1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Bill Saling Page 3

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

Bill Saling

1965-1967

September 1966

September 1, 1966

Today was payday and the Army is still paying me as a 2nd Lt., but I will get that straightened out soon. Went into Tuy Hoa
and got a haircut, shampoo, massage and a shoeshine, all for $1.00. This is the way to live.

Bought an ice chest and stocked it full of beer. Received three of your letters today that were mailed on the 26 and 27 of August.

Tonight I got my first aerial resupply mission for C Company tomorrow, who are out on a combat patrol.
I’m scheduled to take off tomorrow at 1430 hours. Great.

The airfield, about two miles away, is under attack. The jets are dropping napalm and shooting rockets, great show,
now maybe now we’ll get a chance to do something besides sweat.

Word came down today that Capt. Sampson has his hands full up at base camp.

2 September 1966

Today was nice and sunny after two days of wind and rain. Worked most of the day finishing up our ammo dump.
It really turned out well. Sgt. Bracy and his crew did a good job.

My resupply chopper arrived on time at 1430 hours. We loaded up and flew out to the coordinates we were given
and looked for smoke but none came. We circled for about 20 minutes when finally yellow smoke drifted up through the trees.
We threw out 7 cases of C-rations and 21 air droppable water containers. These were supposed to make water delivery through
the trees easy. A water bladder was enclosed in a cardboard type sleeve and this was supposed to protect the bladder.
At least one water container exploded when it hit the trees so I don’t know how much water actually made it to the ground.

I talked with Major High about letting me accompany the engineers tomorrow when they go out and blow up some VC caves.
I hope it works out so I can go, you know how much I love to blow things up.

3 September 1966

Well today the 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry was engaged in armed conflict for the first time since WWII. C Company made contact
about 2 miles across from where we are located on the beach. This was the same area I was in yesterday for my aerial resupply mission.
We had two KIA (killed in action), unfortunately both men were new fathers.

My platoon really did a great job of getting C Company resupplied with ammo and C-rations.

Around 1100 hours C Company called for an air strike on the VC and two Navy Phantoms arrived to bomb and strafe the area.
They did not recover any VC bodies however.

After dinner, we had a heavy downpour and my blanket got soaked again.
Got ice for my cooler and had two beers before going to bed.

Air strike with Navy F-4 Phantoms. Look closely and you'll see the jet over the smoke from the bomb blast. — at Tuy Hòa Beach.

4 September 1966

Today was really hot with hardly any breeze. There wasn’t any further enemy contact with C Company but it took all day
to restock the ammo dump. C Company will hit the same area tomorrow where they had contact yesterday. The VC
are located in a very rocky area with numerous caves.

Major High and I are going forward to observe the attack tomorrow and make sure there is no problem getting ammo resupplied.
This afternoon Kinchelow and I went into Tuy Hoa and visited a US sanctioned whorehouse, which is operated under the auspices
of the 101st Airborne. We had a few beers. It really wasn’t anything like I expected. The building was made of tin and painted
very bright colors. Price for a beer was 60 cents and a coke was 55 cents. The girls were very small and not all that attractive.
(all I had was beer!)

5 September 1966

On this Labor Day, I got up a little early because of the noise from the artillery barrage on the hill where we had enemy contact
a couple of days ago. I ran a supply ammo and chow forward but nothing much was happening.

Went to our forward CP (command post) which is located in an old French fort near Vung Ro Bay and got caught in a
monsoon like rain storm and was completely soaked. When I returned to the beach I was all set to go swimming when
Major High grabbed me and said I had a priority mission to go pick up B Company. I grabbed my gear and a couple
of grenades and headed out. All we did was move them back to the beach.

Got one more roll of film in the mail today. Clothes finally came back from the laundry, so at least I’ll be clean for a while.

6 September 1966

This morning, Hal (engineer platoon leader) and I rearranged our tent and put down bamboo for floors.
The old tent is getting to feel like home.

