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Diamond789: My Wartime Christmas Story

Diamond

I first sent the following story to,"Reader's Digest" around 1967 but it was rejected for, "lack of interest for it's readers and subscribers".
In fact before I write this small story I must admit that the war in Viet-Nam has always been somewhat of a mystery to me.By the age of 19 I had fought so many of the enemy and killed so many that because us Marines hadn't really any idea why we were there that everything we did was more along the lines of self-defense and brotherhood than anything else.
In fact, being wounded April 6,1966 hardened me to the reality and cold hard facts that if I were to survive,"The Killing Fields" I would have to become twice as cold and calculating as my enemies were.Because of that reality, I survived almost two attacks from the enemy everyday for 13 mos.
Consider there's 365 days in a year and then consider your own chances at survival from that many assaults.
That's one reason why Christmas Eve in 1966 was and will always remain a special time for me.
Many of the operations I was part of are now on,"The Military History Channel."

Christmas Story in Viet-Nam 1966
A section of my unit was sent to an abandoned Firebase near Da-Nang. Our operation was to strip the base of needed materials and escort them to another base we were occupying.
Christmas Eve I was assigned a position on an abandoned bunker over-looking our cleared perimeter. The night was pitch black.In those days we didn't have infra-red night vison except for," Starlite Scopes" one of which I had mounted on my M-14.
Anyway, I was set for a four hour watch. Near the end of my watch a bright star came up from the East.As the star grew brighter the clearing and entire perimeter became lit-up.
Eventually the star became a bright four pointed cross in the sky. When that happened the whole place was bright as day and then some.
Eventually the star faded and all grew dark again.
I woke a buddy so he could take my place and I laid down to sleep.
That was my Christmas in 1966.
No ground attacks. No Mortor attacks. Nobody died.
A great Christmas for a 19 yr. old.

dcj22: That certainly is one to remember. Thank you for sharing that with us. Nobody died.

sxc666: And a beautiful story it is

Diamond789: Thank you,,,,,,,Trust,I was very hesitant. Now as the graves grow colder and more forgtotten by the families and survivors from both sides,we must and should be very wary of wars begun which are created by those in power who wish for power and greed.

Big_John: Diamond, I too was in Vietnam, but in 1972, and my Christmas like your is one I remember especially at this time of year. We were in full out fire fights on December 24, then total silent and peace for 24 hours, then all hell broke lose on December 26 again. To this day I believe I am not the same man who went to southeast asia. This country since a 27 man who was normal off to war and a different person came home to his family. Christmas at war makes you think about what is important in your life.

Thanks for your Thread. I needed to stop and reflect and remember how thankful I am to be writing this when so many never came home. Also, how many are serving tonight at war. My thoughts will be with them on Christmas.

Diamond789: Thank you,,,,,,,Trust,I was very hesitant. Now as the graves grow colder and more forgtotten by the families and survivors from both sides,we must and should be very wary of wars begun which are created by those in power who wish for power and greed.

buschman_88: how we roll.

dcj22: And you know, Diamond, you shouldn't ever feel hesitant to share such a thing. Most of us will never know what you and John and so many others have. It's good when someone tells us these things.

My uncle was in Vietnam. And frankly, that war has always gotten to me in some way. I always wanted to know more. I was just a little kid, but when I grew up, somehow that war touched me. I can't explain it. But thank you.

jbibiza: I´m sorry... it just chills me to the bone when I hear things like this, that a young man has to deal with death and destruction on such a level... how could you possibly be the same when you return... It really does make me appreciate my life.

