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Ed "Spooky" Nored RVN Sep 69 - Sep 70 Click on image to enlarge
4-1-70 L.Z. Candy Received mortar rounds from the enemy during the night. About a dozen people are wounded including Vinny Sciarretti who died the next day. "Ski" escorts body home. Lt. Piekarski's account of the early morning mortar attack: "I remember L.Z.Candy and building this base for about 7 days. Also remember encountering the first rain of the Monsoon season. Every night at dusk the rain would hit and wash away most of the work that was done that day. On the night of March 31/April 1 I was the Officer on duty. It had been about an hour since my last check of the parameter. I was in the T.O.C., talking to one of the radio operators when all hell broke loose. We weren't even sure it was a mortar.(For one thing I had never been hit by a mortar round before.) It was the first or second incoming round that struck on or near the T.O.C. because the next thing we saw were several people struggling out of the corridor leading from the main TOC center. This "wing" was the sleeping quarters of the Battalion Senior NCO staff and the first man out was the Bn. Sgt. Major, who had been hit by shrapnel. Several others had been hit and the place was filled with smoke and dust. I went to the corridor for the Bn. CO and he was already up, along with Capt. Perkins. When the Bn. CO McClosky came out to the main T.O.C area, I headed out to the parameter section for 3rd. platoon On the way there I could hear another incoming round hit inside the parameter. After getting up I began to head for my bunker. (See photo ,"Piekarski caught with his pants down," that's his bunker.) While doing so I noticed a small group of 3rd. platoon people huddled close to Don Ketchams bunker. I headed for them and found Vinny had been hit. A medic was there and Vinny seemed to still be conscious and we were talking to him trying to give all the positive encouragement we could. He was then taken to the aid station. After the mortaring had stopped, I remember Capt. Perkins wanting to send out a platoon that night to find the enemy location, but we talked him out of it." end of Lt. Piekarski's account. **************************************** Doc Steve Sipe's account on the attack. I had just come off of guard duty on the parameter. I remember I had fired some M-79 rounds into the surrounding jungle. (H&I fire) My replacement showed up and I returned to my bunker to get some sleep. I had just laid down for about 5 minutes when I heard the blast from a couple of mortar rounds. One sounded like it was just outside my bunker. Seconds passed when I heard the voice of an ARVN soldier, who was attached to our company, saying “Vinny beaucoup sick! Vinny beaucoup sick!” I got up and ran to the next bunker and saw Vinny lying face down halfway into a bunker (Ketchams bunker) I got down on my knees and yelled at him, “Vinny! Vinny!” I could hear him breathing very hard but he didn't respond. The aid station was close by and I ran for a stretcher. As I grabbed the stretcher I noticed the Doctor was already standing in the aid station ready to go to work if needed. I told him I was bringing in a wounded man. The ARVN soldier helped me carry Vinny back to the aid station. I cut open his shirt and…. nothing. I started to cut open his pant legs when the Doctor, a Captain, told me to come to the other end of the stretcher…… Vinny had received a horrible head wound! All we could do is bandage it. I had so many tears in my eyes while bandaging Vinny's head. I yelled at the Doctor to call a Medevac bird, I'm screaming at him to get it here NOW!! Vinny was still breathing hard. I'm telling him “You're a tuff guy Vinny. Hang in there! Keep breathing Vinny”. ……….Someone came into the aid station and gave an ETA for the Medevac chopper. (Medevac #7 arrived at Candy at 0325) We got Vinny out to the landing area and after loading him onto the chopper the doctor put his arm around me and said, “Steve, you know Vinny isn't going to make it”. I just walked away and looked up into the sky and told God, “I hate being here. This should not have happened!” About an hour later the Captain (Doc. I don't remember his name) saw me having a cigarette and came over to me and said that “Vinny had died before the chopper landed back in the rear”. ****************************************Don "Ketch" Ketcham remembers this about the morning attack. Juan Ferguson, my R.T.O., and I were on the radio watching the motor rounds being walked into L.Z. Candy. You could see each adjustment being made to walk the rounds in. During this time Vinny Sciaretti, my M-60 gunner, came up to us and asked what was going on? Expecting a ground attack by the N.V.A. I told Vinny to get the "60" and place it on the berm. Vinny never came back. A mortar round landed a few feet from the bunker. Vinny was hit from its blast as well as Juan Ferguson. We called for a medic and stretcher and soon both wounded men were taken to the aid station. A piece of shrapnel had severed Ferguson's Achilles tendon. I remember him limping badly all morning waiting to be evacuated. He never returned to the company. The time to recover from such a wound as his, would have certainly consumed what time remained of his tour.
