1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Bill Saling Page 7

Got up at 0700 hours and packed the rest of my gear and went down to get aboard the helicopter.
Arrived at the forward firebase, which is located approximately 4 clicks from Cambodia (4,000
meters). My platoon immediately started digging a bunker while the others worked at improving
the landing zone.

About 1200 hours they started firing just outside the perimeter and everyone dove in their hole.
Some NVA were lost and they wandered into one of our patrols.

Really like this new location and it is a lot better challenge. I was getting tired of 3-Golf
anyway. Had a good dinner of fried chicken. Talked with Buck Ator and Dick Donnelly for a
longtime tonight.

Richard D. "Buck" Ator

Buck Ator had served several years with 1/22 Infantry
at Fort Lewis and deployed with the Battalion to Vietnam
in 1966.

He commanded Company B after Sandy Fiacco and returned
to Vietnam in 1969 for a second tour, this time as an advisor
with MACV Advisory Team 26.

Buck Ator was killed in action on March 5, 1970.

Today I really worked. Spent the entire morning trying to build my bunker but every time a
helicopter would land we had to quit and unload it.

No enemy action in our immediate area today. General Collins came for a visit and everyone
jumped out their ass trying to make a good impression.

This evening Lt. Hal Walland our Engineer Platoon leader blew some tree stumps on my helipad and
sent pieces of wood flying everywhere. I am much happier here. I feel I’m contributing more by
being forward. Of course I had my cot sent up, no sense in practicing to be uncomfortable. Just
have to make sure my bunker is big enough to set it up.

Haven’t received any letters for the last two days but did get a care package from Uncle Al and
Aunt Barbara.

This morning my platoon was called upon to move a 250 lb. bomb that didn’t explode onboard a
helicopter so it could be disposed of safely. Worked a good bit on my bunker and continued to
improve the landing zone area.

Tonight I had a few drinks with Sandy Fiacco and then had a few beers with Dick Donnelly, so at
present I’m feeling no pain.

Haven’t gotten any mail for the last two days so I’m wondering what is going on?
Only 21 days till we meet, can’t wait.

Worked most of the day perfecting the landing zone. It is as good as it is going to get. Big
thing today was taking some time off to take a bath in our near by creek that runs just inside
the perimeter. Water was cool but muddy. Of course I got a big leech on my leg but it was worth it.

Tonight Russ Zink and I got ripped. I was really in orbit, first time in a long time. Zink got
sick and I got a headache, but all in all it was an enjoyable evening.

Big pill day. This morning B Company brought in a prisoner and they captured one yesterday too.
These people are a wreck. Guy today had his hands and feet swollen and had gangrene in his leg.
He also had malaria and was badly malnourished. We had to carry him off the helicopter and boy
did he stink. His skin was beginning to rot and he had maggots in a gunshot wound in his leg.
His unit had left him to die. They don’t carry wounded.

CPT Sampson was out today and there was some firing on the perimeter and he got a little
excited. Sgt. Miller came out today and checked on the platoon here in the firebase. Our
operation here is getting firmly established.

Now that Sgt. Miller is here at the firebase things are running much smoother. General Collins
came out today to visit with LTC Morley and everyone was wondering what was going on.

Last night, Sgt. Buckley, Recon Platoon sergeant asked me to go along on an ambush patrol. They
had been out on a patrol in the afternoon and found a NVA mortar and one body about two hours
old. The plan was to go back and set up an ambush around the body. We moved out around 1815
hours but by the time we got to the location of the body there were about 6 NVA burying the body
and heard us before we could set up an ambush and hauled ass into the jungle. We stayed in the
area until 2200 hours but no further contact.

CPT Zink left for Pleiku today, so I have the tent to myself. Got another new officer in today,
his name is Jim Bradley. I think he will get Recon Platoon. Ron Czepiel got promoted to CPT two
days ago.

Received several letters today, among them was your letter saying you had confirmed flight
reservations to Hong Kong.

Put tar down on the landing pad trying to keep the dust down. Went over to 3-Golf to see Larry
Kinchloe and found out I will probably be extended in the Infantry until I come home.

While at 3-Golf I visited MAJ High and he had Olympia beer on ice. I drank about six beers and
had a headache the rest of the day.

Had two Chinooks arrive at the firebase with mortar ammo so we are in good shape. Jon Katin
returned to the firebase and stayed with me along with the new Lt. Jim Bradley.

