Birddog dropping Chieu Hoi leaflets
It was happenstance that took me to Advisory Team 99 assigned to 25th Vietnamese Infantry Division in Duc Hoa in the middle of nowhere and far removed from the American military units. When I finally made the decision to remain in Vietnam for the extra combat pay and overseas pay, my replacement at US Army Signal Section had already been programmed. That left no available positions for me. I learned that Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) had numerous positions all over the country. A Specialist Five pointed me to a wall map and asked me to pick the area I wanted. My first three or four picks known to be relatively safe were unavailable in my administrative specialty. I finally found a part-time administrative position where I would be subject to perform "other duties as assigned".
This was not to be the best decision I ever made. Early on I learned the 25th Vietnamese Infantry Division was one of the least effective divisions in the Vietnamese Army. We were by what's called the "Parrot's Beak" bordering Cambodia. Classified documents at that time revealed the 25th Infantry was being considered for a plan to move into Cambodia at the Parrot's Beak to stop attacks by the enemy who would attack South Vietnamese units then quickly return to the Cambodian side to rest and reorganize. This plan was not executed until some time after I left Advisory Team 99.
After several months there and having met my obligation, it was time to move on. Advisory Team 99 was getting too hostile with the increasing number of casualties and the rockets, mortars and ground attacks. The psychological operations flights to which I was assigned added yet another element of danger to which I had not subscribed.
I caught a convoy to Saigon to see an optometrist for replacement eyeglasses. It was a thirty-minute appointment. That done, I went to have a real deal meal at the dining facility of the Military Assistance Command Vietnam's sprawling complex. I sat at a table where a lone Sp5 was sitting, and we started chatting. He asked me where I was assigned and told him my sad story about Advisory Team 99. He mentioned he was an assignments clerk at the headquarters. My good fortune! I told him I had completed my six-month obligation with Team 99 and asked him what it would take to get reassignment to a different (and safer) advisory team.
"Well”, he replied with a sly, evil grin, “I believe the going rate is two cases of beer."
"I can do that," I said excitedly. "How soon can you make it happen?"
We discussed my job specialty, current available positions and location preference. Seems there were several vacancies in the Mekong Delta. I asked about enemy activity and casualties in the Mekong Delta. He knew of no recent casualties reported.
“Then how come there are vacancies?” I asked.
“It’s probably because of folks completing their tour and returning back to the world.” he stated.
I accepted his lame reply and asked him to check on a vacancy for me so we could seal the deal by dinnertime. He gave me his work number, and I called him just before dinner. One position was available with Advisory Team 51, 21st Vietnamese Infantry Division, at Bac Lieu in the Mekong Delta. It could be mine if I wanted it. I asked him to lock it in for me, and I would take him the two cases of beer that evening.
I had already missed my return convoy back to Team 99, so I needed a place to bunk for the night. I met my contact at the dining facility that evening. When he handed me my orders for Advisory Team 51, I was dumbfounded. My job specialty was administration, but my orders were in the 11-series infantry specialty. I questioned this saying "Whoa. Wait. This is not right. I am not an infantryman. I am actually in administration. You got my specialty wrong.
He replied, "Well, it was the only available position in the Delta at the moment. You asked me to lock it in for you. If I did not mention it was an infantry series, I apologize. Anyway, not to worry. It is actually a security guard assignment with Team 51. You will not be out in the field as an infantryman."
I added, “But when infantry casualties occur, security guards are sent out as temporary replacements until a permanent replacement arrives.” He had never been out in the field. He did not know that. Reluctantly and with controlled fear and somewhat of a heavy heart, I accepted my new orders hoping it would be a safer environment than Advisory Team 99. By this time in my Vietnam tour, I was pretty much willing to accept whatever fate handed me. I found out there were some extra bunks in his barracks. He gave me the barracks information. From the dining facility, I walked to the PX, bought his two cases of the cheapest beer I could possibly find and delivered it to him that evening. He was not even fazed by the cheap nasty beer. I never again saw him.
Before I left for my advisory team, I went to see my friend Papasan Bich and traded my month’s rations of cigarettes and liquor for pot and Piaster1. I told Papasan Bich about my transfer to Bac Lieu. In an exaggerated manner, he snubbed out his cheap Vietnamese cigarette in the ashtray turning it back and forth without looking at me and asked "And you ask go Bac Lieu, friend?"
"Yes, Papasan. Duc Hua is getting too dangerous for me. I wanted something safer."
"And you think Bac Lieu safer?" he asked. "Bac Lieu very dangerous place, friend. You make bad decision."
I trusted Papasan Bich to be well informed about enemy activity and felt a tingling in the back of my neck, but I played it tough telling him "No problem, friend. I will come see you and bring you all my liquor and cigarettes."
I caught a convoy back to my Team 99 that afternoon. I was apprehensive about my next assignment, but I was totally glad to be leaving Team 99. Despite Papasan's warning I was still thinking that just perhaps Advisory Team 51 would be less hostile to me.
I left Advisory Team 99 about a month later. Captain Ferguson, our team’s admin officer, stopped me as I was leaving for the airstrip to catch a chopper to my next assignment. “You know, boy, I just learned about you flying psyops missions dropping those goddamn Chieu Hoi2 leaflets over enemy territory. Seems you exposed yourself to enemy fire, and I was not aware of that until now. Now tell me, Ojeda, why the fuck would you want to go and do something stupid like that?”
I assured the captain that it had not been a voluntary undertaking but done at the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Jungerheld.
"Well", he said, "Jungerheld is one hell of a nice guy, but he had no goddamn right sending you up there. I would’ve put a stop to that shit if I’d known about it.”
The kind captain had reason to be concerned. While dropping leaflets we would get shot at with rounds actually penetrating the outer skin of the Birddog. While on flying missions I would always sit on my flak vest to shield me from penetrating rounds. Once we received ground fire, the experienced Air Force lieutenant colonel would drop straight down leveling off almost at treetop level. We'd go straight back to our Advisory Team where mechanics would inspect the plane to insure no cables or fuel lines were damaged then patch up the damaged skin readying the Birddog for our next mission. Life had become somewhat of a crapshoot, and I often wondered just how many more times I would make it back safely before I became another casualty of the Vietnam era.
As I was leaving the team, I asked the captain how he and his colonel buddy3 were getting along.
“Well, I haven’t killed that sonnavabitch yet - not just yet!” he replied. “Now, get the hell out of my team, Ojeda. You’re no longer welcomed here!”
I caught a helicopter to Tan Son Nhut and spent a couple of days there before reporting to my next assignment, Advisory Team 51, 21st Vietnamese Infantry Division at Bac Lieu. I reported in to Advisory Team 51 hoping it would turn out to be a safer environment.
1 - Vietnamese Piaster was the standard South Vietnamese currency.
2 - Surrender leaflets were dropped over the local populations and over enemy territory. Enemy who surrendered with a Chieu Hoi leaflet were given special status and $50 for each enemy weapon they turned in.
3 - Captain Ferguson sustained a black eye when incoming new Senior Advisor Colonel Sanger cold-cocked him during a welcoming celebration.
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