Memorial Day Weekend, for me, is a time to reunite with my former combat infantry "buddies" from Viet Nam...soldiers of the U.S.Army's 199th Light Infantry Brigade.
I am proud to have served and very proud to have helped in the cause of maintaining and extending our country's freedom. Remembering those with whom I served, those who were in the lead element in our fire fights with the North Vietnamese, and who gave their lives, are people I remember every day...not just Memorial Day.
Some brief notes and background about "my time" in South Viet Nam during 1969-1970:
Like others, I enlisted. I "signed on", knowing I would be ultimately going to a war in Viet Nam.
Shortly after I arrived in Cam Rahn Bay on April Fool's Day (1 April) 1969, I was assigned to the 199th Light Infantry Brigade. In addition, my assignment was to the 2nd Battalion / 3rd Infantry (a unit with a great history and known as "The Old Guard"); finally, my assignment was to Company D and the second platoon.
As a "grunt" or light weapons infantry soldier (MOS, military occupational specialty = 11B10), and a (blank) New Guy on arrival to my unit in the rice paddies south of Saigon, I was given the M60 machine gun. For years I could remember something about each day of the 358 days (minus R&R) being there.
Sleeping "under the stars", in the rain, setting up ambush positions at dusk, walking through the jungles and into enemy ambush positions, difficulty in distinguishing North Vietnamese enemy from South Vietnamese "friendly" troops, hoping not to contract malaria, experiencing "our own" artillery fire accidentally land on our company's position (and not the enemy's), witnessing helicopters crash, visiting wounded friends in the medical units in secure areas, walking carelessly down a jungle path (without my rifle in "ready" position) and encountering an unexpected enemy soldier approaching...and both of us running in opposite directions...some of my thoughts from 40 years ago.
A special tribute always to the soldiers of the 199th Light Infantry Brigade, and all U.S. and allied units in Viet Nam and other wars, who sacrificed with their lives.
by Dan Bonner;
Copyright 2010, Dan Bonner, Inc.
See Also: the History of the Old Guard (U.S.Army, 3d Infantry) includes the unit (1st Battalion) stationed at Fort Myer, VA, assigned to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, the Army's official ceremonial unit in the Washington, D.C. area, and other duties.
Subscribe to this blog's feed. You'll always get the "latest" content.
It's E-A-S-Y.
