Tet ’68 and Memories
So… being a geezer and all I have certain times of the year or certain thoughts that stir memories and/or memories OF memories.
But this isn’t about me.
Thrift store book leads family to discover Vietnam secret
Curious about the Vietnam War, the teen picked out this book from a thrift store: “The Battle for Saigon, Tet 1968″ by Keith William Nolan.
He accidentally dropped the book on the floor and found something surprising in the glossary of names.
“To be honest, my heart kind of stopped,” said Mason.
But the biggest surprise was yet to come.
“He came home and he asked me, ‘How did my great-uncle Jim die?’ I said, ‘Well, he was ambushed.’ And he said, ‘What if I told you that’s not what had happened?’” Tony recounted.
“That grenade went off, it startled the MPs and they saw the Vietcong running, and not even thinking about where their own people were,” said Diane Vielbaum, Tony’s mom, and James’ sister-in-law.
(…)
Another soldier interviewed in the book details that Private First Class James M. Vielbaum wasn’t shot by the Vietcong on Jan. 31, 1968. He was killed by friendly fire.
“Why didn’t they tell us the truth?” asked Michael Vielbaum.
I dunno the absolute truth about this incident… too many variables in play, but I sure can sympathize.
Oops… Thanks Dbie!
Category: Geezer Alert!
I’ve read plenty of stories about soldiers, well, telling lies about how their comrades died, especially to their parents. Usually this was done to make the family feel a bit better about what happened and to shield them from the truth. So this isn’t that surprising.
Hm…a very worthy research project, I’d say. I do know from one of the MP’s that was inside the US Embassy(He has a major case of PTSD from it) it was one flock of a firefight between them & Victor Charlie since the only weapons the MP’s had were .45 ACP’s & several 12 gauges. An officer in the MP company got some 16’s & ammo the tide was turned, swept the grounds & building & engaged infiltrators but I don’t recall any MP’s saying anything about a grenade going off….within the compound. What say you?
Friendly fire is uncomfortable, but it is something that happened. As many as 1/3rd of the casualties incurred in Desert Storm were FF incidents, and as anyone that follows the Pat Tilman case, even elite unites are not immune.
Having never been a ground pounder, I claim no expertise. I have, however, heard the sound advice “Once the pin is pulled, Mr Grenade is no longer your friend.”