Spent the afternoon with Capt. Coleman (LTC Morley’s pilot) trying to figure out how to rig a machine gun onto his helicopter
(bubble canopy recon chopper). Once we get it operational we plan on going over to the hill where C Company made contact
the other day and test fire our new invention. You never know, maybe I’ll hit something.

LTC Morley is talking about having me rappel out of a helicopter onto this gigantic bolder overlooking Hwy 1 and
paint our battalion logo, Regulars by God. The rock is some 2,000 feet high, so this should be a grin. He later decided
this would not be a good idea.

7 September 1966

Happy 3rd anniversary! Finally got some mail today, 6 letters came all at once. This mail situation has got to improve.
I did get your anniversary card today however.

Larry and I went skin diving this afternoon in the South China Sea. We took an air mattress and paddled out about
a half mile and dove for about an hour. Dr. Maur had a facemask and snorkel so we had a blast. Today was the first time
I ever swam in salt water.

After dinner I was having a beer when I heard two guys arguing about 100 yards from my tent. Didn’t pay it any attention
until I heard someone chamber a round in his weapon and threaten to kill the guy. Well I went out and defused the situation
and convinced the private he really shouldn’t kill his sergeant. Had a couple more beers and went to bed.

8 September 1966

Today was like every other day except LTC Morley, Major High and Lt. Donnelly showed up for a big meeting. A couple of days ago
I picked up B Company and returned them to the beach where they were providing perimeter security.

LTC Morley said that B and C Company were to be deployed on a search and destroy mission to this village about ½ mile away.
There was a report that 50 VC (Viet Cong) were hiding there every night.

Since B Company was providing perimeter security I was tasked with replacing them on the perimeter so they could go on the mission.
I scrounged around and rounded up 96 men to cover the perimeter and briefed them on their responsibilities. During the day
86 people had arrived in country as the advanced party for the 1st Brigade, so I used 40 of their people to cover the perimeter.

Everything was going just fine until about 2200 hours when Recon platoon was in contact for over an hour. Lt. Czepiel’s mortar platoon
was firing illumination rounds to provide support to the Recon platoon.

Then it happened. I get this frantic call over the radio that the Mortar platoon (4.2 in tracks) is just about out of illumination rounds
to support Recon. So Lt. Czepiel calls for an emergency ammo resupply.

I went immediately back to the CP and Major High was on the radio trying to get a flare ship (plane that drops flares) on site
to support Recon platoon but none were available.

Major High told me to get ready to make a resupply run to Czepiel with 100 rounds HE (high explosive) and 100 rounds of
illumination. We agreed on a phase line reporting process that I would use driving down the road. About every ¼ mile
I would report in that I was passing each phase line so they could monitor my progress. Then he tells me he thinks
this is a trap and the VC is preparing to ambush my vehicles. He said this was a common practice in Korea. He was
convinced the road would be mined. That was reassuring.

I grabbed my gear and a couple of grenades and headed out. I was in my jeep followed by a 2 ½ truck with a .50 cal. on the ring mount
following close behind loaded with the ammo. Just as we cleared our perimeter the .50 cal. on the truck behind me fired a round
over my head. Scared the shit out of me. They were nervous and fired a single round accidently.

We raced down the road about 40 mph in total blackout conditions using only cat eyes for headlights. Major High’s orders
were to fire on anything and anyone near the road, it was by now after midnight and well past curfew. I was locked and
loaded and on full auto.

Made it to Czepiel’s position around 0100 hours and dropped off the ammo. We joined his defensive perimeter to spend the night.
Returned to the beach next morning. Boy what a day.

Tuy Hoa.

Clear field of fire across the rice paddy. .50 cal has an effective range of 5,000 meters
so you can really reach out and touch somebody. — at Tuy Hòa Beach.

9 September 1966

I sure am tired. Just checked the perimeter security and found out that last night while I was making the resupply run to Czepiel
one of the new men I had put on the perimeter shot and killed a women who was inside the perimeter and refused to halt.
He yelled halt three times and fired a warning shot, yet she kept coming, he had no other options so he shot her twice.
She was 80 yards inside the perimeter.

A week ago a guy in B Company shot a kid trying to get into the perimeter so the local village chief is really upset.

