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Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry 25th ID -
Vietnam "The Big Red One" by Reb Marthers Well, I didn't think it was funny! ... My Platoon had been on a recon-in
force all morning. It was well over a hundred degrees, so when time
for our Class 1 break came, I had the driver pull "Hawaiian Punch"
(I combat lost 5 different Sheridan tanks) under the shade of
a tree near three hootches that were nearby our recon area. I
climbed out of the TC Hatch, stretched, then walked to the edge of
the back-deck to relieve myself. Once the flow had started, I felt
something crawling on my neck, and turned my head to see that my
entire left shoulder was covered by "The Big Red One". Now I don't
know if you're familiar with the 'Fire-ants' like we have down
South, but they are very vicious when their anthill is disturbed.
Fire-ants are only about an eighth of an inch long, attack by the
hundreds, and believe me when I tell you, You know when you are
bitten and/or stung! NOW, "The Big Red One" are a 1/4" to 3/8"
version of the fire-ant, that make their nests in trees and bushes,
by pulling leaves together like a 'Catawba Worm' nest (Guess you
have to know about Catawba Worms to visualize it). Anyway, the
shoulder was covered and a re-enforced division was coming to aid
the battalion on my shoulder! They had the element of surprise and
quickly were inside of my clothing! I, on the other hand, had
experienced this sort of attack before and knew the main manner of
counter-attack! GET NAKED! I was out of my clothes in two seconds
FLAT, yelling for support from our Chemical Warfare Detachment (My
Loader and Back-Deck man armed with G.I. Issue insecticide spray).
In a few anxious moments, the righteous side won by means of
superior technology, and I turned to find half a dozen Vietnamese
kids rolling on the ground in fits of laughter!
You know,... Come to think of it, ... That was pretty damn FUNNY! William T. Marthers - 29 July 1999 Reb_A26 A3/4CAV25thInfDiv RVN 69/70 |
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