Post by tcoop on May 1, 2003 11:32:58 GMT -5
I decided to add this brief tribute to a beagle-mix dog that attached itself to our commo platoon. We called her Speed. I don't know where she originally came from, dogs seemed to show up and attach themselves to different GIs when soldiers rotated. She would show up for roll-call, hang around the hooches, and often waited for us outside the mess hall in the Dau Tieng base camp. One night, Speed accompanied us on bunker guard. We welcomed the company, for she might be a little more alert than us. One of the guys brought a chicken that he had scarfed earlier from the mess hall. We made a makeshift bbq pit in back of the bunker and did it justice. We even contrived a palitable sauce. Of course, we gave scraps to Speed. Well, we created a monster. A few nights later, Speed accompanied us on guard duty again. However, she disappeared early in the night. About 2:00am, rounds started coming in from the adjacent village of Dau Tieng. We opened up with our M-60. Then, we realized the opposing fire was short, bouncing off the wire and ground, way in front of the bunker. To our amazement, there was Speed with a half-live chicken in her mouth, attempting to negotiate the wire in front of our bunker. Some farmer (by day) or VC started firing something fully automatic. We layed down cover fire for Speed and she safely made through the wire. We all ate well that morning, having a special bbq chicken breakfast. The best chicken I ever tasted. God Bless you Speed.