Just had a Dustoff (medevac flight) to B Company to evacuate a guy who had cut his leg with a
machete.

Had a tremendous night, slept like a baby, really felt relaxed this morning. Today was more of
the same, sending helicopters back and forth shuttling supplies and replacements.

Two new Lieutenants reported into the battalion today, so it looks like I’m going to stay in my
job for a while.

Tonight, after dinner I got a 40lb shaped charge and stuck it in our creek just inside the
perimeter to blow a hole deep enough so we could swim. It worked great. In fact, I ordered two
more shaped charges to make our swimming pool even bigger. No sense being uncomfortable if you
don’t have to be.

Went back to 3-Golf to get my clothes together so they don’t get lost in the upcoming move.
While there I saw Jim Stapleton who showed me a letter from Linda Collins and I was very
impressed with how mature her outlook for someone being only 20 years old. Also talked with CPT
Sampson who is beside himself. Understand Barb wrecked his car and has already bought tickets to
Hawaii for R&R and Jon won’t be able to get to Hawaii and he is afraid he won’t be able to
contact her before she leaves.

We continue to get replacement officers into the battalion so it looks like some of the original
“boat” people may very well get a 30 day drop on our tour.

A and B Companies have stopped this morning so I went up to see if I could help them locate an
area where they could cut an LZ (landing zone) to evacuate their sick. We have cases of FUO
(fever unknown origin) almost everyday. Some have malaria and others just get sick from drinking
bad water. It is not hard to treat the stream water but some would rather get sick than stay in
the field. Water is becoming critical since we’ve had no rain recently.

I couldn’t find a suitable area for landing so I flew back with 200’ of rope and lowered some
heavy duty chain saws and C-4 explosives to each company so they could clear an area for me to
land and evacuate their sick.

LTC Morley flew in with his little observation helicopter and spent the night with the companies
in the field.

Big pill day. A and B Companies are still working to clear an LZ but the little observation
helicopter has gotten just about everybody out including the prisoner who was captured yesterday.

Not much going on today. Last night I played poker and won about $25 so I have now have $420.
Tonight got back into the game and lost $10. That is my limit so when I lose $10 I get up and leave.

I tried to wash my pillowcase in the creek along with my famous PJ bottoms. No one can believe I
have a pillow and PJ’s but no sense being uncomfortable. Hell I run the helicopters so they just
haul my stuff out to the firebase. The colonel and major both sleep on the ground but I have a
cot in my bunker.

Today we had a UPI (United Press International) reporter and his cameraman here at the firebase
and the reporter ended up in my bunker talking with my guys.

Both A and B Companies made it back to the firebase in time for chow and spend the night. Got a
chance to talk with Fiacco and Babcock they are both doing ok. Rick Huize (platoon leader in A
Company) also came by telling me about an NVA they surprised the other day and shot him 30 or 40
times. Some of the folks who have been in the field for a longer period tend to go off the deep
end and don’t take many prisoners.

The prisoner we captured the other day was an officer and gave us some really good intelligence.
It is hard interrogating a corpse so it is better to get a live prisoner back to the rear but it
is hard keeping up with a prisoner in the jungle.

14 December 1966

Very early this morning “Puff” (C-47 plane with three Gatling guns) had a mission nearby and
mistakenly fired on our firebase. Killed one and seriously wounded another. The Colonel is
pissed to say the very least.

The rounds impacted all around me but missed. The guy who was killed was 100’ to my left and the
guy who was seriously wounded was 50’ to my right. One guy had a sandbag for a pillow and rolled
over just as a bullet hit where his head was a second ago. To say he was shook up would be an
understatement. Another guy had his ammo pouch shot off his belt. Boy I was really lucky.

The Dustoff (medevac) helicopter took over an hour to get to us, which is a long time when you
have wounded.

Rest of the day was uneventful but I will sleep in my bunker tonight rather than outside.

Got up at 0730 hours and packed my gear and got on the first helicopter back to 3-Golf. Fiacco
went along as he had a cyst on his butt and was going back to see Doc Maur. Got back to 3-Golf
and visited with everybody and had dinner before returning to Dragon Mountain Base Camp in Pleiku.

As soon as I got to the base camp I walked into a meeting with Captain Zink. He said there would
be an inspection of all conex containers, those big metal boxes we packed at Ft. Lewis.

