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What can YOU say in six sentences?
Newton's First Law--Things in the shit stay in the shit
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Company D [Ranger] 151st Infantry [AIRBORNE] was the only U.S. National Guard Infantry unit to see combat action in Vietnam [1968-69].
“Get those fucking dogs outta’ here, Morgan, or I swear to God I'm gonna' pull this trigger!”
“Take it easy, Shad… nobody’s gonna’ do nothing… (Jesus, you guys! Get those dogs outta’ here—he’s a vet and he’s on the goddamn roof, for crissakes!)”
13 April ’69 1537 Hours, 20 km Northeast Tan Uyen: Engaged 3 enemy. Small arms and automatic weapons fire exchanged. Team extracted 1555 hours. Results: 0 US casualties/unknown enemy casualties.
“'Heading to base, Morgan… 'had enough of this shit… heading home.”
“Shad, I’ll get you home—just come down—I’ll get you home… trust me.”
“Trust YOU?! You piece of shit—you phony! I know what you and that cheatin' bitch have been doing while I was in the shit… Fuckin' REMF''s! 'Oughta’ kill both of you!—KILL All YOU FUCKERS!...kill 'em all!”
“Shad, Wanda and me never did anything while you were gone—she’s a good wife--she loves you!”
“She’s a cheatin’ BITCH, Morgan… and YOU oughta’ know!”
15 April ’69 2027 Hours, 22 km Southeast Se Pholic Vinh: Engaged est. 6-8 enemy. Small arms and automatic weapons fire exchanged. Enemy also fired RPG. Loft and Spooky support requested. Contact lost 2100 hours. Results: 1 US WIA/3 enemy casualties.
“Whiskey-Tango-Foxtot! What’s that goddamn elephant doin’ out here? Why would they send ...a fucking elephant?!”
“Shad, c’mon buddy… there's no elephant. Let me get you down, Buddy… we’ll go have a beer and laugh about this one… Shad… NO! Shad!”
16 April ’69 1900 Hours, 18 km North-Northwest Trang Bom: Team had one elephant charge into their perimeter, setting off Claymore mine. Team extracted 1905 hours. Results: 3 US injured/1 enemy elephant KIA.
Comment
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Comment by Gita on March 13, 2013 at 9:54am -
Revisiting this today had a much stronger effect on me for some reason. Maybe because I have been writing about a Vietnam vet (McClardy) and I knew a few Nam vets who blew their own brains out after coming home or sat staring into the midle distance for a dozen years. This is REALLY good.
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Comment by Adrian George Nicolae on March 13, 2013 at 5:28am -
I don't know the story, but Shad seemed deluded, probably because of the climate.
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Comment by Joe Gensle on March 13, 2013 at 5:06am -
A whole lotta 1st-hand vet's knowledge and jargon, here. As a story, as troubling and compelling at its reality. If fiction, this is prize-winning writing, but my gut says it isn't fiction. Mighty, mighty powerful.
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Comment by Joey Delgado on March 13, 2013 at 1:49am -
Man, this is sad. Guess the boys bring the stuff home with them and it's just so heartbreaking. Nice six, Dude.
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Comment by Angela on March 12, 2013 at 6:05pm -
Well written, and you abide. Thank you for this.
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Comment by Dude A Bydes on March 12, 2013 at 5:06pm
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Revisited this piece today. Still can't get it right, but as they say in the military: "done is better than perfect". -Dude
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Comment by Gita on September 11, 2012 at 11:08pm
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Good piece, Dude.
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Comment by Stephen Torelli on September 11, 2012 at 10:48pm -
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is not considered a state of confusion by the Veteran's Administration anymore, yet we still have a long way to go to assist our vets... an excellent reminder, Dude.
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According to Wikipedia, 58,168 U.S. servicemen and women died in Vietnam. Pvt. James Shadbolt will not be recognized as one of those who gave his life serving our country, but Vietnam most certainly killed Shad that evening in 1972 in Indianapolis, Indiana... and it's death toll continues to grow quietly today. -Dude
© 2013 Created by Robert McEvily.
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