The Pipes Were Calling: A Vietnam War Story

By David Flaherty

There are many books about war. There are books that describe the bravery and glories of war. Other books portray the warrior as an "anti-hero". The Pipes Were Calling: A Vietnam War Story is not either of these formula tales.

The Pipes Were Calling tells the story of a boy, 18 year old and fresh from high school who is drafted and then sent to fight in Vietnam. He has no combat experience or Hollywood scriptwriters. To survive, he must quickly learn the rules of war.

Danny Murphy learns these rules, experiences combat, endures the deaths of friends, and engages in the black humor of crises. We share his experiences as he goes from "newbie" to veteran, then finally to civilian.

Danny's story is told with honesty and humor, hopefully leaving us with a clearer understanding of war.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Dec 9, 2004
• ISBN: 9780595782628

David Flaherty

David Flaherty was born in 1948, the younger son of a career military family. Drafted in 1968, he was sent to Vietnam in 1969. He began this book during the first Gulf War. He completed it during the invasion of Iraq.

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All Rights Reserved © 2004 by David Alan Flaherty

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

iUniverse, Inc.

For information address:

iUniverse, Inc.

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Lincoln, NE 68512

www.iuniverse.com

NOTE: All names have been changed to protect their privacy. Some characters and situations depicted in this book have been combined for the sake of clarity or briefness, or to make a point. However, I tried to remain faithful to all events and experiences as they really occurred and apologize if I have misremembered any of the facts.

ISBN: 0-595-33466-0

ISBN: 0-595-78262-0 (ebk)

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

Exodus

Chapter 2

The Welcoming

Chapter 3

Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries

Chapter 4

Field Trip

Chapter 5

Firebase

Chapter 6

A Good Soldier is Hard to Find

Chapter 7

F-Troop

Chapter 8

The Hump

Chapter 9

Swimming Up Stream

Chapter 10

House Sitting

Chapter 11

Graveyard Shift

Chapter 12

Dog Day Afternoons

Chapter 13

Graduate School-Vietnam

Chapter 14

A Failure to Communicate

Chapter 15

Team Sports

Chapter 16

Friendly Fire and Other Military Oxymorons

Chapter 17

Behold the Red Horse

Chapter 18

3rd Field Hospital

Chapter 19

The Rock

Chapter 20

The Reunion

Chapter 21

Freedom Bird

Chapter 22

Sins of Omission

Chapter 23

Rumors of War

Chapter 24

Welcome Home

Postscript

There are two people to whom this book is dedicated. Firstly, I dedicate this book to my wife, Joanne. She helped in the editing process and tried to keep me honest, slashing many simple war stories from the book. War stories, while fun and exciting are often the fiction that combat vets use to insulate themselves from hurt. More importantly, Joanne has stuck with me through all of my craziness, nightmares and doubts, never wavering in her love. I have always loved her and will always depend upon her constancy. Secondly, I dedicate this book to Arthur Brown, the truest friend I have ever known. Brown, may God hold you close to His heart, as I now hold your memory close to mine.

Introduction

The Vietnam War continues to be a troubling topic for most people. Many have only viewed the war through TV coverage, sound bites, or maybe a paragraph or two in the history books. At the time the war was raging, some argued for it and some argued against it, always with great passion and conviction.

In working over twenty-six years at the Veterans Affairs Hospital, I have met many combat veterans. Some were in WWI, WWII, the Korean Conflict, and the Gulf War. One rode against Poncho Villa. Most possess an understanding of war unique to field soldiers. Yet, common threads connect generation of veterans to another. Thoughts and feelings about war they keep to themselves. Any glimpses of war’s reality are filtered for public consumption.

In 1969, while serving in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade, I promised my dear friend, Brown, that someday he and I would write a book that described what war was actually like with no war stories, glamorization or exaggerations. The idea came to us as we listened to an old Irish ballad called Danny Boy. The song describes a boy being called to war. We wondered whether people would believe us if we wrote this book but decided to do it anyway. We thought people wouldn’t be so anxious to send their children to war if they understood war as we did.

My good friend died in Vietnam and so, prompted by the beginning of yet another war, I completed our book. I took the name Danny for my character from the song that started it all, Danny Boy.

