Vietnam XMAS Eve
Twas the Night Before Christmas,
When all through the House
The Creatures were stirring
and shooting up the place
On Christmas Eve 1969 I arrived in Vietnam. It was gently raining. A very large hill loomed inland over the Danang airport swathed in bright perimeter lights like a halo in the mist. It was impressive and beautiful and frightening. There was a great deal of firing and flares from the hill and some of the new guys thought we were under attack.
We ran into a large building, One Marine shouted, "They're really getting hit up there. Take cover!"
I moved to the Hill - Hill 327 a month later and found out that there had been no attack. It was simply a "lighting it up" impromptu firex to celebrate Christmas. Of course no one would openly admit that. You could fire at noises or sounds, so the troops were firing on Christmas eve at numerous noises and sounds.
Nice and impressive fireworks.
I moved to the Hill - Hill 327 a month later and found out that there had been no attack. It was simply a "lighting it up" impromptu firex to celebrate Christmas. Of course no one would openly admit that. You could fire at noises or sounds, so the troops were firing on Christmas eve at numerous noises and sounds.
Nice and impressive fireworks.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
Photos source: 1970 Vietnam
http://peerintothepast.tumblr.