A week ago we had some kid ran through the perimeter with a sack of grenades. He didn’t throw any but why take the chance.
I told my platoon to shoot to kill anyone inside the perimeter trying to get to the ammo dump. Its nuts, women and kids
who don’t speak English, you don’t know who to trust and you are constantly on edge.

Well it’s now 1540 hours and a big thunderstorm has just quit, so I’ll go down to the S-4 tent and see what’s happening.

10 September 1966

Yesterday evening I was called forward to recover the body of a guy in A Company. This was my first time using
one of our body bags. The guy was taking shelter under an old bridge that gave way during the thunderstorm
and crushed him. I’ve never seen anyone crushed before. His upper torso was badly distorted and as purple as a plum.

This morning I checked the perimeter at 0530 hours. The guys from the 1st Brigade advanced party are getting to be a pain in the ass.
They seem to think since they are attached to us that we owe them something?

B Company was being deployed about 50 miles south of our location but after sending half the company
to the new location they changed their mind.

Around 1845 hours we heard over the radio that one of our battalion FAC (forward air controller) Capt. T., USAF,
who had been with us since Ft. Lewis, had been shot down and crashed about six miles from our location. I was alerted
to assemble my platoon for a recovery mission but at the last minute I was told to stand down and they sent Lt. Babcock’s
platoon to recover the body. They had located the crash site and determined that it was too dense to land the helicopters,
so they dropped him on the beach about 150 meters from the crash site.

Everyone thought this would be a great opportunity for the VC to set an ambush since the plane has been burning all night
and they knew we would probably be coming to investigate the crash site.

11 September 1966

Lt. Babcock recovered the pilot’s body it was about 3 feet long, just a lump.

It is now 1135 hours and I have been given a warning order to fly down to the crash site and recover the engine
using a sling under the helicopter. Before we could depart the USAF scrubbed the mission with concern about the
probability of an ambush at the crash site.

Went swimming this afternoon. Later Larry and I drove up to the forward CP (command post) and got stuck in an old
abandoned village trying to take a shortcut. My driver and I stood guard until Larry returned with another vehicle to pull us out.
Never want to be isolated like that if you can help it.

12 September 1966

Today was big malaria pill day. I line up everyone in my platoon and distribute one big pill to every person and stand there
while they swallow the pill. On Friday we take a little pill. It is a game. Some would rather get malaria than continue to go
into the field. If one of my guys gets malaria it’s my ass.

Slow day today, went to see Dr. Maur to get a splinter removed from my foot, which feels much better now.

Received your letter mailed on 22 August, which is the first mail I’ve received in 3 or 4 days. Everyone is griping about the mail situation.

Major High decided we needed to have our own shower point on the beach. Problem is there is no water so he has tasked our
engineer unit to dig a well for our shower. We have cactus growing on the beach and he wants to dig a well?

Well Hal started digging a hole in the beach and got some 55 gallon drums and cut the ends out stacked them on each other.
We lowered this little Vietnamese kid upside down so he could dig the sand by hand. Meanwhile Major High hovers over
the project everyday driving Hal nuts with suggestions on how to dig a well. Bottom line is Hal is still finding nothing
but sand in the hole.

I’m going to bed early tonight, I’m really tired.

This was the area Major High wanted to build a shower point for the battalion — at Tuy Hòa Beach.

The engineers started with a hole and then cut out the bottoms of a 55 gallon drum. Lowered a small Vietnamese to dig it out by hand.

Everybody had an opinion on how to do the work. Hal Wolland, Engineer Platoon leader watches with his arms crossed at the top of the picture.

The infamous Major High watched. He was one of the most highly decorated soldiers in the Korean War. We were all pretty intimidated
by him and didn't want to let him down. Major High, ever vigilant watching the progress of his shower point. Hooking up the water pump.

13 September 1966

This morning we all agreed it was time to build an officers club on the beach. To do it right we needed some cement but
unfortunately infantry units don’t have access to cement so we had to improvise. Capt. Henderson, USAF, our remaining
FAC (forward air controller) and I went onto the airbase in Tuy Hoa to see what we could find. Would you believe it
they had bags of cement lying around as they were getting ready to pour cement for a new runway extension.
We “borrowed” some cement and returned to base camp. You can always count on the Air Force to have anything you might need.

