My Dad recently shared a story with me about one of his experiences in Viet Nam that I thought some of you might find enjoyable . It came about during a conversation as to whether a taser would be a good defense against an angry bull . I hope you enjoy it as much as I did .
<span style="font-weight: bold">My experience with cattle prods and bulls are the same as a hand held against a knife wielder. By the time a bull gets that close he's going 250 mph and has the inertia of a coal fired locomotive. Perhaps a very cool shooter with a 45 or larger pistol maybe would slow him down enough to only cripple you for life.
My experience happened in October of 65. I was with the 4th Marines up out of Phu Bai on a "mild run" patrol. We had a new Lt to familiarize with the AO we were working in. He, the Lt, was Gung Ho and wanted to run the show/patrol. Not a good thing as he had his head somewhere to the rear of his naval. The Sgt heading up the patrol was well seasoned and had all his best Marines lined out. We, the top of the heap, deserved a break now and then and a milk run was just what the doctor ordered. We were pooped from a mess of small actions we'd been involved in and the constant harassing fire we took. That and dysentery had really kicked my butt.
As the patrol moved out we passed the LOD (line of departure) and got ready for the hump. I finished my radio checks and made sure I had arty (artillery) on the hook in case someone got anxious on Mr. Charles side of the fence. I loved arty - and hand grenades. We passed through the wire and headed across the big field towards the first tree line. Nada there so we filed across the tree line dikes and out into the land of the rice plants. We were pretty familiar with the locals there and were not expecting trouble so we were walking along the dikes. Waving to the kids and passing out chocolate and goodies. Doc was doing a few med checks on some of the locals he'd been treating for eye problems and what we called "gook sores". Unhealing scratches that continually oozed puss and itched like a mother -
As we cleared the closer areas we started paying more attention as we were definitely in Indian country now. We were between out base at Phu Bai and the little ville of Tue Lan where the Armed Angels were at. They were a Marine CAC (Combined Action Company) Company that lived in the ville and helped them with everything from harvest to digging a well and ville defense. Great bunch and always happy to see each other. I never had any urge to be one of 6-12 Marines in the middle of Indian country surrounded by even more unknown Indians in their own space in time. But then again I am not a really brave guy.
As we crossed one dike there was a kid on a water buffalo on the edge of the paddy to our left. The Boo was not happy and the kid was nervous. Not a good sign. That he was there was somewhat relieving as the bad guys didn't usually come out where the kids were. At least in 65. Later it got worse. Anyway - I digress. The Lt wanted to know what was up with the Boo and the kid and none of us had an answer for him. The Sgt (can't remember his name) told the Lt to chill as it wasn't a large but the Lt wasn't hearing it. He insisted it was something.
Well Lt decided to make an issue of it and wanted us to get on line and move across the paddy in assault formation. Well poop the bed. There was only 12-13 of us and if it WAS a VC ambush we'd get our asses shot off. So we kinda slowed down a bit. My radio stopped working as the Lt wanted me to let HQ know what we were up to. A SitRep (situation report) was in order and I was dragging my feet a bit. Walking across a paddy full of water is kind of like one of those nightmares where you try to run? But your feet are in goo so thick you just can't. It'll suck the boots and socks right off of ya. I'm not a water fan either. I mean it's OK for showers and toothbrushing but to walk and swim in?
The Lt finally got all irate and we cooperated and got on line. As we stepped into the paddy we all knew it wasn't going to be good. It was nearly 2 miles to the other side (in my mind anyway) of that flippin paddy and nothing on the other side but the Boo, one Vietnamese kid, and probably a frickin reinforced company of Viet Cong armed to the teeth. Yippee skippee let me reenlist right now! I was slightly to the rear of the main lineup with the 60 gunner to my left. The Assistant gunner was clipping on a full belt of ammo to the 10 round belt that the gunner normally carried. No sense waiting for bad things to happen before arming up. The rest of us had already taken the safety's off and had spare mags in our belts and not in the pouch. Kinda like an M&Ms commercial only different.
The Lt was making lots of noise and waving his arms around with his 45 in hand. Very impressive but I wasn't sure just what he was talking about. I'd already talked to arty and they had battery fire ready on my preset point of request. No spotter round, just a buttload of 105/155 fire out the tubes. Hopefully in front of us and not among us. Lt had neglected this little piece of protection so I covered for him, since I was such a nice guy, and cause I didn't like getting shot.
As we closed with the Boo and the kid the Boo was getting more aggressive. He was swinging his head from side to side and spit was flying out from his mouth. The kid was flat scared as he knew the price of assaulting a Marine rifle squad with a Water Boo. And it wouldn't be pretty. 60 gunner was mumbling something about the Lt not being real sharp and I was talking to arty. Finally brown matter hit the whirly device.
