It Was Fascinating!

The photo above is a copy of the picture I won for my Dad at the fundraiser on Saturday.  This is the 589th Engineer Headquaters in Vietnam, circa 1968.  I put a whole lotta tickets in that barrel and it paid off!  Later that evening, I had the honor of meeting the gentleman who took it.  He quietly walked up, introduced himself as Chuck and asked why I purchased that particular picture.  If I were him, I'd have been thinkin', "Who is that punk that just bought my picture!?"

If I recall his rank, he was Company Commander, or let's put it this way...someone pretty high up because my Dad told me not to get him Court Marshalled :o)  When I answered that I bought it "For my Dad", he sat down with me and together with a few other fellas, showed me what was what.  Some remember things differently as Headquarters changed a bit over the years, but it was so cool to listen to their explainations of where they and my Dad were!  Chuck took this picture... from a helicopter...during a recon mission...with a Polaroid!  Amazing!

The 589th, in a nutshell, was responsible for clearing jungle and land for infantry, building roads and bridges.  My Dad operated a Bulldozer.  The two main roads they built are still in use as main highways in Vietnam to date.  One of the larger bridges they built as a "temporary" bridge, is also still in use today.

Dad said when they would clear past a cave, they would throw a grenade and turn the dozer nose to the opening to absorb the blast.  This was one way to avoid ambush.  His grenade of choice was the Pineapple pictured below:

Pineapple Grenade on Right

Grenades apparently have many uses.  One guy told us about the time he was off base 'visiting' when he wasn't supposed to be.  An officer caught him walking back, unstealthily, as he was in the middle of the road and maybe a wee bit drunk or high, or both.  Well they tried to make him get in the vehicle.  He wasn't having any part of that, see.  Pulled the pin, he did!  I will have to remember that trick next time I don't want to get in a cop car or something and my grenade is in my pocket.  Pretty smart.

The sound this replica plane made was considered music to soldiers ears.

Grenades were not the weapon of choice when the guys came across the plethora of snakes however!  The Bamboo Viper, just to name one, was most feared.  They shot those. 

M16 like what Dad carried

Snakes were deadly threats to our soilders.  (sorry snake lovers!)  Another buddy, Clyde, remembers seeing a Bengel Tiger too!

Another deadly threat:

Luckily, the infection most guys caught weren't always from those...just sayin'.  There's more than one reason the Medic was missing a certain something or other more often than not.  Ya'll know who you are too!

His buddy, Freddie, who operated a Scrapper, hit a landmine once and it blew.  He's ok, but let me tell ya...lucky.  I saw the picture!  The guys said the enemy would go out nightly and bury these things every where they thought our guys would make clearings.  In my book, that's dangerous stuff!

Another buddy, Silva, shared this story:  He and his partner were driving their rig and had just switched driver position.  Three to five minutes later, they were ambushed.  His buddy was shot and killed.  Silva was shot five times.  He took my hand and had me feel the divet in his collarbone, I touched the scar of the bullet that hit his hand.  By this time, I was in such awe and admit that I do not recall where the third one hit.  Because the story quickly changed when my Dad put his foot down at allowing me to see (or feel) where the other two hit.  Yes, the buttocks!  And would you know...laughter!  The guys can laugh now, in a good way I suppose!  I tell you this story because the men said that until the last few years, Silva never talked about it.  As to the end of the story, he belly crawled into hiding until rescue came. 

VC Uniforms

Yet another buddy, Hugh, rolled his dozer once...hence his nickname - Rollover! 

Another story, that to this day, no one has fessed up to...who buried an enitre dozer at the beach???  Yes, an entire dozer, hole dug, pushed in, buried!  Not to mention how the 'replacement' one showed up with the exact same serial numbers.  Hmmm.  My Dad often gets the finger point for this.  Because I am told that "when mischief was afoot, Kallas was usually involved".  So it's a mystery, because Dad really didn't do it!  And believe me, if he did...he'd tell!  I know this because he always claims his farts. 

Boys!!  That's what they were!

For everything these guys went thru, for them to have such comradery, recall good times in bad and share a bond like no other...it's fascinating!

There are many other stories, but I -ah- can't share those.  R/R or I/I related.  And if you don't know what that means, well that's ok!  Dad said the guys where gunnin' for me and they sure didn't hold back!  But I wouldn't have it any other way! 

I could sit and listen to them for hours!  Next time, I hope to see more pictures.  Seems like everytime we sat down with one of them to look at their album, we got cut short.  The hotel also wasn't equipped for the slideshow, so that was cancelled.  I'm of the wierd sort that loves looking at pictures and hearing the details!  Don't ya just hate when someone flips thru your photos like confetti?

To show you what goofs these guys are, check out this photo:

Ralph, Freddie, Sgt. Sam, Hugh, Dad

Prior to the reunion, Sgt. Sam sent an email to them with the poem about "Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody", then assigned each hooligan their position, just like old times.  Well, not wanting Sgt. Sam to have the last word, they went out and got TShirts to wear the first night.  That is 'the gang'.  My Dad's closest Nam buddies.

As the week wore on, and since it was an election year, the gang started wearing paper plates campaigning for a member of Company C to be elected to the board.  Tricia and I wore one too, but ours said "Vote for Nobody!"

Freddie and his "Vote for Nick" plate.  aka my Dad

In conclusion, it really was a fascinating weekend! 

I'd like to thank the guys of the 589th for having us, my step-sister and her husband for letting us stay in their condo, my mom for holding down the fort back at home, my mother-in-law for donating three gorgeous purses to raffle for the cause, my girlfriend for making the trip with me, and all of you...for reading and sharing this with me.  My Dad, the big cryer that he is, sees your comments...and he cries a little.

Sign says, "THIS WAY HOME".  Dad's final day and his favorite picture!

Thanks...we love to make him cry! ;o}

Oh, Oh!!!  And before I forget...

Congratulations, Nobody!  I mean Dad...The 589th's newest Vice-President!!!