Friday, 2 Nov ’67
Today, I went to Dong Ha to PM some radio gear. I have picked up a bad cold and it had me feeling so bad, I didn’t even feel like taking a shower, even though it has been a month.
Saturday, 3 Nov ’67
I returned to Con Thein
Sunday, 4 Nov ‘67
I have finally realized the difference between Doctors and Corpsmen.
With a doctor, he examines you, tells you what’s wrong and prescribes a medication.
With a corpsman, you tell Him what’s wrong with you and he gives you a little medicine for what you say is wrong.
All members of 3rd Marine Division now rate to wear the Presidential Unit Citation [P.U.C.] if they came to Viet Nam after March ’65, but before 13 Sep of ’67.
There are rumors that Echo is up for another one, too. I can now wear four ribbons.
Even with a cold and the rain coming down, I had a working party this morning and radio watch this afternoon.
Monday, 5 Nov ’67
I am now on L-Z watch. It is raining and there is a Typhoon on the way!
Two newspaper clippings were noted here- 1. Protests for the war in Viet Nam; and 2.) Women’s club in San Diego, California to adopt Echo Battery for Christmas (see article on page near end of this book.)
Tuesday, 6 Nov ’67
Working Party.
Radio Watch
Wednesday, 7 Nov ’67
Working Party
Few incoming
Thursday, 8 Nov ’67
PM’d gear.
Radio Watch
Friday, 9 Nov ’67
L-Z watch. Received 11 rounds of unknown caliber, today.
I have reaction and guard, tonight.
Last night, it came across the radio that “Whiskey Battery” (four-duce mortars) were getting packages from the “VFW” that had $125.00 worth of postage on them.
Fred and Tex worked on our bunker more today. They filled sandbags all day. Then, when they placed them on the bunker, it looked like the Alamo.
It now has (on the wall) a row of boxes, a row of sandbags, a row of dirt, a row of sandbags and another row of sandbags.
The roof has a row of boxes, a row of sandbags, a row of canisters, and two rows of sandbags. It is nearly impregnable.
Friday, 10 Nov ‘67
Today is the Marine Corps Birthday and the beginning of the Monsoon Season. It is raining!!!
Cover
(<-) and back (->)of the announcement of the menu for the Marine Corps Birthday Dinner.
Then about 1400, four Army Piper Cubs came out and flew about four circles around Con Thien. The lead pilot had a loud speaker wishing us a Happy Birthday (1st and 20th Army Airborne) and the other three had red, yellow and white smoke trailing them.
Inside-(L)
Inside (R)
Col. “Somebody” came up, gave a speech and I got a piece of cake. These are renderings of the menu card.
We also got two beers and two sodas, free.
Tex and I went to Walkers bunker and while I played Back Alley Bridge. Tex played the tape recorder on the Charley Brown Net.
The “Grunts” in the field went crazy when we played Nancy Sinatra. I talked to a guy from N. C. who called himself “Carolina Grit.” He really had a Rebel accent.
We hit the rack about midnight.
Saturday, 11 Nov ’67
I have L-Z today. Even though it rained yesterday, I worked in it. Damn Lifers!
[Taped to this page were a pair of unstamped dog tag blanks, below which was written. “Dog Tags belonging to the ever famous ‘Unknown Soldier’, worth a fortune.”
Taped next to the dog tags was sealed J. W. Speaker Corp c-ration can opener (P-38) with a picture depicting the proper way to use same.]
Sunday, 12 Nov ’67
It seems that nearly every body on Con Thien (excluding yours truly) has a bad case of a mixture of dysentery and ptomaine. I mean everybody from the gun goons to the Battery C.O. It is believed that the hot chow we got on our “Birthday” gave it to us. The *&-@<-^#
Shrimp!
I don’t know if I have ever explained this or not, but here goes: Here in Viet Nam, in a settled position, our “head” consists of four cans under a 4-seater. Every day, these “honey buckets” have to be burned with diesel fuel.
