I was a member of Bravo Company 3rd Recon before Vietnam.
Thomas E. Shainline"s Poem "Little Gull",
Should be a memorial to all the Recon Marines
Who died in Vietnam.
The first of many of Bravo Company 3rd Recon
Were L/Cpl Randall K.Campbell USMC,
Pfc Carl R. Wenzel USMC,
May they Rest In Peace.
When I arrived in country.
You were in the bush.
I was assigned to your team.
Call sign "LITTLE GULL".
You were on patrol.
I was in your tent.
I did not know you.
I saw your pictures.
Your Mother's and Father's.
Your wife, your children.
Your sweetheart.
Your friends.
Miss January.
People you knew and loved.
People who knew and loved you.
I saw your Bible.
Your prayer book
Your cross and beads.
I picked up your mail.
And laid it on your bunk.
I picked up a care package from home
It smelled so good.
It must be filled with lots of goodies,
Packed by loving hands.
I thought when you get back.
I'll have some of this good stuff.
I did not know you.
For two days.
I went to the comm center.
And followed your progress
On the map.
Little colored pins.
were placed.
When you reported your position.
as you made your way.
Through the mountains.
I looked at the contour lines.
And thought how terribly steep.
they were and far in you were.
How difficult that climb.
Must be for you.
But I did not know you.
Then I heard on the radio!
"Contact! Contact! Contact!
Little Gull, Contact!"
The company commander said
Don't worry.
It happens all the time.
They will be all right.
We could hear the gunfire.
When you keyed the handset.
We could hear the explosion!
Of hand grenades.
We heard your last choking words
That sounded like, "GAS!"
I heard your voice!
I did not know you.
The radio operator.
Called you again and again!
"Little Gull, Little Gull, sitrep!"
"Little Gull do you hear me?
Little Gull go to secondary frequency."
No answer!
Only silence.
A reaction team was put together.
I made sure I was on it.
We flew out as darkness set in.
And landed several miles
From your position.
There was no moon.
In the darkness
We stumbled up one mountain
And down another.
It was too dangerous!
We set in for the night.
I wondered how you were?
What happened to you?
I did not know you.
At first light
We set out climbing up one mountain.
Sliding and falling down another.
We were fourteen.
Carrying weapons and ammo.
You were just six.
Carrying three times as much!
How difficult that must have been for you.
We found your position.
I was not prepared.
For what we saw.
All your equipment.
your weapons.
Your radios were gone.
You were strewn about.
Hacked apart.
Tears filled my eyes.
Rage filled my heart.
I gagged and chucked.
I saw you.
But I did not know you.
We called for an airdrop of body bags.
Six bags for six men.
Six bags for six boys
Who became men.
So far from the people in the pictures.
So far from the people in the letters.
So far from those who knew you.
But I did not know you.
I picked you up carefully.
And placed you in the bag.
Piece by piece.
Trying to put the same person.
In the same bag.
We moved out.
Back to the LZ.
I carried you, the smallest.
I carried you.
I felt you.
I smelled you.
I did not know you.
I tried so hard not to drop you.
I tried to keep you.
From hitting the ground.
As we went.
Up and down the mountains.
I could not!
Please forgive me.
The bag ripped.
Blood and body fluids.
Seeped out and over me.
I can still feel it.
I placed you in the chopper.
And flew back with you to the base.
I placed you on a litter.
As if you were still alive.
And watched them roll you away.
I never saw you again,
I did not know you.
All these years.
You have been a part of me.
You have lived with me.
Every hour of every day.
Of every year.
A secret to be kept.
A memory to grow.
Pain to be nurtured.
Until the secret was too great.
The memory overwhelming.
The pain unbearable.
I must let you out.
I must let you go.
I must tell the secret.
I will always remember you.
I will always honor you.
This poem/story was written
By Thomas E. Shainline.
Charlie Company 3rd Recon 68-69