reached phase line gold today.
Tomorrow will be the final assault of our mission.
The objective is to completely surround the 3rd NVA Regiment Headquarters
and pinch them in to where they can’t move unless they run in to G.I.’s.
Tomorrow will tell if this massive 2,000-man maneuver will pay off.
We have done nothing but cuss the lifers this whole mission
because of the difficulty we are having staying on line and breaking brush.
All our humping is with rucks and up and down unbelievable mountains.
I am ringing wet at this time.
End of Entry

Notes:
The above maneuver was a one and only time we worked with other companies as
a combined effort to accomplish a single goal.
I remember passing a tree with a huge snake coiled on it ready to fall on pray.
I’m not sure but it looked like a Python.

March 15, 1970

I am having a hard time believing that we are in the exact same
November Lima that we were in the night before last.
Higher-Higher came down with orders to do this.
Why? I don’t know.
We were at our destination last night and ready on line this morning to move out.
We sat there until 1:30 in the afternoon.
We were Romeo Sierred with Charlie Rats just before we left.
I have set up for the night, fixed my LRRP Ration
and I am preparing to write Monie a letter now.
I still haven’t heard from Monie since she had John Jr.
End of Entry

Notes: November Lima is Night Location
Higher-Higher: Senior officers, Generals etc.
Romeo Sierred: Re-supplied
Charlie Rat: C-rations
LRRP: Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Meals. Meals that were freeze dried
In which you add hot water and let sit for a few minutes before eating.
Heat tabs were used to heat up the water. Way better than C-rats.
Monie: Nickname for Ramona, my wife at the time.

March 16, 1970

Seven days of careful and detailed planning came to an end today.
We moved from Phase Line Blue back to Gold and pushed on over the major blue line.
We were going to have major recon by 60 and 79 fire but that too was called off
along with 300 rounds of delta tangos and an air strike.
We waded across the blue line up to our chests with rucks on. The bottom
was slick with moss and algae. Several slipped and fell but no casualties.
We cleared an LZ and went for a swim and bath in the blue line.
It was taking a chance but a guy can feel dirty just so long.
We have been lucky.
No dinks, no sniper fire.
End of Entry

Notes:
Delta Tangos: Direct Targets from Artillery
Air Strike: Would be from Navy F-4 Phantom Jets

March 17, 1970

From early morning until about 3:30 we waited for our C.A.
While waiting we decided to take another swim and bath in the rapid moving stream.
The first two birds lifted out and the C.O. and F.O. and R.T.O’s got on the 3rd .
Foxtrot Oscar Hamilton was hit in the foot by sniper fire
and was sent back to the world.
Our bird #4 was shot at too but no one was hit.
We took a convoy (my first) about 15 miles to
Camp Radcliff for a beginning of a 4day standdown.
I got a little drunk and crashed.
End of Entry

Notes:
C.A. Combat Assault Huey Helo’s
C.O.: Commanding Officer
F.O. or Foxtrot Oscar: Forward Observer. Forward Observers traveled with us in the field and would bring in artillery when needed.
F.O.’s would bring in sound rounds as close to our position as possible so if we needed artillery support, they had the distance set exactly.
The world: The United States of America

March 18, 1970

It has been good just doing nothing and drinking beer and reading mail all day.
I went to the PX today and got Monie a plaque and Easter card.
I mailed the package and left the card on the counter.
Damn that made me mad.
The PX is only about two miles from here and on foot
it is really inconvenient.
I’m a grunt all the way around. I’ll get another tomorrow.
Well, I’m going to get drunk and go to a movie now.
Tomorrow is another day.
End Of Entry

Notes:
Rest and relaxation at a basecamp after being in the field is so necessary.
Drinking beer to help you relax. Priceless

March 19, 1970

1:30 A.M. Made a Mars Call
I walked 2 miles to the PX to buy one item, an Easter Card.
You guessed it, they were all out.
Boy, was I disappointed.
I did order Monie a corsage from the USO which will arrive from Hawaii.
I didn’t receive any letters from Monie today but got one from Larry.
Our standdown was shortened and we will move out tomorrow for the field again.
We are having a Barbeque at this time. (chicken) It is delicious.
Today we got to eat in the mess hall for lunch.
Otherwise, it has been another nothing day.
Just another day.
End Of Entry

Notes: Mars Call at 1:30 A.M. was to connect with my wife for the first time since being in country. I needed to hear my son’s cry, scream, laugh
(Whatever he could do). It took a couple of different sites to connect. You had to speak and say “over” then at the other end of the call they had to do the same.
The calls were limited to just a few minutes. Maybe 5?
Larry is my brother.
For a grunt, eating in a mess hall was a special deal. In the field you don’t have chairs or tables and when you get hot chow in a mess hall you appreciate it.