4-2-70 L.Z. Candy (Nored/Linda) Last night about midnight our bunker collapsed and hurt Earl Falkinburgs foot. It Scared the heck out of us because we all thought a mortar round had hit us. Earl was yelling his head off before he finally calmed down. The night before Jim Smichdt had rushed into the bunker yelling "Incoming! Incoming!". To put it mildly every body on Candy was jumpy. We weren't getting that much sleep. It was raining a lot and when it wasn't it was super hot. Earlier in the day we had all been informed that Vinny had died of his wounds. In the letter I wrote home to Linda I said "He (Vinny) use to be in my squad about 2 months ago when "Ski" was squad leader. Anyway the guy was well liked by everybody and had a sharp looking girl waiting for him. He was a No. 1 guy Linda. Everybody's kind of pissed off and not too many words are exchanged. Its one of those silent times." (From JW diary) It rained pretty good tonight. Found out that Vinny died today on his way to Bien Hoa. Sure will miss him, we were becoming close friends. We continued to work on bunkers and repair damage. We were on 100% alert and thought we might get hit again.
4-3-70 L.Z. Candy (DOL/Nored-Linda) Delta company saddles up and humps off L.Z. Candy.I do not believe we took our packs. By 1000 hours 1st., 2nd. and 3rd. platoons are spread apart in a line along a road ( "redball"). We are securing a portion of the road as best we can for a convoy of 8 inch and 175 mm artillery pieces as well as other assorted support vehicles that is moving south from L.Z. Hung to L.Z. Buttons. An air strike was taking place very close. DOL entry # 19 says our platoon (3rd.)was contacted. The bombing, according to the DOL was an "LZ construct". That's when they drop bombs with the intent to clear the jungle to make a Landing Zone (L.Z.) for helicopters..I had already started a letter to Linda and wrote "An air strike consist of 3 planes. 2 jets and one twin propped (FAC) forward air controller. The FAC fires smoke rockets to mark the target & then"swoosh" the jets come in. Its really exciting to watch....Good grief its loud. Just one loud short boom.Your sitting here real quiet like & then boom! The ground your sitting on rocks and the plants and trees jump then it's back to quiet and stillness."...We sat there most of the day and then returned to Candy. DOL reports 2nd. plt. arrived back at Candy at 1715. DOL says 1st. platoon was airlifted back to Candy. All of 1st. platoon was at Candy by 1759. I can only assume we got in about the same time as 2nd. platoon. (Nored) My letters also mention the 3 squad leaders for 3rd. platoon are Gary Borkowski, Donald "Ketch" Ketcham and Ed Nored. Ed Bryson of my squad is picked to be the new company clerk for Delta Company. Bryson did a good job while out in the field and I believe he had some college time.
