"Đông Hà, 1968", 4.875" x 7.75", Engraving, 2018
Thomas, Marine, Vietnam
Well by then oh I had learned long ago that every time somebody dropped a stripper clip the bulk loadable magazine, I’d pick it up. I’d find empty bandoliers and empty strippers and I’d pick them up until I literally humped 500 rounds. There’s no way I was going anywhere without my bandoliers. I had four loaded magazines and my loose bandoliers.
I don’t even know how long it lasted. From when I began to fire to when I stopped, it couldn’t have lasted more than two or three minutes at the at the most. That training worked - slow, accurate pick your target, hit it, go to the next one. I just finished with them and that’s when I got shot. I got shot through the lower right leg. I pushed myself off of the [armored car] and I landed on my face. I just knew I had to get away from the armor so I started pulling myself on my elbows and my hands. Everything stopped working. I just remember pulling my Ka-Bar off my side and running it upside my flak jacket, cutting the stuff loose, and by then I could pull myself. I had my flak jacket on but I didn’t have all this other crap dragging on the ground beside me, and I went for the ditch.
Well by then oh I had learned long ago that every time somebody dropped a stripper clip the bulk loadable magazine, I’d pick it up. I’d find empty bandoliers and empty strippers and I’d pick them up until I literally humped 500 rounds. There’s no way I was going anywhere without my bandoliers. I had four loaded magazines and my loose bandoliers.
I don’t even know how long it lasted. From when I began to fire to when I stopped, it couldn’t have lasted more than two or three minutes at the at the most. That training worked - slow, accurate pick your target, hit it, go to the next one. I just finished with them and that’s when I got shot. I got shot through the lower right leg. I pushed myself off of the [armored car] and I landed on my face. I just knew I had to get away from the armor so I started pulling myself on my elbows and my hands. Everything stopped working. I just remember pulling my Ka-Bar off my side and running it upside my flak jacket, cutting the stuff loose, and by then I could pull myself. I had my flak jacket on but I didn’t have all this other crap dragging on the ground beside me, and I went for the ditch.