The Amulets of Power IV the Burma ConflictChapter 3
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The following characters appear in the rest of the story:
Captain Paribetra
Thai Army Ranger, Suenee's cousin from Amulets II and III, 5'-10" tall, 145 pounds, 28 years old, black hair, brown eyes, he has been promoted in the intervening years
Lergong Pengdith
Captain, Thai Army Rangers, 5'-8" tall, 135 pounds, 35 years old, black hair, brown eyes
Captain Tamusarit,
Thai Special Forces, returns from Amulets II, 5'-9" tall, 138 pounds, 32 years old, black hair, brown eyes, He too has been promoted since appearing in Amulets II
On Friday morning, the 10th of October, a conference was held at our Headquarters for all of the units and organizations that would be involved in the coming operation. When I arrived there I was shocked by the number of people in attendance, and the variety of uniforms gathered there. Even more shocking was the fact that I recognized a number of those present.
I was familiar with Major Mc Keane, the Group S-2 (Intelligence officer), and Major Mathews, the Group S-4 (Supply officer) who were sitting there of course. The next to draw my attention was Lieutenant - now Captain - Paribetra, Suenee's cousin in the Thai Rangers, who had been with us at the Battle in the Pass (See Amulets III). He introduced me to the other Thai Ranger Captain who was there with him - Captain Lergong Pengdith.
Even more shocking was seeing Lieutenant - now also Captain - Tamusarit from my time at the Special Forces camp in Upper Cambodia. I spent time greeting and getting reacquainted with each of them. They both asked about Suenee.
Eventually, Sawyer called us all to attention, as the Senior Officers arrived to start the conference. There was COL Page, COL Thuathao (Thai Special Forces), LTC Hawkins, MAJ Carlson, and last MAJ Del Vecchio.
"At ease, gentlemen. Please take your seats," COL Page said as soon as they had all entered the room. He then moved to the podium at the front of the room facing the long conference table, as everyone took their seat.
"This is quite a gathering. We'll get everyone introduced in a few minutes," he stated when he had everyone's attention. He then turned serious. "We are here today, gentlemen, to kick off Operation 'Dtorn Glahng Keun Yen' or 'Evening Calm' in English.
"This is a joint operation with our A-Team led by MAJ Del Vecchio and a Thai A-Team led by CPT Tamusarit. Both teams will be reinforced and supported by a Company of Thai Rangers under CPT Paribetra, and CPT Pengdith. The purpose of the operation is to eliminate the current trouble in the Thai Shan States." Each officer mentioned stood, so all could see him, when the Colonel spoke his name.
"Let me begin by introducing the senior officers. I'm COL Page, and I'm Commander of 46th Special Forces Group. Next to me is COL Thuathao, the S-3 for Thai Special Forces. The other two gentlemen are LTC Hawkins, my Executive Officer, and MAJ Carlson, the 46th Group S-3.
"We'll now go around the table so that each of you can identify yourself and tell us who you represent," the Colonel finished.
There were a Major and a Captain representing the Air Force out of Korat. One was from transportation and the other was from Tactical Air support. Their names and the names of most of those present weren't important as they played no significant role in the operation. They were just here for coordination purposes.
Next to them was a Captain from the 'Red Tigers', the Attack Helicopter unit (UH-1, Huey) that was supporting us. He was followed by another Captain from the 'Black Horse', the Support Helicopter Unit (CH-47s) that was supporting us. The Black Horse had supported us in Luang Phrabang also. (See Amulets III)
Following them was a CWO 4 (Chief Warrant Officer grade 4) representing Peppergrinder's assets at Takhli RTAB (Royal Thai Air Base). There was a Master Sergeant from the B-Detachment in Chiang Mai, and a young Captain from the new Team House in Chiang Rai. Last were the two staff officers from 46th Group that I had already mentioned. All of these people were here to coordinate the launch of this operation.
"Lastly, there is SFC Baker," the Colonel said after all of the other introductions. "He is the Commo Chief for this operation and will be getting with each of you at the end of the meeting to get your operating frequencies and call signs, so we can stay in communications with everyone.
"The next item of business on the agenda is readiness," the Colonel announced. "Major Del Vecchio, when will your team be ready to leave for Chiang Rai?"
"Sir, we're unpacking our equipment now. Checking and testing everything should consume another three days. We should be ready to move out by the 15th. I would like to get together with the other Unit Commanders to go over the move and initial disposition of personnel before we depart if at all possible," Major Del Vecchio told him.