4-4-70 L.Z. Candy Company began tearing down L.Z. Candy
4-5-70 L.Z. Candy Had memorial service for Vinny. 4-6-70 L.Z. Candy (Nored-Linda-parents) I mentioned Kelly from first platoon got back from his R&R. Received a great box of cookies from Linda. Its sprinkling. I was test firing a M-60 when it jammed. I stupidly opened the top cover and it went off and I got severe powder burns over both hands. "Doc Sipe fixed me all up." My letter also mentions that "everyone has finally stopped talking with a Mexican accent. WOW! For awhile it was real bad." If it wasn't for my letter I would never have remembered such a silly thing. But at some point all or most of us began talking or trying to talk with a Mexican accent. We were just trying to deal with stuff I guess. (JW) Got up about 6:30 am. Found out there is a 24 hour delay on leaving Candy. No Chinook copters are available. Slept most of the morning. Had some details in the afternoon. Had special celebrity visit from a singer named Jill Jorman. (Jim is not sure of her name) See photo below.
4-7-70 L.Z. Candy (Nored) From info Mike Mahr sent me in 1988. Mike comes down with malaria and is airlifted Candy to Buttons(Song Be). 4-8-70 L.Z. Candy / Boonies (Nored) Finished tearing down Candy and burning up things. Then the company moved off into the bush. Lt. Piekarski leaves to go on R&R. 4-9-70 Boonies 4-10-70 Boonies / L.Z. Margaret (Nored) Company was airlifted to L.Z. Margaret where the company re supplies. While at Margaret a group of musicians are there from the U.S.O. 4-11-70 Boonies (Nored) Tom Coker our platoon sgt. Gets a rear job at Song Be. Doc Steve Sipe, our medic, gets out of the field because he has jungle rot. (DOL) At 0941 Delta Company requested a medavac for 2 people. One man has fallen down a hill and has a broken leg. Another man is suffering a reaction to medicine he has taken and showing signs of going into a coma. Request was urgent. Medavac chopper # 13 showed up and medavac was completed at 1015. If any one can provide further info on this incident it would be appreciated. The DOL continues to state that Delta company at 1020 reported finding a large 1000X200 meter dried up rice paddy surrounded by several bunkers. All about 4 months old and in good condition. A 2 foot wide trail running north and south with no recent use was also found in the area.
4-12-70 Boonies (Nored / Linda) In my letter home I commented on how the "cherries" or new guys are too relaxed in the field. There making too much noise. I know that only contact with the enemy and the crack of the AK-47 would enlighten our newly arrived replacements. (JW) Got a "kick out" of water. The company sets up our night lo on a well established enemy trail. It makes me nervous. It rained while we set up and I got soaked while on guard. DOL says 1st platoon set up a separate NDP away from the family. Jay Selby and the "Duke", Earl Falkinburg are writing letters to the General Foods company and the Lipton company asking for packages. It seems another man in our company had done this and had received 2 cases of Hawaiian Punch. A constant rumor at the time was that we were going to Bien Hoa for a company R&R.
4-13-70 Boonies (Log day) No I.D. on log bird from DOL. Received 4 sorties between 1500 and 1715. (Nored/Linda) Electronic sound sensors detect movement 500 meters from our location. We prepped the area with artillery and went in to check out the area. No enemy soldiers found but did discover a bridge running across a stream. ( DOL) According to the DOL all company commanders came in for a full intelligence briefing. ( I assume they met L.Z. Judie). 4-14-70 Boonies (DOL) The company has its 3 platoons operating separately. The CP and 2nd. platoon are together but 1st and 3rd platoons are off on their own. Including separate night locations. Our company has found a large bunker complex with various enemy items. See entry # 34. (JW) 3rd platoon moves away from the rest of the company. It's working by itself. We set up early about 2 PM and are taking it easy. Looks like rain. Haven't seen anything. (Nored/Linda) It rains nearly every night. My letter says were suppose to be airlifted to L.Z. Judy tomorrow.
4-15-70 Boonies (JW) Humped about 4 Ks. Leeches are all over. I had about 10 on me. Some were really fat ones. We climbed to the top of a hill to get out of leeches and set up night lo. Rained again tonight. Saw a lot of enemy hooches and bunkers.
