A Day in Vietnam: A True Story

The story is true, and the names have been changed because the day is gone. No one really cares if the names are right or not. We were just a bunch of men who were doing what our country ask us to and everyone in the states called us killers.

I had just turned nineteen when I stepped off the plane in Vietnam. Early morning and already hot. Suddenly the world shook and the plane that we had just climbed down from was nothing but fire and twisted metal. People screaming with pain from everywhere. Rocket attack. Welcome to Vietnam! I trained to be a medic before leaving leaving stateside but I wasn't expecting to go to work this quick. For the next two hours or so things were busy. Finally sitting against a jeep wheel a Marine offered me a smoke and for the first time in my life I smoked and felt that the only real thing in the world was that Winston. The Marine looked at me and welcomed me to hell.

Next stop supply. While being issued everything that I would need I was offered a M-16. Did I turn it down just because I was trained to be a Medic, you can bet the farm that I took it. These people over here were shooting real bullets and didn't want me to go home. Now I looked like everyone else green camo and a tired look in the eyes. After Nam every time I meet someone all it takes is a glance at their eyes and I know who has paid their dues over there. It is a look that never goes away. No one tries to keep the tired look in their eyes, it is just something that is there to stay. Some say we saw to much. I don't know. Next I went to medical supply and picked up my medical bag and supplies. Pressure bandages, needles and Morphine. Lots of Morphine to try and ease the pain of the wounded while the chopper carried them back to a field hospital.

When I checked into my assigned area I was hoping for a few days to get settled in. But no such luck. Medics are in short supply. I guess that being number two on the hit list, just behind the radioman, could cause a shortage. Maybe I should have gone to Canada, but what the heck I'm here and to late for complaining now. The Sargent said we would be going out as soon as it was dark. Believe me when they say dark it is pitch black dark. I can't see my hand in front of my face and I am suppose to follow the man in front of me thru the jungle. Grow up fast out here. grow up or die not much of a choice, makes you learn fast.

Tonight our mission was to set up an ambush site on a trail that was known for the NV to travel. When we were set up the way the Sargent thought best, we were told to relax but stay sharp. Believe me I was one scared person. About midnight a stick cracked and as I looked over the tree roots I was behind, I saw the trail was full of people dressed in black. Suddenly the night lit up from the rifle flashes and rockets being fired. Men were screaming and moaning from wounds. Then all the sudden it was over and the quiet hurt your ears. I didn't know I had even fired until I saw the empty clips at my feet. Only one of our group received a small flesh wound. A bandage and a smoke and he was fine. We looked for bodies but only found blood trails, they had dragged their wounded and dead away. Now that it was over I started to shake and couldn't stop. Most of the men looked away because they had been in the same position. Finally I calmed down and we headed back. One down a million more nights to go. Wonder what is for breakfast?

This is a real day out of my life if anyone really cares. The same day happened several hundred times a day in different parts of Vietnam. We weren't killers we just did as our country ask.