1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Randy Cox Page 5

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

Randy Cox

Page 5

Excerpts from letters with associated memories

Above: Excerpt from the 4th Infantry Division ORLL covering the period
February 1 - April 30, 1970. Randy Cox and Company D 1/8 Infantry took part in
Operation Putnam Shark, in the Vinh Thanh Valley, as noted in this excerpt.

Reprint: Attacks on Camp Radcliff 1970

Feb 1, 1970 Mortar attack, unknow type @ 0105 less than 10 rounds, light damage.
(from Headquarters MACV, Monthly Summary, January 1970)

Feb 4, 1970

For lunch we set up by a stream which gave everyone a chance to clean up. Two nights before, I was on guard duty until midnight at base camp. I noticed they kept cases of C-rations and LFP’s close to the helicopter pad. So, at the completion of my guard duty I borrowed a case of LFP’s which I split up with the guys in my bunker. Each man got 8 meals from this case and later we got supplied 4 boxes of C-rations and 3 LFP’s for the upcoming mission. We are now on patrol, waiting for one patrol to return so we can move to our night location setting up around 4 or 5 pm. I have my tape recorder with a few personal items in an ammo box all covered with additional layers of plastic to protect it from the moisture. While we are setting up people are writing letters, reading, sleeping, cleaning cloths etc. One guy made a bow with arrows and did a little target practice.

Feb 6, 1970

We are about to move, and I am hurrying around trying to get resupplied and hunting an envelope to mail a letter home. We are being replaced by another company at LZ Hard Time while we go on patrols. The last group was out over 20 days and we expect to be in the field that same amount of time. The letters from home are delayed and often come out of order.

Feb 7, 1970

I woke up and make breakfast of Beef and Rice not the normal C rations -MRE’s (meals ready to eat). [Website Ed., Actually the Beef and Rice was a LRRP Ration, not an MRE.] Lately, our patrols have been moving extensively around the area. As I was writing this letter, I felt an uneasy itch under my arm - a tick. This was the 4th one since being in country, on my butt, my eye lid, one between my legs on a vital part, and this one under my arm.

Feb 9, 1970

We set up in a spooky place, near a graveyard. After we put up huts, we ate then dug a slit trench for protection. A couple of guys put their trench within a foot of the grave site. Bath time again. One of the guys pulled a joke on another as they went to the stream. When they returned one had his ruck sack floating down the stream on an air mattress. Later, several from my squad and I had cut a trail up a steep hill. After reaching the top, we returned to the platoon and our gear. As we arrived, we had a few FNG’s to which I say, “Welcome to the Central Highlands”. We geared up and moved to the top following the path we created. As we reached the top, all I could hear was the FNG’s cussing the hill, the army, everyone.

FEB 13, 1970

Today, we had to hunt for an LZ to be air lifted to a different area. One time they picked up the platoon and we ended up at LZ Hard Time. No one knew why, not the CO, Major, or the Colonel. Time is limited as we hump until 6:00 pm then set up perimeter, eat, rest, sleep, and set up guard duty for the night. 262 days left in Nam. It was dark and we were supposed to go to the top of a hill to pull recon. We worked our way through the grass which cuts you like a knife which resulted in everyone having small cuts on their exposed skin. We set up in three units. In the morning we used our shaving cream to hurl it over the grass at others in our group. Before this I was painting my cuts with iodine when a friend came over with a QT and painted my belly button. A short duel was underway, I flung iodine at his neck and he got me in the face.

Feb 14, 1970

Yesterday, it rained, and we were out of water, we stopped at one location where one of the guys found a small underground stream about 1” deep. He placed a banana leave on the bottom of the stream to make a funnel to help replenish our water supply giving us the ability to make coffee and coco. Rumor is we might be getting beer and cokes (two cans each) in our next resupply. Think about this we are in the middle of a battle zone receiving and drinking beer and cokes. On one mission we were out for a three-day mission; one of the guys carried 10 cans in his backpack but someone bettered him by carrying a full case (24 lbs.) which was not a good idea. One of the guys, who was liked by everyone, received a Valentine Day Card from the group signed by everyone and delivered by the platoon leader in front of the group.