4-16-70 Boonies (log day) Designated log bird "Desire # 740" (Nored/Linda) Our platoon is still working on its own and will get a kick out of C rations today. Letter still says were to go to LZ Judy tomorrow and our CO has informed us were to go to Bien Hoa for company R&R May 8th. (JW) Humped about 2 Ks. Very hard going thru thick vines and bamboo. We get a kick out with no mail.
4-17-70 Boonies (Nored / Linda) Info/Excerpts from April 17th 1970 letter. We will not be lifted out to Judy. That's canceled. along with any date of a company size R&R to Bein Hoa. "We have to go to a stream for water this morning and find a sit down pad for the log bird. At the moment were on a hill top waiting for a Loach (observation copter) to finish checking out the area were supposed to move into. The loach just did a recon by fire. He (the loach) flips around the tree top level and sprays the area with a machine gun. Ahh! ...The lovely sounds of war. Meanwhile further up stairs a gun ship (Cobra) circles and waits for the little fella to find something.........Jesus Christ!........The Cobra just came down and fired a couple of rockets ,mini-gun and then grenades. I got down behind a tree cause it was kind of close. It scared the hell out of everybody." minutes past. "Well the loach spotted a couple of bunkers about 200 meters from us. Now the little fella is dropping grenades on them. Now he's firing his machine gun." End of info from letter. As usual because of the thick vegetation none of us in Delta company could see this happening. Just the familiar sounds and reports from the R.T.O. kept us up to date. Also in the letter mixed in among the lines of war were reflections of locations where Linda and I shared passionate moments and of course I complained about the leeches.
4-18-70 Boonies (Nored) On this day 3rd platoon had point for the company. My squad was point. For the life of me I cannot remember who my point man was this day. I think it was Mike Mahr, but am not sure. We left the night lo and moved a pretty good distance. At least an hour. I remember we were looking for a stream or "blue line" on the map. I was walking 3rd man back when I could see the point man walking into a clearing. He had gone a few yards into it when I quietly called him back and told him to stay in the tree line and move to the right of the clearing. A minute or so passed and walked up a small rise in the terrain and as it leveled off walked right into a small somewhat level area and found 2 bunkers. (I know this is a silly game to play. But if we had showed up 8 - 10 minutes later. My point man would have come up that little 15 foot rise and come face to face with 1 to 3 gooks less than 20 feet away.) One bunker was old and the roof had collapsed on it. There was a new one built on the left. Jay Selby and myself checked out the new one. I remember Jay went in one end and me the other. This wasn't the smartest thing to do. If someone had been in there Jay and I would have been firing at each other. What we found was a very clean fully packed NVA backpack and next to it was a light machine gun. The type with the round drum on top. The rest of 3rd platoon was being spread out. "Gator" and Bill Pease of 2nd platoon had taken positions in the collapsed bunker. As I exited I noticed the bunker had a clean shot into the clearing we had previously avoided. Then "Gator" opened up with his M-14 when he spotted 3 NVA soldiers coming through the bush about 40 - 50 feet away. Then Bill Pease opened fire with the "60". One brave NVA held his ground and returned fire what seemed to be about 15 - 20 minutes. Measuring time in such circumstances is difficult. Out front to the left were Jim Watradowski and Leonard Bauer of "Ketch's" squad exchanging fire with the lone NVA. I believe is was Jim who yelled Leonard was hit and Doc Kloss ran crouched over with his aid bag to where Leonard was lying. As it turned out there was nothing he could do for Leonard despite Docs attempt to resuscitate him. I remember seeing a very clean bullet hole, with no blood, on the top, back of his left shoulder. The shooting ended. A napalm strike was made. Leonard was picked up and began his trip home. We moved into a night location and just as it was getting dark someone told me Cpt Perkins wanted to see me and I walked over to the CP and he had a piece of paper and pencil in hand and said turn around and said something to the effect that "I had got him 2 gooks" as he placed the paper on my back and signed my E-5 promotion. I had very mixed feelings about my promotion being tied to the days events. But one thing for sure. The new guys got quieter.
