We went up the Prefume River in "mike boats"
To the city of Hue, South Vietnam.
On either 14 or 15 April 1965.
From there we were trucked to the air strip at Phu Bi.
Which was then just a real small landing strip.
We were to dig in all around this Army Communication Center.
That night after it got dark.
I never saw so much shooting!
Illumination in the air!
Throwing of hand grenades!
This went on all night.
The next morning our Platoon Sgt.
Got us in formation.
And he starts chewing ass!
He said "if you chicken-shits!
Want those bastards to come and clean your locker!
Keep on doing what you're doing."
All "you're telling them that you're afraid of them!"
And I'll guarantee.
That they will soon be coming.
To get all your young asses!
Because every time you fire.
Your rifle or machine guns.
They have pin pointed your position."
That night after that ass chewing.
There was hardly an sound!
Except an occasional hand grenade.
Because they couldn't pin point that.
I think the reason for all that shooting.
And firing of all that illumination.
Was because so many were young.
And we were all green troops.
And there was a great deal of fear.
So looking back it was funny.
In a gallows type of humor.