Today, I had to “burn” the “Honey buckets.”
I suppose the connotation there was that I was the only one available who was not currently in need of the facility. I believe that this photo shows Burr watching & Cuda stirring. Burr & Cuda- that famous 60’s Plymouth muscle team.
Monday, 13 Nov ’67
Being the kind hearted soul I am, I offered to fill in the radio for anyone who didn’t feel he could sit his watch. So at 2400, I went on, ‘till 0600, and I haven’t slept for 25 hours. Zzzzzzzz.
Sargent Davies told us we had to remove the top of our hooch. (The part that looks like the Alamo) for it served no purpose.
That silly mustache of his serves nc…
I think I have the diarrhea, now.
Tuesday, 14 Nov ’67
Yesterday, we all got air mattresses. Today, we’re installed Lights. (Electrical Type) in our hooch.
Just heard that General Hockmooth was killed today when his helicopter exploded.
We also heard that Krulak (the proposed Commandant) was killed today too.
Wednesday, 15 Nov ’67
I went into Dong Ha on a convoy. Those guys in the rear are something else. Blowing pot…drinking “Gook” whiskey …beer. Three guys got real sick.
Thursday, 16 Nov ’67
Today, I went to the PX and got myself a new camera – a QL17 Cannon 35mm – I also brought my tape recorder and we made some wild tapes tonight.
Friday, 17 Nov ’67
I have radio watch 0600 to 1200.
Working Party ‘till 0630 and then another wild night of recording.
Saturday, 18 Nov ’67
Bill Whizenant left for 2/9 (F.O. School, as I used to say) this afternoon.
And I worked on Gun 6’s bunker all day and now I am on Radio Watch.
Sunday, 19 Nov ’67
L-Z watch again today. Mickey, Tex Richard and I are about the only ones who are familiar with the procedure down here.
Tex left yesterday; Mickey leaves soon (for 2/9) and Rich has only stood L-Z 3 or 4 times. So when Mickey leaves, it’ll be up to us to handle it…so I’ll have it nearly every other day. …maybe every day.
I won’t mind, ‘cause then I can skate the petty working parties. I guess Fred will fill in, too.
I say “petty” working parties. We built an ammo bunker for the H. E. (High Explosive) shells. Then we built another for the same purpose. After that, we built one for W. P. (White Phosphorous) and then one for illumination. We are now building living quarters for “Gun 6.” Then we have to build a fuse bunker. We stay busy.
I seem to have a kink in my back from working yesterday. I hope to see the corpsman this afternoon.
The day I returned from Dong Ha, Cpl. Gordon gave me a new pair of boots. When I returned to C. T., I discovered that one was a “12-R” and one a “9-W.”
The “Gooks” are at it again. We took 6 or 7 rounds of 85mm. One guy is dead and quite a few more are wounded. It has been quiet too long…yeah!
I didn’t know it at the time, but our hooch took a direct hit, but no one was hurt. Just shook up. What a mess!
WE (Fred and I) worked diligently to raise the roof and repair it. It was done by dark. 
Sgt. Davies said, “You better get it done tonight, ‘cause you won’t be able to work on it tomorrow! How can one admire a person like that?
Approximately 1850, we took about 15 rounds of 152 Arty. Everyone is shook!
Monday, 20 Nov ’67
Today, our Corpsman decided that Fred and Mickey deserved a Purple Heart. It made Fred’s third heart, so today he left for Dong Ha ‘till he can get orders for Okinowa. He’ll remain there for the rest of his tour.
A chain of events:
Yesterday, the first round wounded L/Cpl. Show. When Cpl. Ashenbrener saw it, he ran from Gun-5 to Gun-1 to get a stretcher. [The men tried to hold him back but he broke loose.] On his way over, another round landed and blew his head off. He never felt it. Our Captain is going to put him up for a “Congressional Medal of Honor” for his bravery and concern for his fellow Marine.
