1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Diary of John Grant Page 3

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

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

May 1, 1970

Today starts my fifth month in country. It was a lucky day for me.
I found $20 in my pocket.
We were resupplied with clean clothes and there it was.
I also played poker, nickel Anny and won $5.00
I was paid today and I sent home $105.00.
My pay is finally pretty well arranged right.
My article 15 was taken out, plus I received back pay.
I was on ambush last night and we went back in for a while,
then I was sent back out.
It poured down rain for about 30 minutes then stopped.
We got a hooch up just in time.
In fact, we even got a little wet before we got the hooch up.
End of Entry

May 2, 1970

Our ambush was pulled back to the perimeter or LZ so
we could pack up our C’s.
As usual they waited until it started raining before
they gave us the word.
Our platoon had moved out early in the day, so about 10 of us
had to hump to where they set up their NDP.
We paid $5.00 for bravo sierra today
for the next month’s supply.
We are still planning on being on Niagara about the 6th or 7th.
End of Entry

Note:
Bravo Sierra: Beer and Soda
NDP: Night defensive position
LZ: Landing Zone
C’s: C-rations.

May 3, 1970

Our orders were changed.
We were CAed to An Khe plus we took a convoy on in to Radcliff.
We are expecting to go to Cambodia. Nobody knows.
I hope to hell not.
It is hard telling how long we will be here at An Khe.
The rumor is we will leave tomorrow morning.
(My writing started to get sloppy and here is what I said).
“As you can see, I am drunk as hell by my writing.”
“We got clean clothes plus I took a shower.”
End of Entry

Note:

I don’t remember getting drunk!
Okay, maybe that’s not the truth.

May 4, 1970

We sat around most of the day except for when we went to the PX.
WELL, our orders are here from higher-higher.
Destination-Cambodia, somewhere on the other side of the line.
We don’t know what to expect as far as enemy strength
but Cambodia is their main supply route and R&R center.
We are expecting a lot of HELL over there.
We leave tomorrow morning with 12 meals,
grenades, LAW’s, all kinds of ammo
and a lot of nerves.
G.I.’s with a lot of faith.
(Mission – 2 weeks - if we don’t see too much action.)
Probably indefinitely if we do.
GOD, save our sorry world.
End of Entry

Note:
LAW’s: Light Antitank Weapon.
Going over the border into Cambodia was an expansion
of the war, as far as the news media was concerned.
Many people in the states were protesting after they got word of this.
On May 4, 1970 at Kent State University, the Ohio National Guard shot and killed four students
who were protesting this “so called” expansion.
As an Army soldier, we all looked at this as the opportunity to push our enemy back a notch
by destroying their R&R hooches, food, weapons etc. It was a really bad time in the U.S. It wasn’t much fun in Vietnam
or Cambodia either.
We were heartbroken when hearing about the shooting at Kent State.

May 5, 1970

At 4:30 A.M., we were woken up,
told the trucks would be there in 20 minutes to convoy us to the An Khe’
airport by C-130 4 prop planes to Pleiku.
Why Pleiku I don’t know but that is where we are headed now.
Well, here we are at Pleiku Air Force base.
We have been treated outstanding by the flyboys.
They have done a lot to make us welcome.
I went to their club and drank 7-7’s all night and got drunk again.
I met 3 guys from the base and they were buying me drinks.
Believe it or not, they were from California.
We are supposed to leave here tomorrow morning.
I even went swimming in their pool yesterday.
End of Entry

Notes:
We Army guys had no idea that there was such a base in Vietnam.
This base was like anything you would find in the U.S.
There was a football field, with regular grass that we slept on. That was special to us grunts.
A “level” grassy field to lay on.
A swimming pool? Really? A modern cafeteria open at all hours?
Just crazy to us really.
A CLUB? We were all amazed.

May 6, 1970

4:30 AM this morning we were woken up to get packed
and ready for the convoy. (To Cambodia)
I had a hard time getting up as I stayed at the Club and got smashed again.
I also ate chow at the mess hall at 11:30 last night.
This morning we went to the snack bar and ate grilled cheese sandwiches,
drank cold sodas and ate ice cream.
It seemed unreal to have these luxuries.
They even had shitters that flushed like back in the world,
running water etc. The Airforce guys couldn’t believe
what we grunts go through and how we are treated.
They admitted to me they were spoiled.
Civilian clothes on base even.
Anyway, here we are almost to Cambodia.
End of Entry

Notes:
I remember when I went to the cafeteria, they had actual plates, silver wear, trays, napkins etc. I was sitting there
for the longest time staring at my food. Two Airforce guys sat down at my table and asked me why I wasn’t eating.
I told them that I had not sat at a table, in a chair, eating off of plates or had silver wear for months.
I wanted to remember and enjoy it. They were amazed. I was amazed at all of it. They were feeling guilty.

