what was the vietnam war like for a person 18 years old?

Answer 1

The first time I was wounded we were coming up over a berm when I saw a 122 shell sticking up in the ditch and started screaming for my driver to turn. It was too late and the track started settling to earth it seemed it took 10 minutes. I remember looking up and watched the infantry scurry for cover, as usual all the gooks had already disappeared (we figured they knew where the booby traps were placed and would disappear when we would get hit). It was early morning already in the upper seventies but not warm enough for the dew to burn off. You could smell the ox feces being burnt like fire wood, sandalwood incense. A crow was circling the A/O. and I remember the nasty taste from the morning’s C rations when there was huge blast. I had been sitting in the cupola atop the APC and now was king of flat sandy clearing 60 feet away. My glasses were gone as was my vision I could only see three of four inches. There was no noise, no screams, no guns firing nothing. That was when I knew I was dead. Since I did not have to worry about getting hurt, I just sat there. When Bill and another friend Turk tackled me. It scared the shi* out of me. I kept watching them trying to figure whether to be pissed or thankful. They kept moving their mouths but were not making any noise. Doc showed up and since I could not figure what was going was I waiting to move into the light or was I dreaming? He suddenly slapped the **** out of me, threw me an M-14, and wrote me a note to start defending the area before I really was killed. Then I realized the blast had blown out my ears, they eventually recovered.


I was wounded the last time long before you were born, May 10 1971. I see the Vietcong stick grenade spitting smoke and turning end over end; bouncing on top of the APC before bouncing into Doc's lap and detonating; blowing off the top of his head; seriously wounding Tex; penetrating my lower back and kidneys, going from the rear of my right knee exiting through the knee cap and through my right elbow, ring finger, little finger and wrist. I was unable to return fire in the conventional manner. You would be surprised how many lose their bodily functions, but you have to contend with someone in a thousands parts or half their entails dripping off your face. Hold down an 18 year boy who yesterday was horse playing and dreaming of going home and buying his first car. You watch a medic boost (over medicate) a soldier so he will die peacefully. Watch an enemy shot a friend over and over until there is nothing but mush. You go into a river to retrieve a body, the flesh falls off and creatures are inside the body. A good friend is burnt so badly you have to use a shovel to get all of him.

What did I feel anger; my motto became and still is KILL THEM ALL and LET GOD SORT THEM OUT!






I remember both times all the air I had every breathed flowing out of my body. Pain so intense you saw white stars, but yet when you scotched taped your finger back on your hand you felt nothing. I remember Bill reaching down picking pieces of bone (my knee) out of his arm; the both of us laughing so hard because you could see light through my knee.


Thirty five years latter it is, funny I will be operated on the doctors will pick long slivers of wood out and not knowing the VC handgrenade were sometimes made of wood filled wit hundreds of ball bearing, trash it. (I want one for a souvenir). When my son was small, he would pick shrapnel out of my back; I was always self conscious over all or any of the holes. Each of these holes always feels like they are asleep.

I pulled this out for the second time in 35 years it reads:
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong communist aggressors in the Republic of Vietnam. On 10 May 1971, while on a long range reconnaissance patrol in Ankee providence his men came under an intense enemy attack. The initial attack wounded Sergeant Adams and several other personnel. Refusing medical aid, he commenced giving first aid to the other wounded. At the same time, he directed his remaining forces into a defensive position. When the medical helicopter came, he chose to remain behind to make room for these more seriously wounded. During the ensuing fighting which would include face to face combat and in spite of his wounds and disregard to his own safety, Sergeant Adams continued to defend his position. Sergeant ADAMS 's decisive actions in rendering first aid, directing his personnel, while in defense of their position, while exposed to enemy fire, was directly responsible for the saving of his personnel. His devotion to duty, courage under fire, exemplary professionalism and outstanding leadership were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army".


God Bless You and Our Southern People.

Answer 2

Well, seeing as I was actually 22 when I was there, I can't answer based on personal experience. But I knew a good number of 18 years olds in Vietnam - on the American side, that is. I didn't know any of the 18 year old Vietnamese on the other side.
My recollection is that at first it was for many an "adventure", kind of like being in a John Wayne movie. But for most that changed fast, usually when they saw someone get killed or killed someone themselves. After that, it was scary ALL the time, very tense and scary, just keeping your head down and hoping to make it out of there in one piece.

Answer 3

Pretty scary, turns a boy into a man real fast.