"How long would you need?" the Colonel asked.
"A day, if possible. Also SFC Baker will need to get with their commo people, but we could do that in Chiang Rai if necessary. I'm not sure where their units are presently located," Major Del Vecchio told him, but was looking directly at Colonel Thuathao.
"Yes, we can arrange that," Colonel Thuathao stated. "Captain Tamusarit's A-Team is located here in Lop Buri. The two Ranger Companies are located in Korat currently. Their Commanders could spend a day here if necessary."
"Thank you, sir. We could meet right after this, if that's agreeable," the Major told him.
"Yes, they will be meting with my people tomorrow before returning to Korat," Colonel Thuathao stated. "When will your Ranger Companies be ready to move, gentlemen?"
"We will finish our current training on the 18th, sir," Captain Paribetra said looking at his counterpart. "We should be ready to depart by the evening of the 20th."
"That sounds very good," Colonel Thuathao responded.
"Can the Air Force move the two Ranger Companies to Chiang Rai on the 21st?" Colonel Page asked the Air Force representatives.
"Yes, sir. We can fly them out of KRTAB (Korat Royal Thai Air Base) on the 21st. What is their strength, and do they have many vehicles?" the Air Force Major asked.
"There are 102 men in each Company," Captain Paribetra told him. "We will be moving with weapons and basic loads of ammunition, food, and field gear. There are three jeeps with trailers in each company," he continued.
"I'll have to check as it will depend on the number of aircraft available, but we should be able to move both Companies at the same time with those numbers. Chiang Rai is just over an hour flight time for the C-130. Say an hour and ten minutes," the Air Force Major told us.
"Would you be able to move the two A-Teams from Lop Buri to Chiang Rai on the 17th?" Colonel Thuathao asked.
"The personnel won't be a problem, but how many vehicles and trailers will you have?" the Air Force Major asked.
"We'll have a jeep with trailer and two 1 1/4 ton M 715 trucks, with M 101 trailers," Major Del Vecchio answered.
"The Thai Team will have two jeeps with trailers," Captain Tamusarit informed him, and then asked, "What about fuel?"
"We'll come to that presently, Captain," Colonel Thuathao informed him.
"What about the Helicopter Units?" Colonel Page asked. "When will you be able to deploy?"
"Sir, the Black Horse contingent will begin deploying to Chiang Rai on the 14th. We'll be setting up initially at Chiang Rai RTAB. We'll need to see if there will be any forward airfield where we'll need to keep ships. We aren't familiar with this area," the Black Horse Captain told him.
"Sir, the Red Tigers will begin deploying to Chiang Rai RTAB on the 14th also. It will require two days. We've already arranged with the Air Force to move our support element up there," the Captain from the Attack Helicopter Unit explained.
"Very good!" Colonel Page said. "The next topic is one that has already been mentioned - Fuel!" and he looked at his S-4 and Colonel Thuathao expectantly.
"Sir, initially gasoline for the vehicles will be transported in 55 gallon drums to Chiang Rai by the Air Force," Major Mathews told us.
"Since completion of the second fuel pipeline to the Korat Air Base, the Thai State Railroad has many tank cars available, and will be running a train to Chiang Rai twice a week to transport fuel, including JP-4, diesel, and gasoline. The first train should arrive there on the 22nd," Colonel Thuathao informed us.
"Very good, gentlemen," COL Page said with a smile. "Let us move on."
"The next item on the agenda is food and ammunition. We'll start with food," Colonel Page stated.
"Sir, the Air Force will be flying food stuffs and other items up to Chiang Rai once a week. We were also informed that the Ranger Units would be purchasing some food on the local economy," Major Mathews told everyone.
"Is that correct?" Colonel Page asked somewhat confused.
"Yes, sir. Vegetables won't keep fresh for a week. A number of our men are from that area and know how to select the correct food. Also some items that they prefer aren't available here," Captain Paribetra told us.
"Unavailable?" Colonel Thuathao asked in surprise.
"Some of the men have different tastes, sir," was all that Captain Pengdith said, but it was plain that he didn't necessarily agree with them.
"All right, that's fine. What about ammunition support?" Colonel Page asked.
"Sir, we can supply ammunition on an as needed basis seven days a week," the CWO 4 representing Peppergrinder's Takhli base informed us. "Also rations and medical supplies."
"Very good, Chief," The Colonel replied. "Lastly there is internal support. Are there any problems at the Chiang Mai B-Detachment?"
