39 years ago today

June 22, 1970, one day in my life. An ordinary day, really. But yet a day that plays back in my mind almost daily.
It bagan as a routine day just like every other day of the previous 113 days. Wake up at dawn, go to the mess hall for breakfast, then morning company formation. Like most other days the cable platoon was given a list of jobs that needed to be completed by the end of the day. And like several other days a volunteer was needed to travel to Lai Khe and Phouc Vinh to check communication equiptment inventories.

I volunteered. It got me out of the work or repairing commo lines and gave me an opportunity to see more of Vietnam. I had done this before. It was a Walk in the park", a no sweat detail.

I reported to SFC Pederson we waited for our third man spcialist Phillips. Once he joined us we went to the armoror, Specialist Rozo to draw weapons. Sgt Pede took his 45 and an m-16, Phillips drew his m-16 and I took my m-79 grenade launcher and an m-16. I was the only man in the 595th Signal Company authorized to carry the m-79. For each weapon we were allowed to draw 20 rounds of ammo.
Sgt Pede went to the motor pool and checked out a deuce and a half for the ride. We were off to Lai Khe. Lai Khe was located in a rubber plantation and was the frequent target of rockets. The platoon from the 595th that was stationed there referred to Lai Khe as Rocket City. We finished our business in Lai Khe and headed to Phouc Vinh. As we left Lai Khe we were reminded that the Ben Cat cutoff was in Charlies hands and we should not use it. The Ben Cat cut off had been in Charlies hands every time I made this trip. But we always used the cutoff. nothing ever happened there. We were more likely to get sniper fire on highway 9 or 13 on the way to Lai Khe than on the Ben Cat cutoff.
This day was no different we arrived in Phouc Vinh without incident. We did what we had to do and headed back to Di An. We got back to Di An in time for chow and then went to the EM Club for a couple beers.
Like I said just another day in the life of a soldier in Vietnam.
Tomorrow I will explain why this day and the day after have stayed with me for 39 years.