Gene Kincheloe, Larry’s brother came down from Da Nang to see Larry. He is in the Marines. Had a
few beers with Russ and then sacked out.

Worked all day cleaning, sorting and rearranging our conex containers. Fiacco just got word he
is going to be the commanding officer of the new 4th Division NCO Academy here at Dragon
Mountain Base Camp. He will be able to hand pick his staff of instructors so it should be a
pretty good deal. Buck Ator will take over command of B Company.

Tonight Russ, Chief Bohn and me went down to see Sandy. He had a guitar so we sang and got
completely wiped out on beer and then someone found a bottle of Scotch. Before the party we all
played touch football out in front of the mess hall.

Inspection this morning was really a farce. Zink had a worse hangover than me and he was the
inspecting officer.

Began work on the ammo dump back here at Dragon Mountain because it was really in sad shape.

Russ and I went into Camp Holloway in Pleiku and got a steam bath and a massage. Boy it was
really great. We had dinner at their Officers Club. It was the first meal I’ve eaten on a plate
since arriving in Vietnam. I had my first mixed drink at the bar. They had real soft chairs and
a cement floor it was fabulous. The drinks were .25 cents and they have Happy Hour every
Tuesday and Friday I can’t imagine that. These pilots really have it tough.

Today was Sunday and I planned on going to church with Buck Ator but got tied up with cleaning
the conex containers. I inspected the ammo dump more carefully today and found really gross
errors, really dangerous. CPT Sampson evidently used very little influence in that area while we
were out on operations. Had two Chinooks come in this afternoon with more ammo. Heavy mortar
platoon arrived with bag and baggage. Everyone is getting ready for the Christmas stand down.

CPT Kincheloe came in on this afternoon’s convey from 3-Golf so we had a long conversation about
the current situation here in the base camp. Got my khakis out of my footlocker and put on all
my stuff. Borrowed Larry’s little suitcase so I’m already to go to Hong Kong just need to shine
my shoes. Won’t be long now.

Big pill day. This morning Larry and I went down to the airstrip and trucked A and C Companies
back to our area. Only company left in the field is B Company and they will be coming in
tomorrow morning. After lunch we all went to see the Bob Hope USO show and it was great. They
had a very well planned and entertaining show. We waited almost two hours before it started. I
thought Phyllis Diller was really good. Dick Donnelly’s father knew Bob Hope and he knew Dick by
his first name and they really hit it off. In fact, Hope asked Donnelly to accompany him on the
rest of the tour. Had ham and eggs before going to bed tonight.

B Company and Headquarters Company were supposed to arrive this morning at 0800 hours but there
was a screw up and they were delayed.

At 1000 hours I received a call from a MAJ Kindar, Special Services Officer who said that
General Collins wanted to see me at 1700 hours tonight.

Waited all afternoon for the B Company and Headquarters Company to arrive but at 1600 hours I
got cleaned up and went to see the General. When I got there I was told he would see me in his
personal quarters. He lives in a mobile home, very nice. I knocked on the door and he invited me
in and asked me to sit down he wanted me to do him a favor. He would like me to pick up a pale
yellow, lime and pink tablecloth with place settings along with some jade fruit. He gave me a
personal check for $300 and then I left.

Around 1830 hours, just after dinner B Company and Headquarters Company arrived. Fiacco had a
going away party tonight and we all went down to say goodbye. He was very well thought of by his
troops and he cared very much for them. He will start his new job tomorrow at the new NCO Academy.

Lt. Russell Zink Christmas 1966 before we returned to base camp for the holiday stand down.

LTC Leonard Morley was the Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry. He got a
battlefield commission in WWII and he and his wife Chartley trained us at Ft. Lewis to be good
Infantry officers. His wife helped acclimate our new wives into the ways of the military. He
left the battalion in January and he was sorely missed.

Martha Raye was a real hit with the troops. She is buried in the Fort Bragg Main Post Cemetery
at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Went down this morning to see CPT Bill Kearns and he gave me a big suitcase for my R&R to Hong
Kong, so now I’ll have plenty of room. Spent the remainder of the day wandering around getting
last minute items done. Had an officers meeting at the mess hall, which is the first time we’ve
all been together since July. There were a lot of new faces.

After the meeting went to party at a club A Company had built. I got back around midnight and
asked Larry to wake me first thing in the morning.

