Post by Anonymous Vet on Dec 13, 2002 7:03:52 GMT -5
July 12, 1968, Hill 37, Vietnam]
Dear Mom + Dad
I recieved the cookies and the cards
the other day. Believe me those cookies
just about saved my life. I had just
come in from the field and everyone
had missed chow so filled up on
cookies. Thanks a lot they really
helped and thank everyone else for
the cards. All I need now is that
bottle of scotch and I'm all set.
Anyway like I said, I just got in
from the field. I think I'm beginning to
so why this was is so senseless. On
this occasion I was leading a FAC
team with India Co. which Capt. Robb
happens to command. Believe me I have
never seen a bigger idiot when it comes
to leading men into combat. Anyway we
moved out at night and crossed a river.
When we reached the other side we
started our sweep. We came across a
ville at about 0330 and took some sniper
fire. As we moved west it became worse
untill we finally had to stop because the
gooks were starting to surround us. At
this time it was 0700 so I called for
fixed wing. They arrived 20 minutes late
with an AO and started to hit the
gooks. During this time whenever the
jets made a bombing run the gooks
would shoot at them. I called to the AO
and let him know about it. He looked
over the area and spotted where the fire
was comming from. I spotted it to and
saw that it was a ville with women,
children and old men. I hated to do it
but I had no choice so I told the AO
to direct the jets to drop napalm on
the ville. As I sat back and watch the
people try and get away I figured that it
had to be done or we might lose some
jets and pilots. I guess it's just one of
those things. I also guess that war hardens
a person because the next time we came
under fire I saw four gooks and gave
them a burst from my AR. One second
they were standing there and the next they
weren't. Believe me when I say that war
is senseless. I know because I'm fighting it.
I figure that we must live in another
world that let's a war like this go on.
When I can see my friends getting killed
and the I have to kill it just doesn't
make sense. What makes matters worse
is that we can't win or for that matter
nobody can. I can't see playing God and
determining who lives and who dies. I'm
stuck now but when next March rolls
around they can hang it up because I'm
getting out.
Your son,
Clyde
www.authentichistory.com/letters/1960s/flack/
Dear Mom + Dad
I recieved the cookies and the cards
the other day. Believe me those cookies
just about saved my life. I had just
come in from the field and everyone
had missed chow so filled up on
cookies. Thanks a lot they really
helped and thank everyone else for
the cards. All I need now is that
bottle of scotch and I'm all set.
Anyway like I said, I just got in
from the field. I think I'm beginning to
so why this was is so senseless. On
this occasion I was leading a FAC
team with India Co. which Capt. Robb
happens to command. Believe me I have
never seen a bigger idiot when it comes
to leading men into combat. Anyway we
moved out at night and crossed a river.
When we reached the other side we
started our sweep. We came across a
ville at about 0330 and took some sniper
fire. As we moved west it became worse
untill we finally had to stop because the
gooks were starting to surround us. At
this time it was 0700 so I called for
fixed wing. They arrived 20 minutes late
with an AO and started to hit the
gooks. During this time whenever the
jets made a bombing run the gooks
would shoot at them. I called to the AO
and let him know about it. He looked
over the area and spotted where the fire
was comming from. I spotted it to and
saw that it was a ville with women,
children and old men. I hated to do it
but I had no choice so I told the AO
to direct the jets to drop napalm on
the ville. As I sat back and watch the
people try and get away I figured that it
had to be done or we might lose some
jets and pilots. I guess it's just one of
those things. I also guess that war hardens
a person because the next time we came
under fire I saw four gooks and gave
them a burst from my AR. One second
they were standing there and the next they
weren't. Believe me when I say that war
is senseless. I know because I'm fighting it.
I figure that we must live in another
world that let's a war like this go on.
When I can see my friends getting killed
and the I have to kill it just doesn't
make sense. What makes matters worse
is that we can't win or for that matter
nobody can. I can't see playing God and
determining who lives and who dies. I'm
stuck now but when next March rolls
around they can hang it up because I'm
getting out.
Your son,
Clyde
www.authentichistory.com/letters/1960s/flack/