May 7, 1970

Our Battalion was CAed to where we thought was going
to be LZ Hole but it turned out we were CAed inside Cambodia, so
that is where we are now.
We humped until 6:00, then I set up for the night, then they decided
to move to another NDP. I set up again, then they decided I would be on LP.
Boy, did I have a case of the ass.
Delta Co was in combat during the late hours of the day.
They killed 3 and wounded 4.
I want to go back to Nam now.
I never thought I would ever say that.
We found about 30 hooches plus food and other items.
We burned it all.
End of Entry

Note:
Setting up 3 times was very agitating.
It was bad enough, the stress of being in a really hot zone.

May 8, 1970

Vietnam is peace compared to Cambodia.
We ran into some pissed off dinks today.
Our platoon was point, we found a re-supply area for the dinks,
with all kinds of rucks, food etc.
Tom and I were pulling security on the trail and 5 dinks creeped up.
They didn’t see us. Tom said “get down” so I did and he
opened up and so did I in the general area. We got down and
the dinks all opened up on us.
The Lord was with us, we weren’t hit.
On the other side of the mountain, the dinks opened up on our platoon and all hell broke loose.
No one was hit, by luck.
We ran a small patrol to where Tom and I were shot at from.
Three men crossed the stream on a log and I was next. A dink
opened up from behind a rock at Tom. (Just missed him) and rocks
hit him in the nose. We got down, returned fire and he (the dink) Di Di Mau’ed.
I had to go see if we hit him.
What a day!
End of Entry

Note:
Di Di Mau: To go fast.
We did not find that dink and there was not a blood trail.
One lucky dink, two lucky G.I.’s, One lucky company.

(Ed. ) Above: Entry from the 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry S-3 Daily Staff Journal of May 8, 1970,
indicating that C Co (C Company) found 12 storage hootches on that date at
Grid reference 522489. The Journal went on to list 22 lines of supplies found
there. This entry matches John's entry in his diary above, of May 8, 1970
where he indicates he and his platoon found an enemy re-supply area.

May 9, 1970

Today has been peaceful compared to yesterday.
We saw 5 dinks but didn’t get into contact with them.
Tom walked point; I walked backup.
We set up early about 3:45.
We are supposed to be resupplied tomorrow.
We burned down the hooches we found yesterday.
That’s about it for now.
The day isn’t over yet but I doubt if anything else will happen.
End of Entry

Note:
What an easy day we had right?

May 10, 1970

We rose at 6:00 AM, packed up and started humping.
It was just one of those days where all we did was hump.
We looked for an LZ, got resupplied and on the NDP, they spotted
a dink who walked right up on them.
Nobody had their gun so they couldn’t shoot.
They were lucky the dink didn’t open up on them.
It rained really hard for about 20 minutes and stopped.
I got one letter Dated May 2 from Monie.
Greg (Surratt) fell on a stick that went into his leg about 1 ½”,
so, he went to the firebase for medical treatment on the re-supply bird.
Top went in for a bee sting, that sorry bastard.
End of Entry

Notes:
LZ: Landing zone
NDP: Night defensive position
Resupplied: Food, Ammo, mail
Top: 1st Sergeant C Company

May 11, 1970

I walked point today.
We humped our asses off.
I didn’t see any dinks but our element spotted one.
We had to run a patrol and try to find him.
(We didn’t)
We ran across a very good conditioned hooch with an estimated
100,000 punji sticks.
We burned them and the hooch and humped up
an ass kicker to set up our NDP.
End of Entry

Note:
An Ass Kicker: Use your imagination.