The Boo had had enough of us in his space and decided to assault our sorry butts. Oh crap. I didn't even think. I just found myself assaulting the dike to my rear. 60 gunner got a few rounds off and then the gun jammed or something as they both unassed their position and began running my direction. Least I think they were as their noises were to my rear and staying steady. The squad almost as a unit turned and fled. Except for the Lt. He was standing in the middle of the paddy screaming unknown nonsense at us with his back to the Boo. I believe he was making inferences as to our manhood and parentage but I wasn't taking notes just kind of focusing on how the dike wasn't getting close enough near fast enough.
Then I looked over my shoulder to see where Mr. Boo (large hairy critters about to run my ass over always graduate to Mr. status) was and saw him coming hard on the Lt's ass. Praise Jesus! Always better to have a target close at hand than a bunch of them far away. It is SOOOO much easier to focus. My last eyeball of Lt was just as the Boo took him full in the back. He kind of blew up and disappeared into the paddy. I finally reached the paddy dike and went over the top about a 1/4 second before the 60 crew joined me. Both of us opened up on the Boo (Mr. only lasts until I regain superior firepower). I could see us hitting him and he was not slowing down that I could see. So I swapped mags and let fly with another 20 rounds.
By that time the whole squad was filling him with ballast. And down he went. Hard down. I hit him one more time in the head just to be sure and then turned my attention to the radio, The Armed Angels were on interogatory (WTF is happening out there) and I needed to let them know we were OK but were going to need a medivac. Then a frequency change and a call to the MAG at Phu Bai. Lt still was not visible and several of the squad were out there diggin him out of the mud. We were definitely going to need a Medivac as the Lt was not moving under his own steam. He looked bad. Heck - he was in bad shape. A ton of hairy assed mad as hell had just run him over and the only thing that probably saved his life was the thick mud had absorbed most of the going down impact.
The kid was hunkered down in the water shaking like a leaf and we were kind of laughing, nervously, at our close brush with that freakin Boo. Lt. was gaggin and chokin (served the asshole right) and Doc was working on him. I finally got a Dustoff on the way and had one of the Marines get some purple smoke ready for him coming in. A little bit later after the Lt was gone on his way to a Purple Heart and a permanent, Thank You Lord, removal from duty for the rest of his days. We all felt bad about the Boo as he had saved us from this ignorant Lt leading us for the next several months and probably saved several of our lives in the process. So we went ahead on to Tue Lan and from there came back home. Always a good patrol when you can come through the wire and clear your weapon.
Glad I didn't have a cattle prod that day. I saw that Boo take a lot of hits and still keep on coming.
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<span style="font-weight: bold">My experience with cattle prods and bulls are the same as a hand held against a knife wielder. By the time a bull gets that close he's going 250 mph and has the inertia of a coal fired locomotive. Perhaps a very cool shooter with a 45 or larger pistol maybe would slow him down enough to only cripple you for life.
My experience happened in October of 65. I was with the 4th Marines up out of Phu Bai on a "mild run" patrol. We had a new Lt to familiarize with the AO we were working in. He, the Lt, was Gung Ho and wanted to run the show/patrol. Not a good thing as he had his head somewhere to the rear of his naval. The Sgt heading up the patrol was well seasoned and had all his best Marines lined out. We, the top of the heap, deserved a break now and then and a milk run was just what the doctor ordered. We were pooped from a mess of small actions we'd been involved in and the constant harassing fire we took. That and dysentery had really kicked my butt.
As the patrol moved out we passed the LOD (line of departure) and got ready for the hump. I finished my radio checks and made sure I had arty (artillery) on the hook in case someone got anxious on Mr. Charles side of the fence. I loved arty - and hand grenades. We passed through the wire and headed across the big field towards the first tree line. Nada there so we filed across the tree line dikes and out into the land of the rice plants. We were pretty familiar with the locals there and were not expecting trouble so we were walking along the dikes. Waving to the kids and passing out chocolate and goodies. Doc was doing a few med checks on some of the locals he'd been treating for eye problems and what we called "gook sores". Unhealing scratches that continually oozed puss and itched like a mother -
As we cleared the closer areas we started paying more attention as we were definitely in Indian country now. We were between out base at Phu Bai and the little ville of Tue Lan where the Armed Angels were at. They were a Marine CAC (Combined Action Company) Company that lived in the ville and helped them with everything from harvest to digging a well and ville defense. Great bunch and always happy to see each other. I never had any urge to be one of 6-12 Marines in the middle of Indian country surrounded by even more unknown Indians in their own space in time. But then again I am not a really brave guy.
As we crossed one dike there was a kid on a water buffalo on the edge of the paddy to our left. The Boo was not happy and the kid was nervous. Not a good sign. That he was there was somewhat relieving as the bad guys didn't usually come out where the kids were. At least in 65. Later it got worse. Anyway - I digress. The Lt wanted to know what was up with the Boo and the kid and none of us had an answer for him. The Sgt (can't remember his name) told the Lt to chill as it wasn't a large but the Lt wasn't hearing it. He insisted it was something.
