NUI BA DEN ASSIGNMENT

The ringing in my ears from the ammo dump explosion took over a week of healing before I could walk in a straight line again. Fifty-three years later, my ears still ring.

The doctor at the Tay Ninh aid station called it nothing to worry about. A week off, he said, and I’d be fine.

In just under three months, I had survived the Caribou crash, the Loach helicopter almost going down, the French fort sniper, the CIA ambush, and the French fort ammo dump explosion. I wondered what the next nine months had in store for me.

On April 5, 1969, I was ordered to Cu Chi to meet with the battalion executive officer about a new assignment in III Corps. Two choices: stay in Cu Chi as a platoon leader, eating rear-echelon bullshit, or go back to the field — Nui Ba Den.

On the mountain I’d take the executive officer slot for the infantry company guarding the perimeter, plus signal officer for the 125th Signal Battalion. Two jobs, one hill.

Nui Ba Den had been overrun the year before. I knew that. I took the assignment anyway.

I was young. I was looking for a challenge. I was going mountain climbing..