March 20, 1970

As usual, we can’t rely on the Army’s word.
Our sham was cut short and we were CAed to an abandoned firebase early this morning.
We rebuilt a bunker and built us some bunks inside.
We are expected to be here tomorrow all day but you know the Army.
We might leave or be here a week.
It is dark as hell, that is why my handwriting is sloppy.
I received my orders stating I am PFC as of Feb 1.
End Of Entry

Notes:
In the jungle, when the sun goes down, you can not even see
your hand in front of your face.

Why am I just becoming a PFC?
Well, you see, I didn’t report for duty on time in December.
I stayed home a few days in order to celebrate Christmas
with my family as I assumed I might not see another one.
I was given an article 15 fine and was not promoted to PFC for a few weeks.
That’s OK. The fine was a few bucks and they rushed me to Vietnam
when I reported in so I got there Dec 31, 1969.
This allowed me to collect hazardous fire pay.

March 21, 1970

I would never make a carpenter.
We rebuilt our bunker and, in the afternoon, the main beam broke down the middle.
It would have killed someone if they were inside.
We went on a small patrol in the afternoon, came back and did little of nothing.
During the night about 11:30, Top and the C.O. caught Joyner asleep
and 8 other guards around the perimeter.
We were put on 100% alert until 2:30 A.M. and those guards will receive article 15’s.
They are lucky we all didn’t lose our lives because of it.
End of Entry

Notes:

Top is the 1st Sgt. Sorry but I can’t remember his name.
Our C.O. at the time I cannot remember his name either.

Every man takes his turn pulling guard duty through the night.
You put your trust in your guys being awake during that time.
An article 15 is the military way of fining and documenting
details of misbehavior. This article 15 will go on their record.

March 22, 1970

We just sat around the firebase most of the day.
Just before lunch we had to pick up the trash and mess the company before us here left.
We had to stack old sandbags neatly around the torn down bunkers.
The C.O. didn’t like how messy it looked.
We must keep Vietnam beautiful.
As you can see, we weren’t C.A.’ed out yesterday or today.
End of Entry

Notes:

There were many days in the jungle where we would set up our position
and not do much but wait for some action or orders
to follow. This was one of those days.

March 23, 1970

As far as I am concerned, nothing else even existed during the day
because I received the first picture of my son late this evening.
He is so cute; I can hardly believe it.
How he can be so chubby the first day of life.
All I want to do is stare at him. I feel so proud.
If I could only be home to touch him, I would pay thousands.
God will see me through this time of war and misery
so, I can raise my son and be with him.
I have this faith in God.
There is no doubt in my mind that nothing could come between us.
End of Entry

Notes:

I carried that picture in my wallet for years.

March 24, 1970

We just sat around the firebase most of the day.
Late this evening we opened up on a dink that was looking
right at us from just outside the perimeter.
We got two new guys in the squad John and Jerry.
Other than that, it has been another do-nothing day.
End Of Entry

Notes:

We opened up on this dink using a L.A.W.
A L.A.W is a light anti-tank weapon.
Since we never saw tanks in the Central Highland, we
decided to use it on this dink.
We never found remains.
I believe he got away actually.

March 25, 1970

We are back in the field again.
One of the birds was shot up.
No one was hurt.
Other than that, nothing exciting has happened today.
We sat around until the C.A. and after the C.A., we set up in the NDP.
End of Entry

Notes:
C.A. Combat assault
NDP Night defensive position
Birds were always the Huey’s. A great means of transportation.