"No, sir. We're fine. They can start reporting to us as soon as they reach Chiang Rai," the Master Sergeant from the B-Detachment informed the Colonel.
"Chiang Rai Team house are you prepared to receive and support the personnel on this Mission?" the Colonel asked.
"Yes, sir. We'll have everything ready when they arrive on the 17th," the young Captain answered.
"Are there any other items that need to be discussed at this time?" the Colonel then asked looking around. Only one person spoke up. He was a crusty old Engineer Captain in stained, rumpled fatigues, and wasn't even seated at the table but along the wall with the other people that had accompanied the representatives.
"Captain Rush, sir. 815th Engineer Battalion. We received instructions to have a representative at this meeting," he told everyone.
"Engineers?" Colonel Page said, like it was a new concept to him.
"Yes, sir. We were told that you would need Engineer support for your new teams in the Shan States," Captain Rush stated. Colonel Page, Colonel Thuathao, and Major Del Vecchio all looked perplexed.
"Do you know where these orders came from, Captain?" Major Del Vecchio asked.
"We received them from the 44th Engineer Group, sir," the Captain returned.
"We are a little surprised at this, Captain, as we hadn't requested any Engineer support yet, and aren't even sure where we will need it. We will need to see what existing facilities are like there before we will be able to determine the need for Engineer support," Major Del Vecchio told him.
At home that evening, I gave Tweed a general outline of what went on during our meeting with Colonel Page. I didn't disclose what was in the letter or who it was from, as the Major had asked me not to. "So what did you do all day besides wait for us to get back?" I asked, as I finished my explanation. "Oh, I spent some very informative time with Sergeant Daniels. I originally went to see him to find out what he might have of local interest. I got more than I bargained for," Tweed told...
"Sergeant Baker, you and Sergeant Tweed see me immediately after we all check in!" the Major said in a strained voice when he had recovered from the sight of Suenee and Phesila standing outside the hotel with our children. Captain Tamusarit had already walked over to Suenee and greeted her and Phesila with a traditional Thai greeting. "Sawat Dee krup," he said with a smile, as he waied. "Sawat Dee ka," both women replied with a wai and a smile. "It is good to see you again, Suenee...
Things remained quiet for the next week and a-half. The 25th was Christmas, and while it felt a lot more like Christmas up here in the mountains, there was no big celebration. The cooks had received extra food on this week's shipment, and prepared a very nice meal for us on Christmas, but there was no real celebration, no trees or gifts. Of course the Thais don't really celebrate Christmas, but they were happy to join in eating the extra food provided. Payday, the 31st, was on a Wednesday...
Starling had left Operations when I returned, but was soon back with the pieces of his Army Green Class A uniform. Suenee took them and placed them on the chair that she had been sitting on. "I will have these ready when you come on payday for your wedding," she told him. As quietly as she had spoken, the Major had picked up on it, and turned to look at both of them. "What wedding?" he asked. "Sergeant Starling and my student, Noon, will be married on payday when he returns to Chiang...
On returning home on Saturday afternoon after the briefing and the meeting in the backroom of the club, Suenee announced that she, Phesila, and the children would be leaving on Tuesday, the 14th, for Chiang Rai by train. "By train!?" I asked, shocked. "Yes, there is a train to Chiang Mai that we can take from here in the afternoon. We will go as far as Lampang on it. It will be morning when we arrive there. There is a local train that goes from Lampang to Chiang Rai on Monday, Wednesday...
The following new characters appear in the remaining chapters: Richard Starling (Rick) Commo specialist, SP/4, 5’-10” tall, 145 pounds, 23 years old, blond hair, gray eyes. Harry Williams Commo specialist, SP/4, 5’-7’ tall, 155 pounds, 21 years old, brown hair, brown eyes Noon Thai girl from Chiang Rai, 5’-0” tall, 100 pounds, 32C-20-31, 19 years old, long shiny black hair, brown eyes, very cute The next morning, the 19th, I was up early and fired up the AN/VRC 47 radio after the...
The following characters will appear throughout the rest of the story: Phil Del Vecchio Major, OIC of Team, Bill was on his Team in Luang Phrabang, 5'-7"tall, 175 pounds, 39 years old, black hair, hazel eyes, very muscular Fleming, Jack Captain, Advisor to the Thai Rangers, 5'-11" tall, 170 pounds, 32 years old, blond hair, blue eyes Stills, Ken SFC, Advisor to the Thai Rangers, 5'-9" tall, 155 pounds, 36 years old, Brown hair, gray eyes Wesley 1LT, Team XO, 6'-0" tall, 165...
