Articles by this Author
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Going Home
On the long flight back, I had lots of hours to reflect. Things that came to my mind were; “Why did I get out, with just a few bumps, lumps, scratches from enemy fire and others didn’t?”
When I got word that my Company CO a 1st LT, whom I befriended and who had only ten days left of his tour, was sent out with a team, I couldn’t believe it! So I even asked him and he said, ”I was ordered out, I don’t have a choice.” Then word came he had been killed. It really made me angry. His wife sent me a letter and his picture telling me how much he thought of me, and all about him. I sat down in my team’s tent and cried.
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Hero - Part II
“AUTHOR’S NOTE”
First of all I have to set the record straight about something that has some wondering.
I was not given a “Recon Marines’” MOS, I was made an 0311. Of which most of our Company and Battalion was made of. As we didn’t have any skilled training in Recon, it was some harsh on the job training. Our hard core Recon Marines were up in Dong-ha before joining the rest of us at Quang-tri, Force Recon. We were given grunts mainly for FNGs, so I hope I’ve answered any questions you may have as to the authenticity of my writings. You just don’t become a Recon Marine you have to attend a school. So yes I was a supply man who became a grunt in a Recon unit, and I’ve told my story.
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Hero
It was right after monsoon season when for me, all hell came loose in that far off land of “OZ”. It came unglued on a recon patrol in the proximity of our base camp in the Quang-Tri province.
The enemy’s Tet Offensive was in full swing at the once Capitol City of Hue. They were also attacking Phu-Bai, laying siege to Khe-Sahn and Saigon. Rolling Thunder was in high gear. This was the first, or maybe the second time, President Johnson ordered Rolling Thunder. Air power from the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps were pounding the North Vietnam area of Hanoi and Hai-Phong, along the DMZ, as well as around Khe-Sahn, the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and any other targets they could find.
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Getting Lost
Running around blind in enemy territory is not a good thing. When you don’t know where you are to call in fire support or extraction, bad things can happen.
After moving from one part of Quang-Tri area west, we got our GP tents set up. There wasn’t any formed line of infantry protection.
It was wide open to the west. In other words, if you went 2 feet passed the Offices and SNCOs quarters you were in enemy country, especially so since we were in enemy country all the time.
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From The World To OZ
From the time I graduated boot camp, my MOS. was a "supply man”. My training however in the warehouses of 22 area of Camp Pendleton was sweeping floor's picking up butts, and other trash. Eight hours a day, excluding the physical fitness training that we had each morning...
Paul Bailey Served active Duty 1966-1975.