4-19-70 Boonies / Log Day. No I.D. on log bird. Between 1425 and 1745 Delta received 7 sorties. (Nored) We saddled up in the morning and moved in a full circle and came in from behind were the 2 dead soldiers were lying. They checked the bodies then we moved to a place where we could get logged. We finished about 7 pm and had to set up our night lo in near dark. One of the guys had found a deep hole about 4 to 5 feet in diameter and someone ID'd it as a dud 500 pound bomb from one of our air strikes. Not much we could do about that. So we went to sleep. 4-20-70 Boonies (Nored) We went on patrol and found a well used trail and then found fresh bunkers that had been built. The company sets up our night lo in the bunker complex.
4-21-70 Boonies (Nored) The company saddles up and moves down the enemy trail. 1st platoon is at point. A short burst of "16" fire is heard. The point man spotted an enemy soldier on the trail but didn't hit anything. On the 20th or 21st I was stung by about 10 bees. Around the head. In the letter of the 22nd I mentioned my upper lip was twice its size and so was my left ear. 4-22-70 Boonies (log day) DOL gave no I.D. on log bird. Between about 1000 and 1300 we received 7 sorties. (Nored) We cleared a spot of the log bird right on the trail. Lt. Piekarski returns to the company from R&R and instead of returning to 3rd platoon he is sent to 2nd platoon. We in 3rd are not happy with that because he is well liked. After we completed re supply we move down the trail further until the order is given to make a left turn and move off the trail. I remember to this day standing on that trail and looking down it just before I turned left. That lousy sense of dread. Only a matter of time. We set up our night lo off the trail and my platoon (3rd) is facing the direction of the enemy.
4-23-70 Boonies (Nored) Early in the morning 2nd platoon saddles up light and as they slowly file through our side of the parameter we joked with Piekarski. What seemed to be maybe 5 minutes later the enemy opens up on the 2nd platoon patrol. Lt. Mike Piekarski remembers: "We had only gone 50 to 100 meters when we were lit up. I recall wondering how the hell we hit someone, because we weren't following a trial. It was all just thick shit and we were pounding through it. Well, when the point got lit up, everyone hit the ground. Then I moved up 5 - 10 meters from the point when we caught more fire and I hit the ground again. During this time moving up I was trying to find the squads "60" to get it up there. When I hit the ground I had my hand out flat on the ground, then I looked over and it was just like a gusher. The blood was streaming out of my hand. So, I had the RTO put something on it to try to slow the blood. In the meantime the point squad leader found me and told me he had several wounded and we needed to pull them back. Plus no one could see much through thick brush. By this time the other "60" was up to me so we set him up to cover our withdrawal." At some time after the shooting the CO has sent 1st platoon up to support 2nd platoon. There was 2 other known wounded and they were William Allen and Arthur Phillips (these 2 names show up on Mikes Purple Heart orders.) He believes there were more wounded. Nobody killed. (GS note: according to the Officers Log a total of 6 were wounded.) As Lt. Piekarski waited for the medavac Mike remembered he has a bottle of Wild Turkey in his pack, fresh from R&R. He took to the bottle and admits he was quite bombed by the time he was loaded on the chopper. At the rear aid station when the doctors removed the bandage and poured something all over it he passed out. He had a "million dollar wound and was on his way home.
