1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Randy Cox Page 9

We knew where we were going, and the assembly of a massive number of troops had begun. Our assembly point was at an Air Force base. The air force base was a sharp contrast from our ARMY base. It was clean, indoor showers, indoor plumbing, good meals. Our night was spent under our poncho tent in a football field. We got limited enjoyment in this area before loading the helicopters for the flight into Cambodia. From what I read in the book “Twelve Days in May” our original departure was delayed because of logistics. It seems another division had encountered problems, enemy fire, etc. in their entering into a LZ causing us to be pushed back one day. This was a blessing from what I read. Our flight encountered very little combat. We flew high over the terrain and rivers for safety reasons. Upon landing we dispersed and moved inland. Our platoon patrol was walking the ridge line with a new LT. He had us moving in three lines. He stayed on the trail while there were two separate patrols to his left and right breaking bush. This process did not last long as we brought to his attention, he was applying book learning as opposed to how we had to deal with the terrain by moving in single file on the trail.

Later, we stopped for lunch. While eating a sister patrol ran into a bunker complex in the valley. M-16 and AK47 rounds could be heard as we sit on the ridge eating lunch waiting for the call to assist. It never came. The worst thing that could have happened would be for us to independently move toward the action without communicating with the platoon and/or CO because we could have been perceived as the enemy. On a separate day, we were moving as we were fired on from an elevated position. Everyone hit the ground and waited because it was only a couple of shots and it sounded like a pistol or carbine. I got the motion from the LT. to check the area out so, I got several of my guys to crawl forward with me. The problem I had is they were slow and were reluctant to move forward without guidance. I would crawl forward 5-10 yards then have to turn and motion for them to move forward. What they should have done was each of move forward in a staggered method making sure someone had eyes on the ridge. I was glad this was not an active engagement because I would have been a key target-man in charge motioning others to move forward.

That night we set up camp in that area putting out claymores, digging foxholes and getting prepared for the night. At some time in the night, I remember one of our FNG’s letting loose a couple of shit’s and damn’s. Then he pulled out his Zippo lighter and started burning off a leech. This was short lived before he was shut down by a bunk mate because that gave the enemy the opportunity to locate his position. The next day as people retrieved their claymores, they found several having their wires cut. Did the FNG scare the Viet Cong away??? This FNG, I remember because as we ran a patrol, and he walked point treating it as if he were on stroll downtown. Weapon on his hip, point toward the sky. Later, we came to a gully, and he walked down and up the trail without scoping the surroundings. When I got a chance, I pulled him aside and explained his pending death if he continued to patrol using this method.

Photo by Randy Cox

A patrol carried us through an area which had been under heavy bombardment. The tops of the trees were missing and there was evidence of a heavy firefight. Just prior all along the trail were bamboo spears set to ambush unsuspecting visitors. They were dried out and did not have their prior strength. We set up camp shortly afterwards and started digging our foxholes. We were at platoon or company strength and the perimeter appeared to be quite large. Sometime in the early evening we got probed and there was an exchange of gun fire. I remember the green tracer going over my head as I was diving for my foxhole. No additional engagement was experienced that night that I can remember.

The best method to separate from a helicopter is to have the chopper put its skids on the ground and have you jump out. Remember you have a heavy backpack app.100 lbs + if you have a full supply. This was often the case on the first day in the field. I would have a full supply of water, food, and ammo. In one landing, we came into an area which had tall grass which moved in the wind created by the helicopter. They wanted us to jump from app 6-10 feet up. Naturally, it looked like we were 15+ FEET up. I could see broken legs, arms, etc. The co-pilot keeps motioning for us to jump and I kept motioning for him to go lower. I and my guys won, jumping at 4 feet.

On the reverse, when the choppers came in to pick us up, they had to land, and we had to be in a decent location but if we were on a ridge line or hilltop with crosswinds. In that case they want us to pop smoke continuously. What does that mean-continuously? We had a limited number of smoke grenades and the helicopters pilots had to be aware of crosswinds, enemy fire, trees, and the grunts (us). Once, I saw the tip of a propeller hit a dead tree causing him to cut and run because of the possibility of crashing if he had a full load of 6-8 soldiers plus gear and 4 members of his crew.

On one ride, I was the solo rider with the pilot and his crew. This might have been as I was departing the field to go HOME. We were traveling at 115 knots following a river just above treetop. What a trip! This maneuver was to prevent the possibility of a silver bullet hitting the helicopter at a high altitude. When you are flying low and fast, they have less time to react and aim at the aircraft.