We moved as quickly as possible toward the Aviation area in the near total darkness of this moonless night. Chinese New Year is celebrated on the new moon, and it was very dark here in the Shan States at night without the moon. There were no lights showing in the town either. The Aviation people that we encountered on the way were very nervous, but we managed to get to their command bunker without getting shot. "What were those explosions? We couldn't contact your Operations," Captain...
Captain Tamusarit (Cowboy 6) was early with his report that evening. "Old Hand, Old Hand, this is Thai Cowboy 6. Over." "Thai Cowboy 6, this is Old Hand. Over." "Old Hand, this is Cowboy 6. Is your Six available? Over," I handed the mike to the Major who was standing next to me now. "Cowboy 6, Hand 6. Go." "Hand 6, Cowboy 6. My people are all back from their patrols. The site near my location was the first one checked. They found a large crater in the mountain side above a small...
When Sergeant Tweed returned from Chiang Rai, he was very busy for the first hour or so. Later he took me aside to talk. "I spoke with Noon while at the house. She is very lonesome and anxious for you to return. She asked me to tell you that," Sergeant Tweed informed me. I had been thinking about her a lot also while on watch with nothing more strenuous to do than listen for a call on one of the radios. I had decided that I needed to see her again. I certainly liked her a lot, and not...
The payday bird arrived pretty much as usual at around 0900 on Friday the 28th, and we were setting down in Chiang Rai just after 1030. Sorenson reminded everyone to stay alert in case of a recall before we were all released to get paid. Starling and the others from the Red Tigers headed for their unit here on the Airbase, while Tweed, I, and the other Special Forces people headed for the Team House. Suenee, Phesila, Noon, and our daughters were waiting there for us when we arrived. Noon...
Friday, the 2nd of January, 1970, started out just as cold as the previous day had. After sending the daily report to the B-Detachment last night, I had returned to bed for another two hours of sleep before relieving Starling just after midnight. I re-tuned my radio to the 20 meter shortwave band and listened for any signals that could be originating here in the Shan States, as I believed this was the most likely wavelength that an agent here would be using to contact his superiors in...
Our flight arrived at Nawngh Kam just after 1030 hrs. Captain Paribetra immediately posted guards while the rest of us busied ourselves unloading the chopper. In the meantime, MSG Sorenson and SFC Lee started laying out the camp from a plan that they and the Major had constructed. Our helicopter was on its way back to Chiang Rai before the next one arrived just after 1130 hrs with more troops and tents. The Operations tent had been the first one erected. When the additional troops arrived,...
On Monday, the 30th of March, the Major called all of the Section Chiefs in for a meeting. "Tomorrow is the last payday that we will have requiring a split shift, as next payday we will all be on our way to Chiang Rai, and then back to our regular assignments, at least most of us. What will the Red Tigers be doing?" the Major asked. "We'll be rotating also, sir," Captain Rust told him. "But it will be on the First of May. They will hold our pay till then," he assured us. "So, I am...
Note: All of the names of places in the Shan States are actual towns there located along the Salween River. The names of towns in China are actual towns located near the border with the Shan States. Tweed and I left for home after the Major finished. I locked the commo room and returned the key to the CQ. We returned to the hotel to drop off our LBE and picked up a clean set of tiger fatigues to change into in the morning. We didn’t run into, or see anyone on the way to the house, but were...
Chinese New Year had been at the end of January in 1968. There had been an uprising in South Vietnam by the Viet Cong. They called it the “Tet Offensive”, and it was a colossal failure. They had too few personnel and weapons for the grand offensive that they envisioned, as they had counted on the civilian population rising up to join them along with major units of the South Vietnamese Army. That didn’t happen, and they were easily defeated by the South Vietnamese Army with the aid of some...
I awoke just after 0430 hrs. As tired as I had been when I turned in, I felt fine now and crawled out of my nice warm sleeping bag to be greeted by a very chilly morning. I dressed quickly and headed for Operations, the coded messages, and the code book. Williams was on radio watch. He looked a little tired and cold. The radio was quiet, and the generator was the only sound to be heard. "You can go to bed, Williams. I'll take over," I told him as my eyes grew more accustomed to the...
Just after 1600 hrs a call come in over the radio. "Old Hand, Old Hand, this is Red Tiger 110. We are zero five out from your landing pad with a visitor. Over." "Red Tiger 110, this is Old Hand. Roger. Will advise Red Tigers here. Will you need fuel? Over." "Old Hand, Tiger 110. Negative. We're just on a short hop, and will be waiting to return the visitor. Out." I called the Red Tigers on the land line to advise them of the arriving bird. "Who's coming?" Sergeant Lee...