May 12, 1970

As usual, we humped and humped until we came upon a
blue line, NDP and LZ.
It looks like we are going to a new A.O. instead of to the firebase.
We really don’t know yet.
Tanks were spotted from the air, so I figure that’s
where we are going.
As usual, we will be screwed out of being on the firebase.
We’ll see tomorrow.
End of Entry

Notes:
Blue line: creek, stream or river.
NDP: Night defensive position
LZ: Landing zone
A.O.: Area of operation

May 13, 1970

This has to be the first time a mission has been cut short.
We were CAed out of Cambodia this afternoon to Plei Djereng.
I never thought Vietnam could be so great to lay eyes on.
Nixon (President) claims we have put the NVA back 18 months by what we
have accomplished.
I believe it.
Our Battalion has found numerous hooch complexes and
destroyed them plus medical supplies, weapons, ammo, clothing,
rucksacks, food and just about everything, including
typewriters, adding machines and training aids.
Tomorrow? Pleiku!
Convoy should start at 10:00 AM.
Best of all, Cambodia is over and we had 0 casualties.
Hot Chow tonight.
End of Entry

Note:
I can’t even begin to tell you how relieved we were to
be out of Cambodia. I think the pressure from the protestors
in the U.S. caused the short mission in Cambodia.
Kent State killings and more and more protests continued.

May 14, 1970

Our convoy brought us to An Khe.
It took until 6:00 PM to get there.
Our truck got 2 flat tires.
Some (friendly) dinks stopped and we bought sun glasses etc. from them.
Our convoy was hit and APC’s took care of them.
2 dinks dead, 1 truck blown up – no G.I. casualties.
We got hot chow and clean clothes when we got there,
plus, beer and soda.
It was raining when we got there. The whole place was wet
and some places flooded.
End of Entry

Notes:
APC’s: Armored personnel carriers.
Friendly dinks: Traveling on main roads you pass many friendly South Vietnamese in small villages.
We would toss cans of food, candy etc. to them as we passed.
While we were stopped, some Vietnamese would try to sell us things and sell themselves at times.
It was NOT a good idea to take advantage of that.

May 15, 1970

Today has been a letter writing day. I haven’t done anything but have
my pay fixed up, so I am getting the right amount.
The day is over and one less day in the boonies of Vietnam.
It is raining outside now. I’m getting ready to go to the movie now.
I took a shower today plus got 3 hot meals of chow.
I don’t know how to act.
End of Entry

Notes:

Going to a movie was quite a great opportunity.
Getting three hot meals in one day was very unusual but on a big base camp not so much.
I don’t know how to act: What a great feeling it was to be in a safe zone
and to catch up with letters, relax, have a few beers and get my sanity back.
I took a shower today: No one knows how that feels, when you have been dirty for a couple of weeks
or even as long as one month, unless you have experienced it.

May 16, 1970

Memorial services were held for Lugo.
His child was 5 months old, he had 50 days left (in country).
After the service I wrote letters and sat around.
We had a band that played country western music here
and everybody was drunk (except me) and we sang along.
I went to the PX, ordered Monie some flowers and bought
a comb and towel. It was raining when I got out of the PX.
We hopped a ride back to the standdown area.
Another day out of the boonies –safe—relaxation.
End of Entry

Notes:

My heart goes out to Lugo’s family who was a short timer, a father and husband.
I think of my own son born March 6th, 1970 and wonder what his life would be like
if I didn’t come home to help raise him. It’s sad.

May 17, 1970

I attended church services this morning.
Later, we were given shots. I got 3.
I plan on getting drunk today. It is now 12:30.
We went to the firing range to shoot up our old ammo.
I was half way drunk at the time.
I fired about 30 magazines.
My ears still aren’t back to normal after all the noise.
Later this evening we went to the Roadrunner Club, about 2 miles away.
We got back about 11 PM.
I had two drinks and quit while everybody else got plastered.
End of Entry

Notes:
This was the one and only time we shot up old ammo.
I am surprised I am not deaf from it. I wasn’t wearing ear plugs.
It was kind of fun I have to admit.
Each mag has 20 rounds. My M-16 rifle was so hot I could hardly hold on to it.

May 18, 1970

We were resupplied with C-s, ammo, claymores, etc. to get ready
for tomorrows “pull out” to the boonies.
We didn’t expect to go out this soon but naturally
that is subject to change.
I was offered a job with Headquarters this afternoon.
It was a hard decision to make but I decided to take the job.
I will be humping a radio.
I am supposed to start the 28th of this month.
I received a box and letter from Monie today.
We are humping 12 meals, plus world food.
It’s going to kick our ass.
End of Entry.

