1st Battalion 22nd Infantry
Bill Saling
1965-1967
After thoughts
Operation Francis Marion along
the Cambodian border spring 1967 -
Firefly ambush
We had been operating out of firebase LZ Regulars for a couple of
weeks. There had been several mortar attacks
on the firebase and rumor had it that a NVA attack on the
firebase was imminent.
Late one afternoon one of our line companies was preparing to
conduct a night ambush along a trail system. It was rumored
that the NVA were transporting material down the trail at night
using bicycles. Russ Zink had flown in this afternoon and decided
he and I should join the ambush patrol.
We got our gear together and moved out with the patrol. By now it
was dark, really dark and it began to rain. As we moved
along a jungle trail someone up front thought they heard
something ahead so we immediately went into a defensive posture
each of us facing outward providing a 360 degrees field of fire.
Zink was ahead of me in the patrol so when we got down I was
lying next to him.
That was when I noticed what I thought was a bicycle light coming
through the trees right at me. I blinked a couple of times
to make sure my eyes were not playing tricks on me in the dark,
but there was a light blinking through the trees.
Nobody else seemed to notice the light so after a couple of
seconds I released the safety on my M-16 and prepared to engage
the target.
Now when I released the safety there was a noticeable click,
which got Zinks attention since the muzzle of my weapon was
close to his ass.
It was only then that I realized the light that I thought was a
bicycle light was in fact a lightening bug. Next time you see a
lightening bug
you tell me it doesnt look like a light coming through the
trees.
Well God, Zink wouldnt let it go. He told everybody I was
out to kill lightening bugs. Started calling me bug killer
Saling.
It was terrible. He threatened to write a story for Stars and
Stripes about my encounter.
This summer my brother and his wife and I met Russ and his wife
on their boat in Boston harbor and the first story Russ told
was about our ambush patrol, 51 years later.
Where were you when I needed you?
In March 1967, A Company made contact with a large NVA force and
soon became entangled in a major battle.
I was monitoring the tactical net and could hear the battle
unfold.
It wasnt long before I got a call for an emergency ammo
resupply. My platoon and I immediately began breaking out the
ammo cases
and charging magazines (loading bullets into the magazine so they
were ready to use). We worked all morning and got everything
loaded onboard the helicopter to make the resupply run. The
helicopter was warming up with the main rotor turning when
LTC Rosell came up to the helicopter and said Lt. Saling
stand down that is an order I couldnt believe my
ears,
A Company needed that ammo. My primary mission was to make sure
that our line troops had what they needed,
they depended on me and I was being told to stand
down? LTC Rosell told me to get out of the helicopter
and told the pilot to shut the aircraft down.
We knew that this was a high-risk mission but both the aircrew
and I thought it was worth the risk, but it was not to be.
A Company took a beating that day I think they had 31 KIA (killed
in action). Their CO (commanding officer, CPT Chris Keuker)
was my friend and he was missing after the battle. We first
thought hed been captured by the NVA but later he was found
badly wounded outside the company perimeter. He had covered
himself in leaves to avoid being captured. He was evacuated
barely alive. He had a head wound that was serious and the medics
werent sure he would survive. He lost one eye and had
brain damage and was eventually medically discharged from the
Army.
After I left Vietnam I was assigned to the Armed Forces Entrance
and Examining Station in Roanoke, VA. I learned
that CPT Keuker was convalescing in an Army hospital in Valley
Forge, Pennsylvania. We had an FTS (Federal telephone system)
in the office so I was able to call the hospital direct and
finally got through to CPT Keuker. I told him I was happy he made
it
and asked how he was doing. After a short pause all he said was
Saling where were you when I needed you? Ive
never forgotten that call.
June, 1967 Camp Enari,
4th Division Base Camp, Pleiku, Vietnam
Concertina wire rendezvous
My tour is just about over. Everything is packed and tomorrow we
board a C-141 Starlifter at Camp Holloway and head for home.
After dinner several of us went over to the Officers Club for
drinks. As sometimes the case, I drank way too much
and was not navigating very well.
Zink had a grand time removing my infantry insignia since my
infantry assignment was now over. My basic branch was
Adjutant General Corps and Zink was really on a roll. Badge of
shame!! That was the toast of the evening. We had a rousing time
when I decided enough was enough and I was ready for bed.
I stumbled out of the O Club and was trying to find my way back
to where I was spending the night when I fell into a ditch
covered with concertina wire.
For those who dont know what concertina wire looks like
think barbed wire on a roll with razor sharp tongs. Problem is
when you get
into concertina no matter what you do it hurts. I mean it really
hurts. I lay there screaming for sometime until some guys showed
up.
Once they quit laughing they got some wire cutters and got me
out.
That was my last night in Vietnam. Left Vietnam the next day out
of Pleiku on June 7, 1967.
Note: June 7, 1967 was the start of the Six Day War in Israel. As
we were flying home there was a rumor floating around
the C-141 Starlifter that we have been tasked to divert to over
the pole to Israel to reinforce the IDF (Israeli Defense Force).
We couldnt believe it. Just left one war zone only to head
to another. Good news it was just a rumor.
We stopped briefly at Tachikawa, Japan on the way home to McCord
Air Force Base in Tacoma, WA. We arrived
with our wives waiting with signs and a band welcoming us home.
It was good to be home.
Post Vietnam Survivor Assistance Officer
After I left Vietnam I was assigned to the Armed Forces Entrance
and Examining Station in Roanoke, Virginia as the
Joint Processing Officer. I was responsible for processing all
personnel for the draft and enlistments into all branches
of the armed forces. I eventually became the Commanding Officer
in Roanoke.
One of the additional duties I was assigned was that of the SAO
(Survivor Assistance Officer) for all Army casualties in the
51 counties in the western half of Virginia. This was during the
time period of 1967 thru 1969, a period of
very heavy combat losses in Vietnam.
As the SAO, I was responsible for contacting the next of kin and
coordinating the return of the remains to a local funeral home
and providing a military funeral.
What made this task even more difficult was the fact that in some
cases I had met the family when their son, brother, husband
enlisted or was drafted into the Army 18 months ago and now I was
calling on them to inform them of the death of their loved one
in Vietnam. It was a very sobering experience to drive up to the
family home and have the family meet you at the front door and
say,
you killed my boy.
Unfortunately during that period there were several stories in
the national news about families being notified about the death
of a loved one only to find out several days later that the
notification was a case of mistaken identity. Since most of the
remains
being returned from Vietnam were marked non viewable
remains it became a real challenge to convince a family
their loved one
was in fact inside the casket.
Since I had served in Vietnam and I was able to explain the field
identification process and address their concerns.
This was not an easy job but one where you could really make a
difference to a family going through a very difficult time.
I learned a lot about people and how they handled grief.
I guess the moral about this story is that you can leave Vietnam
but Vietnam never leaves you.
This concludes my entries on my military experience.
Officers from 1/22 Infantry Vietnam 1966-67 reunite in 2018
Left to right: Jim Stapleton, Bob Babcock, Bill Saling
"Tonight, January
22nd, 1/22 Day, Jim Stapleton, Bob Babcock and Bill Saling
enjoyed a great meal and fellowship at Mc Kendricks Steak house
reliving our time together in Vietnam 51 years ago. Regulars By
God - 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry 4th Infantry Division"
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