I was in two Marine divisions and two different outfits in Vietnam. The first half of my tour I was with H&S 1/3 of the 3rd Division.
The second half, after 1/3 came off float, was with B Company of the 7th Motor Transport of the 1st Division. B Company consisted of truck drivers, mechanics and machine gunners and not much else in between. We had road bombs and ambushes and our armor consisted of a Vietnam flack jacket and one layer of sandbags on the floor of the truck. The gunners had no cover and used open ring mounts. My best friend, Chuck Searles, was KIA on July 4, 1968 along with another Marine, David Nelson.
(I guess when compared to today, we were like cavemen as far as armor protection. We had none. I'm standing third from the right in the picture.)
On Memorial Day weekend this year, B Company got together for the first time since the war 42 years ago. I didn’t know what to expect but I recognized the three guys there from my squad right away. I was surprised how little people change in facial appearance for the most part.
We no longer had 29 and 30 R waists, and most of us had white hair and we were all 63 and older. We spent that Sunday in Kansas City at Union Square. Fifty thousand people were there to hear a symphony and to see fireworks, The conductor had us stand and told the crowd we were together for the first time since the war. The crowd cheered and applauded us. It was bizarre, considering how we were treated right after the war.
We no longer had 29 and 30 R waists, and most of us had white hair and we were all 63 and older. We spent that Sunday in Kansas City at Union Square. Fifty thousand people were there to hear a symphony and to see fireworks, The conductor had us stand and told the crowd we were together for the first time since the war. The crowd cheered and applauded us. It was bizarre, considering how we were treated right after the war.
The reunion did me some good, and I felt like I had found my long lost brothers. I’m glad I went and I hope we get together again soon.