Every war has unique circumstances and every soldier who fights experiences war differently. This is my story. Because of this story, I hope others will understand war with its subtle and not so subtle horror.

My buddy Brown provided the best reason for writing this book. The week after we lost a good friend, Brown was reading aloud a newspaper about that week’s combat. He read, Says here that we sustained light casualties last week. Knutson wasn’t a light casualty.. .He was our friend.

1

Exodus

Time passed slowly for Danny as the plane flew over the Pacific. The world was a turquoise shade of blue accented with bits of white. He tried to imagine himself on a sailboat, crossing the Pacific alone. At first, the thought made him feel anxious but then he remembered where he was going and laughed to himself.

His thoughts drifted to home. He had been given fourteen days leave but had lingered four additional days in order to be home for Christmas. He told himself that those four days AWOL weren’t very much, and that they would probably not send anyone overseas on Christmas Eve anyway.

Danny’s thoughts returned to his father. He could hear his voice in his head, Stop playing those protest songs! In my day we didn’t want to go to war either but we did what was expected of us. We weren’t jumping for joy but at least we didn’t sing protest songs, for Christ’s sake!

Danny’s father didn’t want to pick a fight with him just before he left for Vietnam but he heard himself say, In my day, if you missed the boat you went to jail. If I were you, I’d think about that and maybe...

Danny interrupted, I don’t give a sh..., he let his voice drop off, uttering the profanity under his breath, and then in a louder voice added, They don’t want me in jail; they want me as cannon fodder. Don’t you get it? The most I’ll get for being AWOL is an Article 15.

An Article 15 was a non-court marshal punishment and was considered to be only a slap on the wrist. It meant losing one grade in rank, and a small fine. Theoretically, it was expunged from the record after a period of time, provided there were no more infractions. As far as Danny was concerned, this was a small price to pay for four more days of freedom and life.

Adding a parting shot before retreating into the den, his father yelled, And don’t you use that language around here! I don’t care if you think you are all grown up. It’s still my house!

Danny’s father had served in the Submarine Service before WWII, when people weren’t so sure that the somewhat unreliable boats would be able to surface once they had submerged. During WWII he had made several combat runs and had even been involved in a famous mission that was later chronicled in a book. His father had been transferred from one boat to another just before that mission. It was just a matter of good luck for him, he was fond of saying, because when the mission was over his old boat had not made it back. It had not been lost on him that while he had made it through the rest of the war in one piece, all of his friends on his old boat had died. Danny’s father knew what war was about.

But Danny saw his father as indestructible. He had no way of knowing that his leaving for war had brought back many of his dad’s own memories. Memories he thought he had buried long ago. Danny could not know of his father’s nightmares or of his waking up in a sweat, with his heart pounding as though it would explode.

Danny heard the TV blaring and thought to himself, How ironic, it’s a John Wayne movie. Danny considered with some bitterness that his father preferred John Wayne to reality. He always won his battles. Battles that pitted good against evil with stereotyped, buck-toothed Japanese fanatics fitted with coke bottle-like eyeglasses, charging to their deaths against the courageous Americans. If the Americans died, it was with glory and drama, grabbing their chests and exhibiting a noble grimace as they fell gracefully to the earth. As bombs exploded in the den, Danny considered his war. Things were not so black and white in Vietnam. The news had painted a different picture. Right and wrong were ill-fitting concepts there. Even the soldiers’ deaths were shrouded in controversy. Some citizens mourned while others saw them as baby-killers and felt that they got what they deserved. There were no parades if they returned. The war had divided the country. Returning veterans seldom discussed Vietnam but tried rather to blend in with everyone else. All seemed to be grateful for this and everyone, family and friends alike preferred to avoid the topic. Growing up, Danny had heard endless war stories when surrounded by WWII vets but he had heard Vietnam War stories only while on base, where it was safe to talk about the war.

Danny’s mind shifted to the Day Room at Fort Dix. He saw the face of Sergeant Catron as he began to tell a joke. He eavesdropped while Catron addressed his buddies.

What’s the difference between a war story and a fairy tale?

The small group of men grinned and shook their heads questioningly.

Catron continued, A fairy tale starts, once upon a time in a magical kingdom, long, long ago.. .and a war story starts, No shit, this really happened...