As we marched toward the next LZ, the hills were gentle, and the trees were sparse allowing enough sunlight to reach the ground giving small trees an opportunity to develop. As we crossed a small ridge line, I noticed an unusual tree - 15 feet tall and with bright green leaves standing out among all the others. As we marched by, I grabbed several of the low hanging fruit and slowly ate one. Most of the members of my squad were from the North and were unfamiliar with crabapples. A few sampled the fruit, but most did not finish their first sample. With the tree being app.15 feet tall in the middle of nowhere and the only one I saw in Viet Nam, I can only suspect it grew from the seed of an apple core left by the French many years prior or from a migrating bird. This reminded me of other spices/food/fruit we would find to enhance our food. One was a little pepper. This was only available during a brief period, but they were welcomed when we could find the small bushes. The same could be said about the pineapple gardens we crossed. Once I picked one from the bush, with my knife peeled the pineapple, and ate the sweetest, juiciest pineapple I had ever had. I did share it with several of my members, but I remember how unusual it was that as a southern boy I knew about peppers, crabapples, pineapples and other items but so many of my mates had limited knowledge of what I considered natural foods.

Being in the woods with no baths or showers, staying dirty we developed certain illnesses. One was BOILS. Put it in one word, PAIN. One started with a little itch on my left wrist then it grew and grew and grew. In the field, there was limited to no means to treat a boil and my only solution was to tough it out until we got to the fire base on top of a hill. The pain was such that I had to hold my left hand up to keep it from throbbing while in the other hand I held my rifle. Thinking back this was a funny sight.

Once we got to the firebase the Medic looked at the boil and knew exactly what was necessary to lance the boil. With a scalpel he made a small incision with a gauze over the top of the boil. It popped like a balloon, stuff kept coming out, then to make sure he got all the pus out he squeezed the boil several times to get it as clean as possible. This reminded me of some of my buddies when I showed them my wrist. As I talked about it, they would say let them see and guess what they did - they Squeezed it and it hurt like hell. Buddies? After the boil got popped it had to be packed with an iodine gauze. The medic started pushing the gauze in the opening. The infection had enlarged an opening and it seemed like it took yards of gauze to fill the hole but a couple of days later, I was truly amazed at the amount that came out saturated with blood and puss then he had to repack it to insure proper healing from within . So, for days I walked around not being able to do much except routine tasks. Then, we had a colonel land in a two-person helicopter. It was a normal visit to follow up on the troops, to observe and report to headquarters the results of his finding.

He got more than he asked for. I still remember his taking off from the hillside going up then diving like going off a diving board. Dropping over the side of the hill/mountain with grace and style. Sometime after leaving our camp he crashed. I never knew if it was caused by enemy fire (silver bullet), stupidity, or a mechanical failure. The cause of the accident did not matter because my platoon was selected to secure the crash site. My platoon, I wanted to be with them, my buddies, friends, etc. but I had to get clearance from the Medic. I was denied the opportunity to return to my platoon. Later, I found out they found the colonel and pilot in a burnt helicopter.

Chuck Reed, and Joe Jackson were part of our platoon. Chuck was tall slender and had a smile you could see from miles away, Joe was black, quiet, but seemed to be a great guy. I can remember sitting with them on the top of the hilltop discussing the world talking about home and planning the next day’s action. Little did I know in the future both would be dead. The events are clouded, and was a separation of time and events, but I developed another boil on my right jaw which kept me out of the field. This was painful as my jaw was swelled and there was a danger of the infection spreading to my brain. I was placed on bed rest in the base camp hospital - Clean sheets, hot food, and some degree of freedom.

One evening, I went to our company supply tent to see a friend from Maine who transferred to this position months earlier. Upon arriving I noticed his demeanor and asked the problem. He explained both Chuck and Joe were killed this day (09/10/1970). It seems they had walked into a booby-trap. These were my friends and had been part of my platoon. To this day, my thoughts return to this event and others as to why I had been spared. That may sound strange, but I almost always walked point or second man when my squad was in the lead. One of two things would have happened if I had not been on sick leave: either Chuck or Joe would be alive, and I would be dead or I like to think my skills might have saved us all but I doubt that would be the case. This was app. 60 days before I would be home as would be for Chuck.