March 26, 1970

Back in the old grind again.
We humped down an 80-degree slope most of the day.
It feels good to be out here again.
The lifers were getting on my nerves on firebase Sheraton.
We put our rucks down and went on a patrol,
down the blue line and back.
I am on bushwack at this time
with 9 others including a gun (60 Machine gun).
One new guy (John) left the squad and
Jeff came back to our squad.
End of Entry

Notes:

I must have become accustomed to the jungle at this point.
The adrenalin kicks in and the enjoyment of the camaraderie
with your buddies is a very special feeling.
Having a 60-machine gun by your side doesn’t hurt either.
Jeff would be Jeff Van Arsdale: A Hoosier.
Not sure who John was. It’s not me.

March 27, 1970

Today has been one of the hardest days of humping
we have had since I have been with the company.
Early in the afternoon, Sidewinder killed a dink.
That makes their 3rd one since
I have been with the company.
Today was our 4th day on 3 days of rations.
I have 2 cans of food left.
I hope like hell we get resupplied tomorrow
or a lot of G.I.s’ will go awfully hungry.
I had one can for supper tonight.
End of Entry

Sidewinder is one of three platoons with Charlie Company.
Roadrunner, Sidewinder and Panther.

(Ed. ) Above: Entry from the 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry S-3 Daily Staff Journal of March 27, 1970,
indicating that C co 3 RD (C Company 3rd Platoon) killed an NVA soldier on that date at
Grid reference 627770. This entry matches John's entry in his diary above, of March 27, 1970
where he indicates Sidewinder (3rd Platoon) killed an enemy soldier that day.

March 28, 1970

I walked point this morning and had to break brush all the way.
Elephant grass cut me.
Sgt Wade gave me a bad case because he got me going the wrong way.
We set up an LZ and then 8 of us went on an ambush down the trail.
We were re-supplied with C's and we received mail and packages.
I got one from Mom and Dad.
End of Entry

Note:
Breaking brush meant using the machete to cut a path for those following behind.

My father put together a package for me once a week.
I always looked forward to receiving it.
I appreciated cans of fruit in juice, freeze dried fruits etc.

March 29, 1970

Today we sat on the LZ all day and did nothing.
We just broke down elephant grass and built a shitter
because we will be here tomorrow.
We have been really lucky we haven’t received sniper fire
as the LZ is around higher ground.
However, we have bushwacs all around us for security.
We had no shade and it was about 105 degrees out, plus, I ran out of water.
We had a patrol go down for water soon after at a local blue line.
End of Entry

March 30, 1970

From morning until noon, we humped in thick, steep terrain, breaking brush all the way.
We broke for chow by a big blue line and humped down it about one click.
In the evening the platoon set up right on (next to) the blue line
and I was on LP with 2 others above the blue line.
Sidewinder wounded and captured 3 dinks.
One was a woman.
I took a bath in the blue line and that felt outstanding!
End of Entry

Notes:
A Click is a kilometer or 1,000 meters or .621 miles
LP is a listening post.
Capturing instead of killing in the Central Highlands
was pretty unusual. Capturing a woman even more so.

(Ed. ) Above: Entry from the 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry S-3 Daily Staff Journal of March 30, 1970,
indicating that Company C's 2nd Platoon and Command Post wounded and captured 3 enemy soldiers
on that date at Grid reference BR 615778, one of which was a woman. This entry closely matches John's entry
in his diary above, of March 30, 1970.

March 31, 1970

We humped our asses off today, 3 clicks.
We saw a dink, fired on him and missed, late this evening.
We have run into leeches again and Tom had 6 sucking his blood.
One almost got my butt.
I am on bushwac again tonight but with 7 instead of three pinheads.
I am fixing chow now and getting ready to crash.
End of Entry

Notes:

3 clicks are a long ass way to go in a jungle. 3,000 meters.
There is one very lucky dink that survived our shots.
Leeches, leeches, leeches. You don’t even know they are on you until
they have sucked your blood for a while.
One drop of insect repellant on a leech and it falls off of you.

(Ed.) Above: Entry from the 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry S-3 Daily Staff Journal of March 31, 1970,
indicating that Company C's 1st Platoon (John's Platoon) fired on an enemy soldier but missed him.
This matches John's diary entry of March 31, 1970.

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