Feb 15, 1970

We are supposed to get resupplied, but because of the rain the supply bird was delayed. We had to move 700 meters this afternoon. For the past 4 days, we have been waiting for orders to move. In a few days are going in to be reassigned to the new unit because D/1/8 was heading home to the states. We did get resupply and I got two packages one included the knife and the supplies I requested. A brief note in my letter was made about the items in the package because it contained, cookies, candy, snacks, etc. and we were out of water. We ate them anyway. That afternoon several of us cut banana plants and sucked out the moisture. The next day we headed to the lowlands for water and to be transported to LZ Hard Time because we are the only platoon in our Company still in the field.

Feb 15, 1970

Yesterday we got resupplied including two cokes and a grapefruit but no beer and most important a Valentine Card. When we do get beer, it is normally HAMMs or Black Label. Still cold at night and I can see my breath. I caught 16 oz. of water off my poncho last night. My dress for sleep was a wool undershirt and a poncho cover. Remember, we are stationed in the Highlands.

Feb 15, 1970

Eight of us were selected to go on a water detail so we gather up soap, a razor, cream, and a mirror to clean up during the process. After cleaning up, I was sent on a recon detail but for that hour I was clean. For the past 5 days, we have been in this same general area with limited movement. I split my pant for the second time but thank goodness someone had needles and thread and I was able to drop my pants and make some emergency repairs.

Feb 20

Yesterday, we made it to LZ Hard Time by walking 2 miles or better through brush and wading a stream. At one point, we came to a large water area in which we put out security, stripped and bathed. Indications are we will go in on March 8 to be reassigned and it might take up to a month for this process to take place.

Feb 21, 1970

I got mail from Glenda, my wife, which include a couple of new pictures. Currently, I am on guard duty guarding a Chopper with a “ROK” Korean soldier. We both spend a little time trying to teach each other our language. ROK’s get a lot of respect. Often as they fly out you can hear them sing going into battle. Several times during their operations they would have good success but when we tried the same blocking method, we would have little to no results. As they say location, location, location.

Feb 22, 1970

We walked to the river to swim with the coke girls and women following us. We had to wait until they roped off the river then everyone except security stripped down for a bath and a swim. We were a little modest but the coke girls and women kept saying “NO SWEAT GI”.

Feb 23, 1970

Last night, I was sent on an ambush not that we minded. Everyone else was put on different details. For the last two days we have been putting up wire and because of my knowledge and care during installation, the lieutenant is always picking me for this detail. I was talking to a friend who just got back from R&R in Hawaii. He said he stayed in a Holiday inn for $18.00 a night and the round-trip airline ticket was about $250.00. By using the military discount, he spent app $800.00 for everything.

Feb 26, 1970

We are at a new firebase laying down double aprons, cattle fences, tangle foot and concertina wire. I had done it before and after that I became a teacher. I told the guys I sent you all my money and all the guys were saying “I messed up” but that was OK. I sent an audio tape home.

Feb 28, 1970

I am on a one-night ambush. The process is to come back in after the ambush eat chow, do details then go back on an ambush. I got word we should be in the field until the 8th or 9th of March.

March 2, 1970

Yesterday, we moved to our new area of operation. This area has thick vegetation, which is high and dry. Today, we went out on recon missions twice-once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Hiking not too bad because we were on trails. Later, we had to cut a trail up a hill to get back to our patrol base or back track on the trails which would have taken an extra 30+ minutes.

Photo by Randy Cox

March 3, 1970 Yesterday afternoon, we moved 400 meters to set up for the night

???

Described the root plant (cassava plant) as looking like a sweet potato but no sweetness. Later with C/1/22, we landed in a hot LZ and I had a FNG assigned to me. If I remember correctly, we were on one of the last choppers which means I could have been acting as Platoon Sargent. The FNG and I set up in the middle of the LZ since the perimeter had already been established and the Huey’s were flying around laying down supporting fire. I got my knife out and pealed one of these plants and shared part with him. I can still see his face as this crazy Sergeant was sharing an eatable root with him in the middle of a hot LZ. I hope he survived. I sent my brother in law some tobacco packages which had a warning for users to watch out for worms.

Photo by Randy Cox

March 5, 1970

We are out on recon and found app. a ton of eatable rice but the company found about 2 tons of rice. Today, we got to swim and clean up. It appears to be a nice area; we found a large area of the Root Plants which are eatable, lots of water and trees for shade. Within 15 days we are to go to Pleiku to be reassigned.