Everyone burst into laughter. Danny wasn’t sure what the joke meant but decided to join in, laughing along with the others. He felt his heart racing. These were real infantrymen. They had seen combat and had lived. He desperately wanted to belong, to be one of them. Even though he had always been painfully shy, he took a chance and spoke up, That was a good one!

Danny watched as all faces turned toward him. It was as though they had just discovered that he, an outsider, was in their presence. What was good? one of the sergeants asked.

Danny stammered, his face flushed with embarrassment, The joke.the joke was funny.

How the fuck would you know, Cherry?

The words stung. Danny wanted to disappear. He wished that he had never opened his mouth. He wanted to run but his feet stuck to the floor and his leg muscles would not obey him.

How many firefights have you been in? The sergeant taunted.

I’m going to Fort Polk and then I guess they’ll send me to Vietnam. Danny said in a soft voice, not sure why he was volunteering that information. Maybe, he thought to himself, if they knew that I would soon be where they once were they would leave me alone.

You’re damned right they will! the sergeant said. Charlie Cong, he’s waiting for your ass. He just loves war heroes.

Everyone laughed, and then the conversation quickly turned to what they would do or buy when they finally got discharged from the army. They joked about how they would soon forget about Vietnam, Charlie Cong, uniforms and the war. They dreamed of the Corvette or the Mustang they would soon own. They would settle down after some hell raising and live a perfect life. Now that they were safe, they would live forever.

Danny came back to the present and out of his daze. He felt another flush of guilt when he remembered how arrogant he had been with his father. After all, he thought, he had already gone to war. He had nothing to prove.

He recaptured an image of the TV room. He saw himself go in to his father to apologize. When he had entered, his father hadn’t looked up. He knew what this meant. He had seen it many times growing up. It meant, I don’t want to talk. I don’t want to have to deal with anyone, especially about something to do with feelings. He had said, A man has to learn to be tough. Never show weakness. He told Danny a story once about a man who had cried at the loss of his shipmates. How this weakness had almost cost him his stripes. He told of how the crying had led to drinking and how the drinking had led to missing the boat. He told Danny of how he disdained this man for his weakness. He had told Danny all of these things but forgot the most important detail. Years later Danny would learn that the man in the story was his father.

The plane shuddered as it began its descent. Hawaii was their first stop and they would be allowed to deplane there and buy some snacks before going on to Guam. They were supposed to arrive in Vietnam the same day they had left, Vietnam time. Danny hadn’t really thought about how much real flying time that meant but he was beginning to feel numb below the waist from sitting so long.

He remembered living on Oahu as a child when his father was stationed there. The small, two-bedroom house sat on a quarter acre of land, surrounded by a large hedge. This hedge produced beautifully scented flowers that the native Hawaiians would pick to make leis. They would ask permission and always give his mom a lei in gratitude. Danny remembered playing barefoot and finding adventure at every turn. Things were so perfect then, he thought to himself.

He grabbed his diddy-bag and waited in line to disembark. A large set of stairs had been wheeled up to the plane door and the soldiers would be able to walk across the tarmac to the restrooms and snack bar before getting on another plane. As Danny walked toward the airport buildings, he smelled the scent of flowers in the air. He felt like he was home again. He thought, I wonder what would happen if I just kept on walking? What would happen if I caught the next flight back and then hitch-hiked to Canada?

But he remembered Kristian, his fiancée and his mom and dad. What would Kristian really think of him if he ran away at this point? What would she think later, when he was barely making a living, when they were tired of being Canadian? Would his parents ever speak to him again? Would he wind up in jail for twenty years or alone on the run? Being late for a few days was one thing but this would be desertion. Danny headed for the terminal, resigned to do the right thing. There was really never any choice, and he knew it.

♦ ♦ ♦

The stopover at Hawaii had been a brief one and the one at Guam even briefer. Danny thought about how small Guam had been. It seemed to be little more than a runway. He could see the ocean on both sides. They had not been allowed to wander off from the plane at Guam and so he had spent time trying to count the seagulls that were milling about the runway. The weather was warm and it seemed strange that just the day before he had been wearing a jacket to face an early winter in New England.

After Guam, everyone was enjoying a brief charge of energy with Vietnam beginning to take on more of a reality than it had several hours before. They were getting close to the war and they could sense it. To reassure themselves, they did their best to make humor at each other’s expense.