14 September 1966

Quiet day today but the weather has been really stormy this afternoon. Dick Donnelly stopped by and we drank a few martinis.
Went to talk with Jim Stapleton about tomorrow's aerial resupply mission. A Company is on extended search and destroy
mission and must be resupplied by air. It won’t be long and I’ll have enough flight hours to qualify for an air medal.

Tonight I got a call that one of my trucks that was on an ammo supply run was upside down in a ditch. Fiacco got some
of his men from B Company and Larry and I got our gear together and went to check it out. The truck had slid across
the road and turned on its side in a rice paddy. Nobody was hurt seriously so we set up a perimeter and began picking up
the loose ammo that was strewn all over the road.

Made it back to base without any problems. Lt. Babcock went out tonight with his platoon to set up an ambush. Hope he is successful.

15 September 1966

This was another big day. At 1045 hours Jim Stapleton and I took off on our (the battalions) first aerial resupply mission
to A Company that was out on an extended search and destroy operation. We loaded the helicopter with water and C-rations
and got to the DZ (drop zone) right on schedule. A Company had cut a good swath in the jungle and had popped smoke
marking the DZ so we had no trouble finding them. Our pilots didn’t want to land for fear of enemy small arms fire so we
were forced to toss the water and C-rations from about 60 feet. We returned to base with no problem.

Had chicken for dinner and it was really good. Right after dinner a guy in A Company got a Dear John letter and went nuts.
He was foaming at the mouth and so Dr. Maur gave him a shot to settle him down. That kind of thing really gets people rattled,
especially since we haven’t gotten any mail for a couple of days. I don’t worry about us so that lets me keep my attention
focused on the job at hand.

Capt. Keuker and I made a night run over to Brigade and dropped off a Sit Rep (situation report). Nothing else happening
so I guess I’ll turn in, good night.

16 September 1966

Had another aerial resupply to A Company and it went off without a hitch. Tonight I received two rolls of film you sent
but didn’t get any other mail, so that makes it three days in a row now.

Today, C Company got our first kill. This is the first enemy combatant killed by a member of the 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry
since WWII. It was about time we began to even the score. I took a picture of him when I recovered the body. He was shot in the head.

17 September 1966

At 0830 hours I went on my air resupply mission to A Company. It took about and hour and a half. The lift really went well,
we are beginning to develop into a coordinated, efficient combat unit. I’m really proud of my guys.

Spent the afternoon cleaning my pistol and rifle and then went into town. Not much happened until this evening when
another guy freaked out and tried to kill his sergeant. Boy, this is the third time someone has gone nuts in the last two weeks.

Still no mail and I am starting to get mad, it takes seven days to get mail from the states and there has been no mail pick up
in our unit for two days. This has got to change. It is really starting to effect morale.

Showered and put on clean clothes, feel much better.

18 September 1966

I got up this morning all set to go on another air resupply mission when I got called into battalion for a court martial.
I was in court from 0900 hours to 1300 hours trying two cases. I won both and got the maximum in each case, which is 6,
6 and 2/3 or 6 months confinement, 6 months hard labor and pay reduction by 2/3 for 6 months. In addition, both were reduced
to the lowest enlisted rank.

Tonight we all watched as Major High stressed over getting his well operational for the shower point. So far nothing but sand.
He is not a patient man. He is really starting to obsess over this shower point and is constantly pushing Lt. Hal Wolland,
the engineering platoon leader attached to our battalion to get the damn thing working.

Got some mail this afternoon, finally and then went over to the PX (post exchange).

19 September 1966

Went on an aerial resupply mission this morning and everything went well except on the second trip back to the DZ (drop zone)
I was dropping a bag of mail and just as I kicked the bag out the helicopter lurched and the bag dropped into a small creek.
I don’t know how it could have hit the creek, which was not that big from 100’, bad luck I guess. The guys on the ground were really pissed.

