by Lou Frisbie » Sat Sep 30, 2017 5:41 pm
We had been on the ship 23 days. The ship stopped near Quin Quen. A barge came from the shore. We started unloading onto the barge, One incident happen here. The XO of the battalion fell into the ocean with all of his gear and helmet on. When he came up all the gear and helmet were gone. Don’t remember his name he was a major.
As we got off the ship onto the barge they brought landing craft and we got in those and they ran us onto the beach and dropped the ramp. We loaded on buses and took to a location where all of our APCs were on a beach. Here they wanted all drivers to fall out. We were told to go get a vehicle and to get in convoy. So I had not driven a command track before, so I got in one. We got lined out to move to a staging area. We were half way there when my track quit running. A LT came up and ask what happened. I explained it would not run so he had me pushed to the side of the road.
I crawled out on top and watched the convoy go by. Being the green trooper I was I sit with empty M16 We had not been issued any ammunition yet. So I here I sat on top watching all the scenery. People in the rice fields. People walking along the road. As I was setting there I was getting thirsty. These kids came along saying want to buy a coke GI. I bought a coke for a dollar and was the hottest coke I every drank in my life. In a few minutes the battalion XO came by in a jeep he said what was wrong I said I was broke down. He acted kinda mad and he got on his radio talking kinda upset. So here I am setting on top just looking around watching the people in the field and the ones walking along the road (Highway one I believe). When a ¾ ton drove up with six soldiers and a SGT from 1st Cav. The SGT got out as the soldiers hit the ground on both sides of the road. Here I set on top of the APC fascinated. The SGT look at me and ask if I had any ammo I said no he threw me a full clip and said get my buut down inside. Soon a retriever
Track came and took on into the staging area. This where I met up with my platoon and General Westmoreland welcome us to Vietnam. When that was over. Sgt Ward had me fall out sent me some where to check out a jeep and to pickup an officer I think it was the XO of the battalion I can’t remember the name its been 50 yrs. The battalion moved out to Ahe Khe. The officer said I was to drive him to several locations getting our paper work in order. After a couple days he said we would be catching a convoy to Ahe Khe the next day. There I rejoined my platoon. I missed jungle training.
Lou Frisbie