Hey Billy, better learn not to snore so loud in the jungle or Charlie will shove an AK-47 up your nose and wake you up real rude-like!

Billy, rubbing his eyes after being jolted awake by a sharp poke only laughed and then retaliated, Screw you, Greenhall! Don’t forget to camo your big pink ass. If you take a dump in the jungle with that caboose hanging out, you’ll get it shot off for sure!

The stewardesses had made themselves scarce. There were rules against profanity and undisciplined behavior but it was never enforced on this leg of the journey.

Another soldier chimed in, Christ, if he moons them with that butt, they’ll run for their lives and complain about violations of the Geneva Convention!

Everyone laughed, too loud and too long. There was a nervous, unsure edge to it but Danny hadn’t noticed. He wondered how they could joke at a time like this. He thought to himself how much braver they must be than he. Perhaps, if he had left on time he would be traveling with his friends too.

He could not see that these children-warriors were trying to convince themselves of their fierceness. They were trying to understand how they would be able to fight in a war that was only headlines the day before. Danny could only know his thoughts, What is war really like; will I be a hero or a coward; will I humiliate myself? Will I live or die; will I lose a leg, an arm or even my genitals. What if I am blinded? Will I live as a cripple or have the courage to end it all? Will Kris-tian still love me or will we both change too much?

Danny thought about Kristian and felt a tug at his heart. He was missing her already and didn’t know how he would survive an entire year without her. They too had argued just before his leaving.

Why don’t you just go with me to Canada? You don’t owe this country anything. You have a right to refuse to fight in an immoral war! Nuremberg proved that you have an obligation to higher principles! Kristian had pleaded.

She had been against the war from its beginning. She too was a Navy-brat but had always spoken her mind. She had protested during her freshman year, earning herself her own FBI file and a secret file at the university where she attended school. She had been trying to get Danny to run to Canada since he had first received his draft notice. As he prepared to leave for Vietnam, she had felt even more urgency, losing her temper with him. She hadn’t wanted to do that but was afraid that she was losing him. She would have given up her academic career to wait tables if he had agreed to go with her.

Turbulence once again brought Danny back to the present. An hour had passed and the exuberance exhibited earlier by the men had dissipated. They had fallen asleep, comforted by the jet engines’ monotonous but reassuring lullaby. Danny looked over and saw the curtain in the galley had been only partially drawn. He could see the stewardesses and wondered how they had managed to remain so crisp and unwrinkled. The troops had long since evidenced the effects of too many hours on the plane and were looking disheveled. Danny became aware of the stewardess’ voices and tried to eavesdrop above the hum of the engines.

The young blond stewardess said, But they’re only children! They’re too young to go fight in a war!

The older stewardess reassured her, Most of these kids will be working in offices. Only a few actually fight in the war and we’re winning! The war will be over soon. It can’t last very much longer at the rate we’re dropping bombs...at least according to the news.

Their voices softened to a whisper and soon the hum of the jet engines was all he could hear. Kids! Danny thought to himself, feeling somewhat hurt. I’m a man! But he then thought about what the older stewardess had said, Only a few will actually fight.

Danny knew that he would be one of the few. He was infantry and there was little chance that he would see the inside of an office for some time. He shook these thoughts from his head. His eyes were becoming heavy and harder to keep open. He felt himself drifting off to sleep but this time, he did not fight it. He was again in his home in Connecticut. He could smell his fiancés sweet perfume as he reached out to pull her close. He now felt safe. He did not notice the change in the sound of the jet engines as the plane banked and began its descent.

2

The Welcoming

Arriving in Cam Ranh Bay proved to be a bit of a shock. There didn’t appear to be a war going on. Past the reception area, there were a number of military-beige colored buildings with a sea of green fatigued men wandering around with no weapons, smiling and joking with each other and generally having a good time. Danny found his way to a gaming room where there were pinball machines and ice cold Cokes. His throat was so dry that he felt that he could have swallowed Lake Erie in one gulp. He was in the middle of downing his third soda when he heard familiar, wisecracking voices from behind. It was Casey and Frank. After going through basic training, being recycled back through basic training because of catching meningitis, then being sent to Ft. Polk infantry training and t.d.y (temporary duty) at Ft. Knox together they had been separated because of Danny’s AWOL at Christmas time.