Colonel Page left for Bangkok late on Sunday morning along with a Thai driver for his rented Toyota Corolla. It was only he and his wife who were traveling to Bangkok, as his two children were attending college in the states. They stayed at the Capitol Hotel in Bangkok, and Mrs. Page went shopping on Monday, while the Colonel took the car to JUSMAG for his meeting that morning. This was just the excuse that he had used to draw TDY pay for the trip. The meeting itself wasn’t of any great...
The following new character appears in this and other chapters: Phara Hemsamahan, Governor of Korat Province, Sonsri's father, 5'-7'' tall, 165 pounds, 45 years old, Black hair, brown eyes Keofeh house owner, Amulet devotee, an older woman about 5'- 0'' tall and rather thin. Black hair and brown eyes "You cannot do that! She is dedicated to the Amulets and is also my friend," Sonsri told him in a loud voice. On hearing this, the new guards shrank back in fear of touching one...
Soon the only ones left there in the mess hall were the CO, Sawyer, Barlow, Morris and me. We all had a second beer. “What the hell is causing these ‘Ammunition Malfunctions’, as everyone is calling them?” the CO asked of no one in particular. “Sir, it has to be sabotage. That much explosive just doesn’t go off by itself. Even if someone were careless, it wouldn’t set off everything like that and apparently at the same time. Although how a saboteur could arrange it all to go off at the same...
Arriving at the unit just after 0730 hrs, there was quite a surprise waiting for me. First, a good number of the students were there and looking at the surprise. Secondly, the cooks were there and making a late morning meal for the men present. Lastly there was what everyone was looking at. A new building had appeared, apparently overnight. It was located at the far end of our building from the road and was centered on the middle barracks and about 12 feet from it. It was a one story masonry...
The following new character appears in this and other chapters: Ratana Also called Noi, house girl, 5'-0'' tall, 98 pounds, 15 years old, 28A-20-25, long black hair, brown eyes, a thin quiet girl We found a small open air restaurant not far from our hotel and had a light lunch. During the meal Chanthra insisted that we change clothes before going to Wat Sala Loy. "Our clothing is wet from sweating and would not be appropriate for a visit to the Wat. It would also be best if we ride...
Back out on the village street, we continued toward the Wat, as the sun was close to setting. We reached the masonry walls around the Wat while the sun was still visible, making it about 1815 hrs. The walls had been painted or whitewashed at some time in the past, but portions of the paint was now peeling. There were gardens of various types of vegetables on both sides of the Wat and presumably behind it also, which were tended by the monks. We passed through the gate into the Wat and looked...
“Uncle!” Suenee said very quietly. The Thai Colonel instantly turned to see who had uttered the word and appeared to be shocked when he saw Suenee standing there. “Suenee! Little Suenee!” he asked in amazement. We were all surprised at this, also. The Colonel then turned back to us. “Suenee isn’t really my niece. Her father has been my friend and adviser since I was a young man. I met him through my father who was his friend and adviser for many years. “I often visited him and his family...
There was no mortar attack that night either, and I made the regular 2100 hrs. report on the new radio. Lt Sykes was there to ask about the chopper. It turned out that all of the aviation assets were busy up north in the Louang Phrabang area, and we would have to wait. Again I went to bed early, as no one had assigned me anything else to do. In the morning at breakfast, Sawyer announced that Sgt Morris would lead a patrol out to one of the nearby villages with Doc Walls along for a medical...
"Must you wear the guns here in town?" Chanthra asked looking at me with a frown on her face. That stopped me dead in my tracks. I had never considered not wearing them. Having a weapon at hand had become a way of life for me over the last nineteen plus years that I had been in the Army. It had been reinforced significantly in Korea during the war, and became a way of life when I joined Special Forces a short time after leaving Korea. "Is it necessary, my Champion Mike?" she asked again...
The following new character appears in this chapter: Prince Krom Luang Wongsa Dhiraj Snid Thai Physician and Diplomat, 49th son of King Rama II, 5’-7’’ tall, 165 pounds, 47 years old in 1855, a receding hair line going gray and brown eyes As we neared the camp headquarters building, we could see a very impressive looking coach parked outside of it along with a number of horses that were larger than the normal Thai horses. We also saw that their tack appeared to be of very expensive...
