TBS 2-67 Cruisebook_Updated_7Jan23

Third Platoon
Nang. After a deafening night by the flight-line and
bumpy ride in the back of an M-37 3/4 ton truck, I was
greeted and briefed by Bn CO, Lt.Col. Lance D. Thomas.
He thought he was getting a senior 1st Lt. based on my
serial number. He quickly realized that my USNA
origin was the basis for the low number.
Upon unpacking my footlocker I discovered that the
Seagrams VO I had packed came unsealed, making my
utilities etc smell like a distillery. War is hell. I was
given a platoon of 15 M-52 tractor trailer trucks,
drivers and A-drivers. CO was Capt. Tom Martinson.
First Sgt was Franklin G. Townsend, to whom I
presented a slightly soiled promotion certificate
making him a Second Lieutenant; he responded by
putting up barbed wire and a dummy Claymore on his
desk aimed at mine. Mike White was CO, A-Co. See ya
on the other side, Mike, dear brother. 7th motors
offloaded ships and convoyed to the field; also hauled
ammo to the Hill 327 ASP. Part of my time was spent
checking on the loading. Getting forklifts to the trucks
timely was a frequent problem.
All my convoys, from Hoi An, An Hoa, PhuBai were
unremarkable; around the Bn I was nicknamed "The
Shepherd". After running a few convoys I was sent to
Div.HQ to monitor convoy radio. Nothing of note there
either but it was comforting to have Div. watching over
us when hauling. Our 8 or 10 co-grade officers shared a
GP-Medium tent with 1 light bulb and folding cots.
Later, after trading with the SeaBees, we got plywood
hooches. In camp all was quiet until Tet. Our camp got
about a hundred rockets. It seemed like forever for
counter-battery fire to respond. I sure appreciated the
interlocking bands of Pfc's and Lcpl's out in front.
Nights were usually lighted in the distance with flares,
tracers, arty, and sometimes apparent naval gunfire
and B52 strikes which shook the ground. Sometimes
Puff would spew out some 6000 rpm fire from above.
Reminded me of the Mad Moment I suppose.
Sometime in all this, I moved to XO and S-3A. The
Battle of Hue was going on and I recall convoying to
Phu Bai and seeing Rich Muller (USNA 66) with his
troops, possibly our ground security. Thank you, Rich! I
was in a radio jeep and Rich was on the shoe-leather
express. We we apart by about 4 ft. I don't know if he
recognized me at the time but that was no time for
greetings or a class reunion. I'm not sure exactly when
that was. B Co., 7th MT Bn was in Phu Bai, OpCon to
units there. I overnighted in B Co.'s area and took a
rinse with my helmet. My drivers slept under the
trucks. I found someplace to lie down but can't
remember where. We probably ate C's but I can't
remember that either. Col. Thomas appointed me to sit
as a member of a GCM trying a civilian merchant
seaman for assault w/intent to commit grievous bodily
harm. Later he assigned me to prosecute a larceny case
before special CM. A JA capt. presided. Conviction,
Redn. to E-1, 6 mos CHL, 6 mos FF 2/3 pay and BCD
resulted.
When my tour was up and I was entering a jeep
headed for DaNang airfield, Col. Thomas approached
and asked me to extend my tour. Looking back, I think
he had in mind giving me a company, possibly B Co. I
hesitated and declined with some reluctance,
remembering my WW-II (N. Africa & Pacific) Naval
officer Dad's words to me as I left Wichita for Pendleton
the previous year.
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