Note:

I don’t remember when Cap. Cinquino took over our company but
he is whom I will be the RTO for.

May 19, 1970

About 3:30 this afternoon we got on the birds, only
To take a short 5-minute CA to the boonies.
We are very close to Radcliff.
Our mission?
To search out 90 sappers in the area that have been hitting the
camp the past couple of months.
The terrain is flat and hard to pinpoint yourself on a map,
so, we are taking “pace counts”.
I feel at least 9/10 safer here than in Cambodia
End of Entry

Notes:
Sappers: enemy that infiltrates the concertina wine slowly over hours wearing little to nothing
and causing explosions once they get inside the wire.
The dinks are trained very well and have caused much damage over the war.
Pace counts are taking steps and counting the distance.
A pace step is approximately 30” long on average.

May 20, 1970

We humped from 9:00 AM to 4:15 PM today,
through more vines and briars than I have ever been in.
At the moment I am on a 7-man bush wac about 75 meters outside the perimeter.
Tomorrow means point for me.
I hope it will be my last time.
End of Entry

Notes:

Vines and briars were in abundance. It seems that our uniforms would get caught on them daily.
Cuts happened on your arms and hands regularly, then jungle rot.
Walking point is coming to an end for me soon.
The stress of walking point is the main reason for me accepting the Headquarters position,
which should happen in a few days from now.

May 21, 1970

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times; “this has to be
the worst day in Vietnam for me”.
I walked point today and had to cut my way through very, very, very thick
briars, thorns, vines etc. and, it was continuous all day long,
from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
It definitely was the thickest terrain I have been in here in Nam.
We had no contact today.
The dinks have more brains than to get in to thick shit like that.
End of Entry

Notes:

We all carried a machete to cut brush. I never thought I would have to cut this much brush in my entire life. Unbelievable really.

May 22, 1970

We humped until we found a blue line, then we headed North.
Our goal today was to find an LZ for re-supply tomorrow.
We did find it and now we are set up.
It’s about to rain out, so we all built hooch’s to keep us dry.
It won’t be long before monsoon season and I am not
looking forward to it.
End of Entry

Blue line: River, creek,
LZ: Landing zone for helicopters and resupply

May 23, 1970

Today was resupply day so we didn’t do much except run a patrol
about 800 meters South to look for possible ambush sites.
I was on OP for about 3 hours this afternoon.
We received mail, I found out about Uncle Boots death.
There isn’t much I can say about how I feel except I was shocked and sorry.
He died a week ago today and I just found out about it.
It’s terrible to be so far away and have correspondence as slow as it is.
I will pray for Boots tonight. I will pray for Jessie and
her family. I feel low, very low.
Words cannot express my sorrow.
End of Entry

Notes:
OP: Observation Point.
Uncle Boots: My father’s sister’s husband.
My cousin Bob, Jessies son was in the Naval Air and served off of the USS Constellation.
He was navigator on an F-4 Phantom and he and his pilot shot down a Russian Mig prior to my coming to Vietnam.
He is my hero.

May 24, 1970

It has been a quiet day today. We packed our gear and SP’ed at
8:00 AM and humped until 10:00. We came upon 2 high-speed
trails and our squad ran a patrol to see what was there.
I walked point.
At 12:15 we broke for chow and Norm got a call for an emergency leave.
We don’t know what for but whatever it is, it isn’t good.
We have set up in one of the worst spots we possibly could.
Our papa lima isn’t too squared away.
He is too gung ho.
End of Entry

Note:
SP’ed: Starting Point or time. A military term.
Papa lima: Platoon Leader. I don’t remember, at this point, who that was.

May 25, 1970

We humped bookoo today, about 2 clicks, I walked point.
A chopper brought us out water because we were out.
We came upon a road that tanks and Deuce and ½’s have been on.
We humped South on it about 800 meters and
set up off to the side.
At about 9:30 we heard dink voices and a world radio playing out
on the road. We also heard some type of vehicle
and called it in to higher-higher.
They called out gun ships and they were cleared to fire on it if seen
but they couldn’t spot it.
We were all nervous on guard.
We never opened up on the voices because we didn’t want
to give our position away.
End of Entry

Notes:
Bookoo or buku: Vietnamese term meaning “a lot of something”
(ED., from the French "beaucoup".)
2 Clicks: two kilometers or 2,000 meters.
Deuce ½: 2 ½ ton 3 axel military cargo truck. M-35
World radio: Not a military radio but a radio for music.
Higher-Higher: The officers in charge of our company or battalion.
Gun Ships: Cobra’s. You do not want one of those after you.
Very affective killing machine with rockets and machine guns that
shoot about 7,000 rounds a minute.