It is ironic, but if he hadn’t been hit, no one would have even noticed it. Others do it. Recognition always comes too late.
And now, back to our regularly scheduled Journal:
Working Party. Radio Watch.
Tuesday, 21 Nov ’67
Working Party. Radio Watch.
Wednesday, 22 Nov ’67
Working Party. Radio Watch.
Thursday, 23 Nov ’67 [Thanksgiving Day]
L-Z Watch.
Mickey left today. I had the bunker all to myself.
We had hot chow and I had noon to 1800 watch.
A new wire man moved into my hooch…Johnny Johnson. A “Splib” dude
( Slang for "Negro"). He’s studying to be a minister so when he was on a med. cruise, the guys gave him the name “Deacon” so I guess “Deacon” it’ll be.
He had a pretty good explanation of the Negro problem and this war.
“It’s like when I was a kid. My Momma and Daddy were arguing and I broke in. I was trying to take Momma’s side. So they both turned together and jumped on me.”
“Or, like me and my cousin. I could get so mad at him ‘till I could nearly choke him. So one day, another kid broke in and tried to help me. I said, ‘Listen, this is my fight!’ so we both jumped on him.”
Friday, 24 Nov ’67
L-Z again this morning. So, at 1130, I checked out and went for chow. I had my soup on
( Indicates that I was heating a can
of C-Rations over a "Heat-Tablet" flame) and a helicopter landed some ammo in our L-Z. Okay! So, by the time I began eating, I was “being paged.” I had to leave chow and go bring in another helicopter.
I finally got on Radio Watch around 1300. I got in touch with Tex tonight on the Charlie Brown radio net. It sure was good to hear from him.
Saturday, 25 Nov ’67
L-Z this morning ‘till noon… Radio watch ‘till 1800…
Craig Palmer and Jim Morris returned to Echo’s position today.
Sunday, 26 Nov ’67
Palmer couldn’t take it. …he went back to 2/9.
Lt. Barclay told me yesterday that when we were in the field and were getting
hit so hard, I was actually praying “out loud.” I thought I was praying to myself, but I don’t really care. I am sure he prayed a lot, too.
Monday, 27 Nov ’67
Today, we got our brand new “Matty Mattell” M-16 (AR-15) Rifles and 30,000 “stick ‘em” caps.
I had radio watch from 2400 to 0600. Slept ‘till noon and went back on radio ‘till 1800.
Tuesday, 28 Nov ’67
L-Z / Radio Watch. Yesterday, I got a package from Mrs. O. L West
Wednesday, 29 Nov ’67
Today, I had L-Z in the morning and Radio Watch this evening. We killed 4 “Gooks” today and “3 probables.”
At 1600, we took approximately 16 artillery rounds. No one was hurt.
Burr’s hooch was hit and Gun-6 ammo bunker was nearly blown up.
We just took another round!
Our little bunker is back up to full occupancy. Four people: 2 Radiomen and 2 Wiremen.
The Wireman’s name is Bob Delasandro. He’s from Glanio, Pennsylvania.
…the new Radioman is Gordon Stover, from Ocean City, New Jersey.
I also “fam-fired ”
(Familiarization Fired or fired one's weapon in order to become familiar eith
it's operation.) my M-16. Now I have fired 157 rounds instead of 01.
Thursday, 30 Nov ’67
Another month draws to a close. I was walking on a little bridge-like walk way today and slipped. My feet flew up; my body went parallel to the ground and I hit square on my back…the only thing that happened was that my breath was knocked out.
Then when I went back to the radio, I began seeing all sorts of colors before my eyes. Now, I have a slightly sore back.
Radio Watch this morning and working party this afternoon.
It is raining and I am soaked. We received an Intelligence report that we’d be hit but haven’t yet. Yesterday, we were supposed to be hit at 1600. We were!
Mosley had a self-winding watch and it stopped second hand and all, at 1600 on the dot.
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