The One Medal You Don't Want...

Col. Camp was the OCS Brigade Commander when I attended OCS at Ft. Sill. He arranged for most of the troops to see the Bob Hope Show. When he found out that not all of us was able to go he sent another traveling show to us for a special show only for A Battery, The Freeman Twins. My assumption is that they were American (round-eyes). But who cares. I don’t think it mattered much. Also during this time, it seems that several repair parts and vehicles started being misplaced by several units around Long Bihn. I think the 11^th ACR lost a complete APC. To this day, I don’t think we know who was responsible for such dastardly deeds. Long about the 22^nd of December I requested a 3 day pass. And was subsequently assigned to investigate a wreck that had happened in Vung Tau. After my “investigation” I wrapped things up and headed to Nui Dat for Christmas Day Lunch with C Squadron.   

Lunch was good (my first experience with curried rice and beef tips), and after a few beers and good conversation, my driver and I headed back to Long Bihn. We were in for some excitement. Just southeast of FSB Julia we ran into a “Tax Collection” team of VC. All of sudden, everyone started shooting… I was knocked out of the Jeep by a bullet hitting me in the face. I found myself lying in a ditch on the side of the road and was bleeding from the nose, arm and knee. I don’t remember a lot of what happened after that. I do know that I shot a VC troop, and took over a vehicle full of scared civilians so my driver and I could vacate the area. My Jeep was inoperable. Later, when the Jeep was recovered, we counted 52 bullet holes in the Jeep and its radio. I was lifted to the evac hospital in Long Bihn. Fortunately, no life threatening wounds and returned to the Battery next day.  Sore, real sore. Shortly after all this excitement I headed for B Battery.