Some of my Stories

Cherry wallpaper

1948
When I was 5 years old, we lived at a place called Tan Yard Hill. The house had two rooms. The front room was the living and bed room. The back room was the kitchen, dining and wash room. The toilet was up on the hillside behind the house. The kitchen had wallpaper with a cherry pattern. There were three red cherries with two green leaves in each bunch.

One day I noticed a bright spot on the kitchen wall. The spot was about the size of a nickel. Being inquisitive, I felt the wall with my fingers. The spot seemed to be softer than the rest of the wall. It was also warmer. I pressed the spot harder and it gave some more. I pressed just a little harder and my little finger broke through the wallpaper. I could see a ray of sunlight now shining on the kitchen table. How curious!

I got real close to the spot and saw daylight through it. Poking the hole again made it big enough to see the outhouse behind the house. Wow! I had to see the hole from the other side. I went outside behind the house and looked for it. I couldn't see it. Going back inside I proved it was still there. Let's see, how far is it from the corner? How high is it?

I went back outside again and looked real hard. I realized that the kitchen floor was higher than the ground outside. I looked higher. And there it was. The hole was slanted in the board so that the sun had to hit it at just the right angle to shine through. I didn't know that at the time. I was just happy discovering the principle of the knot hole.

Arrival in Germany

When I was young I didn't fall asleep easily. Because of excitement, bus travel, flight delays, and the trans-atlantic flight, I landed at Rhine-Main Airport with no sleep in 34 hours. It was dawn on December 20, 1965. My sponsor, Lt. Major (a fine gentleman from Puerto Rico) met me at the gate. This mid-western boy's first culture shock was trying to understand his strong Spanish accent.

We went to Division Headquarters in Frankfurt for in-processing. It seemed to take forever and my lack of sleep was making me giddy. Every thing seemed to strike me funny. I am sure I was making a real good impression. Afterwards we drove to Gelnhausen. It was overcast and misty which made the roads and houses seem particularly dreary. I went from giddy to morose in a few miles.

At Gelnhausen we got my BOQ assignment, arranged for transportation to deliver my personal belongings, and went to the dispensary on Coleman Kaserne which was one of my duty assignments. After meeting the CO, I was told to report back at 8:00 a.m. the next morning.

I got back to the BOQ at 5:30 p.m. I had been awake 44 hours. I was tired, tired, tired. I took my tunic off and fell to the temptation of lying back on the bed for just a moment. Next I opened my eyes, and glanced at my watch... it was 8:00. Oh my God! I'm late for my first day. I'm also smelly and need a shave. After a quick wipe with a cloth and a swipe with a razor, I put on a fresh shirt and walked as fast as I could to Coleman Kaserne.

The guard at the gate saluted. I slowed a bit to return his salute, then picked up the pace again. I reached the door of the dispensary only to find it locked. I looked at my watch. It said 8:30. What the heck! It is still dark. Being from Michigan I was used to dark arriving early and morning light arriving late. Besides this was the longest night of the year. I didn't know how far north I was. That does makes a difference.

I looked around and didn't see any activity or traffic. That made me wonder. I walked back to the gate. Can you picture an army private on guard duty being asked by a 2nd Lt., "What day is this?". Of course I learned that it was still December 20. Time to go back and get a good night's sleep.

Departure to Vietnam

December 5, 1967. Winter in Michigan can be very dreary. Rain greeted my arrival from Europe. The sun kept itself hidden for my 30 day leave. Now, after two years in Germany, it was time to visit the other side of the world. Rain was here again to see me off.

My folks drove me to the Willow Run Airport near Ypsilanti. We were sitting at the departure gate making small talk. I know they were worried but I tried to reassure them anyway. What were all the arguments? Most soldiers were in support jobs and were coming back o.k. Or how about a lot more people were being killed on our highways than soldiers in Vietnam. It made me feel better anyway. I made my promises. "Yes, I'll be very careful." "Yes, I'll write often." "No, I won't take any unnecessary chances."

When the boarding announcement came, we stood up. I was thinking about making a quick exit to the boarding ramp when I noticed my Dad. I can never remember him showing any emotion towards me before like hugging or crying. There he was with tears in his eyes and his hanky out. I knew my mother would do this, but Dad? I was really touched and getting choked up. I hugged them both hard and long before making my way to the plane.

I had a window seat that had a view of the terminal. The rain streaked window and my tear streaked eyes made it hard to see them waving as the plane backed away from the gate. On that day my father became something else. There was that intimate revelation which made him more to me than just my Dad.

Arrival in Vietnam

Two years of German beer were taking their toll. I was wearing the kakhi uniform which was now 2 to 3 inches too small. The only way I could survive the 17 hour trip on the Boeing 727 was to loosen the belt and undo the top button of my pants. The last leg of the flight was from Clark Air Force Base, Philippines. The anticipation was growing. What would it be like? What was in store?