4-24-70 Boonies (Nored) After moving to another night lo without making contact. This morning the C.O. again sends out 2 patrols. As we continue to work this enemy trail 1st platoon is sent one direction and 3rd platoon the other direction. A short time passes and the all too familiar sound of a fire fight is heard. 3rd platoon pauses because we know we will probably be turned around and be heading to where 1st platoon is at. This is what happened with 1st platoon. They had been moving up the trail till they came to a small clearing. On the opposite side of the clearing about 100 feet across just inside the tree line enemy solider's in bunkers opened up on 1st platoon. 3rd platoon is ordered to turn around and support them. With my squad at point we move up to where they are. I can't begin to tell you of the stress moving down those trails thinking another group is going to ambush you. In this type of jungle fighting the fact is the enemy's bullets will already be inside your body before you get a chance to take cover or even see them. If I remember we came to a fork in the trail and we had to ask 1st platoon which way they had gone. They said left and we drove on in that direction. The shooting had stopped. We arrived at their position and my squad was told to go across the clearing and clear the bunkers. I remember I threw grenades into 2 bunkers. The bunkers were cleared and we were told a helicopter was to land in the clearing and pick up 2 of 1st platoons wounded. We secured the clearing best we could and was entertained by the chopper pilot trying to squeeze the bird into the clearing. There was a tall stump of a tree sticking up about 12 inches in diameter and the main rotor hit is and cut right through it. The copter was the Battalion Commanders ship and not a regular designated medevac. We joined up with the rest of the company without further contact. 4-25-70 Boonies (log day) No I.D. on log bird was given. We received 9 sorties between 1400 and 1700. (Nored) It's "log day" and we received a hot meal and even ice cream. With all the contact we had I'm sure the Battalion Commander wanted to reward us a little. But I thought it was silly. To be lying on you stomach one day praying a bullet doesn't hit you and then the next day be eating ice cream was just too much of a contrast for me. (DOL) After receiving our supply Delta moved out and found a north/south trail with recent use. As we moved into a night defensive position (NDP) the company finds one dead body. Its reported that the enemy soldier had been dead about 3 days and was killed by shrapnel, from our artillery or helicopter gunships. Another trail was found crisscrossing the trail we were working. (Nored/Linda) "Everybody's pants are ripped. "Part Time", in Garys squad, is wearing a pair of N.V.A. pants cause they were in better shape then his own." (Nored) It's been 37 years and after inquiring to Scott "Partime" Lemanski about the pants he remembers the following. " I remember the "N.V.A. pants pretty well. I was reluctant to wear them, but as you mentioned I was one of those with badly ripped pants. The crotch was completely gone. On April 18. the day we had contact and Leonard was killed, there were items in and around the bunkers left by the gooks. I had found a pair of pants that looked as though they had been washed and left to dry. They appeared to be my size and the crotch was not ripped out. So I wore them until I could get our G.I. issue on the next Log day. They never showed up and I believe I wore them till we got to the next fire base where I finally got rid of the them. They did protect me from the elements and they were green. 4-26-70 Boonies (Nored) Early in the morning a trip flare went off and someone blew a claymore mine. The company called in artillery in the area of suspected movement. Shortly after the rounds impacted we could hear someone screaming from the area where they landed. Despite the fact the artillery round had wounded one or more of the enemy . We saddled up heavy and moved in the opposite direction. Later on the company crossed a stream waist deep then humped to the top of a hill. Set up night lo about 6:30 pm. It rained. (Nored/Linda From letter written the 27th.) "Yesterday we took all day crossing a waist deep stream about 10 meters wide. Then on the other side there was a hill or rather a cliff about 150 feet high and we were using ropes to pull us up. Yeah the grunt goes everywhere!" (DOL) Entry # 15 of the DOL says it was 2nd platoon that had heard voices not far from us and that's when artillery was called in resulting in the wounding or killing of one or more of the enemy. Later on one of our platoons found a dead enemy soldier lying off the side of a trail were working. He was covered with leaves and had been dead 2-3 days and showed evidence of being killed by artillery. See entry # 16. Nearby Bravo company 1/8 in our AO had one of their family killed and one wounded after a meeting with the enemy. See entry # 38. Also worth reading is entry # 39. LRRP Team # 71 were watching the movement of enemy troops in a bunker complex when suddenly they were spotted by the enemy. 