At some point, we got a new surveillance tool, motion sensor. These were small tube-like ground sensors which were used to detect movement in the area. At first the sensitivity was too high. The first night, while on guard duty the blasted thing kept going off making us think we were about to be attacked by a company of NVA. The next day, we dialed down the sensitivity and did several dry runs but because of artillery rounds being fired and detonation of the shells the sensor was worthless for our application. During this same operation, a patrol was sent out to scout the area. I stayed at the camp setting up security as a patrol left the perimeter. When they returned, I was informed our patrol and a Viet Cong patrol was paralleling each other. At first both were unaware of each other, but that did not last long. There was a little action, and everyone went their separate ways-FAST. No injuries on either side

Later, we got some FNG’s with a weapon which we had not seen. It was an over under-M-16 with a M-79 40mm grenade launcher under the rifle. It was a new product, and everyone was wanting to play and ask question about their training. I can still see their faces as we treated it like a new toy and here, they were in the middle of a war zone. This is the difference between a FNG and a VET.

Animals:

During a platoon movement, we had separate occasions to make detours from our normal path. Once, it was a nice normal day and we were making good time. We stopped, move off the trails a short distance breaking bush along the way, paralleled the trail and then moved back to the trail. Later, we found out the point man had walked up on a snake which had a head the size of a grapefruit. Good Move! Following picture is not from our platoon.

While on a patrol, our point man walked upon a small deer. The question was do we shoot the deer and have fresh meat or eat C-Rations. The deer won. We did not want to bring attention to ourselves.

While on a hilltop firebase, members of our group used the starlight scope to scan the perimeter for movement. They saw a tiger, walking around the firebase. Nothing happened but it did give us something to discuss the following day. Later, I discovered another group had killed one.

We were always walking the streams and running into domesticated water buffalo. No problems except you had to watch your step. Naturally, the water buffalo would get in the water to relieve themselves in water used for drinking. We just put in a pill in the canteen, shake, and wait to drink. The water in this area had a gray color which I think was derived from the soil. One of our guys wanted out of the field. He would slip around avoiding his malaria pill and drinking untreated water, he got his wish. This was good for the team because he was a slacker.

ANTS: Hated them! Several times we would set up late in the afternoon only to have our rest/sleep disturbed by ants. It seems it was either our body odor, our having disturbed their habitat, etc. It did not matter it was like they rang the dinner bell. DINNER was available. This is not the normal house/sugar ants you might be thinking of. After making your sleeping position you would see a steady stream of ants heading your way. Only thing we could do was relocate but that would serve no purpose or put a little DEET on you or on/under the ground around you. Their heads were large, and they had pinchers. When you thump them off your body their heads would remain attached to you. I have heard in some third world countries they could use these as stitches for small wounds. The following is an image of something similar.

As I got closer to returning to the World. During a patrol in the rainy season, I noticed there was a large worm like creature on the ground. I held it at body width waist high allowing both ends to touch the ground. That would make the worm app. 8 feet long. After setting up for the night and eating my c-rations, I noticed white fluffy patches. My first thought was it was a fungus until I saw it move. It was a group of slow-moving insects that looked like snowflakes.

Locals fished by throwing in a grenade in the river allowing the concussion to stun the fish. At that point they just rowed around picking up fish. It was a lot easier than fishing with a rod for a couple of fish for a day’s work.

On one patrol, several in our group said they saw a lizard the size of a large dog. It went one direction while our guys when the other.

On a larger patrol, we had to move single file up to the top of a ridge line. The trail was steep, and we had to be single file. At some point, we heard several shots at the front. We received instructions to stay in place. With our heavy backpacks still strapped to our back, we sat down facing downhill. This was not a smart decision, looking downhill while the action was uphill. But if we had to move forward fast from our location this was the best method and we know the forward positions was where the action was. If we were needed it was a roll over and move forward with or without our backpacks. After a while we got instructions to move to the top of the ridge line. We were lucky our point man got the drop on a Viet Cong point man. A contributing factor might have been point man had a darker complexion. I think his name might have been Hernandes. I still remember walking past him as he sat on the ground after killing a competitor. It was his first kill and I know he was remorseful, but I walk past him patting him on the shoulder saying something like “way to go”.

On patrols, we had several encounters with dud bombs. Once we walked past a series of cluster bombs which did not detonate. The same for a 1000 lb. bomb. The larger ones would be marked for the engineering group to detonate.

A couple of our guys were getting shaky. At night, we would send out an LP (listening post) ambush for protection of the larger group. One soldier would always see movement and fire his M-16 at shadows. We never found any evidence of the Viet Cong, but we could not doubt his actions only guess.. We had set up our platoon perimeter (app 28 men). Using our poncho’s as a tent we dug fox hole maybe 1 foot deep but large enough to allow three people to sleep in each foxhole. The fox hole would be full of water, but we would lay on the ground sleeping while one of the three would be on lookout. We should have dealt with him but what do you do when you have a soldier who has been issued a rifle, grenades, etc. Also, he was also the one who said he was going to shoot me in the back. That is mentioned in another section.