We made a night landing at Bien Hoa (about 20 miles northeast of Saigon). There was the blast of heat as we rushed off the plane. As soon as our duffel bags were off loaded, the plane took off. The place smelled different ... foreign, perhaps? We went to seats under a sun shelter to wait for ground transportation. Bright flood lights prevented seeing into the dark beyond. A couple of guards with M16 rifles were nearby. What was out there?

Buses arrived. They had metal mesh on the windows to prevent grenades from being tossed inside. Jeeps with mounted M60 machine guns led the buses and followed in the rear. A soldier boarded each bus and gave us a briefing on emergency procedures in case of attack. We were now on our way, in the dark and in the middle of a war.

They took us to a replacement unit in Long Bin, which was only a few minutes away. They didn't tell use it was to be a short ride. I guess the apprehension was supposed to do us good. We got bunks for the night. Daylight changed everything. No one was wearing combat gear. The atmosphere was almost 'state-side'. Except for Vietnamese civilian workers and the sand bags around the buildings, Long Bin could have been almost any army post. I discovered that Long Bin was one of the largest supply and support bases in Vietnam.

Each day I had to check the bulletin board to see if I had been assigned. Until then there was nothing to do but watch bad movies in the recreation building or hang out at the officers club. On the third day I received orders for the 9th Infantry Division. The word infantry did not give me any warm fuzzy feeling. I got picked up by a truck later that day and was on my way to base camp Bearcat.

Rocket Attack

Bearcat was usually peaceful in the first half of 1968. Every few weeks a few mortars would be dropped in on us. You could sometimes hear the 'thunk', 'thunk' as the rounds left the mortars and then the 'WHUMP', 'WHUMP' as the rounds struck somewhere on the camp. They never came close to our medical company.

On the back 'porch' one evening, we were drinking beer and watching 'Combat' on the Armed Forces Network. A sharp crack, like a very close lighting strike, jolted us into alertness. What the heck was that? None of us had heard anything like it. About three seconds later chunks of dirt started pounding the corrugated tin roof of our hooch like hail stones. Someone yelled, "Incoming!" and we ran for the nearest bunker. One lieutenant split his forehead on the beam above the bunker entrance. Somehow he got a Combat Medical Badge out of that.

A few more rounds came in elsewhere around Bearcat. It was quiet the rest of the night. In the light of day, about 25 feet from the hooch, we saw a crater about 4 feed wide and 2 feet deep made by a 120mm rocket. If that had not been the only rocket, I am sure that running for the bunker would have put us at great risk. It was my good fortune that this was my only hazardous encounter with hostile fire.

WETSU

The military has a tradition of emblems and insignias for identification and inspiration. Over the orderly room door, the 9th Medical Battalion had a hand made crest similar to a coat of arms. It was well made of wood and varnish. The banner at the bottom of the crest had this inscription or motto on it: WETSU.

Being new to the unit I thought I should know the battalion motto. I asked a couple of enlisted men who told me that any officer should know what that meant. So I then asked a couple of officers and they couldn't believe that I didn't know what WETSU meant. After a couple of days I felt that they were all putting me on. Then someone explained WETSU... We Eat This Shit Up

After a few months in country, WETSU seemed appropriate. That motto has also served me well many time in the following decades. 

Tet

Shortly after daylight on January 30, 1968, a unusual distant explosion sound had us looking to the west. We could see an enormous mushroom shaped cloud rising over the treetops. This was the beginning of the Tet Offensive. The ammo dump at Long Bin 15 miles (or 15 kilometers?) to the west had been hit by sappers. It has to be one huge explosion to produce a mushroom cloud like that.

Reports started coming in to us that several major attacks had begun throughout the country. At Bearcat, we were apprehensive. The remaing days were, however, uneventful. On some evenings, to the north of us, we could see Huey Cobras or 'Puff the Magic Dragon' gun ships spitting red ribbons of tracers from their gattling guns. An 8 inch howitzer battery on the east side of Bearcat was kept busy at times. The shells often screamed overhead like jet planes on their way to a distant target.

We were glad that our main involvement with the Tet Offensive was thru the Stars and Strips, and the evening news report on the Armed Forces Network television. The Post Exchance had radios, televisions, stereos, lawn chairs, and small counter height refrigerators. Our porch was well equipped to stay well informed in comfort. 

B52 Strike

This is the most awsome event I have ever witnessed. Word was sent to us about a B52 strike that was scheduled for late that afternoon 5 miles to the east of us. Getting our excitement where ever we could, we went to an open area of Bearcat to get a good view.

At the appointed hour, the first plumes from the bombs became visible. They were small at first but rose higher as the seconds passed. New small plumes kept rising as the path of destruction 'walked' its way to the north.

