That evening I landed at Bien Hoa Air base. We all filed off the air plane and moved into a large open-sided building. (a big shed, actually). As we waited, we
saw the line of tired soldiers filing out to the plane we had just got off of. Their appearence and tired attitude did nothing to cheer any of us.
After sitting around for what felt like hours, there was an announcement to line up for currency exchange. After that, we sat some more. Then some Sp/4 announced for all of us with direct orders to MACV to follow him. There were about a dozen of us, officers and enlisted combined. (of course these were lower grade officers and enlisted. I was the ranking NCO as an E-6) Anyway, we followed that speedy 4 out to a bus and loaded. The first thing I noticed was the wire mesh over the windows. The Spec 4 made a short announcement giving the time and distance to our destination and a warning about extending our arms out the windows, which we could not do anyway because of the afore mentioned wire mesh. The Sp/4 said the mesh was to prevent any VC from throwing in a satchel charge, so I thought the wire was a pretty good idea.
So, off we went with the Spec 4 driving and a PFC MP riding shotgun. I did not have much faith in those two providing much security in case there was an attack by hoards of communist determined to kill this highly (un) important SSG, but I was too damned tired to really give a crap. I was asleep before we got off the base.
I awoke to the sounds of blasting taxi horns, buzzing motor scooters, cyclos, and a few million Vietnamese all yelling at each other at the same time.
Welcome to Siagon, announced the Sp4.
Just as we approached the main gate to the MACV compound, a Huey MEDIVAC chopper made a very hard landing right in the middle of a traffic circle. It did not explode, but the crew and medics grabbed a couple of wounded GI's out of the bird and ran rather quickly away from it. Not taking any chances I guess. Our driver swerved the bus hard away from the crash site as we could hear the screaming of the wounded soldiers.
Welcome to Vietnam, said the MP PFC.
40 years??
And yet so much is still so vivid in my memory.
I wonder if I will ever forget that place and time????
After sitting around for what felt like hours, there was an announcement to line up for currency exchange. After that, we sat some more. Then some Sp/4 announced for all of us with direct orders to MACV to follow him. There were about a dozen of us, officers and enlisted combined. (of course these were lower grade officers and enlisted. I was the ranking NCO as an E-6) Anyway, we followed that speedy 4 out to a bus and loaded. The first thing I noticed was the wire mesh over the windows. The Spec 4 made a short announcement giving the time and distance to our destination and a warning about extending our arms out the windows, which we could not do anyway because of the afore mentioned wire mesh. The Sp/4 said the mesh was to prevent any VC from throwing in a satchel charge, so I thought the wire was a pretty good idea.
So, off we went with the Spec 4 driving and a PFC MP riding shotgun. I did not have much faith in those two providing much security in case there was an attack by hoards of communist determined to kill this highly (un) important SSG, but I was too damned tired to really give a crap. I was asleep before we got off the base.
I awoke to the sounds of blasting taxi horns, buzzing motor scooters, cyclos, and a few million Vietnamese all yelling at each other at the same time.
Welcome to Siagon, announced the Sp4.
Just as we approached the main gate to the MACV compound, a Huey MEDIVAC chopper made a very hard landing right in the middle of a traffic circle. It did not explode, but the crew and medics grabbed a couple of wounded GI's out of the bird and ran rather quickly away from it. Not taking any chances I guess. Our driver swerved the bus hard away from the crash site as we could hear the screaming of the wounded soldiers.
Welcome to Vietnam, said the MP PFC.
40 years??
And yet so much is still so vivid in my memory.
I wonder if I will ever forget that place and time????
