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 in the Tay Ninh aid station told me it was “nothing to worry about” and that all I needed was a week off.

In just under three months, I had survived the Caribou crash, the Loach helicopter almost crashing, the French fort sniper incident, 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 concerning a new assignment in III Corps. I was given two choices: stay in Cu Chi base camp as a platoon leader and put up with rear-echelon bullshit, or take another field assignment on Nui Ba Den.

On the mountain, I would assume the executive officer position for the infantry company that guarded the perimeter, as well as the signal officer slot for the 125th Signal Battalion. I had heard stories about Nui Ba Den being overrun the previous year, so when I was offered the dual assignment, I had some apprehension as to what I might be getting myself into on the mountain.

But being young and looking for challenges, my choice was a no-brainer. I was going mountain climbing.