Fate's foul-up
I had been in Vietnam for nine months when my dad died in June 1967. I was sent home (Wisconsin) on emergency leave, and had returned to Vietnam the afternoon of 14 July.
When I checked into Danang Transit Barracks, the duty sergeant informed that there had been a mix-up of my orders. He explained that because I'd already done nine months of a Marine's required 13-month tour in Vietnam, instead of returning to Vietnam I was supposed to have been sent to Racine, Wisconsin, for recruiter duty.
He also informed that I had been promoted to Sergeant E-5 the month before. He gave me the metallic chevrons from of his collar, explaining that because of the mixup I had to stay in-country to complete my 13-month tour. He advised that, for the time being, I "get lost" so as to avoid the military's ever-present work details (e.g., graves registration, filling sand bags, etc.).
So — as fate would have it — I wandered over to nearby 1st LAAM Battalion's H&S Battery to stay the night with a Marine buddy, Pete Duncan. I entered the compound via an opening in the perimeter's concertina wire, located Pete Duncan (photo, right), and stayed the evening with him, which is when this adventure began.
Peace amid chaos
By now I was beyond reasonable behavior, having become obsessed with locating a rifle amid a barrage of incoming rockets. Again I exited the bunker's safety and had run about five strides when the ammo dump exploded. I didn't make it to the hooch as it was located in the same direction as the ammo dump.
After being knocked on my back, I recall watching a huge fireball rise directly overhead. I felt its heat as I thought: "So, this is how I'm going to die." I accepted what seemed like my fate to the point that I actually felt peaceful, and closed my eyes for a few seconds.
Casualties — 50 122-mm rockets killed eight U.S. airmen, wounded 138 airmen and 35 Marines, destroyed 11 planes and damaged 31.
Whether you believe in God or not, I'm sure that something caused that fireball to recede. I opened my eyes, turned my head to the right, and saw a large piece of glowing red-hot shrapnel about 10 inches from my head. I rolled to my left and crawled back into the bunker.
Someone noticed that my head was bleeding. I believe I removed my T-shirt and placed it to my forehead just as another Marine yelled that someone was running toward our bunker. Pete was standing next to me as I said, "I gotta stop him." Pete threw a bear hug around me to prevent me from leaving the bunker, but I broke loose in one quick jerk and ran toward the oncoming figure.
Danang Airbase,
RVN — Rocket City
Sergeant Pete Duncan stands by a bunker inside the "Old
French Compound" at Danang Airbase. This bunker may have been the one Pete and I took shelter in on the night
of 14 July 1967.