After the first plumes appeared, the ground trembled. After the ground was trembling, the concussion waves arrived through the air. From 5 miles the concussion was not severe but unmistakable. Our pharmacy was recently moved into a prefabricated aluminum 'Adams hut'. The concussion flexed the walls enough to knock medical supplies off the shelves attached to them. The pharmacist, Lt. Bill Krantz, had a fine time cleaning up.

Once the concussion ceased, we watched as the plumes melted together into one dark smear on the horizon. I can not comprehend what horror it would be to be caught in a strike like that. I am sure too many people do know. 

Shit cans

Sanitation is important. An army in the field does not have the luxury of plumbing, sewers, and waste treatment. Latrines are dug, sanitized and filled in. In base camps, structures are build like barracks, offices, messhalls, and of course, latrines of the outhouse variety.

Our latrines in Vietnam were of the 'one hole per man' type. Unlike your country outhouse perched over a hole in the ground, 55 gallon drums were cut in half and placed under each hole. Behind each latrine was a hatch that could be raised to insert or remove the drums.

Each morning a 'shit' detail would remove the drums. "What to do with them now", you ask? Set them on fire, of course! Well, the contents won't burn by themselves, so they need a little help. Let's pour desiel fuel in the drum and then light it. Anyone who finds burning desiel fuel noxious is in for a rare treat when the remainder of the drum gets hot enough to burn.

Instead of disposing of waste in a sewer, this disposes of waste in the air. Rich plumes of smoke rose all over the base camp like they did during the '92 Los Angeles Riot. Pity the people down wind. That's fine if there was a wind. Often in the morning it was still as death. The smoke rose about 10 feet and then spread out horizontally like Los Angeles smog. There was NO escaping it in any direction. It was a good idea to have finished breakfast by then. 

The Colonel's hooch

The 9th Medical Battalion commander was a full colonel whose name I do not recall. I do remember he liked his creature comforts. He had his own wooden hooch built that was completely enclosed for air conditioning. Air conditioning was not that unusual. The officer and em clubs had it, and some medical facilities. (Could you buy an A/C at the PX?) Another comfort the colonel had was an innerspring mattress. Those only came from medical supplies. Complete the furnishings with electronic entertainment, and refrigerator and he had quite comfortable quarters.

This hooch was built on heavy timbers which protuded a few inches from outside the floor. This made it very convienent when it came time to move from Bearcat to Dong Tam. The colonel arranged to have a heavy lift helicopter attach cables to the floor timbers and fly the hooch to Dong Tam. He was comfortably settled in Dong Tam while the rest of us played Allied Van Lines in a 2 1/2 ton truck convoy thru Saigon an on into the delta. Rank does have its privileges! 

Landscaping... The banana trees

Traditionally, the officers and the enlisted men had separate latrines. In the 9th Medical Battalion the Colonel insisted on having his own separate two hole latrine. That irked more that a few of the other officers.

After moving into our new facilities in Dong Tam, the Colonel sent a detail off the base to acquire some young banana trees to plant around battalion HQ. Two banana trees were planted on either side of the steps into the Colonel's hooch. A circle of rocks were placed around the base of each tree. Then the rocks were painted. (you know... if it doesn't move...)

This was apparently too much for some sensitive souls. One morning soon after, the Colonel entered his latrine to find his banana trees now growing up through both of his latrine holes! The ones by his hooch were never replaced. 

Real Hot Chickens

Once we lived in a house at a place called Page. On the map it is called Calvin, Ky. but everyone calls it Page for some reason. My aunt Rinda later bought and lived in this house. It only had 4 rooms when we lived there. It was better than the 2 room house we had just moved from. I was 6 years old.

One day my Dad told me to go to the hen house and bring back 5 eggs that he saw there. The hen house was about 50 yards behind the house. I went out the back kitchen door. I took the path down by the small barn where a milk cow was kept. On past the barn and across a brook was the hen house.

At the hen house I searched the nests and found all the eggs. With all the foresight and experience of a 6 year old, I had not taken anything with me to bring the eggs back in. Resourceful lad that I was, I put my left arm across my belly and began cradling the eggs there. I got them all.

On the way back by the barn I stumbled a bit and three of the eggs fell to the ground. I am faced with one of my life's first big emergencies. It was becoming quickly apparent that I had done something dumb. What to do? First thing was to hide the evidence. A couple of dried cow patties were handy to cover the broken eggs on the ground.

Now, how would I explain bringing back only two eggs? My hillbilly fairy godmother must have been watching over me that day. When I got back to the kitchen I saw a BIG bowl filled with lots of eggs. I put my two eggs on the counter. Then I put 3 eggs from the bowl next to them. That made 5 eggs. Oh boy, off the hook!!! I knew my Dad would take all the eggs to trade at Barnet Saylor's store in Page.

A few days later the amazing story got back to us about how the Baldwins had chickens that could lay hard boiled eggs.

Copyright © 1996,1997 Leon Baldwin