A Minnesota PBS Initiative
A Summer Day In Nam "A Brotherhood Forged In Combat"
Last night I awoke to the sounds of thunder. I was recalling a small part of a day as if it was yesterday. As I remember, it was the height of the war that day. It seems to be bits and pieces of time that have been locked away for fifty + years. Our team is "Average" 8 Recon Marines with an attitude. Charging from that gate of a CH-46 Sea Knight and carrying my weight. And I can say I’m literally carrying my weight or more on my back. As a small Marine around 145 pounds and about 5 feet 7, I could move in and out of tight areas as a point.
Last night I awoke to the sounds of thunder. I was recalling a small part of a day as if it was yesterday. As I remember, it was the height of the war that day. It seems to be bits and pieces of time that have been locked away for fifty + years.
On my back is a rucksack “back pack” Is the team called it in the rucksack would have been enough C Rations for this mission. I can recall running out from time to time. I recall on one of my missions working with a team of 14 Marines we went out on a 5 day mission and we were socked in by the monsoon for 10 days or so live off the land eating bugs and small green bananas. Before we were lifted out of that zone by choppers. But that is another story.
On this summer day in my rucksack would have been rain gear, dry socks, my weapon maintenance kit, poncho liner, my camouflage blanket. camouflage paint, first aid items, map and compass, mess kit, gasmask, a canteen or two of water, my trusty camera was all ways by my side and I’m probably forgetting something. But on to my weapons now all I can say to “Charlie” is I’m packing. Ten to twenty hand grenades, gas and colored smoke canisters, extra M60 machine gun rounds, two to four clamor mines, my knife and bayonet, 15-20 M16 magazines. Yes this marine why packing on all my missions. Plus I would have had a ton of C4 plastic explosives with detonator.
Bravo Company 1968
Thinking back today on this for some apparent reason I like to blow thinks up. As my wife Linda, who I love dearly is looking over my shoulder at this time and making a coy remark like I was a young dumb kid. And I reply back as I’m thinking Hoo-ya, but all those explosives were for clearing LZ “landing zone” for the choppers to land on are extractions at the end of our missions, and the C4 was for cooking our food. I don’t think she bought in to that as I’m thinking for the record a great detent for the enemy forces. But as you can see I’m literally carrying my weight. My steps were quick and light. I’m running point that day for a small team of brothers. They’re reconnaissance Marines out of Bravo Company. We’re on a mission to locate enemy movement and report back; it’s a 5 day mission in enemy controlled territory and my team is on the ground. Within minutes my eyes were fixed on movement. A small group of 4 VC or NVA with small arms packs and two radios were moving along a river 200 yards or so from me on a winding trail. The enemy moved along the trail within 50 yards or so of the team and moved off down the trail into the bush. To reach higher ground our team would have to cross the river. 1st Lt. Riley ordered Sgt. Southall "at the time a Cpl" and me to move towards the river to find a river crossing for the team. We moved out towards the river moving through elephant grass as we moved very cautiously and slowly. I recall been at point arms. The grass appeared to become shorter as we approached the river. We moved over 100 yards or so before my eyes picked up movement to the right of our position. We hit the deck! A company sized unit of enemy with Chinese was moving towards our position. Carrying RPGs this company of NVA is packing and looking for a rumble.
Bravo Company 7/68 - 7/69
As this unit moved on the trail and the trail was now winding around me. Out gunned on this day ten to one I’m thinking back what if one of the team would have squeeze off a round or two. What if, what if can drive a man crazy some times and what if can tear your mind apart time and time again. This Company sized unit moved within five feet or so of me at times. My eyes were fixed on them, my hands were steady. I held firmly to my M16. The Sgt is 10 feet or so to my left. The balance of the team Ssgt. Romo, 1st Lt. Riley, Pfc. Brandvold, Pfc. Coy and Pfc. Plunket are 300 to 400 feet behind me in the thick bush with the radioman Pfc. Harkins and Pfc. Horne on the M60 caliber machine gun. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Cpl. Southall trying to shift from his awkward position. I’m thinking ‘Oh No’ as my life started to flash by me. As I’m thinking and looking back on it now, it would be like the movie “Christmas Story” when Ralphie said, No more turkey, no more turkey sandwiches, no more turkey period.
Thinking back now, I can also say I thought no more turkey dinners with my future wife, children, grandchildren, no more turkey period with my family. Things are about to turn worse. I’m a sweating Marine only two years out of high school and it seems like a life time ago. I was as strong as I could be. Nothing ever got to me, until this moment of this day! I’m afraid that things are about to end for me or turn worse for all of my brothers this summer day. The Sgt, whose name I can remember, is going to reposition his leg and the enemy’s all around us. As Sgt. Southall moved his leg I could hear a twig snap. Instantly one of the North Vietnamese turns and looks at me from five feet or so away. My eyes were fixed on him: my hands were steady as I gripped my weapon. This moment in time seemed like an eternity to me. His eyes seemed to be searching for me. But his weapon stayed shouldered as he turned back and moved on down the winding trail. Not a shot was fired. As this Company sized unit of North Vietnamese moved past me and they were packing on this day. One by one they passed by me that day, one by one but time seem like it stopped that summer day. Yes time stopped for me.
It seems like yesterday for this proud recon Marine. The enemy moved past me with packs on their backs. I could almost make out the serial numbers on their RPGs as the enemy passed by me. With their weapons shouldered, carrying heavy arms and equipment. Yes the enemy passed the team by that day, moved off into the bush and not a shot was fired this time. The Sgt and I resumed our position and moved towards the river to look for a crossing for the team. We located one and returned to our brothers with painted faces. I’m running point toward the river. My steps now are quicker and lighter. Towards the river through the elephant grass we all cross that river on this day. We all moved to higher ground. What a somber place it seems to be. 1st Lt. Riley and our radio operator Pfc. Harkins, called for artillery. March 15th, 1969 The artillery rained down in Elephant Valley that day.
Bravo Company 1969
On the other side of the river as my mind wandered back to that twig snapping and that North Vietnamese turning and looking at me. This moment in time seemed like an eternity to me. His eyes seem to be searching for me. The team "Average" moved out that day in '69. All my brothers with painted faces moved out! Our steps were quick and light I’m proud to say. Not one shot was fired on this lucky summer day in Nam we called for an emergency extraction on the 2nd or 3rd day of that mission. But that is another story for this Marine.
1st Reconnaissance Battalion Association, Membership Director & Webmaster Floyd Ruggles
Biographical Details
Submitted From: North St Paul, MN
Primary Location During Vietnam: Camp Reasoner - Da Nang, Vietnam 
Story Subject: Military Service
Military Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
Dates of Service: 1967 - 1969
Veteran Organization: 1st Recon Battalion Association is a non-profit organization of former and current members of the 1st Recon Battalion, 1st Marine Division.
Unit: 1st Marine Division, 1st Recon Battalion, Bravo Company July 1968 - July 1969
Specialty: 1st Reconnaissance Point man
1st Reconnaissance Battalion Association, Membership Director & Webmaster