Bob Parsons

Rice Paddy's as far as you can see, right? And it was... It was quite a place. I remember the guys were staying in a tent, a canvas tent. And so I had a bunk and a couple guys. I think it was like a Marine Corps rifle squad. It's about 12 guys. And there was not 12 guys in the squad. There was like... Seven or... Yeah, seven.

Rice Paddy's as far as you can see, right? And it was... It was quite a place. I remember the guys were staying in a tent, a canvas tent. And so I had a bunk and a couple guys. I think it was like a Marine Corps rifle squad. It's about 12 guys. And there was not 12 guys in the squad. There was like... Seven or... Yeah, seven.

Rice Paddy's as far as you can see, right? And it was... It was quite a place. I remember the guys were staying in a tent, a canvas tent. And so I had a bunk and a couple guys. I think it was like a Marine Corps rifle squad. It's about 12 guys. And there was not 12 guys in the squad. There was like... Seven or... Yeah, seven.

And maybe even less because it was just the guys that were there and then us. And what happened is that they were ambushed a couple days before, you know, we were sent out there. We were sent there as me and a couple others were sent there as replacements for the guys that were killed in this ambush. So they were killed and... There was four of them were killed. One of them was seriously wounded.

And maybe even less because it was just the guys that were there and then us. And what happened is that they were ambushed a couple days before, you know, we were sent out there. We were sent there as me and a couple others were sent there as replacements for the guys that were killed in this ambush. So they were killed and... There was four of them were killed. One of them was seriously wounded.

And maybe even less because it was just the guys that were there and then us. And what happened is that they were ambushed a couple days before, you know, we were sent out there. We were sent there as me and a couple others were sent there as replacements for the guys that were killed in this ambush. So they were killed and... There was four of them were killed. One of them was seriously wounded.

And to a man, it was all the senior guys. So the guy who was the senior man, the new squad leader, had just turned 19 and had been in the bush for six weeks.

And to a man, it was all the senior guys. So the guy who was the senior man, the new squad leader, had just turned 19 and had been in the bush for six weeks.

And to a man, it was all the senior guys. So the guy who was the senior man, the new squad leader, had just turned 19 and had been in the bush for six weeks.

Well, at first, you know, we were going out on our first night's ambush. And I sat down and, I mean, I went outside the hut. And we had this—we're at the very top of Hill 190. And, you know, it means it's Hill 190. The number says it's 190 feet above sea level. So we're at the top of this. And right at the top was this old French— fort there, this wall with shells in it and stuff.

Well, at first, you know, we were going out on our first night's ambush. And I sat down and, I mean, I went outside the hut. And we had this—we're at the very top of Hill 190. And, you know, it means it's Hill 190. The number says it's 190 feet above sea level. So we're at the top of this. And right at the top was this old French— fort there, this wall with shells in it and stuff.

Well, at first, you know, we were going out on our first night's ambush. And I sat down and, I mean, I went outside the hut. And we had this—we're at the very top of Hill 190. And, you know, it means it's Hill 190. The number says it's 190 feet above sea level. So we're at the top of this. And right at the top was this old French— fort there, this wall with shells in it and stuff.

So I guess the French were overrun there. And I sat on this wall, and I started thinking about, how the hell am I going to survive this? Because the Army, Navy, and Air Force, their tours are 12 months. Marine Corps is 13 months. I don't know shit from China all about this place.

So I guess the French were overrun there. And I sat on this wall, and I started thinking about, how the hell am I going to survive this? Because the Army, Navy, and Air Force, their tours are 12 months. Marine Corps is 13 months. I don't know shit from China all about this place.

So I guess the French were overrun there. And I sat on this wall, and I started thinking about, how the hell am I going to survive this? Because the Army, Navy, and Air Force, their tours are 12 months. Marine Corps is 13 months. I don't know shit from China all about this place.

The guy who I'm replacing, you know, I mean, the guy who replaced the squad leader, you know, he don't know either because, I mean, he hadn't been here much longer than I do. And so it didn't look good. So I started, you know, I got scared for just a little bit. And then it occurred to me that... I probably wasn't going to survive it. I was going to die there.

The guy who I'm replacing, you know, I mean, the guy who replaced the squad leader, you know, he don't know either because, I mean, he hadn't been here much longer than I do. And so it didn't look good. So I started, you know, I got scared for just a little bit. And then it occurred to me that... I probably wasn't going to survive it. I was going to die there.

The guy who I'm replacing, you know, I mean, the guy who replaced the squad leader, you know, he don't know either because, I mean, he hadn't been here much longer than I do. And so it didn't look good. So I started, you know, I got scared for just a little bit. And then it occurred to me that... I probably wasn't going to survive it. I was going to die there.

And I mean, it was a hard thought at first, but then after you accept it, then nothing bothers you.

And I mean, it was a hard thought at first, but then after you accept it, then nothing bothers you.