When did you get in Dan? Casey demanded, his hand gripping Danny’s shoulder.

I just made it in. What a trip! I don’t even know where I’m heading next. How about you guys?

We’re heading for the First Cav. in about an hour. Why don’t you just stow aboard with us? Casey asked.

What Casey was suggesting was highly illegal and would likely put Danny at risk for being arrested as a deserter. You couldn’t just pick what outfit you wished to join. But then Casey rarely followed rules. When Frank, Danny and he had reported to Ft. Knox, Casey had sewn on E-3 strips. When asked about it, he became highly indignant that the orders for his promotion had not made it to Ft. Knox with his other paperwork. In an attempt to ameliorate him, they had cut new orders giving him the promotion. Anyone else would have landed in jail. While on guard duty at Ft. Knox, he had driven up to Frank and Danny’s guard posts in a jeep, an Armored Personnel Carrier and a tank, all borrowed from the motor pool he was suppose to be guarding. To avoid forced marches during infantry training he had claimed to have a military truck license and volunteered to drive the food truck to and from the field. So far, Casey had lived a charmed life.

Danny considered Casey’s suggestion to join them but thought better of it. He still hoped that he might find a desk job in Cam Ranh Bay. He was a good typist, an unusual talent for a man in those days. After switching back and forth in his mind, the possibility of a safe desk job won out.

Casey, Danny began, I was hoping to get a good assignment here. I can type and I know they have infantrymen stationed here.

Casey laughed, Don’t you think I already tried? They don’t even listen. They’ve heard it all. You just get checked in and then assigned to a division. Maybe once we get to the division we could get a good deal but not until then.

Besides, Frank added, I’m tired of all this screwing around. I just want to get it over with and get home. No more games, Casey.

Frank had always been the most timid of the three and it had struck Danny odd that he had ever buddied up with Casey. He would never have dreamed of becoming involved in any of the many schemes of Casey. He always went along with it in the end but at least some of the more exotic schemes were not attempted thanks to Frank’s caution.

Frank, Casey chided, you always want to do the right thing. Haven’t I told you that if you stick with us it’ll all work out?

Frank made a pained expression and looked knowingly at Danny. Danny asked, What time do you fly out?

Frank quickly injected, An hour ago but Casey had to collect on some gambling debts and we missed the plane.

Another is going out in an hour. It’s no big deal. I’ll think of something, Casey said defensively.

Danny laughed, Same old shit.

Frank shook his head with a resigned smile, Same shit, different country.

So how about it Danny? Casey asked, his voice again tinged with mischief. Reconsider?

No, Danny said in a final tone. I’m going to behave myself for a change and see what happens.

After that, the conversation seemed to die. They stood uncomfortably, knowing that they had to say goodbye. In the back of everyone’s mind was the thought that this might be the last time they saw each other, at least in Vietnam. They ambled outside together, silent but aware of each other’s presence. At last, they briefly hugged one another in the way men hug when they are afraid to show affection but want to be close, when they don’t want to say goodbye but know they must.

To break the silence Danny said, You know what this means? You guys will be home first and have to set up the party.

Casey quickly answered, Yeah sure, and you can drink whatever’s left after Frank and I drain the state’s booze supply.

Everyone laughed, lingering to savor the last few moments they would have together. It again became quiet. Frank made the last move, offering his hand again to Danny. Danny took it awkwardly and they shook goodbye.

What the hell is this? Casey demanded to know. You tight-ass bastards! He then threw his arms around Danny and gave him a hug. Frank followed suit. All three were hugging in the middle of a sea of men.

Then as quickly as it had begun the outward show of affection ended. Casey and Frank waved, turned and walked away from Danny, leaving him in the crowd of strangers. Just before disappearing, Casey and Frank turned together, gave one last look and then vanished.

A dark cloud appeared abruptly as if from nowhere and moved in Danny’s direction. Before he could reach cover, he was caught up in a fierce wind and a heavy downpour. It was as though someone had poured buckets of water over him, soaking him through. The cloud passed as quickly as it had come. Danny noticed with astonishment that he was drying out almost immediately. He looked up, tried to re-locate Casey and Frank but could no longer find them. He wondered whether he would ever see them again and felt empty inside.

