Memories of Nam
In Memory of Victor Demott Williams KIA 29 Oct 1971. This was Victor's first mission, having only 32 days in country and around 7 days with us. He had taken my place as AG as I was getting short. I came in country Jan 4, 1971 WIA Oct 29, 1971, home Nov 11, 1971. Was given the name the "LION" while in country..... Some of the brothers I remember..... Hugh "Cowboy" Blosser, James Chadwell, Fran Freeman, Foxie, Puggy, "Laramie", Skidmore, Joe Cooper, "Cactus" Jack Craigen, Lt Carrie, Lt Bosco, Doc Steele, Tate, Ron Penny, Frog, Motown, Fly, Mad Dog, John "Wimp" Gordish, "B-40" Marty,, Rudie, Gil Esquivel, Ken "Mac" Mc Ateer,, Charlie Campuzano, Jay Hosfield, Andrew "AP" Apicella, Danny "Bear" Bowles, "Boots", "Freak", Casteel, Chuck Lamotta, "Flash Gordon", Dave Dick, Doc Shields, William Curtis, "TEE", Ken Heath, "Snidley Whiplash", Helmut Likar, Jim "Wolf" Wolfgarm, Tom Alvarado, and "Six". Things I remember.... Hot, humid, red dirt, monsoon rains, triple canopy jungle, mountain trails, bamboo vipers, scorpions, war ants, VC, 33rd NVA regiment, FB Timbuctu, Jupiter, Pace, others forgotten, CA's, C rations, LURP's, Iodine tabs, malaria tabs, carrying 600 rounds of m60 ammo as AG for my gunner Tom Alvarado, 21 clips for my m16, 2 frags 1 claymore, the shovel, up to 12 quarts of water, digging a gun hole each night, setting claymores and trip flairs each night around our NDP. pulling guard nearly every night in Vietnam, cleaning my 16 daily, piss tubes, pop smoke, your color is red, red mail bag, a letter from home, walking back-up to the point man, walking drag, walking the line, pungie pits, the closeness of my brothers, the trust, 3 nights on a fire base, all night poker, pee-knuckle, hearts, candles made from the waxed covered burlap covering the artillery and mortar powder, mosquito nets, hammocks, air mattress, poncho, poncho liner, bug repellant, leeches, mosquito's, humping, clicks, LZ prep, willie-p, extraction, crossing the blue, mortars, m14, m16, m60, over-under, thump gun, 105, 155, 175, and 8in howitzers, number 1, number 10, dede-mae, (sp?) dinkie dae, and hundreds of other things I've forgot!
