| What's a Fire Mission? Shooting cannons to destroy enemy forces, weapons, equipment, or property. In late 1965 and for most of 1966, Fire Missions were an integral part of my job description. In 2007, a Humanitarian Mission became part of my life. Why go back to a place I hated so much at the end of my tour? The Nam was always deep within me. The beauty and mystery of the exotic venue had grabbed me as a young man; a yearning to go back surfaced many times over the years. Going back to Nam with a medical mission team, against all odds I searched for the two Vietnamese friends with whom I had emotionally connected during the war. Many veterans told me that my aspiration was beyond my reach. The population had exploded from 30 million to 80 million people and extensive changes had been made to the landscape. "If you put your mind to it, you can do anything," was the mantra instilled into us at the U.S. Naval Academy. The adventure was a life-changing experience. The endeavor became a healing mission filled with spiritual growth. The final result - I found both of my friends! The monkey was off my back; I was free of the Nam burden! Flashbacks to my episodes on Operation Hastings reveal the real power of the American military when fighting to WIN. Another key encounter, the Viet Cong sapper attack on my artillery battery,brought to life the warning from my Annapolis friend. He spoke of an enemy who thrived on doom and yearned to be in a tournament of death with the Marines. In the peaceful 2007 atmosphere, I watched a magnificent sunrise as I stood in the shallow water of the South China Sea; Monkey Mountain was one click to the north and the Marble Mountains a short distance to the south. I was proud to be an American on the shores of this foreign, yet, familiar land. |
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FIRE MISSION The World of Nam a Marine's Story |
