0311 - the Story of a Mud Marine in Viet Nam

By Crazy Max

Not everyone who lost their life in Vietnam died there. Not everyone who came home ever left.”
—Crazy Max


This book will promise the reader a true understanding about the early part of the Vietnam War through the eyes of a simple rural Michigan combat marine.

Things You Will Learn When Reading This Book
• His daily life in between combat operations and missions
• His baptism under fire
• What it was like to return home
• Deep emotional losses
• Recovery after combat experiences and memories

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664158085

Crazy Max

Crazy Max joined the US Marine Corps in August 1965 with five of his close friends. He served as a combat mud marine in Vietnam from December 1965–March 1967. He was honorably discharged in 1971 as an E-5 Sergeant. Courage is doing something you are afraid to do. —Eddie Rickenbacker

Book preview

0311 -

The Story of a

Mud Marine

in Viet Nam

Crazy Max

Copyright © 2021 by Crazy Max.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 02/12/2021

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

825009

Contents

Preface

Chapter 1 In the Beginning

Chapter 2 The Republic of South Vietnam

Chapter 3 The First Round

Chapter 4 Herron

Chapter 5 My Little Girl

Chapter 6 The Cannister

Chapter 7 The Mayor’s House

Chapter 8 The Bridge

Chapter 9 Crazy G

Chapter 10 The APC

Chapter 11 The Twelve-Year-Old Girl and Her Rifle

Chapter 12 The Burial

Chapter 13 Operation Prairie

Chapter 14 The 106mm Recoilless Rifle Outpost

Chapter 15 This Is the End

Chapter 16 The Homecoming and Beyond

Chapter 17 Agent Orange Residue

Chapter 18 Life’s Struggle

Chapter 19 A New Beginning

Credit and References

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About the Author

12-09-2020_XL_PR_823605_Page_005.jpg

Courage is doing something you are afraid to do.

—Eddie Rickenbacker

To my loving wife, Nancy

Preface

Not everyone who lost their life in

Vietnam died there. Not everyone

who came home ever left.

—CM

In a way unmatched by any book, movie, or periodical this story will give the reader a brief summary of what the life of a mud marine was like during the early part of the war.

The author of this book was no hero, won no medals for bravery, nor spent every day in heavy combat. What he did do was serve his country as best as he was trained. From the early part of the war mid-1965 thru mid-1966, the marines felt they were fighting a just cause, controlling the spread of Communism. As the war escalated, politics became such an issue, it sparked protests, riots, and harassment toward all military troops in uniform all the while splitting America into bias, hatred, and pure lack-of-common-sense groups. Signs and chants echoed throughout airport terminals and television news, Bring our boys home. Bring our boys home! They came home. Then they were spat on, called baby killers, and harassed to the point that many crawled into a black hole with a bottle and remained there for years. The unfortunate and sad downside to all of this while fighting to preserve their pathetic freedoms, no civilian ever came to their aid. While this treatment being bad enough, returning to their homes, in many cases, ended up being worse. Family, relatives, and friends distanced themselves from the weary vets. No one wanted the word Vietnam, nor any part of their experiences spoken about. When the veterans tried talking about their experiences, memories, dreams, and nightmares, their families wouldn’t listen. Their responses were, You are home now, You are safe, or Forget about all of that nonsense. Because families like Max’s turned a deaf ear to their needs, many returning vets turned to alcohol, drugs, and even suicide to cope. On average, twenty Vietnam vets were committing suicide daily. And as a side note, with veterans returning from the Middle East conflicts, that number may still exist today as well. Cancers caused by Agent Orange, alcohol, drugs and plain suicides by one’s own hand were the legacies left by Vietnam vets. For many years, the Veteran’s Administration and the federal government ignored these issues. With constant pressure from the vets, the federal government and the VA systems began to change and recognize these problems; unfortunately, for the ghosts of our lost comrades both on and off the battlefield, it came too late.

Crazy Max

Vietnam Combat Veteran

Second Battalion, Seventh Marines

December 1965–March 1967

United States Marine Corps

Chapter 1

In the Beginning

Southwestern Michigan was a resort haven. The six closely-knitted friends enjoyed year-round activities ranging from fishing, hunting, camping, and girl chasing during the summer months, to ice fishing, skiing, hunting, and of course, girl watching during the winter months. The sky-blue waters, beige sandy beaches, and of course, the most beautiful women in the entire world were a paradise for the Six.

Four years of high school were finally coming to an end for these guys. The only thing facing them at the moment was what the hell were they going to do? All were raised in middle-class families therefore none had the money or, for that fact, had the grades for college. All through their high school years, the Six dated girls that were also best friends. Max and Ted were two of the closest out of the Six. Ted was an excellent football player, was a tall and strong, handsome man who didn’t take shit from anyone. Max was just the opposite; small, thin, and an, easy target for all bullies. He was the smallest in every class and always had trouble standing up for himself because he never learned how to fight. Ted became Max’s bodyguard if you will.

The last week of school had a day set aside for the military. Each year, all senior boys were required to gather in the schools’ auditorium to listen as each military service pitched their glorious way of life. With the escalation of the Vietnam conflict (so called at that time in mid-1965), the Six did pay close attention. None of the Six wanted to be drafted, and if that time came, they wanted to have a choice. As each service finished their speech, the Six were getting antsier and antsier. Just when they were going for the down and out count, a voice bellowed, Forward march!

Across the hollow wooden stage floor of the auditorium five marines in full dress blue uniforms with spit-shined shoes, high and tight haircuts marched step by step with such precision, the hairs on the back of the Six necks stood at attention. When the marine unit reached the center of the stage, the gunnery sergeant bellowed, Halt! Right race! Parade rest! The Six, with their shirt-sleeve cuffs folded back, blue jeans, white socks, and Penny Loafer shoes sat up so straight; it was as if someone shoved a board down the back of their necks to the top of their asses. With goosebumps upon goosebumps, the Six had every eye and ear fixed on the marine presentation. Being that it was Friday, the Six had their older friends buy beer, then the Six met at their favorite drinking spot, the local cemetery, where it was a given they wouldn’t get caught, and drank and talked about the future. That night, they told their girlfriends and parents they would be joining the United States Marine Corps. They decided when school was over, they would meet at the local marine corps recruiting station and join up. They knew the Vietnam conflict was turning into a full-blown shooting war, and they wanted to be part of the best combat-trained military, ensuring they would have the best chance of staying alive should they be sent into combat.

Their parents and girlfriends acted as if they had been gut shot when they were told. Max was only seventeen and the youngest of the group. For him to join, he had to have his parents’ signature. He was afraid they wouldn’t let him join, and that would have emotionally killed him. After much arguing and tears, they okayed his enlistment.

Late August 1965, they said goodbye to their parents then met their girlfriends at the local bus station to board and travel across the state to the Detroit Induction Center for physicals from top to bottom, shots, and to be sworn in for military service. Three days later, they were jetted to San Diego, California, for thirteen grueling weeks of boot camp—physical, mental, and combat training molding them into United States Marine fighting men.

Upon completion and graduation from boot camp, the thirty-man platoon was transferred to Camp Pendleton, California, for more weeks of intense physical, combat, and weapons training. By the time this phase was completed, the group of