This incident occurring during Lam Son 719, also knows as operation Dewey Canyon II, when the ARVNS (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) went to Cambodia to attack the NVA (North Vietnamese Army) in Cambodia. Our platoon was co located with another platoon on mini firebase Bravo One and Bravo Two to replace the ARVNSin the northern most, eastern most corner of South Vietnam adjacent to the ocean on the lower edge of the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone between North and South Vietnam). The difference between a firebase and a mini firebase is that a firebase has artillery while a mini firebase only has mortars. We could see the NVA encampments across the DMZ. One night I was assigned to go on 6 man ambush INSIDE the DMZ. I protested loudly because I was the only medic for both platoons and in my medic training I learned the medic is to stay with the main body. No such luck in the 101st. The six man ambush mission was uneventful.

One night there was an explosion on the next hill when the other platoon was sleeping. I assumed there would be injuries and grabbed my aid bag. Immediately I heard the call, MEDIC, MEDIC, MEDIC. An artillery shell had made a DIRECT HIT on the other mini firebase. I ran to the point of the first row of barbed wire and waited for someone who know where the handles/opening to the barbed wire was. Nobody came and there was so much noise any cry for help on my part was wasted. In the day time, the barbed wire was separated so we could go from hill to hill. At night the barbed wire was closed to create two separate defensible positions. The infantry guys opened and closed the barbed wire and I paid no attention.

I could hear the cries, MEDIC, MEDIC, MEDIC so decided to take the direct route thru the barbed wire. I go thru the first roll but my aid bag got hung up on the barbs. A medic is worthless without the bandages, medications and instruments in the aid bag. The bag was hung up by the strap. I pulled and pulled on the strap but it would not come loose. I was frustrated to the point of tears until I remembered that the strap was removable. I quickly unhooked the bag from the strap, tucked it under my arm like a football and continued thru the barbed wire. My uniform and my skin were ripped by the barbed wire; I was so pumped up that I did not feel a thing.

When I got to the other hill the infantry guys had triaged the injured already. An ARVN medic has given aid to the two ARVNs injured, both had lost their lower legs. The ARVN medic made no efforts to treat our wounded Screaming Eagles (I would have treated them, of course). Most were shrapnel injuries requiring only a bandage and evacuation to the rear for further assessment. One of the more severe injuries was a sergeant who had the back half on one of his ankles blown out. When I got to him he was looking very relaxed like this happened to him every day. I asked, “Does that hurt.” He said, “What do you think?” I asked, “Do you want some morphine?” He matter of factly said yes. In an evac hospital or MASH the boot would be removed, the wound cleanesd, a dressing applied then a split until surgery was possible. I decided to leave the boot in place. I packed the posterior (back) ankle area with bulky dressings, applied pressure and then splinted the boot with wood (all I had to do was ask the infantry guys, “I need two sticks about this long.” and I had my split material right away). This infantry guys were always a great help in an emergency.

Correctly, the infantry guys saved the worst for last. When I got to this casualty his buddies were performing CPR. All medical personnel are trained in CPR. When I arrived I helped with the CPR and supervised others. I did not think it was likely that this soldier would be revived but continued CPR anyway. If I had stopped his buddies would have insisted we continue anyway. When he was loaded on the Dustoff I told the medic not to bother with him thus pronouncing him dead. The next day we were told he had shrapnel in his heart.

When all the casualties had been evacuated by Eagle Dustoff I went back to my bunker. The barbed wire had been pulled back, the return trip was easy. When I got back to the bunker the guys let me have the hammock to sleep in. There was only one hammock and we all wanted to sleep in the hammock. The bunker had rats the size of cats and if we slept on the ground we had to cover our heads with our poncho liners to keep the rats off our faces. I cried silently about all the pain I had witnessed then went to sleep.

The next morning I saw my uniform was shredded and had many lacerations in my skin. I did not need a tetanus shot, they are good for one year and we all had them before shipment to Vietnam. I cleaned my skin wounds daily with peroxide then applied antibiotic ointment until my skin was healed. Later, when I was doing my paperwork to leave Vietnam I was asked, “Were you injured during your tour.” I said yes and was given paperwork for a Purple Heart Medal thus left Vietnam with a Purple Heart Award for injuries under fire on the DMZ.

At a later reunion we debriefed this event. The infantry guys though this had been a friendly fire incident. Often commanders would order illumination rounds from the artillery. Illumination rounds put bright flares high above which are attached to parachutes which provide light on the ground. Other rounds available from the artillery are high explosive and white phosphorous. The general opinion was that illumination rounds were requested and high explosive rounds were delivered.

During our reunion our Lieutenant told me he vividly remembered my actions that night and thought I was very brave. I just thought I was doing my job, to treat the wounded. Later when seeking promotion to Lieutenant Colonel I asked LT StAmour for a letter about this event. Below is a link to the letter he wrote for me. Thanks LT, I got the promotion!