4-27-70 Boonies (Nored) Crossed river again. Our platoon (3rd) had point for the company. Supposed to be extracted tomorrow. (DOL) Elsewhere in the 1 / 8 th's AO (area of operations) our sister company Bravo has walked into an enemy bunker complex. Bravo Company suffered 3 KIA and 8 wounded including both a scout dog and dog handler. See April 27 entry # 43 and # 62. Also April 28th entry # 20 for list of names and circumstances. 4-28-70 Boonies / L.Z. Lolita (GS note: LZ was renamed Nguyen Trai) (Nored) The company saddles up heavy and with 1st platoon at point we move out. There is a dog team up front with 1st platoon. We travel a ways moving down an enemy trail. The company is headed towards a clearing where we are supposed to be air lifted out. Word is passed back to us that the dog has gone "on alert" a few minutes later the point man spots 3 enemy solider's and opens up. A 30 minute fire fight follows. 1st platoon suffer no casualties. A "pink team" was called in. (the "pink team" was a light observation copter with 1 or 2 cobra gunships. This team was also called a "hunter / killer" team.) The observation copter explored further down the trail and spotted 10 of the enemy in a bunker complex. The cobras attacked the enemy location and we continued to the area where at about 2:30 Charlie company flew in to replace us. We were very happy about that to say the least. (At the reunion a couple of the guys said that the dog had been hit. Until I really hear that from somebody in 1st platoon I can only speculate.) (GS note: This is confirmed in the daily officers log.) (DOL) Charly company who replaced us in the field would continue to work the trails, finding more enemy bunkers and structures. In less then 48 hours on the morning of the 30th they'd make contact and would suffer I K.I.A. and 8 W.I.A. (note: 3-30-2011 from Gordon Swenson) I received the follow email from a member of Charly company who visited our website: I found your web site a few days ago. Haven't made it through nearly all of it yet. It is impressive how well you have covered everything. I was only there for a short time. Got to Vietnam on 13 Feb 70 I believe. On page 15 and 4-28-70 you mention being replaced by Charlie company. That was my company. I remember very well going in there and being told the dog had been wounded. I think I remember seeing the guy carrying the dog but it has been a while and I may have conjured that up in my mind. As we got off the chopper and your guys were getting on, one guy said, "Good luck, man". That was the first indication I had that this was going to be a very hot place. The guy that got killed on 4-30 was Robert "Bob" Palmore from Houston, TX. I met him when we were both assigned to the 1 st Cav and he was my best friend. We ended up in the same company but different platoons. We would meet up every morning for a few minutes before we moved out. I was standing beside him talking to him less than one minute before he was killed. A Lt came by and said to get back in position. I walked away and the world exploded before I made it to my postion. They opened up on him. I can get you a pic of him if it is of any interest to you. If not, it is no problem. Thanks for the great web site. I never took many pics because I had a long time left to do it. I got shot May 2 in the upper left arm. Pretty severe injury but recovered very well. B H Taylor BH included the following photos:
4-29-70 L.Z. Lolita (GS note: LZ was renamed Nguyen Trai) 4-30-70 L.Z. Lolita (GS note: LZ was renamed Nguyen Trai) (DOL) In Bravo company one man shoots himself in the foot. Entry # 41 (Nored) Excerpt from letter to Linda " A sad thing happened that's pissed me off."Ski" (Stanley Krysminski) has come back. He went home to escort Vinnys body home and we thought for sure he wouldn't come back because he's only got 60 days left in his tour." I also logged this event. "The other day we were braking brush. My squad had point and "Reb" (John Farrior) was point man. All of a sudden a rifle goes off and "slam", everybody hits the ground. A few minutes later they pass up the word that Gary (from my squad) shot at an animal. I couldn't believe it. "Reb" was so pissed off he came back where Gary was and told him to take point and for the rest of the day he did." ........The following is from (JW) diary . 3rd. platoon was on Q.R.F.(Quick reaction force) and nearly had to go out because of a downed bird. Worked on over hauling our bunker . Company was on 50% alert. ( Meaning 1/2 the people of Delta company had to be up and on guard at night.)
You are on page 15 Grunts & the gear we carried (start here) 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-misc
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