At dusk, D/1/506 Abn. Inf. 101st Abn. Div., is picked up after two weeks of humping in the A Shau Valley and heads toward FSB Currahee for a well deserved "rest". As the first lift carrying the 3rd Platoon touches down , Currahee starts taking mortars. Because of the attack the rest of Delta didn't arrive until it was dark and it was decided that Alpha Co., who were to replace us in the field , would CA out of the firebase at first light so D & A Co's shared the duty of securing Currahee.

It was S.O.P. at Currahee to have at least one mad minute during the night and since it was the 4th of July the two infantry companys made up their minds to also make it a celebration. The appointed time for the mad minute came and it was spectacular as the two companys did their best to salute the birthday of The United States of America. Soon after, the firebases ringing the valley had their own displays and I'm sure the scene was repeated all over the RVN.

A short time after the firing ceased and the hand flares went out, a tiny flicker of flame could be seen in what looked like the vicinity of the ammo dump that was primarily used to house the rockets of the gunships that were always on station at Currahee. Soon the flicker became a fire and indeed it was in the ammo dump and spreading to the area where two large bladders of fuel for the gunships were located.

Lt. Cook , the 3rd platoon leader , came to the bunker we were staying in with an arm full of D-handle shovels and some of us, led by the Lt., started towards the fire when the real fireworks began. First the gunships took to the air as fast as they could and the wash from their rotors only fanned the fire. We started to hear pop-pop-pop sounds as SA ammo started to go off and that the bladders of fuel were now engulfed with the fire. As we were running as fast as we could away from that side of the perimeter the first bladder went up and the heat was so intense I thought I was being burned alive.

Then the real fun began as rockets started to go flying every which way and all sorts of rounds M-16 , M-60 , and the minigun ammo were going off. It must have been quite a sight for the Brigade TOC up at FSB Berchesgarden for they called down to ask if we were being overrun (don't know how our CO explained this one).For what seemed like an eternity men were crowded into bunkers and fighting positions made for just one company of troops as rockets and rounds were whizzing all over the place. I remember our platoon medic, Doc Daniels, had a close encounter with a rocket as he was trying to get to a wounded man. It went through his legs skipping along the ground.

It all seems kinda funny now but at the time it wasn't. To this day I've never heard as much praying as I heard that day and that includes my church packed wall to wall at Midnight Mass at Christmas. A very memorable 4th of July to say the least!!!

On the morning of the 5th both company’s had to police the FSB and my company didn’t get a rest. We CA’ed out with Alpha company. I’m sure it was our punishment for the celebration the night before.

Have a safe and great 4th of July everyone

PS...BTW, I know how the fire got started but I'll never tell.

4th of July, 1966, Chu Lai???

You know for a guy that has a real good memory of the times, somehow I just don't remember the 4Th of that year. I know that we were thinking of doing a demonstration of tracer fire and Willie-Peter Rifle Genades, and some star clusters of all different varieties, but somehow it just never came off.

I can't remember what exactly happened, whether it was that Command got a hold of our ideas in advance, or that we were put on 100% Alert for a possible action that might have been going down, and we were forbidden form demonstrating any pyrotectnics, but in the end, it was a very quiet night for us as I remember it.

As I remember, it might have been around the time of Operation Franklin, but that time was just one big blank.

Somehow, you would think that something from that night would have stuck with me. Strange!

Yes, I also recall July 4, 1968 assigned to USAF SAC 36TH BW, 13th AF, Guam. Flying sorties onto the Mekong Delta, that was a "bang-up" 4th.

quote:

Originally posted by 14680860:
Yes, I also recall July 4, 1968 assigned to USAF SAC 36TH BW, 13th AF, Guam. Flying sorties onto the Mekong Delta, that was a "bang-up" 4th.

SPENT THAT EVENING ON THE ROOF OF THE OPERATIONS BUILDING AT ANDERSEN WATCHING FIREWORKS...CREW E-20 UASF SAC 2ND BW, 2ND AF, BARKSDALE