Paul Plummer

Arrival at Qui Nhon

I was with the 1st Air Cavalry. We were the first large division sent to Vietnam. We were transported in 1965 by boat. I don't think any of the later Vietnam troopers were sent by boat. I was just a grunt, and grunts are never told much, so none of us knew what to expect after we finished our month long boat trip from the US east coast to Vietnam.

My thoughts were: Will this be like the Normandy Invasion of WWII? Will we have to climb down rope ladders, transfer into amphibian craft and storm ashore under fire? It turned out to be quite the opposite. It was a very peaceful landing. Our troop transport ship just docked and we marched out into the Vietnam city of Qui Nhon.

I didn't at the time have any opinions about the Vietnam war. But I did have a impression that has stayed with me to this day.

Young soldier in khaki uniform standing outside a building.

Me in 1965 at Fort Benning prior to Vietnam.

Upon stepping onto Vietnam soil: This was not like the Liberation of Paris. There were no crowds throwing flowers or cheering at us.

On the contrary, I sensed indifference and fear on the part of the Vietnamese that we encountered. I don't really know why there was indifference, but obviously being around a bunch of giant soldiers (compared to the small stature Vietnamese) carrying weapons it's not too surprising that we elicited fear.