By Paul Churchill
The VC hit us again last night but nothing came of it except for the fact
that we wasted some ammo.
We are still running Buku patrols and a few ambushes.
According to an intelligence report that came in an hour or so ago we should get hit by a fairly large VC force tonight. We are ready, though nothing will probably happen.
We would get these warnings once in a while but it seemed as though the VC new when we would be ready for them and would choose to fight another day.
I haven’t heard too much about Operation Liberty yet except that they are seeing some action and kicking some gook gulu. (excuse the profanity)
Well, I had better finish this if I am to get any rest before my patrol tonight. First though I’ll copy our company song for you.
The Green Berets
We’re the men of Lima 3/3
Dirty, rough, & we fight real mean
From way down south we came this way
Don’t give a darn about the Green Beret’s
We slog in paddies, are real baddies
Don’t need no chutes or Green Beret’s
While you jump, we’ll fight VC
We think the Green Beret is easy
with these steel pots upon our heads
We’d rather fight & eat hot lead
So take your cap and silver wings
Hang em in your ear with your other things
We run patrols & kill VC
Have med-evacs both night and day
One hundred men were hauled away
Not a one wore the Green Beret
We have no wings upon our chest
Still we are America’s best
Our eyes are cold, we have caps of green
Rather than a beret, I’ll be a Marine
I know this song won’t be a hit
But a good Marine don’t give a – – –
And when it comes to glory & fame
We’ll kick your – – – and take your name
This “song” was made up by one of the Marines in response to Barry Sadler’s Ballad of the Green Beret’s after we had been called out two days in a row to support the same Green Beret unit after they had refused to listen to their Viet Namese team members about setting up their position for the night. The Viet Namese had warned them that the rainy season often started earlier in the mountains and this could be a problem if they camped in a valley. Sure enough, it rained in the mountains several miles away and in the middle of the night a flash flood roared down the valley and washed out the unit spreading their equipment for nearly a mile down the valley and leaving them nearly defenseless so they called for the nearest friendly unit for help in getting as much of their stuff together as possible and to provide some security as they regrouped. It just happened to be the Marines. In the spirit of inter-service rivalry we had to rub it in, thus the song.
I finished this letter in the morning after the patrol I mentioned.
Well it’s about a quarter after six in the morning and I just got back from another patrol. We Brought in two VC. Last night one patrol was hit and took seven casualties. We ran our patrol through the same area. There were seven of us altogether so it would have been kind of rough to take seven casualties at once. Sure am glad we didn’t cause I would have been one of the 7. As it is I am just a little tired and footsore not to mention thankful for our luck in not being hit.
