Gregory Morfitt

A bad day on LZ-West

We had been on patrol in Hiep Duc valley for four or five days and had been given orders to come back to LZ West to re-supply and rest there for the night.

LZ West was on top of a large hill with lots of jungle terrain around it. I remember it was a hot and humid afternoon which took us several hours to get up to the base on top to the hill. Once we made it to the fire support base on top of the hill we were given our mail and re-supply items (ammo, water, “C” rations, etc). Then we proceeded to the mess hall to get a hot meal.

As we were sitting there eating our food we heard a single shot from an M16 at very close range. Several of us hit the ground. Then getting up slowly and looking around we spotted a man down about 40-50 feet from us.

It was one of our own men that was stationed on LZ West whom was working there in the mess hall that had taken his own life with a single shot to the chess with his own M16.

I keep asking myself “Why, why would anyone take their own life here. Here on the fire support base were we all felt save. Save from the jungle, the booby traps the enemy. My memory of that event was with me for months. So much blood and killing. God why would anyone take them self out of the picture?

Medals I received because of this incident:
God gave me one this time. The determination that I was going to make it through this hell on earth no matter what! God Bless this man’s soul.