This is an event which might have happened around this time. We were on patrol and found numerous huts but it seemed everyone had left the area or so we thought. As we searched the area, we found RICE WINE in the making. There were several clay pots placed in the ground with a cheese cloth covering the tops. The clay pots were placed in the ground to help control the temperature as the wine ferments. Upon removing the cheese cloth, we got a whiff of the product and saw small rice kernels floating on top. My first thought reminded me of maggots and the smell was awful not like homemade peach, apple or grape wine. We ended up breaking the pots and continued our search of the area and found an OLD woman. She was probably left behind because of the inability to keep up. Eventually, we transported her to the base camp where she would be questioned and be given better care than what she was receiving. Now, I have mixed emotions about that having removed her from her family and exposing her to an environment to which she had never been exposed. I am not certain, but we might have burned the huts because of their having supported the Vietcong. We did burn huts, but the burning was based on what our inspections found.

Randy Cox burning huts

Photo by Randy Cox

March 7, 1970

I found a crossbow in one of the huts. For many days I carried the crossbow in hopes of sending it home as a souvenir. Because of the span of the bow, it was catching on vines and limbs creating problems’ delays, noise, etc. I learned my lesson and the bow was left in the woods. Word came from home that the wife was hunting a job. Glenda expressed concern about not having received a W-2 for taxes but the military keeps saying not to worry.

??? March 1970

We were supposed to go into the field, but they could not arrange enough choppers for transportation, so the entire company was pulling ambushes around LZ Hard Time. This meant there was not enough room for everyone inside the perimeter without soldiers experiencing idle time. You know the saying about idle hands. We are waiting on payday, but I have nowhere to spend it.

March 8, 1970

Resupply day for food, ammo, and mail. We are supposed to be in the field for another 5 to 10 days. One of our guys is going on R&R and we have been talking about our upcoming trips and how excited we are. We are camped close to a river which we had to cross as we patrolled a different area. The river current and slippery rock play havoc on us but it was funny to watch everyone as we crossed. Remember we were in full battle gear.

March 10, 1970

10th day in the field and we are supposed to be out at least 5 more days before we go to the dusty base camp.

March 11, 1970

Yesterday we got resupplied which consisted of Mail only no food. In 5 days, we go in. Still have not heard anything about the W-2 forms being available. On the back of a letter, we had a card game score in which Watson, POOH, Joe and I kept score.

March 15, 1970

I am getting assigned to my new unit within a couple of days. It has not rained for almost a month.

Photo by Randy Cox

March 20, 1970

We are getting new equipment and filling out the papers to go to our new unit. Last night there was a movie being shown. Indications are I will be assigned to A/3/8 and should be with the group within 5 days. On the last mission, I got a punji stick in my knee. I had minor penetration because it hit my knee which prevented it from going farther, but my point man got one completely through his calf. This resulted in his being medivac back to base camp because of the possibility of infections. After getting stuck, it seemed my senses were heightened because as I look around, I could see HUNDREDS in front of us and heighten my senses of detecting them in future operations. The LT asked if I wanted a Purple Heart and I said “No, too minor of an injury”. I still have a small scar on my knee caused by this injury. Later, I was on night ambush and we collected many punji sticks to surround our position. I had to make sure my guys put them in the ground at a 45-degree angle to decrease visibility and increase the possibility of penetration. Nothing happened that night, but we left the sticks for the VC if they came our way. I will be going on R&R in a couple of months.

Later, in base camp I found I was to be assigned to C/1/22. We got free until 4:00 pm and a couple of us went for a steam bath. After the steam bath, we got a massage which was going well until she stopped rubbing. There was a lull and she jumped on my back, massaging my back with her feet. It was GREAT. Remember, the locals probably did not weigh over 90 lbs.

March 21, 1970

We are going to a Battalion size party. It will be the last time we see each other because of the transfer from D/1/8. Most of us feel like brothers and we regret the unit being dissolved. I should be with C/1/22 within a couple of days. Thinking of my R & R in May. Today, I went and got a steam bath and massage

Party in Aug -Sept. 1970

Photo by Randy Cox

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