Who Am I?

Americal Division (23rd.)

11th. Light Infantry

When I became part of the 11th LIB on April 11, 1968 the Brigade was involved in operation Muscatine, a multi-battalion operation in the northern districts of Quang Ngai Province. It was launched in early December 1997 by the 198th Brigade and units of the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry. Combat operations were begun in the Duc Pho area of operations when the "Jungle Warriors" of the 11th Infantry Brigade took over Operation Muscatine.

Task Force Barker was formed in February by elements of the 11th Infantry Brigade to rout the Viet Cong from an area considered an enemy strong-hold for 20 years. It was concluded successfully in April, 1968.

Operation Norfolk Victory was begun by elements of the 11th Brigade on April 8, 1968, in the mountainous terrain southwest of Quang Ngai City. By its conclusion major enemy base of operations had been destroyed, and weapons cache uncovered (126 individual and crew-served weapons, plus numerous enemy munitions and supplies).

Most memorable for me was our participation in operation Vernon Lake II. It began in the mountainous region southwest of Quang Ngai City. During this four month operation, 11th Brigade. "Jungle Warriors" uncovered 81 NVA base camps and three surgical hospitals. Our 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry and the 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry soldiers also killed 455 enemy soldiers. The operation was terminated at the end of February 1969.

When we were getting ready to be extracted from the high ground which we had secured and held in the mountains, we learned a very valuable lesson. You never dispose of cases of C-rations by tossing them into a really hot fire. By the time we understood that we were not under a mortar or rocket attack, quite a few of us were getting burned up by a continuous shower of scalding hot Ham and Lima Beans and other food from the exploding cans. We should have used that junk instead of Napalm

While a lot of my buddies were tagged, numbered and shipped home one by one, I got to stay and spend time at some of the hospitals in country. The first time at Chi Lai, then Da Nang, and the second time at Chu Lai again and then Cam Ranh Bay.

When I was in the hospital the first time at Chu Lai recovering from a bullet wound, I learned the difference between Special Forces and Special Services.

You see, Special Forces guys got to wear the famous green hats, live in the mountains with the 'yards', and go camping and hiding in the woods looking for 'Mr. Charles'.

Now if you were Special Services, you were issued an official U.S. Government Lifeguard's chair. An OD green bottle of suntan lotion, and your assignment was to watch the swimmers on the beach for you whole vacation in Vietnam. Isn't that neat? Looks like I filled out the wrong form at the induction center.

Walking through the mud and sleeping out in the rain under a poncho, I remembered the ongoing press conferences of Robert Macnamara from just a few months earlier. He had by now had resigned his job, embarrassed by the unexpected ferocity of the January 31, 1968 TET Offensive.

There really must have been some valid reason why we were fighting a war, with really stupid rules of engagement. I just knew we were accomplishing some real mission. I didn't like being there but I wanted to believe, even though my buddies were getting blown away all around me ( It was early in 1995 that the gentleman in his newly released book, "In Retrospect", afraid to face death and the White Throne Judgment Seat with the lies on his head, revealed quite another story.)