Well Lt decided to make an issue of it and wanted us to get on line and move across the paddy in assault formation. Well poop the bed. There was only 12-13 of us and if it WAS a VC ambush we'd get our asses shot off. So we kinda slowed down a bit. My radio stopped working as the Lt wanted me to let HQ know what we were up to. A SitRep (situation report) was in order and I was dragging my feet a bit. Walking across a paddy full of water is kind of like one of those nightmares where you try to run? But your feet are in goo so thick you just can't. It'll suck the boots and socks right off of ya. I'm not a water fan either. I mean it's OK for showers and toothbrushing but to walk and swim in?
The Lt finally got all irate and we cooperated and got on line. As we stepped into the paddy we all knew it wasn't going to be good. It was nearly 2 miles to the other side (in my mind anyway) of that flippin paddy and nothing on the other side but the Boo, one Vietnamese kid, and probably a frickin reinforced company of Viet Cong armed to the teeth. Yippee skippee let me reenlist right now! I was slightly to the rear of the main lineup with the 60 gunner to my left. The Assistant gunner was clipping on a full belt of ammo to the 10 round belt that the gunner normally carried. No sense waiting for bad things to happen before arming up. The rest of us had already taken the safety's off and had spare mags in our belts and not in the pouch. Kinda like an M&Ms commercial only different.
The Lt was making lots of noise and waving his arms around with his 45 in hand. Very impressive but I wasn't sure just what he was talking about. I'd already talked to arty and they had battery fire ready on my preset point of request. No spotter round, just a buttload of 105/155 fire out the tubes. Hopefully in front of us and not among us. Lt had neglected this little piece of protection so I covered for him, since I was such a nice guy, and cause I didn't like getting shot.
As we closed with the Boo and the kid the Boo was getting more aggressive. He was swinging his head from side to side and spit was flying out from his mouth. The kid was flat scared as he knew the price of assaulting a Marine rifle squad with a Water Boo. And it wouldn't be pretty. 60 gunner was mumbling something about the Lt not being real sharp and I was talking to arty. Finally brown matter hit the whirly device.
The Boo had had enough of us in his space and decided to assault our sorry butts. Oh crap. I didn't even think. I just found myself assaulting the dike to my rear. 60 gunner got a few rounds off and then the gun jammed or something as they both unassed their position and began running my direction. Least I think they were as their noises were to my rear and staying steady. The squad almost as a unit turned and fled. Except for the Lt. He was standing in the middle of the paddy screaming unknown nonsense at us with his back to the Boo. I believe he was making inferences as to our manhood and parentage but I wasn't taking notes just kind of focusing on how the dike wasn't getting close enough near fast enough.
Then I looked over my shoulder to see where Mr. Boo (large hairy critters about to run my ass over always graduate to Mr. status) was and saw him coming hard on the Lt's ass. Praise Jesus! Always better to have a target close at hand than a bunch of them far away. It is SOOOO much easier to focus. My last eyeball of Lt was just as the Boo took him full in the back. He kind of blew up and disappeared into the paddy. I finally reached the paddy dike and went over the top about a 1/4 second before the 60 crew joined me. Both of us opened up on the Boo (Mr. only lasts until I regain superior firepower). I could see us hitting him and he was not slowing down that I could see. So I swapped mags and let fly with another 20 rounds.
By that time the whole squad was filling him with ballast. And down he went. Hard down. I hit him one more time in the head just to be sure and then turned my attention to the radio, The Armed Angels were on interogatory (WTF is happening out there) and I needed to let them know we were OK but were going to need a medivac. Then a frequency change and a call to the MAG at Phu Bai. Lt still was not visible and several of the squad were out there diggin him out of the mud. We were definitely going to need a Medivac as the Lt was not moving under his own steam. He looked bad. Heck - he was in bad shape. A ton of hairy assed mad as hell had just run him over and the only thing that probably saved his life was the thick mud had absorbed most of the going down impact.
The kid was hunkered down in the water shaking like a leaf and we were kind of laughing, nervously, at our close brush with that freakin Boo. Lt. was gaggin and chokin (served the asshole right) and Doc was working on him. I finally got a Dustoff on the way and had one of the Marines get some purple smoke ready for him coming in. A little bit later after the Lt was gone on his way to a Purple Heart and a permanent, Thank You Lord, removal from duty for the rest of his days. We all felt bad about the Boo as he had saved us from this ignorant Lt leading us for the next several months and probably saved several of our lives in the process. So we went ahead on to Tue Lan and from there came back home. Always a good patrol when you can come through the wire and clear your weapon.
Glad I didn't have a cattle prod that day. I saw that Boo take a lot of hits and still keep on coming.
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