At lunch Major High said, “Saling we need a water pump with a hose for the shower point. You’ve got two hours”. I had no clue
where I could find a water pump, so I called Sgt. Miller and told him we needed a water pump with a hose. Sgt. Miller can do anything!
He immediately came up with a plan and got some of our guys and put mud over the ID markings on the truck bumper. They drove onto
the airbase at Tuy Hua and told them he was there to inspect their water pumps. The guards at the security gate sent them to the
maintenance hanger and my guys loaded up a water pump with a hose and returned to base camp. I tell you my platoon is just like
McHale’s Navy, they may not be the most disciplined platoon but they sure get the job done.

Tonight some of us went down and fired our M-16’s to keep in practice. I have really become a good shot, which of course over here
is a real plus. Afterward we got together and had a few shots of Old Grand Dad whiskey. There is no beer because the surf has been
so rough the boats can’t dock so the PX (post exchange) has been out for over 3 days.

Did take some pictures of the well for our shower point. They finally hit water and with the arrival of our new water pump and hose
I should be able to take a shower tomorrow night at the new 1/22nd shower point.

Larry made Captain on 29 August but we just read it in the Army Times today. He should get orders shortly.

Our new shower point. The pride of the 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry. We pumped the water out of the well into the 55 gallon drums.
The sun heated the water during the day and at night we had a warm shower. Shower heads were beer cans with holes punched in the bottom.

20 September 1966

My platoon was called out this morning to provide a blocking position for B Company who was still working the caves opposite
our base camp on the beach. The terrain in this area is unbelievable. Boulders as big as your house in one big jumble, very
difficult terrain.

My platoon is the only unit in the battalion with .50 caliber machine guns that can reach out almost a mile,
which provides some real firepower when you need it.

Tonight Sandy Fiacco and Russ Zink came down to Larry’s tent and we all sat around singing. Fiacco had found a guitar
and it was just like back at Ft. Lewis. Those were fun times.

Bombed out village. Even the trees show blast damage. — at Tuy Hòa Beach.

On the way to blocking position. — at Tuy Hòa Beach.

Fiacco and his guitar. — at Tuy Hòa Beach.

21 September 1966

Today was a day I’ll never forget. This morning A Company had called for a Dustoff (medical evacuation helicopter) to extract
a soldier who had shattered his leg when he fell off a rock. No Dustoff was available so Major High and I jumped on our helicopter
and headed out to the pick up point. When we arrived we realized the terrain was nothing but boulders making it impossible to land.

The injured guy was located at the top of a 60’ waterfall, surrounded by trees with no safe place to land. The pilot, a Major,
said he had two weeks before he rotated home and he was not going to attempt to land amid all the boulders.

That was when Major High takes out his .45 and tells the pilot to “land the goddamn thing”. I really thought we were going to crash.
The pilot carefully maneuvers the helicopter setting one skid on the rock on the top of the waterfall. The other skid is hanging in mid air
over the waterfall. One hiccup and we would have been toast.

We were able to load the injured guy and Jim Stapleton onto the helicopter. The blades were ripping into the surrounding
tree branches it was that tight.

When all were onboard the pilot flew down the face of the waterfall and out the small river till we cleared the trees.
God that was close. A few more missions like this and I will be a legend.

Resupplied Recon platoon with 6 cases of beer, he couldn’t believe his eyes when I landed with the beer.

A kid named Willis flipped out this evening and started beating on this guy. He grabbed a weapon but we were able
to get the weapon and place Willis under armed guard. Looks like another court martial.

Lt. Bob Babcock's platoon on patrol. Pics courtesy of Bob Babcock.

You get some idea of the rock formation. — at Tuy Hòa Beach.

Crossing rice paddies was always a risky proposition, not a lot of cover.

Bomb hits in mountains

Rocky stream.

Note waterfall in background.

22 September 1966

Most of the day I had half my platoon up at Recons position test firing our .50 cal. machine gun off our truck ring mount.
Everyone got to fire 100 rounds stationary and 100 rounds from a moving vehicle.