He then turned to follow the cloud with his eyes. It was already several hundred yards away. Danny was suddenly struck by the intensity of the sun and heat. He began to feel lightheaded and thought that he might faint. He tried to shake himself out of his daze when he felt a hand upon his shoulder. He quickly turned, expecting to see Casey and Frank. Danny thought to himself that his buddies had changed their minds and were going to ask him one more time to go with them. He would shake his head no but then relent and go wherever they were heading. He’d rather get in trouble than to be in this mysterious land alone.

But instead of seeing Casey and Frank, he found himself looking up at a huge black soldier who was grinning from ear to ear. His eyes seemed wild but friendly.

How long you been here, Cherry? He demanded to know in a jovial voice.

Just got in, Danny stammered.

Well Cherry, you just been baptized by the monsoon. It welcomed you here. Shit, you never dry out with that underwear on!

Danny looked down and noticed, for the first time, that the only remaining wet marks were those made by his still soaked underwear.

We don’t wear underwear in the bush. You never dry out. That rain wasn’t nothing. Wait till monsoon season. You never dry out. Always wet. Eat, walk and sleep wet. Even die wet...

The soldier went on, making no apparent point but he seemed happy and quite friendly and Danny thought to himself, maybe this man might help get him a job on base.

When the soldier paused in the middle of a sentence, distracted by some movement, Danny seized the opportunity, How can I get a job here in Cam Ranh Bay?

Instead of answering, the soldier shook his head in the direction he had been looking, appearing upset that he had been distracted and then continued to talk. Occasionally he would laugh at a particularly funny point he had made and seemed more to be talking to himself than to Danny.

At one point, Danny’s hopes were raised when the soldier turned and looked at him and paused. However, instead of discussing job opportunities he went on talking about cherries and how nothing mattered, or as he put it, It don’t mean a thing. Nothing does. Not a God damned thing.

The soldier began to leave, ignoring Danny and still speaking to himself. Danny figured that he had either not heard his question or was too crazy to respond to it.

Spinning back around, as if suddenly remembering what he had wanted to say, the towering dark soldier’s eyes met Danny’s. Danny felt exposed and his face flushed. This stranger, Danny thought, was looking deep into his soul, reading all of his secrets. He could tell that Danny was afraid, a coward.

Just when Danny was considering breaking and running, the soldier spoke to him in a clear voice that caused a chill to pass through him, Don’t you just worry about anything, Cherry. Uncle Sam has you a job. He take care of you. You don’t have to think about it. I seen a lot of you come and go. It don’t matter what you want. It don’t matter what you try’n to do. You can be in God’s good graces or the devil’s hands but what’s going to happen will happen. That’s all there is to it. It don’t matter what you do. Don’t you see it? When you been here long as I been here. his voiced faded to a half-whisper as he seemed to be again distracted by some unfamiliar movement in the distance, just over Danny’s shoulder. He didn’t finish his sentence and walked past Danny as if he weren’t there.

Danny noticed the cane for the first time and saw that the soldier was limping badly. The sun beat down upon Danny and sweat soaked quickly through his uniform, as the rain had done just a few moments before. Despite the heat, he felt a shiver run through him. He felt alone, very alone and very afraid.

3

Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries

Danny was assigned to the 199th Light Infantry Brigade. He had never heard of it, and wondered how big it was. His flight from Cam Rahn Bay to Long Bien was much less dignified than his arrival in-country. He and the other new arrivals had been issued field uniforms, which were OD green loose fitting fatigues, jungle boots, a poncho liner and other supplies. He had crammed his Class A’s (dress uniforms) into the duffel bag along with his spare fatigues and now sat on the floor of a transport plane awaiting take-off. Danny was reassured that he was not the only new guy or Cherry. He took some comfort in not being alone in his apprehension. Everyone was wide-eyed and clearly nervous.

The flight sergeant on board broke the tension, speaking reassuringly, Don’t get worried boys, we’re not landing you in a rice paddy. You’ll be landing in a safe place and then transported to the base camp. There, you’ll receive your regular assignments.

Everyone was clearly encouraged by these comments. No one had been issued a rifle yet and the concern was