Larry got me up around 0600 hours. I cleaned up, got my stuff together, shined my brass and polished my shoes.
Went over to Brigade Headquarters and picked up my travel orders and then Larry drove me to the Pleiku Airport.
He waited with me for about an hour and then left. I sat there waiting for my flight to Nha Trang. The plane finally took
off around 1400 hours. We landed at An Khe, Qui Nhon, Cameron Bay and then finally Nha Trang.

Arrived at the R&R Center and was told I was a day early. Rather than spend a night in a tent I went downtown
and got a room at the really nice Hotel Nha Trang. It was very nice complete with chairs, a writing table, shower
and a flush toilet, first one I’ve seen since I got to Vietnam. Took a hot shower for 30 minutes and it was great.

I tried to locate MAJ Shufelt who was supposed to be stationed in Nha Trang but no luck. (MAJ Shufelt was one of my
ROTC instructors at Ohio University).

Slept great. Left the hotel and got a cyclo (bicycle rickshaw) and got a haircut. Went to I Force Victor Headquarters
trying to find MAJ Shufelt but he was not there. He was recently reassigned to the 1st Battalion 30th Artillery.

I went over and checked in at the R&R Center. I was told to return tomorrow at 1000 hours to exchange currency and get
any last minute instructions. When this was done I walked around town and came back to the hotel and drank gin and tonics
the rest of the afternoon and evening. About 2000 hours I turned in for my last night alone for a while.

Woke up and it was pouring rain. Had scrambled eggs with some really terrible black coffee. Got a ride to the R&R Center
and finished my processing and exchanged my MPC’s (Military Pay Certificates) for American currency.

My flight to Hong Kong was supposed to leave at 1400 hours but it was an hour late. Finally got onboard and began my nervous
2 ½ hour flight. I had a steak dinner on the flight.

When I arrived in Hong Kong we went through customs and sat through a lecture on proper behavior before they drove us
to our hotel. I arrived at the President’s Hotel and checked in at the desk and was told Jean Saling was waiting in room 1244.
I went up and there she was!!! What a Christmas present.

Had wine and snacks sent up to the room last night so we could sit and nibble while we “talked”- Great night!!!

Got up this morning and walked around the city but everything was closed. Had breakfast at the hotel and tried to sign up for a tour
but the tour was cancelled when nobody else signed up but I called and made reservations for the Hong Kong Island Tour tomorrow.
Found out this morning that no CCO (certified certificates of origin) would be available until after January 1st so I can’t purchase
any item that could have been from Red China.

Had dinner this evening on the 17th floor of our hotel in the Siamese Starlight Room. Our table overlooked the harbor at sunset
when there was just a red glow over the islands in the channel. Jean had Bacardi Rum and I had a Manhattan Cocktail before our
Chateaubriand dinner for two. A bottle of red wine made this a dinner to remember. The only light was from the candle on our table.
After dinner we went downstairs to the Nutcracker Bar and had a nightcap. They brought Jean a Bacardi Rum on the rocks.
By the time we left she was falling asleep. It was a very Merry Christmas.

Got up at 0800 hours and got dressed to go on the Hong Kong Island Tour at 0900 hours. The tour
had five other people besides Jean and me so it was a nice size group.

Our first stop was crossing to Hong Kong Island by ferry and then up to top of Victoria Peak via
a tram. We went to Repulse Bay and then onto the famous Tiger Balm Gardens, a Chinese version of
Disneyland.

We went through the Aberdeen section where people live their whole lives on watercraft floating
on the water. Had dinner on a floating restaurant in the bay. On the way out to the restaurant
children would be begging for you to throw coins into the water so they could dive and recover.
The water was filthy so I’m not sure how they could possibly see anything underwater.

After the tour we went to visit the China Fleet Club but it was closed until tomorrow. We walked
over to the ferry and came back to the hotel.

Had dinner at the Marco Polo Restaurant, which was the “number one restaurant in Hong Kong and
definitely the most luxurious”. We dined on Tournedos Rossini, which was great. After dinner we
visited a few clubs and then had a nightcap in the Siamese Starlight Room.

We stayed at the Presidents Hotel in Hong Kong.

Photo by Tom Riggs

Repulse Bay

Photo by Tom Riggs

Menu from Tai Pak Floating Restaurant

Photo by Tom Riggs

Floating Aberdeen. People lived and died on these boats without ever stepping on land.