May 26, 1970

We humped South for 700 meters only to find we were out of our A.O.,
so, we had to hump back, plus an extra 300 meters.
We reached our NDP about 11:30 AM and got ready for tonight.
Our scout expects us to have some trouble tonight.
He says the dinks know we are here and maybe they will try
something tonight. That isn’t good news on my nerves.
Last night I only slept 5 hours because I was nervous.
Resupply day tomorrow.
Sidewinder just had contact.
10 dinks returned fire.
Sidewinder killed one.
End of Entry

Notes:
A.O.: Area of operation. We were outside of it.
NDP: Night defensive position.
Scout: we had Vietnamese “scouts” travel with us. They were usually North Vietnamese soldiers
that we were able to turn to our side. These scouts were very observant. Especially during poker games.
They always knew exactly how much money was in the pot.

May 27, 1970

Today was resupply day.
We set out to meet up with the Company and came across hooch’s and chickens and one pig.
We burned the hooch’s and shot the pig.
Soon, we met up with Headquarters and I was told to join them.
Roadrunner moved out to a different NDP, so I am now officially a
Headquarters representative.
It feels good to be relaxed and to learn something new.
I received 2 letters from Monie on pony, plus clean clothes and
a package from the Elliots.
End of Entry

Notes:
It was hard watching my platoon move out to another location without me.
I had developed great relationships with the platoon.
We protected each other daily.
I will not be asked to walk point again. I will carry a radio.
Pony: mail delivery.
NDP: Night defensive position

May 28, 1970

We waited for back-haul birds until noon, moved out about 12:30 after
receiving sniper fire from one AK-47.
Red Leg was called in but too late to do any good.
The smoke round started a fire and spread until we had to move
or we would have been scald to death.
We reached our NDP at approximately 3:00 PM.
You know, we didn’t hump much.
I’m not bitching.
End of Entry

Notes:
Back Haul Birds: Huey’s transporting things from the field to base camp.
(Sometimes enemy weapons or ammo or information necessary to determine the enemies next moves).
AK-47: Russian made automatic weapon used like we would use the M-16.
AK-47’s could shoot M-16 rounds but M-16’s could not shoot AK-47 rounds.
Red Leg: A term established in the early 1800’s to differentiate the branches by color. Field artillery personnel wore a scarlet stripe
down their leg, hence the term Red Leg. In other words, we brought in Artillery rounds.
A smoke round is fired first to make sure the explosive round H.E. does not hit our own guys. This time it started a fire.

May 29, 1970

Sidewinder ran sweeps twice today, both times receiving contact.
First time, 7 dinks in the open. They opened fire on them but missed.
Second time, a dink set up ambush on them but
was not successful.
H.E. was fired, again with no casualties on either side.
I stayed in the papa and pulled guard.
What a shammer.
End of Entry

Notes:
Sweeps: search and destroy where possible.
H.E.: High explosive rounds from Artillery
The Papa: The perimeter.
I felt like a “shammer” because I was not out there on sweeps with the platoon.

May 30, 1970

We stayed in location, same as yesterday. Sidewinder ran a sweep,
found 1 hooch plus a few items such as rice, corn, tobacco, 6 pigs and many chickens.
They were destroyed and I called it in to higher-higher.
I’ve cleaned my rifle plus written 2 letters and that is the
extent of my day.
Tomorrow is C.A. Day to An Khe.
End of Entry

Note: C.A. Day: Being transported by Huey’s to base camp.
C.A. means combat assault but we used that term every time we got on a bird.

May 31, 1970

At 1:30 PM our C.A. started for Radcliff.
We boarded as Bravo Co. got off.
They took over our A.O.
We were greeted by cold beer and soda, plus hots.
Pad guard started at 8:00 PM. I slept until 10:00,
then went on guard until 1:00 AM.
My next guard started at 4:00 AM to 7:00 AM
I got about 4 hours of sleep at the most.
End of Entry

Notes:

Pad Guard: guarding the landing zone for Huey’s.

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