Two groups of people were often killed. The new guys were on a survival learning curve. The short timers lost their edge thinking of home. Typical to the latter, I experienced my closest brush with death, within weeks of return.
Two of our companies converged near a village. The residential area stood barely in sight. Our immediate area was open field and sparse trees affording some shade. With this feeling of safety, I began to let my guard down. A 24/7 diligence served to bring more soldiers home.
My own distraction was the two medics attached to the other company. Soldiers always seek out their own. I had a decent bond with these two. We were all original ‘Boat People.’ We asked each other for news. We talked a bit tough about going home. I did note the position of the nearest foxhole.
An old man ambled slowly along the road on a bicycle. Since the village was nearby, it made sense. Anywhere else, I would have put a rifle on him. As he neared…he smiled. I kept one eye on him. We continued the conversation. At about twenty feet away, he nonchalantly pulled out a chicom grenade from his shirt, his smile morphing into a contemptuous smirk, and in one smooth motion, he tossed it toward our feet. I cried, “Grenade!!!’
There is something arresting about a grenade being thrown in your direction. Now I kept one eye one the grenade; my other eye looked at the foxhole. My two eyeballs were conversing about where the grenade would land. I was committed to landing in the hole. However, I did not want to jump in, if the grenade plopped in there with me. I successfully landed unscathed and put my hands to my ears.
The grenade was a dud. I jumped out of that hole to chase that old man down. For all that open area, no old man nor bicycle could be found…he just disappeared into thin air. I lowered my M16, really disgusted with myself.
Currahees…I broke a lot of personal rules of engagement that day. We almost paid dearly. I’ll never forget the old man’s unmasked hate. There was nothing innocent about Vietnam.
Good one. The first time you freeze. The second time you don’t pick good cover. The third time you are Infantry. I would add to your list of probable casualties anyone form outside the unit, FO, etc. The don’t fit the rhythm of the unit and that attracts both the eye and the ammunition of the enemy.
LikeLike