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CRAZY CANNONCOCKERS
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A story of
sticky-fingered requisitioning
and a fond farewell to a 175mm gun
{Lt Bert Landau pulled a 2nd tour in Nam}
We were
located on FSB C2, right on the edge of the DMZ. We were close enough that, if I
had a BB gun, I could have shot BBs into the DMZ. This was the last American
combat unit in northern I Corps and, as the war was shifting to Vietnamization.
(Yeah, we know how that worked out!). Getting
supplies other than the 175mm projos and powder,
was often difficult as the Americans retreated further south and the convoy
drivers had a longer relatively unguarded or protected route to reach us.
We needed some
key items. Like...heavy timbers to
cover our asses when the guys on the other side of the DMZ got fresh ammo for a few
240mm mortars. We had heavy bunkers
alright, but not heavy enough to withstand a 240mm. One of the gun chiefs
suggested that we take a few guys, go down to a construction battalion [he knew
where it was] and "requisition" a
truckload or two of more of the big beams needed to reinforce our bunkers. He
said the hydraulics on the 175mm guns would be able to lift a timber. I believed
that! I was all for it.
I knew nothing about construction but agreed to lead a team to find the trucks
and timbers. Leaving around noon, we got to the construction battalion motor
pool after 1700hrs
in time to see one truck already loaded with timber and another mostly
full. There they
were...lowboys, loaded and ready to go. God was definitely on our side.
One of the NCOs talked to the two guards,
keeping them busy, while a couple of the men drove off with their trucks. I still don't
know how we got away with that one since anyone flying in to see us at C2 could
clearly see two lowboys parked off on one end of the position, mixed in with our
5 ton ammo trucks.
We got 2 or 3 water trailers the same way but this time, we victimized a US Marine
detachment located about halfway between our position and DaNang. Again, the
trucks were parked right in the open.....and no one said a thing.
Eventually, we were ordered to vacate the position and turn our guns and other
battery equipment over to a newly-constituted Vietnamese artillery battery. I
don't think any single man wanted to stay there - the nearest US combat unit was
more than 4 hours away, assuming the road
was clear and open. But I was amazed at the loving care and proud polish each
crew member of
"C" Battery, 1/39th FA, did on their gun before getting ready to leave forever.
We were crazy cannoncockers for sure!
submitted by
Lt Bert Landau