About 1400 hours A Company showed up and we loaded them up in our trucks and drove them back to base camp.

Talked with Dick Collins for a while. He said he was tired of being a rifle platoon leader and was looking for another job.
I really like my job. I get to do something new all the time. I can’t imagine getting up every day and taking a hike.
It would get real boring after a while.

Had dinner and got razed about still not having an officers club so tomorrow I’ll have to figure out a way to get a tent from someone.
Sat around in Larry’s tent with Cpt. Keuker, Cpt. Nunlee and Maj. High.

23 September 1966

Spent all morning looking for a tent for the officers club, but no luck. After lunch Larry and I went into Tuy Hoa for a haircut.
I got the works, haircut for 30 cents, shampoo for 20 cents.

After my haircut I shopped around and found some very attractive silk material, so I bought 5 meters. I planned on sending
the silk home but then I found a local dressmaker. They said they could take the silk and make a dress. The cost of the silk
was $3.85 and another $2.35 to have it made. I’ll send it home when it is finished. I gave the dressmaker your measurements
35”-27”-37” but they had to convert to centimeters, so I hope it fits.

Tonight Fiacco had to put B Company along Highway 1 to relieve C Company who is going out on an operation Saturday night.
We loaded them up on our trucks left around 1830 hours so it was dark when we got back to base camp. We heard a lot of firing
on the way back and assumed it was the Korean White Horse Division test firing their weapons but it was a local PF (popular forces)
unit engaged with a VC unit about 4 clicks (kilometer) off the road.

Got a package today from Aunt Mary and Uncle Doc an assortment of cookies. Most were broken but they were really good.
I ate some and gave the rest to the platoon.

24 September 1966

Got up early, took a shower, had breakfast and put on clean clothes. General Collins was scheduled for an inspection
this morning but it was cancelled at the last minute.

Found an old kitchen tent that I was going to use for our officers club but found we didn’t have enough poles. Besides the tent
was ripped anyway. Sat around most of the day, not much going on. Finally got some ice for my ice chest.

After a couple of hours I got a call to mount up my platoon and provide perimeter security for an Air Force truck that had skidded
off the road. By the time I left it was pouring down rain, so needless to say I’m drenched. We didn’t have any problems and
after they recovered the truck we returned to base camp. Missed dinner tonight and I sure am hungry.

25 September 1966

All morning was spent in preparing my case for the court martial at 1300 hours. We tried Pvt. Winston for fatally shooting
his tent mate at the base camp in Pleiku. This was the incident for which Capt. Keuker was relieved of command. Because
Capt. Keuker was still with our battalion and a friend of all who sat on the court martial board I made a motion for a change of venue,
which was summarily denied.

Well the defense team, Jim Stapleton and Dick Collins pleaded not guilty to all charges and specifications, which meant
the burden of proof rested with me, the trial counsel. The witnesses and my presentation took almost 2 ½ hours before I rested my case.
I established all necessary elements of guilt, I had an iron clad case or so I thought.

Stapleton and Collins, both West Point grads, presented no mitigating evidence and rested their case. I should point out that
Capt. Keuker was also a West Point grad and a conviction would look bad for his record. The ring knockers do have a tendency
to stick together.

The court debated for a very short period and returned a “not guilty” verdict on all charges and specifications. I couldn’t believe
the court reached that verdict but it did and that was that. Col. Morley will lose his mind when he hears the verdict. This was
the only court marital case I lost in my 2 years as trial counsel.

26 September 1966

Saw LTC Morley this morning and he asked what happened yesterday at the court martial but he didn’t seem too excited.

Hal Walloon, my tent mate and his engineering platoon are building swings, teeter-totters and chairs for the kids in a nearby orphanage.
Now everyone wants to go over and do something to help. I’m not sure it will help much.

Larry Kinchloe went out to talk with Bill Kearns, CO of C Company. One thing led to another and Larry wound up going
on an operation with Kearns and as luck would have it they walked into some VC. Luckily no one was injured but Kearns
just dodged a bullet that missed his head and Larry had a hand grenade land close to him. He jumped behind a rice paddy dike
and wasn’t hurt. He didn’t smell very good however. Tonight we all sat around MAJ High’s tent and listened to Larry’s war stories.

