18 March 1970

Wednesday night
18 March 1970

We got word we are being pulled back to LZ Baldy - our base, and then launch out on a new operation.  So we pulled back this morning and will be going out to the bush tomorrow morning. So after three days in the bush, I got to take a shower and eat a good hot meal tonight of steak.

Right at this time I’m between briefings for the operation, so I thought I’d best get a quick note written.

Tomorrow morning I’ll become attached to C company as a FAC.  Up until now I’ve been staying with the Battalion ALO in the command post, learning how things work.  The ALO is another LT who got here only ten days before me - we were in FAC school at Okinawa together and became good friends then.  We’ll be switching as ALO and FAC, because the FAC has things rougher because of being out with the company which moves a lot, and gets into the real action.

During the 24 hours we were at out last position, one of our companies  killed four enemy and had two men wounded by booby traps. 

This operation is supposed to last from 3 - 10 days, and then we’ll resume the op we were on yesterday - that being protecting a valley from the enemy during the rice harvest.

It’s very interesting to see how the grunts work.  It’s so much like Basic School, I feel right at home.  All the same problems and planning, except now it’s for real!!!
I’m going to take my camera with me tomorrow and I hope to get some good pictures.  I could have got some good ones during the past three days.

This operation tomorrow involves grunts, artillery, helicopters, and jet bombers!  All requiring coordination and planning by the ALO - so he has a very challenging job.  As the FAC, my job is really just to assist the ALO during the planning phases, and then go with the company to call in CAS in the event we need it.  I have so much free time on my hands, it’s not even believable.  In the bush I go to bed about dusk (1900-2000) and sleep until about 0700.  So I get plenty of sleep, although it’s certainly not restful.

Last night it rained, and Ron Boehm, the ALO, and I did not have our shelter built right, and we both got soaked!  Well - the fortunes of war! I’ll probably mention Ron a lot in the future, since we are so close in this job.  He is an A-6  pilot, and has been in country the same time as me.  He is married, has one girl, and is from Louisiana.  He is only five feet six inches tall so I’m actually bigger.

The way I’ve been eating in the bush, there is no doubt I’ll lose a lot of weight.

17 March 1970

Tuesday morning
17 March 1970

I have now been the “bush” for two nights and days - and believe me - it’s not glamorous.  I haven’t had a bath since I left Chu Lai, and I probably won’t get one for several weeks!  I do all my washing, shaving, etc., out of my helmet!  My desk to write this is an empty C ration box. 

I have an inflatable rubber mattress, affectionately known as a “rubber lady”.  Mine has a slow leak and has to be blown up about every two hours during the night!

The battalion moved to a new position yesterday, by helicopters, so I got the first taste of what my job is to be like.  We expect to be in this new area for about three weeks.

I will continue to get flight pay while here.

I suppose I’d better clean up a little, and shave.

We’re located on top a hill about ten miles south of Da Nang, and it’s quite cool up here.  But, it won’t be cool after the sun comes up.

14 March 1970

Saturday night
14 March 1970

I’m with the grunts!  I got to my battalion this afternoon.  I flew here from Da Nang by helicopter.  We’re about 20 miles south of Da Nang.  The actual battalion is out in the “bush” right now and I’ll be joining them tomorrow or the next day.  Needless to say, things are not nearly as nice as they were at Chu Lai  and I complained about how bad it was there, ha!!

My address is as I expected.

H&S Co.
1st Battalion, 7th Marines
1st MarDiv
FPO, San Francisco 96602

There is some artillery being fired right now, and every time the gun fires, I jump.

My living accommodations for the night is a cot in a large hooch with just four walls and a roof!  Quite depressing, I must say.  I fill a little like I did when I first came in country - my whole living pattern is messed up.

13 March 1970

Friday night
13 March 1970

Tonight is my last night in Chu Lai - unless my orders get changed before I get on the plane in the morning.  I have a 0810 flight to Da Nang to become a “grunt”.  Even though I’m taking just the bare necessities, it was to much to put in one bag - I had a lot of overflow!

Tonight we had a floor show at the club and then afterwards several people and the band went to a Lt. Col’s hooch where we proceeded to have a real party.  It was just like that last squadron party at 513 when Tom Greer was trying to get me to drink something.  Only this time it was Russ Fyke.  His baby is due May 20 something.  Rick Hines is expecting a baby much sooner, in April, I think.

I really don’t have much to write.

12 March 1970

Thursday morning
12 March 1970
0200

I just returned from getting cancelled!  I was supposed to fly an escort for an A-6 to bomb the Ho Chi Minh trail.  But while we were at the end of the runway to take off, we got word that the A-6 in Da Nang wouldn’t be going because of aircraft troubles!

So we taxied back in and came home.  However - I haven’t been to sleep all night because couldn’t get to sleep earlier - and now I’m wide awake because I drank a cup of coffee before getting in the aircraft.  I really didn’t want to fly this mission because these are the most dangerous ones we fly. 

I don’t have anything scheduled until noon today, so I will be able to get some sleep.  But right now I’m wide awake.  I suppose I’ll read awhile.

I got an Esquire magazine today and I was looking at their advertisements for men’s clothing.  I’ve been so conservative in my dress - but I really like some of the new mod styles.  Perhaps I’ll start buying more radical styles in the future.  I’m tired of the conservative square type of individual I’ve been because of the Marine Corps.  When I get to be a civilian, I just may grow long hair, etc.

Thursday night
12 March 1970

Right now I make over $12,000 a year.  Of course - only while I’m in Vietnam.

I flew two missions today - both scrambled off the hot pad.  And I hope they are my last combat missions!  I fully expect the F-4s to be out of here before I get back from FAC.  I’m not flying tomorrow as I have to pack and store all my flight gear - and then I’ll be leaving here early Saturday morning.

Not to worry about the danger of being a FAC!  From everything I’ve heard it’s safer  than flying.  It may be more uncomfortable being with the grunts, but I’m still looking forward to it.

10 March 1970

Tuesday night
10 March 1970

Spent another six hours on the hot pad - but didn’t get scrambled this time.  However I did fly a hop this morning.  I now have about 130 missions.  I could have 200 in another two months - but I’ll be happy with what I have.  I’m only going to fly for two more days before I start checking out, to leave.

We had a fairly good floor show tonight.  Supposedly the people were from the Philippines, England, France and Belgium!  Quite an international group.  The guy from Belgium was a caricaturist.  And was really an outstanding artist.

Rick Hines and Ken Bond joined the squadron today after their little trip back to the states!  When I remember that I could have been in that squadron and could have been in their place - boy it just makes me sick!  They all got seven days leave in the States.  Rough, eh!!

9 March 1970

Monday night
9 March 1970

I spent six hours on the hot pad today and got scrambled once.  Our target was a “base camp”-actually a small village.  This place was way west of here in the mountains.  It was right next to a mountain stream with waterfalls and was very beautiful!  Such a shame that such a beautiful country has to be so ravished by war.

I’ve started packing up all the stuff I’m going to store - and it’s really amazing how much stuff I’ve accumulated in the time I’ve been here!

One of the squadrons here had some sabotage of it’s aircraft, like we had that time in 513.  So far it’s just been that one squadron, and I hope it stays that way.

By the time this arrives, I should have already left Chu Lai!

Photo - 1968 at Pensacola, Florida during training at Pensacola NAS.