I look through my Potpourri folder and didn't see this in there anywhere. Don't know why I haven't written it up before. Perhaps it would be because it might cause some unpleasant images to the reader but don't worry about that. THese images would be unpleasant but in a humorous way.
As you may know I was an FMF corpsman in Vietnam with the 5th Marine Division. I came away from that time in my life with a lot of stories. A surprising number of them are funny, perhaps funnier now than they were then.
I was in ChuLai, right on the beach. I remember thinking how appropriate that was for me. Anyway, this was a new camp and lots of temporary facilities and construction going on. The C O lived in a tent so I don't suppose you need for me to describe my living conditions.
Perks were few and basic at this point. One of my favorites was that someone came up with a huge sheet of Stainless steel...and a movie projector. They set it all up out in an open spot a lot like a drive in movie theater. Sadly we didn't have any cars so we sat on the ground.
Another infrequent perk was the sporadic and infrequent availability of beer. No refrigeration so it was ambient temperature (upper 90s to lower 100s) and a limit of 2 cans per man. But at those temperatures 2 was more than adequate. I mean it. Knee walkin', snot slingin' drunk. PTL.
There was sporadic sniper activity in the area so we had a trench around the seating area, you know, just in case. We also had a cardinal rule. NEVER under any circumstance be outside with out your weapons and ammo. (there were many different weapons and everyone had something a little different. The Army already had M-16s but our official weapons we were issued were the M-14 and the 1911 .45acp.
On this particular occasion it was a happy coming together of circumstances because it was movie night and it was also beer night.
Let me step back a bit here and explain that there were too many of us medics for a brief time so I didn't have a job until a week or so later and so I had volunteered to deliver mail to out lying camps. That night I was running a little late and I was in serious danger of missing out on the beer.
I rushed to my tent to take off my clothes and get my shower kit and towel and M-14 and ammo belt and then head for the "shower" (a water buffalo with 1/2" tubing with holes drilled in it hooked up to pump water.) I had to run around in it to get wet. Then soap up and run around some more to rinse off. Remember now I did say that our amenities were basic.
After the "shower" I wrapped my towel around me and headed to the movie with my shower kit and rifle and ammo. I also had on flip-flops. I got my 2 cans of hot beer and headed for a good spot in the middle of the seating area. By the time I settled in and popped the top on the first beef darkness was falling fast and the movie was about to start.
I've tried for years to remember what the movie was that night. But subsequent events kind of blotted out such trivia. We were well into the movie and my two beers were havin' their way with me when several shots rang out.
I Grabbed my rifle and ammo and hit the trench. No one could see where the incoming rounds were coming from so every one was bangin' away in no particular direction. I went through 4 full 30 rnd magazines as did just about every one in the ditch.
When the shooting all stopped the air was full of smoke and everyone was looking around to make sure we were all unhurt. Luckily no one was injured. There was a large pfc next to me and he looked at me with a funny look on his face and asked me:
HEY DOC, WHERE'S YER TOWEL?
I looked down and yep, no towel.
I was somewhat consoled by the fact that I at least was still wearing my flip-flops. This really helped to lighten the moment. You don't usually hear that much laughter immediately after a gunfight.
We searched the area behind the movie "screen" and other than a couple of monkeys there was no sign of anything being hit by our fire. It was decided that the incoming was just harassment and not really trying to hit anyone. They were probably gone soon after we began firing.
I never saw the towel or the shower kit again.
It was suggested to me that in the future I should attend movie night properly attired.
As you may know I was an FMF corpsman in Vietnam with the 5th Marine Division. I came away from that time in my life with a lot of stories. A surprising number of them are funny, perhaps funnier now than they were then.
I was in ChuLai, right on the beach. I remember thinking how appropriate that was for me. Anyway, this was a new camp and lots of temporary facilities and construction going on. The C O lived in a tent so I don't suppose you need for me to describe my living conditions.
Perks were few and basic at this point. One of my favorites was that someone came up with a huge sheet of Stainless steel...and a movie projector. They set it all up out in an open spot a lot like a drive in movie theater. Sadly we didn't have any cars so we sat on the ground.
Another infrequent perk was the sporadic and infrequent availability of beer. No refrigeration so it was ambient temperature (upper 90s to lower 100s) and a limit of 2 cans per man. But at those temperatures 2 was more than adequate. I mean it. Knee walkin', snot slingin' drunk. PTL.
There was sporadic sniper activity in the area so we had a trench around the seating area, you know, just in case. We also had a cardinal rule. NEVER under any circumstance be outside with out your weapons and ammo. (there were many different weapons and everyone had something a little different. The Army already had M-16s but our official weapons we were issued were the M-14 and the 1911 .45acp.
On this particular occasion it was a happy coming together of circumstances because it was movie night and it was also beer night.
Let me step back a bit here and explain that there were too many of us medics for a brief time so I didn't have a job until a week or so later and so I had volunteered to deliver mail to out lying camps. That night I was running a little late and I was in serious danger of missing out on the beer.
I rushed to my tent to take off my clothes and get my shower kit and towel and M-14 and ammo belt and then head for the "shower" (a water buffalo with 1/2" tubing with holes drilled in it hooked up to pump water.) I had to run around in it to get wet. Then soap up and run around some more to rinse off. Remember now I did say that our amenities were basic.
After the "shower" I wrapped my towel around me and headed to the movie with my shower kit and rifle and ammo. I also had on flip-flops. I got my 2 cans of hot beer and headed for a good spot in the middle of the seating area. By the time I settled in and popped the top on the first beef darkness was falling fast and the movie was about to start.
I've tried for years to remember what the movie was that night. But subsequent events kind of blotted out such trivia. We were well into the movie and my two beers were havin' their way with me when several shots rang out.
I Grabbed my rifle and ammo and hit the trench. No one could see where the incoming rounds were coming from so every one was bangin' away in no particular direction. I went through 4 full 30 rnd magazines as did just about every one in the ditch.
When the shooting all stopped the air was full of smoke and everyone was looking around to make sure we were all unhurt. Luckily no one was injured. There was a large pfc next to me and he looked at me with a funny look on his face and asked me:
HEY DOC, WHERE'S YER TOWEL?
I looked down and yep, no towel.
I was somewhat consoled by the fact that I at least was still wearing my flip-flops. This really helped to lighten the moment. You don't usually hear that much laughter immediately after a gunfight.We searched the area behind the movie "screen" and other than a couple of monkeys there was no sign of anything being hit by our fire. It was decided that the incoming was just harassment and not really trying to hit anyone. They were probably gone soon after we began firing.
I never saw the towel or the shower kit again.
It was suggested to me that in the future I should attend movie night properly attired.