27 September 1966

Early this morning C Company had enemy contact in the same area where Larry was yesterday. The difference was the VC now
had a machine gun and recoilless rifle. C Company called in artillery and air strikes on the area, which lasted most of the day. Lt. Wolpers
was WIA (wounded in action) with shrapnel in his back. C Company had 3 KIA (killed in action) and 12 WIA in the fight
but no VC bodies were recovered.

Went down to the beach tonight for a swim. The surf was really rough but it was fun

28 September 1966

Today was like every other day except we were expecting a visit from General Collins who was to stop by around noon.
Well he did arrive but never stopped at the base camp on the beach but immediately went up to the old French fort,
our forward CP (command post) instead.

Around 1600 hours our remaining FAC (forward air controller) came by and said he was going flying so I asked if I could
go along and he said yes. His aircraft, an L-19 O-1 Birddog, is based at Tuy Hoa. Well it was great getting in an airplane again.
He let me fly for about 20 minutes, just like old times. The Birddog has a much bigger engine than the Cessna that I flew back at
Ohio University.

We flew about two hours looking for signs of VC but didn’t see anything except some cows, which we suspect were owned by the VC.
MAJ High told me tonight that the mess hall and my platoon were being moved forward to a bombed out village. Finally I can get
my platoon involved in a tactical mission.

Getting ready for our flight out of Tuy Hoa Base.

Runway visible underneath the rocket pod. This was really high tech. To aim the rocket, which was used to mark a target for the jets,
they used a grease pencil to mark a line on the front windshield as an aiming point. — in Tuy Hòa.

Tuy Hoa city.

29 September 1966

Well my hopes were dashed when Larry and MAJ High checked out the bombed out village and determined I couldn’t defend it
with the men I had so it looks like I will be stuck on the beach again.

Had an aerial resupply mission to C Company and it went smoothly. I took Sgt. Bracy, my ammo sergeant with me and he was
really excited. We dropped the new collapsible 5-gallon water (plastic) from 100 feet and it exploded like a water balloon.
Oh well, I guess they will need to find a creek nearby if they want water.

Received my second package from Aunt Mary, boy she really sent me a lot of goodies, chocolate cookies today and another
kind of cookie a couple of days ago. It is really nice to get packages from home.

Looking forward to using our new shower tonight. Crap, went down to the shower point and got all soaped up and then they ran out of water.

30 September 1966

Not much happening today. Had a resupply request from C Company, who are still out on a search and destroy mission.
They called around 1000 hours to report they had called for a Dustoff (medical evacuation helicopter) but the terrain was too rough
for the Dustoff to land so they called me to bring them some heavy-duty chain saws to cut a LZ (landing zone).

I got the chain saws and headed out to the LZ and but we had to hover at 100 feet to stay clear of the trees. I hooked up my
snap link to the floor tie down ring and began to lower the chainsaws through the trees. Everything was going fine until the pilot
started yelling he was losing RPM’s and could no longer hold a hover. The chainsaws had reached the ground so I quickly cut
the rope and we left the area, another exciting flight. The Dustoff chopper lost 1 ½” off his main rotor blade
hitting tree limbs getting out of the LZ.

Today is payday but we didn’t get paid because the pay officer could not get a flight out of Pleiku, well maybe tomorrow.
Tonight Larry and I went surfing again using our air mattresses. The surf was great. You ride the air mattress on the wave
into the beach. You get slammed into the beach so hard that you do somersaults and your suit fills with sand.
So periodically you must stop and unload your swimsuit of the sand.

After swimming I went down to Hal’s new shower point and now I feel squeaky clean.

The engineers built a movie screen out of old ammo crates and covered it with a sheet. We have a projector and speakers
so now all we need is a movie. Before long we will have movies on the beach.

Our own movie screen. Now all we need to do is get a movie to show. Screen made out of discarded ammo boxes and covered
with a sheet we got from the hospital. — at Tuy Hòa Beach.

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