The returning vets have often been greeted by protestors who spit at them and throw garbage and yell obscentities at them. We have been told it may be best not to wear our uniform in public. Have we become men without a country? Veterans of the Korean War have been called the forgotten veterans, if the attitude at home doesn't change or gets worse, we will probably wish we were forgotten. Homecoming for the WWII vets must have been very different from what we will experience.

The infantryman has to carry everything he needs to fight and survive. He has to be sure he has enough food and water to last until the next log day, which could be delayed if a field can't be found for the helicopters to land, enemy activity makes it too dangerous, or the helicopters may not be available. Our weapons, ammunition, hand grenades, smoke grenades, claymore mines, trip flares, and other tools of war are as important as food and water. It may seem wise to have enough food and water for an extra day, in case our resupply would be delayed for any reason, but there is only so much a person can carry. It quickly becomes a decision of what is absolutely necessary. Try to carry too much, and it is that much harder to keep up with the company and also be able to do whatever may be required in a firefight.

One thing for sure, you don't go down to the local fast food place to get a hamburger or an ice cold drink. Real food, steak, hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, homemade cake or pie, or any cold drink, is often a big topic of conversation. We often talk about pigging out on our favorite foods when we get home and what it will feel like to sleep in a real bed again.

Someone was saying they heard Charlie Company was hit hard. Yesterday they had found 90 tons of rice and 210 SKS assualt rifles and a case of 9MM pistols. Today they were hit with a ground attack in the field and one was killed  and twenty three were wounded.

March 8, 1970 Sunday - What a tremendous change in how we have to live from day to day. It wasn't that long ago that any of us were home and could walk down the street without worrying about people trying to kill us. Now it is an everyday fact of life. We are in a "Free Fire Zone", if there are no friendly units in the area, anyone we see is considered an enemy. It is quite a mental adjustment to make and try to understand when it goes against everything we knew up to this point. It is not unusual to hear someone ask why are we here and why do we have to kill each other. Those who have died will never get an answer, if there is one. Maybe the answer seems too simple for the extremely serious nature of what is happening around us and to us.

Melvin received a letter from home telling about a hometown friend who was killed in action. He had been a chopper pilot and had only been in country about 2 months. Not all the news from home is good news. Some guys have gotten "Dear John" letters or have family members who are sick or other problems. As if there isn't enough to worry about, life still goes on.

We have had 8 enemy contacts in 11 days. That is enough to have everyone scared and on edge waiting for anything to happen. Delta company is not up to full strength as men have been killed and so many wounded men were medevaced to the rear area hospitals. It is always a big concern whether the wounded are going to make it and if they will come back to the field or be going home.

March 9, 1970 Monday - We found out today that the 11th Armored Cavalry unit we had been with was ambushed by the enemy. Two tanks were blown up. Six men were killed and seven were wounded. There are a lot of the enemy in Tay Ninh province. The southern end of the Ho Chi Minh trail comes down through Cambodia and turns toward Saigon and we have to intercept the enemy before they can attack the capitol.

March 10, 1970 Tuesday - Our sergeant who had been shot in the arm was sent to third field  hospital. No way to know how long it could take for the wound to heal or how it may affect his use of his arm. We don't know if he will be returned to the field or if he will be sent home. We may never see him again. Infection is often a big problem from wounds received in the dirty conditions of the field. Even small scratches get infected and soon become oozing sores and it is hard to get them to heal. We have to be careful they don't get too bad so it doesn't turn into jungle rot. We must look and smell very bad as we haven't had anyway to get cleaned up for weeks.

VIETNAM DIARY

SKYTROOPERS HOMEPAGE