While being a sergeant of the weapons squad, we had to leave the Company firebase with dirty M-60 machine gun ammo which had rust under the collectors of the bullets. I tried to get fresh ammo before leaving but we could not get resupplied and we had to carry what we had. Later, as we set up for lunch. I had both of our guys rotate and clean each round with the white gun grease each of us carried. On that same patrol, we walked upon a large open field which was too large for us to walk around. After a discussion with the LT, I brought up the two M-60’s explaining to both guys our circumstances. I had one M-60 soldier lock and load (chamber a round) to cover the most likely point of attack while most of the platoon crossed the field. Upon reaching the opposite side the #1 M-60 was set up as the remainder of the patrol crossed the field. NO problems with this patrol.

Water was always a problem. At 2 pounds a quart, how much can you carry with all food, ammo, weapon, and other items. Often, I would have 6 quarts (12 pounds +). On one patrol, we were walking the ridge line, and everyone was running out of water. Often, we could catch water with our poncho or walk off the ridge to the streams which were below us but, on this occasion, we did not get any rain and we did not get approval to move off the ridge. That afternoon several of us cut banana stalks to suck the moisture. Not very much liquid, flavor was not the best, but it helped. Within a couple of days, a large water bag was delivered under a helicopter, and I think I remember we got new clothes because ours were rotting on our backs which helped to contribute to the heat rash, we were all developing.

Memories Some might be confused with C/1/22

D/1/8 sometime in November/December 1969. Being an FNG, I had little memory of certain events and action which developed. On one patrol we had an engagement, to which at least one VC was killed. I remember coming up as one of our senior lower ranked soldiers was going through the VC’s pockets for information and souvenirs. He found letters and stripped a belt from the body. Later, I think he and one other got injured. His being minor and the other being serious. I remember little of either of these two events.

We had a soldier in the group who had been a cook but got transferred to a field unit (ours). We can only guess what the cause of the transfer was, but he was a POT head. Even in our group he would walk point smoking a joint or he would be high. In the field he did not have the access to pot but when we were in a base camp or larger firebase, there would be in the pot bunker. He was a pleasant guy over 6 feet tall and had a great smile probably from being high all the time. I think I remember he served out his time and went back to the world.

We got a new first Sargent. I remember him walking up on a group of us as we talked about him. Making statements such as: he did not know what a blue line was on the map, being a FNG and not knowing the field, etc. Boy, were we wrong! This was his second tour. Shortly, after our introductions he shared a news clipping he carried in his billfold. He had been awarded the Silver Star for VALOR. At some point he saved me. Several of the guys were wanting to get high and shared a joint with me and I was being led to the pot bunker when he arrived and guided me in a different direction. I attribute him as to helping to keep me on the straight and narrow.

While on a patrol along a river the Captain decided we should have our sniper hang back to see if someone was following. This was uneventful but 50+ years later I have memories of his being sent back with his M14 Rifle. Most of us had M16 but because he had gone to sniper school, he carried the M14. It was heavier, longer, and did not have automatic fire all which made it better for long distance firing. This is the only time I remember a sniper being deployed.

We got a new lieutenant, fresh out of OCS and he had an idea of how we should look and act in the bush. One memory is his directing me to order the men to shave getting rid of their Fu Manchu moustaches and other items which did not meet military requirements. This could have included peace symbols which most all of us either wore as a necklace or had drawn on our helmets. I remember another Sargent telling me the men did not appreciate have been told to shave. I feel certain he fell in that category because of his Fu Manchu moustache. At that time, I did have a moustache, but it did not extend beyond the corners of my mouth making it acceptable. I think they all understood the orders came from the lieutenant, but they still did not like it. Remember, we were in the bush away from all upper officers putting our life in danger every day and thinking this was a stupid regulation. I cannot remember what happened to this lieutenant, but I think he got reassigned later or he could have been one of the ones which was injured during a fire fight in which I was not with the group during this action. He could have been one of the two individuals I visited in the medical tent. I think his injuries were serious because of his having been on a ventilator.

Another memory which might be associated with the above injury happened as myself, another Sargent and a NEW Lieutenant sat trying to get acquainted. I questioned as to why the patrol did not fire on a small village prior to entering the area. The other Sargent, who was with the patrol, mentioned they did and they walked into a hostile environment receiving fire and sustaining the injuries. Why was I not with the patrol? I can only guess it was because I had another boil and there was a concern of infection hence, I was confined to the medical tent.

