Pa's Big Adventure Vietnam 1966-1971
A SERIES OF WAR STORIES AND TALES OF HIGH ADVENTURE
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The air hit me like a blast furnace when I stepped off of the ramp of the giant C-141 Starlifter that had brought us all the way from Travis Air Force Base outside Oakland, California. It was only ten o’clock in the morning yet the air was brutally stifling. The overweight E-6 in front of me was already sweating profusely. We really were in Vietnam. There was a lot of activity at Tan Son Nhut airbase, the main airport near Saigon. After 22 hours in the air, I was glad to be free of the canvass seat that faced backward. Well, here I am. The start of a big adventure that would change my life forever. We were finished with everything at about five in the afternoon. Everybody laid back and ate “C’s” or napped. There was a somber feeling in the air. It was calm. No one knew what to expect in the next 24 hours. Sgt. Granert came over and checked out our preparations. He was happy. He told me that they would bring out trip flares tomorrow. Great! I thought. I hope we are all still here tomorrow. He told me to keep fifty percent security tonight. That meant that half of the people had to be awake at any point in time. I had a queasy feeling in my stomach. I could actually be killed in this place. Worse yet, I could get my people killed! “My people.” I scared myself. I was now thinking of my friends as “my people“. I was responsible for them. I hoped I wouldn’t let them down. Darkness came quickly at Betty. We were alert. Pogey took first watch and I sacked out in the shallow depression behind our hole. I was out like a light. Everything was quiet almost through my second watch. Then a machine gun rattled off on Sgt. Granert’s side. Everyone was instantly awake and alert. We strained our eyes toward the perimeter. In a few minutes the radio crackled. Sgt. Granert reported somebody saw movement on his side. We watched and waited. Nothing! I went back to the sleeping position while Pogey took over I, and everyone else, was suddenly awakened by a huge explosion. One of the 105's fired. Followed by four more shots. The cannons actually shook the ground you were laying on when they went off. What they were doing was called H&I (“Harassment and Interdiction”) fire. That was the practice of occasionally firing artillery rounds out into areas where Charlie might be. The idea was to keep Charlie off balance. The only thing it really did was keep us awake. There was another H&I action at about three in the morning then all was quiet. Nothing else happened that night. We were grateful. I was happy to see the sun come up that morning.
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“Shoot” hollered Willie B. “Where” I screamed. “Shoot, Shoot.” Screamed Willie B. Again. I clicked my rifle from safe to full auto and let it rip in the direction of the tracers from the other two guys. I fired one complete magazine. I had no idea what was happening. I changed magazines. I buried my face in the dirt attempting to make myself invisible. I was terrified. I lie there cowering by hiding my face in the dirt. I had no idea what to do. “Shoot” screamed Willie B. again . My rifle had a bi-pod attached to the front of it as it was a select fire. (Semi or full auto). I extended the bi-pod and again ripped off full auto rounds. My hands and fingers were moving too slow. It was as if I was moving in slow motion. I couldn’t make my hands move any faster. I kept shooting like the other two . At what, I had no idea. My heart was pumping ninety miles an hour. I heard firing erupt from the NDP then stop. A piece of hot brass hit me in the neck and went down my fatigue shirt burning the hell out of me. I kept firing and trying to shake the hot brass out of my shirt at the same time. I had fired six magazines before I noticed the other two had stopped firing. I errently touched the barrel of my rifle and got a burn that bubbled up the skin. We all lie still. My mouth was so dry, I couldn’t swallow. I was shaking badly and couldn’t catch my breath. Again, I buried my face in the dirt in a futile attempt to escape. I didn’t like any of this. This wasn’t at all like playing soldier in the back yard as a kid. - In this touching memoir and short story collection, Beutlich chronicles his experience during the Vietnam war. It showcases incredible military adventures, perfect for readers who are into reading thrilling war stories.
About the Author
Lawrence R Beutlich was born in Chicago in 1944, Educated in parochial schools, he finds work as an auto mechanic in Perry, Ga. when abruptly conscripted in an early draft for the Vietnam War. After five years in Vietnam, Beutlich returned to the United States, earned a degree in corporate taxation becoming a Certified Public Accountant. Retired in 1998, Beutlich lives with his wife in Tampa, Florida.