Diamond789: Hi !
I was a failure in school except for sports and girls. I dropped out to enlist in the USMC. In so doing I gave up many football scholarships.
When I completed my time in the Marine Corps.I didn't know who or what I wanted to be.Just like when I had left Nam,I was hardcore and became a 19 yr. old drunk.
I didn't fit into society. I couldn't vote. I couldn't drink a beer legally.I didn't have a Drivers license.
I was in the highest security network of the military at that time ( Pentagon )and was totally cold blooded.
Unable to find a job after discharge because I couldn't use any references because there were either security locks or the people I had known were killed.
I slept under bridges from West Virginia clear to Texas or spent weeks in Rescue Missions.I roamed for so long I knew every place to sleep for free and meal to grab in every major city in the U.S.
I was a real bum.
In total,I forgot who I was. I was a nobody. A dirty hand begging for food and a thumb raised along the Interstates.
Oneday I retired from all that and started contracting const. work.I didn't even know how to do anything but I got it done.
I branched out and started 5 different contracts in home building.
Quit drinking.
Stopped roaming.
Married at 26.
Illegal const.workers and their U.S. employers destroyed my business.
Single at 61.
The Feds. retired me recently for service to my country. I applied for and received it after 5 years of fighting with them and filing claims.
I'm set. Bettern any stock plan I could have ever imagined. We could have a major financial disaster but it wouldn't hurt me.
So yes, I came back changed.
As before I'm a survivor and in some way for some reason have been blessed.
In fact I never thought I would be me.
Apologize for such a long note.

Diamond789: Hi !
I was a failure in school except for sports and girls. I dropped out to enlist in the USMC. In so doing I gave up many football scholarships.
When I completed my time in the Marine Corps.I didn't know who or what I wanted to be.Just like when I had left Nam,I was hardcore and became a 19 yr. old drunk.
I didn't fit into society. I couldn't vote. I couldn't drink a beer legally.I didn't have a Drivers license.
I was in the highest security network of the military at that time ( Pentagon )and was totally cold blooded.
Unable to find a job after discharge because I couldn't use any references because there were either security locks or the people I had known were killed.
I slept under bridges from West Virginia clear to Texas or spent weeks in Rescue Missions.I roamed for so long I knew every place to sleep for free and meal to grab in every major city in the U.S.
I was a real bum.
In total,I forgot who I was. I was a nobody. A dirty hand begging for food and a thumb raised along the Interstates.
Oneday I retired from all that and started contracting const. work.I didn't even know how to do anything but I got it done.
I branched out and started 5 different contracts in home building.
Quit drinking.
Stopped roaming.
Married at 26.
Illegal const.workers and their U.S. employers destroyed my business.
Single at 61.
The Feds. retired me recently for service to my country. I applied for and received it after 5 years of fighting with them and filing claims.
I'm set. Bettern any stock plan I could have ever imagined. We could have a major financial disaster but it wouldn't hurt me.
So yes, I came back changed.
As before I'm a survivor and in some way for some reason have been blessed.
In fact I never thought I would be me.
Apologize for such a long note.

Diamond789: My Wartime Christmas Story

Diamond

I first sent the following story to,"Reader's Digest" around 1967 but it was rejected for, "lack of interest for it's readers and subscribers".
In fact before I write this small story I must admit that the war in Viet-Nam has always been somewhat of a mystery to me.By the age of 19 I had fought so many of the enemy and killed so many that because us Marines hadn't really any idea why we were there that everything we did was more along the lines of self-defense and brotherhood than anything else.
In fact, being wounded April 6,1966 hardened me to the reality and cold hard facts that if I were to survive,"The Killing Fields" I would have to become twice as cold and calculating as my enemies were.Because of that reality, I survived almost two attacks from the enemy everyday for 13 mos.
Consider there's 365 days in a year and then consider your own chances at survival from that many assaults.
That's one reason why Christmas Eve in 1966 was and will always remain a special time for me.
Many of the operations I was part of are now on,"The Military History Channel."

Christmas Story in Viet-Nam 1966
A section of my unit was sent to an abandoned Firebase near Da-Nang. Our operation was to strip the base of needed materials and escort them to another base we were occupying.
Christmas Eve I was assigned a position on an abandoned bunker over-looking our cleared perimeter. The night was pitch black.In those days we didn't have infra-red night vison except for," Starlite Scopes" one of which I had mounted on my M-14.
Anyway, I was set for a four hour watch. Near the end of my watch a bright star came up from the East.As the star grew brighter the clearing and entire perimeter became lit-up.
Eventually the star became a bright four pointed cross in the sky. When that happened the whole place was bright as day and then some.
Eventually the star faded and all grew dark again.
I woke a buddy so he could take my place and I laid down to sleep.
That was my Christmas in 1966.
No ground attacks. No Mortor attacks. Nobody died.
A great Christmas for a 19 yr. old.