While on a firebase as several of us sat on a bunker, we saw headlights in the distance. Remember we were in the boonies with miles and miles of nothing of wilderness but here we were speculating on what could cause the headlights. The light moved slowly making turns giving the illusion of a motorized vehicle. We speculated it could be a truck or tank but never found of what it was.

Valley of Marijuana! On a patrol with C/1/22, we were on a platoon size patrol having to travel through an area which was made for easy humping. We topped a small ridge and worked our way down the valley. We were walking through crops which were 7-8 feet tall which helped our progress making for an easy day. Later that night as we were setting up our perimeter, I and others were talking about the day when the LT. brought to our attention we had just humped through a valley of Marijuana - A VALLEY. As you would suspect word spread throughout the platoon what had just happened. You could hear the damn’s and shit’s as some thought of the fleeting opportunity which had been presented to them. My thought is the LT was thinking he was safe mentioning the plants, but the Army has a method of screwing up things. The next morning, we got orders to go back across the valley. As I was walking, I could hear leaves being stripped from the plants. Most if not all had never harvested POT and had no idea what to do but in their minds the leaves were the THING. That evening several guys opened a can of C-Ration crackers, folding the lid back to make a handle. This was to toast the leaves over a heat tab. It did not do much to make them high, but a couple did start a little horseplay. I cannot remember how the horseplay started but someone got out a pair of scissors and said, “I will cut your throat” and that is what he did. It was all in fun until the accident happened. It was a minor cut, but it shows how stupid can turn to dangerous.

I remember truly little about returning home. Glenda picked me up and we stayed in a hotel in Birmingham for the night. Later, it was getting close to Christmas and we made a trip to Kmart in Birmingham. I was walking around the toy area when a Shot rang out. My first impulse was to drop to the floor and whirl toward the approaching enemy. As everyone in the vicinity looked at me as I was in a low crouch, I realized what had happened: a small boy with a cap gun had shot off a round. Some things never leave you.

When time allowed, we would heat several of these over a heat tab or C-4 if not they would be eaten cold. You can imagine how some of these looked and tasted if they were cold. Even cooked we needed to add additional ingredients, hot sauce, to make them palatable.

We would use a P38 can opener, open the can, and if to be heated fold the lid back treating it as a handle and hold it over the heat tab or C-4 as it warms up.

The "M" unit came in 12 basic varieties grouped in three menus of four different entrees (later supplemented by "alternative" variant entrees). Taking into account slight differences in preparation or meat, a total of 18 entrees were available over time:

• M-1: Beefsteak, Chicken or Turkey Loaf, Chopped Ham & Eggs, or Ham Slices (Cooked in Juices or Fried). M-1A: Tuna fish.
• M-2: Meat Chunks w/ Beans in Tomato Sauce, Ham & Lima Beans, Beef Slices w/ Potatoes in Gravy, or Beans w/ Frankfurter Chunks in Tomato Sauce. M-2A: Spaghetti w/ Meatballs in Tomato Sauce.
• M-3: Beef in Spiced Sauce, Boned Chicken or Turkey, Chicken w/ Noodles in Broth, or Pork Steak Cooked in Juices. M-3A: Meat Loaf.
Ham and Lima Beans was irreverently known throughout the armed forces as "Ham and Motherfuckers" (or other variants such as "Beans and Motherfuckers", "Ham & Claymores", "Ham & Lifers"). Beans with Frankfurter Chunks in Tomato Sauce was called "Beanie Weenie" or "Beans and Baby Dicks".

The "B" unit came in three different varieties:

• B-1: Seven crackers and two chocolate discs (Types: Solid Chocolate "also known as Lifer Bars", Chocolate Creme, or Chocolate Coconut).
o Peanut Butter Spread.
• B-2: Four Hardtack Biscuits (often referred to by troops as "John Wayne cookies") and a cookie sandwich or fudge disc.
o Cheese Spread (Types: Processed Cheese w/ Pimentos or Processed Cheese w/ Caraway Seeds). Spread Alternative: Plain Cheddar Cheese.
• B-3: Four Cookies and a packet of Cocoa powder.
o Jam Spread (Types: Apple, Mixed Berry, Seedless Blackberry, Mixed Fruit, Grape, or Strawberry). It was used with the bread in the D-3 can.

The "D" unit came in three different types:

• D-1 (Fruit): Halved apricots, sliced peaches, quartered pears, or fruit cocktail. D-1A (Fruit): Applesauce.
• D-2 (Cake): Pound Cake, Fruitcake, or Cinnamon Nut Roll. D-2A (Cake): Date Pudding or Orange Nut Roll.
• D-3 (Bread): White bread. (There were no alternatives).

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