New characters appearing in chapter 10 and after: Phil Del Vecchio Captain, Bill met him in Bangkok, 5’-7”tall, 185 pounds, 36 years old, black hair, hazel eyes, very muscular Tweed SSG, Engineer, Bill’s friend from Cambodia, 5’-9” tall, 155 pounds, 32 years old, blond hair, blue eyes Carson SSG, Infantry, 5’-11” tall, 170 pounds, 32 years old, black hair, gray eyes Williams SSG, Infantry, 5’-9” tall, 150 pounds, 30 years old, Brown hair, hazel eyes Colby SSG, Artillery, 6’-0” tall,...
The following new characters appears in this the last chapter: Sisuda Captain Prawit's future wife, 5'-2'' tall, about 100 pounds, 32B-21-30, 20 years old, long black hair, brown eyes Master Sergeant Sunsarn Master Sergeant 1st Class, Custodian of the Ranger Museum, 5'-7'' tall, 140 pounds, 48 years old, black hair going gray, brown eyes Ratana Sunsarn's wife, a descedant of the original Ratana, 5'-2'' tall, 112 pounds, 34C-24-34, 42 years old, long black hair, brown...
I went up to the room and checked my AK-47 and its magazines. Mike was there checking his weapon also. "You ever been in a firefight?" he asked, nervously. "No, have you?" I asked. "Me, neither," he answered, and sounded scared. "I wish that I had been able to sight this thing in," I told him. "They told me not to worry about that," he said. "Spray and pray is what they told me. You can't see shit at night." "I could see pretty well last night after the moon came up," I...
The following new named character appears in this and other chapters: Sergeant Chuang The Sergeant from Sonsri's guard detail, 5'-6'' tall, 125 pounds, 30 years old, brown eyes, black hair I led the horses back to the open shed-like structure where the water buffalo had previously been kept. One glance inside convinced me that it was not ready for the horses to occupy it. I unsaddled them and took the saddles to the area under the house where they would be dry and reasonable cool...
After breakfast at the PX cafeteria in the morning, I went over to finance. They went over my records, while Suenee went back to the room to wait for me. "Damn Sarge, you've been all over the place," the SP/5 clerk said before he got to the Command Sponsorship paper work. He went over that very carefully, and it took some time. "It looks like you have a bunch of money coming," he finally said. "This Command Sponsorship is effective from the date you got married, which was in...
The following new characters appears in this and other chapters: Ronnaring Corporal, Clerk, Ranger Trainee, 5'-4'' tall, 120 pounds, 24 years old, black hair, brown eyes Kwaikai Lance Corporal, Clerk, Ranger Trainee, 5'-3'' tall, 117 pounds, 22 years old, black hair, brown eyes Jatuporn Sergeant, Ranger Trainee, 5'-6'' tall, 130 pounds, 31 years old, black hair, brown eyes Prawit Wongsuwan Captain, Ranger Trainee, 5'-4'' tall, 140 pounds, 32 years old, black hair, brown...
It was nearly sundown when I heard the commotion coming from the front gate and went out to see what it was. The three Chiefs had returned with the holy man. He was an older man dressed as a Buddhist monk, but his rob was very faded and worn, and he seemed very agitated about something, as they came through the front gate. “What’s up?” I asked Tweed, as I walked up to him. “Don’t know yet. The old guy seems really upset,” Tweed said, as one of the interpreters came toward us. “What’s...
The following new characters appears in this and other chapters: Kampon Sukondhapatipak Senior Colonel, Royal Siam Army, 5'-8'' tall, 175 pounds, 48 years old, black hair with a touch of gray, brown eyes Werachon Adireksombat Major, Royal Siam Army, 5'-9'' tall, 165 pounds, 34 years old, black hair, brown eyes "What have you done NOW?" the Governor roared rising from his seat upon seeing us in the doorway, again without so much as a Sawat Dee or a wai. "Several of the...
The following character appears in this chapter and the remainder of the story: Chatchai Sarikalya Lieutenant, a tall thin young Officer, 23 years of age, one of the Platoon Leaders The roosters were very vocal again this morning, and we were up early. On arriving at our area on the camp, I found far fewer men there today than yesterday. Still there were a number of them there and the Sergeants already had them in groups of ten, but hadn't started any processing yet since I had all of...
We continued until about noon. The cart only made three or four miles an hour where the road was in good condition, which wasn't always the case. There were a few places where it was so bad that we had to get out, and push the cart from the back while Ute encouraged the buffalo from the front. Thankfully those places were few, but less bad spots than that were frequent. Around noon, Ute pulled the cart off the road, and under the shade provided by some tall trees and stopped. "We stop...
