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Guess you're wondering what Vietnam has to do with being a Christian? I saw
The hand of God while I did my stay in Vietnam. To start with when I finished
Basic in fort ord California they flew us to Fort Polk la. Really did not like
That idea at all. Figured they should have given us a little break in between
Training.
Then flying to fort Polk we stopped over in Las Vegas NV. And
While they were fooling around I had something come over me and I got off the
Plane and went to my sister's house in Vegas for a couple days and then went on
To Fort Polk. When I got there they told me that I missed my group and that I
Would have to wait two week's to start my training. After I finished training
They sent us to Fort Louis Washington and then onto a plane to Vietnam When I
Got there I stayed in Cameron bay for two week's before going on to the first
Cavalry Div.
At that point I ran into another soldier that told me that the
Group that I was supposed to go with from fort Polk had got shot up real bad
During the Tet offensive of 68 just before I arrived 3/1/68. This was this first
Time I saw that God must have had a hand in keeping me away from danger! I was
Assigned to the 1st cavalry 5 miles south of Hue Vietnam at Camp Evens and old
Marine camp that the Cav had taken over just before I got there. And it was not
To long before they sent us to the Mouton's in western Vietnam. There were some
Vietcong hiding out up there and we were trying to flush them out we through
Everything at them but nothing seemed to work because they were dug in too deep.
They shot a couple of chi-com rockets at us and one landed just to the side and
Behind me and I took a 3/4" piece of it in my right leg. It did not do much
Damage just pierced the skin about 1/8" or so. But the guy behind me got
Really tore up bad from it. The thing that amazes me is that it landed right
Between us and he got most all the shrapnel. This also seamed to be the hand of
God.
there were numerous other times's that I missed getting shot or blown
Up but it seamed I always missed it somehow. When we were in the Ah Shaw valley
Up by Laos we were going up highway 1 it's not much of a highway but that's what
The called it. It led over to Laos and on to North Vietnam. Anyhow this road
Had a steep cliff to the right and a steep gully to the left and if they knew we
Were there we would have been dead meat. We got about half way up the road and
Noticed there were some North Vietnamese soldiers to the left of us on the other
Side of the gully. We did not shoot at them because we were really in a bad spot
To do any fighting.
So we just continued up the trail a ways and then
Climbed the cliff to our right. It was tough going but we made it to higher
Ground and waited till the Vietnamese group left and then we went back down to
The road and continued on up it. We did not go to far and a bomb went off and
Just about killed the guys up front. Someone had placed a bomb in the side of
The hill to our right behind some rocks and the guy that was nearest it got
Covered with small pieces of rock stuck in his body. Guess I will never forget
When I helped put him on the chopper that day. Was glad that I was not the point
Man.
This is kind of embarrassing to tell this last story but to make a point
That God looks out for his I will. Had been in Vietnam for 6 mounts now and we
Were told to go and hide out behind this village because there were reports that
The Vietcong would come through there early in the morning. So we found
Ourselves a good place to camp out and hit the sack that evening. The next
Morning I woke up early and the rest hadn't stirred yet. Had to go to the
Bathroom so I went around this old cemetery with wall's about 6 foot high. And
As I was back there I noticed that there was this trail coming right for the
Spot where I was. So I reached over and set my m-16 for fire so that at least if
Someone came down the trail I would be ready. (The rifle was leaning on the
Cemetery wall)
when I got through I reached over and evidently grabbed the
Barrel of the rifle a little bit too hard and it went off and got me in the
Neck. It knocked me out and the next thing I remember is the guy's leaning over
Me asking what happened? About 15 minutes later a chopper came and took me to
Danang hospital and then on to the USS Repose hospital ship. And when the
Doctors got me on the table and had examined me the doctor was telling this
Intern to take a closer look at the bullet that entered and exited and he said "this
Is really a close call here just a fraction of an inch either way or I would?
Have been dead". The bullet had just missed my jugular vein and the spinal
Cord. After about 3 week's I recuperated from my wound
I was sent to Kaota
Japan to finish healing up. There was this doctor there that wanted to send me
Back to Vietnam and guess I probably would have gone except he was transferred
Somewhere else and the new doc decided that all head wounds should be sent home.
Boy I wanted to jump for joy when I herd that! About then I ran into a guy from
My group and he told me that my outfit had been shipped south just 20 miles
North of Siegon and that they really stuck the stick in the anthill and a lot
Of guys got killed there. For old Ho Chi Minn was on the rampage and wanted to
Cause as much trouble in Siegon as he could. After about a month I was shipped
Home to Fort Hood Texas and spent 9 mounts there before mustering out of the
Army and went home to California.
When I was healing up on the USS Repose I
Realized that it was God himself that kept me from harm. And to this day I thank
God for saving me from that awful place. It was then I also realized that from
All the close call's I did not die God must have something else for me to do
Before I leave this earth. I believe that if each person were to look close at
There past life, at the places they have been, things they have done, door's
That were opened for them and doors that were slammed shut in their face you
Will see why God did not want you to do that or be in that place at that time.
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