Reading my fathers diary journals from Vietnam

[TEB]

I had his papers deciphered from his two tours originals were chicken scratch printing and cursive. My old man was Herd 173rd as I remember him first time I was maybe four years old. He was in VA hospital he lost leg I had no clue then I really didn’t know who he was at that age. He was in wheelchair and told us boys come here.

Reading his journals diary red green tracers coming going sappers in wire , Or were digging in. as former airborne infantry myself I never fought in war but I’m thinking reading his journal two man fighting positions the earth ,you just turn over the smell of fresh turned dirt making a two man fighting hole with a shitty E tool.

Probably my old man thought this may be my grave I’m not going to survive tonight. Man that would work my head thinking of our children I’m not gonna make it thru tonight cuz NVA coming and it’s gonna be murder factory. A firebase or a contact or ambush that is intense and reading this. I understand why he was the way he was as father hard no half stepping no half ass. But my old man suffered it and I respect him as he is passed in 2001 from car accident.

[KT2000]

1. what an amazing gift

have you thought of making it a book? To most of us, war is an abstraction but you have the reality of it.

[TEB]

2. I don't think my old man

Would want that it’s not a book it’s memories scribbled on note books but I have thought since transcribed donating them to the Vietnam wall memorial or smithsonian.

[KT2000]

3. yes!

that would be even better as other vets could see it and relate.

[TEB]

4. As airborne infantry

I served with Vietnam vets not sure I was kid in 84 when I went in army but these NCO were warriors I served with

[DashOneBravo]

5. That's great that you have them

What years was he there? Some of those battles in the mountains were horrible.

I was very glad when the reactivated that unit. It has a proud history of being bad asses.

I served with one E8 and 2 E7’s that were sporting CIBs and the Herd combat patches. I listened to every word they said in training.