The unauthorized patrol returned just before sundown. They had two wounded with them and three extra weapons. "Doc" Walls was ecstatic. He finally had some real wounds to treat and not just the usual run of boils, bites, fevers, sprains and malaria that he saw here. Neither wound was life threatening, but in this heat and humidity, they needed to be treated promptly before they became infected. The CO took Lieutenant Tamusarit, the Platoon Leader and an interpreter into his office. They...
Wednesday the first of March 1967 dawned the same as every other day had. I spent the early morning hours after breakfast straightening up the radio room. It was something I had been putting off since the Teams had left on Friday, but I had decided to get it done this morning. About 1000 hrs 'the Radio' came to life all on its own for no apparent reason. "Any station, any station, this is Cowboy Tango 1 Alpha, over," I heard immediately. In my hurry to get to the radio, I tripped on a...
We filed out of the front gate toward the saddle. I handed Tweed the smoke grenade, as we hurried down to the LZ. In just under five minutes, I was in place and ready. I called the chopper again. "Air Cobra 17, this is Golden Badger 3 Zulu. I am popping smoke now," I told him as I signaled Tweed. "I identify green smoke. I say again green." "Roger, Air Cobra 17. I'm down wind of the smoke and ready to guide you in." The chopper that approached then wasn't a Huey either. I...
We left the hotel following that for a restaurant which turned out to be the largest and most expensive one in Pak Chong. It was certainly more impressive than the places where we had eaten previously. The building was masonry with a wooden second story. There were many types of meat on display such as roast chicken and duck, there was red barbecued pork cooking over coals still. Just the smells were delicious. There was also the smell of freshly cooked rice and the other items being...
New characters appearing in the remaining chapters: Lieutenant Paribetra Thai Army Ranger, Suenee's cousin from Amulets II, 5'-10" tall, 155 pounds, 27 years old, black hair, brown eyes Phesila Tweed's girlfriend / wife, Governor's daughter, 5'-6" tall, 120 pounds, 20 years old, 36C-23-35, long shiny black hair, brown eyes, stunningly beautiful Monday was fairly easy, as there wasn't much going on. The CO arranged for Carson to get on a TSF flight on Tuesday that was going to...
We formed up the unit on the company street at 0900 hrs, and marched off in a column of platoon shortly following that. The march to the exercise area required more than an hour before we reached the location where we dropped off the First Platoon to begin their portion of the exercise. The other platoons followed in order. Captain Prawit and his assistants would be grading the First and Second Platoons initially, while Sergeant Chung and I would have the Third and Fourth Platoons. We would...
Fields dropped me off at Ploenchit Road and continued back to the Team House, while I walked the few blocks to the Nana. I was soaked when I got there from Bangkok's heat and humidity. The air conditioning in the lobby felt really great. I went up to the room where I found Suenee talking to two of the women who worked at the hotel. The women left just after I arrived and Suenee took one look at me and said, "Shower." I knew better than to argue by now and collected my other clothes and...
The rest of the morning was pretty dull with only a few good bits of conversations to be captured. It wasn't until after lunch that we picked up the Attapu station again. John went to get Ernie while I recorded it. There was shouting again at both ends of the transmission. Ernie was laughing his ass off after he came in. They finally signed off, and Ernie eventually managed to stop laughing enough to talk to us. "What the hell is so funny?" John asked, as he turned from his receiver to...
The following characters return from Part 1: Sgt. Bill Baker Radio Operator, 5'-10" tall, 170 pounds, 24 years old, Auburn hair, Hazel eyes MSG Sawyer Team Sergeant, 6'-6" tall, 275 pounds, 42 years old, black hair, brown eyes Suenee Sa Bill's girl friend and wife, 5'-2" tall, 108 pounds, 34C-23-35, 21 years old, brown eyes, long black hair, oval face, very cute Sophie MSG Sawyer's girlfriend, 5'-10" tall, 140 pounds, 38C-25-37, 25 years old, brown eyes, long black hair The...
I was awakened again by Suenee shaking my shoulder. There was barely enough light to see in the room. "You must return now," she said, when she saw that I was awake. I reached out and pulled her to me. She offered no resistance and came into my arms for a long kiss - but not too long. "Shower," she told me in a no-nonsense voice. We adjourned to the shower again. I was better prepared this time, but that water was still cold. We both showered and dried off. When I came out of the...
