The Trip Over

 

The trip over to Vietnam was a very traumatic experience for me as I had no idea what to expect once I got there. Oh, I watched the news and all the protesting going on, but what was it really like and would I even survive?

 

 

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The Trip Over

 

I got my orders for Vietnam about December 14, 1969, while at Fort Gordon, Georgia instructing a class in Avionics Communications Equipment Repair. They were good enough to give me a two week leave before I had to show up in San Diego to be transported to Vietnam. I flew to Amarillo in my dress Kakis and started my leave. I decided to sell my 1967 Mercury Cyclone and my Honda Scrambler while on leave just in case I didn’t make it back. I sold both of them to the first person that came by to see them. I flew to San Diego on December 30, 1969, and I was on my way on December 31, 1969, on a commercial DC 10 with about 200 other soldiers. On the way over we made a stop in Hawaii and I got off at the airport while we refueled. This was my one and only visit to Hawaii in my life. We then reboarded and headed on towards Vietnam. We made a stop in Guam where I also got off for a while. All I can remember is the it was very baron looking and it was scorching hot with about 50% humidity. I spent New Year’s Eve on the plane not celebrating too much.

 

There were many thoughts about what the next year was going to be like as we headed for Vietnam on that DC – 10 that day. We brought the new year on the plane wondering if we would ever see another one. I guess the good Lord helped most of us through the ordeal.

 

 

We arrived at Saigon Airport on New Years Day, 1970. What a way to bring in the new year. We loaded on busses and they took us to a processing center and issued us 4 sets of jungle fatigues and combat gear including an M-16 rifle. They took me to a transit barracks where I spend the night with other soldiers and told me where to report in the morning for transportation to my Unit. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. The next morning I reported and they put me on a huge Military C – 130 transport plane. They told us to sit on our helmets in case we take fire from the jungle. I thought…well I guess this is real after all… and slipped my helmet under me. We arrived at Pleiku Airport in the central highlands after one of the loudest flights I had ever been on. As we got off the plane they told us that a Rocket had blown part of the airport away last night, so to pick up our gear and find your transportation. There was a guy in jeep waiting for me, so he hauled me on a very interesting ride through the streets of Pleiku to a funny looking hill on the other side of town. He said this is your new home called Artillery Hill. I stayed right there on that hill for the next 11 months.

 

Okay boys, this C – 130 will be flying over hot zones in the jungle, if you don’t want to get your ass blown off, take off your helmet and sit on it. 

 

 

 

After that interesting jeep ride on January 1, 1970, this is what I saw that was to be my home for the next 11 months. All of the big artillery is off to the left towards the top of the picture. Fortunately, most of my memories of the place are not too bad. The big guns scared the crap out of the Viet Cong.

 

 

 

Thanks for reading The Trip Over,

bill