Tiger Balm Gardens

Photo by Tom Riggs

Tiger Balm Gardens

Photo by Tom Riggs

All Hong Kong photos were taken by Tom Riggs and posted on the Internet. He was there in September 1967
and visited all the same places that I visited.

We went over to the China Fleet Club and went wild. Jean bought some silk fabric and I bought a very
intricately hand carved teak bar and writing secretary. Cost for both including shipping was $211.

I also bought a wood model of a junk to sit on top of my new bar. Bought my mother a string of pearls for $90
that would have cost over $200 in the states. Went to the Lee clothier but wasn’t too impressed with his prices
so I didn’t buy anything.

Made a call to my folks in Cleveland and talked for 2 or 3 minutes. It was sure good to hear
their voices.

Tonight Jean and I are having dinner here in our room overlooking the bay. The food was
delicious and the company even better.

Went back to the China Fleet Club and bought my parents a teak bar and writing secretary along
with a sweater for my brother George to give to Anne. On the way back to the hotel I bought a
stag film at a good price.

This evening we had cocktails and dinner in the Siamese Room watching the sun set over the bay.
After dinner we danced to violins and had a great time. This will be our last night together so
we came back to pack our bags. I am going to miss Jean. The total cost for this R&R will be
around $1,500 but it was worth every cent.

Jean thinks she would like to stay in the Army so I will check out the possibility of getting
assigned to Europe after returning to the States. Turned in early.

Well my R&R is over. Asked the desk to give me a wake up call at 0630 hours. Jean and I finished last minute packing
and went down to the hotel lobby to have a cup of coffee. Neither of us had very much to say and my bus arrived around
0830 hours to take me back to the airport and I waved good-bye. The next thing I know is I’m standing in line at the airport
and here comes Jean getting ready to board her Northwest Flight #2 for home.

My flight left at 1030 hours and was uneventful. Had the same stewardesses and another steak dinner. The plane touched down
in Nha Trang at 1310 hours and we were taken directly to the R&R Center to in process. The in process took about 10 minutes
and they assigned me a bunk since there are no more flights out of here until tomorrow morning at 0500 hours. I picked up
a pillow and blanket from supply and found my bunk.

Just hung around killing time until it finally got dark. Had a beer and then went to bed.

Got up at 0500 hours and turned in my bedding and got a bus to the airport. I was flying standby but got on the first flight
at 0730 hours and got into Pleiku at 1030 hours. I waited for over two hours to get to base camp. Saw Bill Kearns,
Commanding Officer C Company, who was coming back from seeing his people in the hospital. Got a ride with one of
our S-4 trucks but he had to make a stop in Pleiku where I saw CPT Jon Sampson driving a jeep so I hollered and got a ride
with him. When I got back to base camp everyone wanted to hear about my trip.

More R&R allocations came down so just about everybody will get to go next month, even to Hawaii. I changed clothes
and fell in for a battalion formation, a memorial service for all those who had been killed. After dinner I ran into Fiacco
and we went to his new area up at division and had a few beers and I came back and turned in, it has been a long day.

Spent most of the day just relaxing. Talked with SSGT Miller for quite a while. I’m hoping I can convince him to apply
for Warrant Officer. He is an outstanding soldier and would make a great Warrant Officer.

Talked to CPT Buck Ator who is assuming command of B Company and he said Fiacco is over $4,000 short of equipment
so that will be interesting to see how that turns out.

LTC Morley came around and said there would be a mandatory officers call at 1830 hours.

Went over to see General Collins to tell him I was unable to get his tablecloth and napkins because of the CCO
(certificate of origin) issue. His aide couldn’t believe I didn’t get the stuff but the General was very understanding
and thanked me for my efforts.

Went over to the officers club at 1800 hours and the Colonel said that was our New Years Call and we got started.
There were two or three card games going and the rest of us were sitting around having a beer and talking.

My platoon was just about wasted but they had a fire going and were cooking hamburgers and eggs they stole from the mess hall.
We don’t do real well in the rear area.

At midnight all hell broke loose. People were firing flares and shooting up in the air, it was extremely dangerous and
a lot of people will be in big trouble tomorrow. We had guys throwing grenades in the street. I caught one sergeant
firing his weapon and he will be a private before this is over. Came back and went to bed.

This is the end of 1966. I did find out that I would get a 30-day drop on my tour, so as of today
I have 172 days till I’m home. Getting short.