When Captain Prawit and I arrived at the firing range, Lieutenant Chatchai had the men at work already repairing the area of the tam-nop (embankment) to be used for firing and the area on the next dike or embankment where the targets would be placed. With the rain that the area had received lately, the space between the two locations was filled with some eight inches of water, and it resembled a rice paddy – if a small one. The taller embankments were very visible now with the areas between...
A new character introduced in this chapter: Sonsri Daughter of the Governor of Korat Province, 5'-0" tall, 98 pounds, 32B-22-32, 18 years old, long black hair, brown eyes, cute On leaving Muak Lek, we had ridden for over two hours without much talk. Chanthra had purchased two large conical hats made of straw and bamboo before we left the village. I had wondered why at the time, but the reason soon became apparent on the ride. "Here put this hat on," she told me handing me one of the...
Arriving at our unit area earlier than the previous morning, I found the cooks preparing breakfast for the men who were already up. Kwaikai took my horse to have him graze in a new area. Captain Prawin greeted me immediately after that. "Chief Trainer, yesterday evening while talking with the Sah meeuhn (clerk), I asked him what provisions there were for writing letters or keeping a journal. He showed me the paper that you had provided and mentioned that there was a writing box here, but...
New characters appearing in the next few chapters" Luang Silapakom Bill's landlord and teacher, 5'-6" tall, 130 pounds, 53 years old brown eyes, black hair going gray John Bill's co-worked, MOS 98G (Voice Intercept Operator), 5'-9" tall, 150 pounds, 23 years old, blond hair, blue eyes, SP/4 Ernie Translator (Vietnamese), MOS 04B, 5' 8" tall, 160 pounds, 24 years old, brown hair and eyes, SP/5 The entrance to the Operations area was the red guard-shack we had been to last...
The trip from Bangkok back to Korat is about 260 km, more or less by road. We pulled out of Seri Court just after 0830 and made good time once we got out past Don Mung airport. We took the turn to Sara Buri and headed up Friendship Highway. I had a much better view of the trip from the elevated cab of the deuce and a-half then I had had from the pickup truck coming the other way. It was shortly after passing Sara Buri and before we reached the climb to the Korat plateau that I started to...
Characters returning from Part 1 of the story: LTC Hawkins Executive Officer, 46th Group, 6'-1" tall, 185 pounds, 45 years old, brown hair, blue eyes MAJ Carlson S-3, 46th Group, 5'-9" tall, 160 pounds, 39 years old, sandy blond hair, gray eyes The road from the airfield was straight as an arrow and our maps showed that it intersected Highway 4 / 13 roughly half a mile before that road split. One part went through the town and was designated as highway or road 1, and the other part...
New characters appearing in the next several chapters: Short Round Friend of Bill’s, 5’-9” tall, 145 pounds, 21 years old, brown hair, gray eyes Ear Company clerk, tall thin young man, 20 years old, red hair and freckles SSG Williams, Willie S-2, 83rd RRSOU, 5’-8” tall, 170 pounds, 31 years old, very short blond hair, blue eyes First Sergeant Never named other than his rank, tall, thin, balding, reddish completion 44 years old Major Taylor Commander, HQ Co, 83rd RRSOU, 5’-4” tall,...
New characters introduced in the next two chapters: Colonel Thuathao Senior Colonel, Thai Special Forces, Suenee's 'uncle', 5'-10" tall, 170 pounds, 48 years old, black hair going gray at the temples, brown eyes I arrived at the airfield while they were still unloading the C-130 aircraft, as it is only about a four mile drive. I pulled up on the unloading ramp near the plane and walked over to the Air Force Loadmaster who was supervising the unloading. "Howdy," I said as I...
This morning I shaved before going to eat, as I knew that Phillips had started the water heating after getting off guard and it would be hot by now. Also the cook had just arrived as I was getting off guard, and breakfast wouldn't be ready for a little while yet. Breakfast at around 0700 was very quiet and everyone took care of last minute things after that. Then they finished loading their jeeps with their rucks, ammunition, weapons and at least one five gallon can of water. De Foor came...
When we returned to our house shortly after midnight on New Year's day, Suenee seemed very distracted. I was sitting on the bed when Suenee came over to me. "Can we do something different tonight," she asked, but seemed worried. "Sure. What would you like to do?" I asked. "I ... I have been talking to some of the younger women, the ones that work in the bars," she said nervously. "They have told me that it is not a big thing to do." "What is?" I asked, confused. "Smoking,"...