And My Helmet as a Pillow

By Jake Taylor

This autobiographical account describes funny moments and some quite hilarious, but also has highly poignant and sad memories. They include the moment when a private soldier fainted three times in a row: before, during, and after his first vaccination; the hand-grenade class intended to wake up zombies; the story of the vagabond knife; actions of two of the three conscientious objectors in my outfit; the soldier that confused two lovely Chevrolet Corvette automobiles and drove away with the one belonging to the company commander; the private that smashed 5-gallon water cans instead of the large coffee cans he was supposed to crush. It also includes unfortunate moments of fear, of hearing three bullets flying over my head; to the horrible occasion when a comrade and I had to pick up the bodies of two American soldiers killed in action during the Tet Offensive. The account also includes the strange event that occurred throughout a memorial ceremony we held for forty-one fallen comrades. In the course of the ceremony, a dust devil formed and traversed the football field where we were formed. We interpreted it as a farewell message from our fallen friends. This was my stint in the United States Army during the time of the Vietnam War and of the Tet Offensive, a time when I saw death working overtime. It all started at the train station of Harvey, Illinois, on May 30, 1967 and ended in Fort Gordon, Georgia on May 29, 1969. It is real and it is true.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jake Taylor
• Release date: Oct 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9781945073250

Jake Taylor

My name is Jake Taylor; I'm an American who grew up in Mexico City until the age of 19. I'm also a veteran of the Vietnam War and, at present, I reside in the beautiful state of Florida where I have written all my books.About fifteen years ago, I found my new home. When I walked into this condo for the first time, I sensed that I had found my own writing studio. A few days later, the story line for the entire series of seven volumes of space adventures came to me. This changed my life completely and quite unexpectedly. At present, 2022, the seven volumes are finished, including their translations into Spanish and their illustrations.That particular series is full of adventures and intended for children eight years of age or older, adolescents, young adults and those who dare to dream about space travel with the purpose of creating a new civilization.I need to request a favor of you: “Please, help the animals.” Do whatever you can for them, thank you.

Book preview

And my helmet as a pillow

by

Jake Taylor

To my nephew Daniel S. L. Taylor

This is what I went through, Danny.

• • •

Copyright © 2022 by Jacob A. J. Taylor – all rights reserved.

Licensed Cover Image: csp79024039

Cover Design: yourebookcover.com

ISBN: 978-1-945073-25-0

First Electronic Edition: October 2022

Table of Contents

Chapter 1  Harvey, Illinois

Chapter 2  Physical Exam

Chapter 3  Wake-up, Zombies!

Chapter 4  Trip to Vietnam

Chapter 5  Trip to Company A

Chapter 6  The Tet Offensive

Chapter 7  The Prisoners of War

Chapter 8  Only in the Armed Forces

Chapter 9  A Red-Light District

Chapter 10  Our Saddest Day

Chapter 11  We Also Had Fun

Chapter 12  Short

Chapter 13  Preparations to Leave

Chapter 1

Harvey, Illinois

It had been a long trip by bus from Mexico City to Chicago and then to Calumet City. I arrived at Mrs. Siegfried’s home, my step-father’s sister, sometime in February 1967. Soon thereafter, I got a job in the same company I had worked for before: Inland Steel Company in East Chicago, Indiana. Everyone in the family knew that I was going to be drafted into the U.S. Army soon. But, in the meantime, I had to contribute for my room and board.

In addition to Mrs. Siegfried, the members of the family were her four sons and one daughter. I only remember the names of the following: Robert, who was the third son that everyone called Toy, I cannot remember the name of the fourth son, but his nickname was Jumbo, due to his height; the youngest was Gloria. She lived on the upper floor with her husband and son. The family had a little dog who did a rather curious thing every afternoon, right around five-thirty. The dog would run to a couch located next to a window facing the street. The dog would jump on that sofa and look at the street for a few minutes. Afterwards, the dog would get off the couch and return to his usual routine. Toy noticed my intrigued look about the behavior of the dog and said to me: Jake, the dog goes to the window every afternoon at around this time because it is waiting for my father who used to come home at about that hour.

What happened to your dad? I asked. He died in an industrial accident a few years ago and, ever since, the dog looks out the window expecting to see him. After a while, he gives up and continues with his own routine, Toy answered.

I remember that Toy had some funny stories to tell. Most of them pertaining to his youth. The one I remember best is when he and his friends, all boy scouts of about ten-years of age, found a fallen tree and decided to make a canoe out of it. Their main tool for this task were their axes which they had as part of their boy-scout gear.

It was the beginning of summer, started telling me Toy. One of the kids found this fallen tree and told us about it. So, we decided to make a canoe out of it using our axes. You can imagine how long the project would take. After about two months, we were getting there, but were under pressure because school would start in three weeks’ time. We hurried and completed the canoe, but we had a new problem, we had to take it across the road in order to launch it into the water.

With great difficulty, we were pushing the canoe across the road when a young fellow, driving a pickup truck saw us. He stopped and asked us if we needed help. We answered yes, and told him that we only needed help to bring the canoe across the road. He got out of his truck and grabbed a thick rope with which he tied the canoe. He then got on his truck again and slowly began to pull the canoe while we helped him by pushing it across the road. It worked, and, a few minutes later, our canoe was much closer to the lake. The young man picked up his rope, put it back where it belonged and continued on his way. We aimed the canoe towards the lake and began pushing it. However, as soon as the canoe was mostly on the water, it sank straight to the bottom as if made of lead. By now, Toy and I were laughing our heads off. You only do those crazy things when you are a kid, Jake, he said.

Gloria, Toy’s sister was married and she and her husband had just purchased a Cadillac DeVille automobile. The car had a yellow-creamy color and was, obviously, very elegant. What I remember about them is that upon their return from a pleasure ride, Gloria’s husband said: This is the best car money can buy. It was the first time in my life that I heard the expression: The best money can buy. Well, many years later I saw a documentary about Will Rogers, the famous cowboy, actor and comedian, who was speaking before a large group of representatives and senators near the Capitol and said: America has the best politicians money can buy.

Soon thereafter, I was working in the steel mill where I befriended a young fellow who told me that he too had been requested to take the physical examination to enter the Army. He knew that I was in the same ‘boat,’ i.e., waiting to get my orders to be inducted into the Army. He informed me that he had failed his physical. How come? I asked. He answered: The doctor said that I was too skinny. And what did you do? I inquired. I went on a diet and lost two more pounds. Of course, I was rejected by the Army and here I am.

About two-and-one-half-months went by during which I learned a few things. One of them was due to the crane operator who almost killed me. Instead of stoping the steel load on the center of the opened railroad car, he allowed the load to move towards me. I ducked, of course. I was furious and ran up the crane to his cabin and screamed at him. He apologized very sincerely and, a few days later we were back being friends. To patch things up, he invited me to have a drink in a local bar. He picked me up and we went to a place where there were no bars visible. You could only see normal houses. He parked the car and then, walking along with him on the sidewalk, he stopped and opened a door of an average-looking house. Well, in that part of the country, there are bars that do not advertise. You either know where they are, or you don’t. That’s what I learned that day. I also got quite drunk.

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