Orders…for Currahee!

Some are content to read history, there are those who live…to make history. The Airborne Way is an amazingly fast paced life, that frequently makes the history books.  In one early morning formation, orders for the new 3/506th PIR were announced. The only thing remembered was that my name was on that list! Now at 18 years of age, it was really just a matter of time. Someone in divisional headquarters carefully calculated each paratrooper’s (ETS) estimated time of separation; they always allowed for a 365 day tour in Vietnam. I suspect that it saved the army money, if you toured toward the last year of an enlistment. They wouldn’t incur the costs of re-issuing the bulk of our equipment and sending us for a short stint to a new outfit. Most of us chose not to reenlist. Career paratroopers served about every other year in Vietnam.

What we didn’t know was that the remaining base units were fast behind us. Ft. Campbell would become a ghost town. The 1968 Tet Offensive would bring even more paratroopers from Ft. Bragg.

Good lucks were brief with the Geronimos. Other than one short visit, to catch up with my friend DZ (Geronimo Wine), there was no looking back. My friend, Lt. John Harrison, records that we had six months of Currahee training before deployment. If his calculations are correct, I spent half of my army career (of two years, nine months, and one day) with the 3/506th.

Transfers meant going to the post exchange for new unit crests. Parachutes and thunderbolts looked pretty cool. I still remember my reluctance, in purchasing the unit backgrounds for my wings. Yes, the PX had fully stocked for the occasion. The clerk assured me, in her broken English, “Yes, this 506th!” Money was always tight, at my rank!

Our quarters looked less than half full. I had my choice of locker and bunk in the medical section. We assembled in the very first morning formation. A sergeant determined that I was the senior  ranking enlisted medical man, as Private First Class. I had the unique privilege of saying, “Medical Platoon, all present and accounted for, Sir!” I didn’t have a clue if that was indeed correct. However, I enjoyed my one brief moment of fame.

It was at this first formation, that we were informed that we served in a highly decorated unit. We were reminded of this several times. Past history doesn’t mean much to the average young man. We were more interested in adding our page to the unit’s history.

We can thank HBO, for immortalizing the 506th PIR, as The Band of Brothers. This mini series placed us well into the 21st Century mindset. I remember when it first played on HBO. I said, “Hey, that’s MY unit!”

Originally, our own band became known as the Boat People, to distinguish us from replacements. The  first Currahees traveled to Vietnam by troopship. All said, I was Vietnam bound. The War was becoming very personal to us.

If the six months training is accurate, 30 days were spent on special leave, so the troops could spend time with their families. Many would never see their family again. None of us returned the same.

Currahee, my Band of Brothers