Yesterday, I googled a friend from high school, college, hunting and drinking to see if he had retired from his USFS career. I haven't seen him or heard from him for probably forty years or more. We were in the USA at the same time, he dropping out of U of MD in 1966 to go to Ranger School. I dropped out exactly a year later in 1967 and volunteered for the draft. I couldn't "enlist" without giving them three years and I thought two was enough for a trial run. They told me that I would be shipped to VN immediately if I didn't sign up for the third year. They told me that I could pick my MOS and posting if I signed up for the third year. I told them I would take the war over a third year. Back to the story of my buddy. Rooting through google, I found the 75th Infantry Association and found the LRRP (long range recon) website. I googled my friend's name and found an account of one of the patrols he was on, written by a third party. It was the scariest story I have ever read. His little patrol was resting beside a trail when a major group of VC regulars appeared on the trail, progressing at a slow gait because of the wounded they were transporting. They watched as the VC passed them at arm's length, only being concealed by semi darkness and by the VC's refusal to look to the side. My friend was passing gas and gurgling from the stomach and wondering whether the VC could or would hear him. He was recovering from an earlier injury and voted against a retreat because he didn't think he could keep the speed up carrying all of his gear. They finally got some radio contact and were picked up successfully. I always wondered how a LRRP team worked, since they obviously can't engage the enemy. My friend is made of harder nails than I am, but we were a good team when we were young, never lost a battle in the bar wars. He was ejected from OCS at Fort Benning for taking some physical action against an NCO instructor. He completed his three year USA career as an enlisted man. He came home, completed his degrees at VPI, now known as Virginia Tech, and had a good career, married a smokejumper, and remains a true Westerner after making his life in Wyoming. Just a story to celebrate Veterans Day. I hope you enjoyed it.
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