Roop

15 Pages 3656 Words

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"We got bunched up on our way up," I said. "Be sure they keep spaced apart."

Sergeant Nelson nodded. I didn't have to tell him that it would be essential to keep spaced in case of an ambush. I hoped the new guys would take his orders seriously.

As the Sergeant crept down the line inspecting and giving last minute instructions, I wiped the sweat from my brow with a dirty hand. Your hands never stay clean for long in Vietnam and you never quit sweating. I wondered how I would hold up in actual combat.

Eventually we were ready. "Saddle up," I said self-consciously, hoping no one noticed the slight quiver in my voice.

There were two trails leading into Dien Hoa from our side of the village. I didn't elect to take the most direct footpath down. We would have been too exposed on it. I felt certain it would lead to an ambush or booby traps if some of the villagers were Viet Cong. I ordered the men off the ridge and into the jungle area overshadowing the village. Though it was dangerous to do, we had to stick the trail; the veget...