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Clinton Grenz Vietnam Experiences
Some of you have asked that I write
about my experiences in Vietnam. I began this project some
time ago. Several weeks ago, a writer and publisher contacted
me to share my story for a book he is writing. He asked for
the info that you will find in "My Story"
I shall never forget may 1969. I Stepped off an air
conditioned jetliner at Lon Bing, South Vietnam, into a blast
of very hot, humid air, into a 12-month journey of a fear of
the unknown. As we were leaving the airport for Long Bing, the
sirens began to blow. The Sergeant in the bus said we would
get used to incoming rockets not to worry about it.
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After briefings and orientation at Long Bing, I received my
combat boots, ill-fitting jungle fatigues and steel pot. I was
on my way to the largest combat division in VIETNAM, the
Americal (23rd) Division, located in te heart of communism, a
place called Chu Lie, f0 miles south of Da Nang. I stayed at
Division Headquarters for seeral days for briefings by the
Chief of Staff and Asst Division Chaplain.
I was told
by the Chief of Staff, that I would be assigned to the 1st
Squadron, 1st Cav. Battalion, to help the Commander with a
number of serious problems this battalion was experiencing.
Examples of some of the problems: the Command Sergeant Major
had gone AWOL never to return to the Squadron, the chain off
command had broken down, due to lack of respect and
discipline, NCO's were drinking, GI's were strung out on Pot,
and young officers were either doing pot or getting drunk with
the GI's. The attitude was, "Go ahead and give me article 15,
Court Marshal me and then ship me back to the states, I Don't
care". The Chief of Staff informed me that the Commander, LTC
John H Dure III, was one of the finest and straight Commander
in the Division at this time who really tried to do his best
as a Commander. Perhaps I, as experienced Chaplain, could help
the Commander bring some order out of chaos.
My ride from
Division Headquarters to Hawk Hill took some 20 minutes via
chopper. The events that followed the next several months were
nothing less the pure hell. Income rockets at sunrise and
sunset, sapper attacks at night, mines blowing up jeeps and
tanks, helicopters being shot out of the sky, many memorial
services. This all brought about intense fear of the unknown
frustration anxieties and anger as I tried to sort out why men
lived such amoral ungodly lives and at the same time I needed
to adjust to a combat environment and conduct those many
chapel and memorial services and counsel individual soldiers
when their friends were killed. It was only by God's grace and
the protection of His angels that I survived mentally,
physically, morally, and spiritually.
I arrived at my
Unit on a firebase known as Hawk Hill located between TAM Key
and Da Nam. Less than 30 minutes upon y arrival the fire base
experienced incoming rockets. Major John M Hayes, Executive
Officer met me at the chopper pad and proceeded to give me a
tour of the Hark Hill 0erimeter and my hooch which was beside
a small chapel made of wood and bamboo thatched roof. We had
just begun the tour by jeep when the Major and driver hit the
ground yelling incoming. I baled out of the back seat and hit
the ground until the rocket attack stopped. His words to me
were "you will get used to it. If you don't, you'll not
survive." That particular rocket attack blew apart of TC
Dure's Hooch away. We proceeded to my Hooch where the Major
showed Me a weapon that I could use if any sappers came
through the perimeter to my hootch. My office was located in
my bunker, sandbagged hootch, which was also my sleep.
I
never carried or used any weapon during my entire stay in Viet
Nam. I prayed to God that His angels would protect me from all
harm. To this day, I strongly believe God answered by prayers.
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