John Hiemstra
Vietnam Diary
Web Page 6
THE BEST OF CHARLIE HORSE
VIETNAM
1 Nov 71 CE
Today was another day off. I
didn’t do anything really…boring! The sun did shine
though and the teams got in some blade time.
2 Nov 71 CE
I flew 2nd team today with Mr. Gary Richardson. Nothing
exciting to record. Mr. Marvin Quinn got a monkey from
one of the SERT instructors. Her name is JoJo. She
is very friendly and oh so curious and mischievous.
3 Nov 71 CE
We did enough today, Ke Sanh, Da Krang (we did CS gas drops),
608, Cabbage Patch, and the Red Devil road. Beady got
shot at today north of A2. We didn’t take any hits
though. I flew with Capt Dobbs (our new platoon
commander) today. I hope to make a favorable impression
upon him. JoJo nearly cut the tip of her left index
finger off. It sure looks bad. The doc gave her
some shots but said nature would just have to take its course.
4 Nov 71 CE
I was on standby today; I really didn’t do anything at
all. Both teams shot up some gooks near FSB Nancy.
The gooks even were sporting enough to shoot back at the guys!
5 Nov 71 CE
Today I did not fly. The sun was out so a lot of flying
was done. A 2/17 has been getting shot up pretty badly
out in the Ashau valley.
6 Nov 71 CE
I went up to the “Z” (DMZ) today. I flew with Capt
Becker today. Deady was shot at but not hit. The
ceilings were low so we really didn’t do much.
7 Nov 71 CE
Again I flew with Capt Becker, 2nd team this time. We
worked out of A3 a little in the morning. I didn’t fly
in the afternoon because of a problem between Capt Becker and
myself in the cockpit. I was not feeling well nor was
he. He got curt about my flying and I told him
off! Not a good idea with a Capt.
8 Nov 71 CE
Today I flew with Capt Mills for the first time. I
really enjoyed flying with him. We worked in the Da
Krang valley. It seems that the NVA are building up
their assets in this area. Deady was shot at three
separate here. The guns were shot at during the
runs. All the fire was AK-47.
9 Nov 71 CE
We spent the entire morning supporting ARVN insertions titi (a
little) south of blue east of FSB Ann. It was really
cool watching arty and ARA work the LZ over. Our job was
to scout out good touchdown spots in the chosen LZ.
Everything was timed down to the second! Avenger
(General Hill) oversaw the operation while States 1 (name
unknown) actually ran the operation. I thought it was
very well done. I flew with Jim Weisend today.
Rain prevented any afternoon missions being accomplished.
10 Nov 71 CE
I had the day off. Both teams went out west, shot up
trucks and tracked vehicles. AF (Air Force) and
Vietnamese planes bombed the area too. One ARA gun
(Cobra) lost its tail rotor and spun in. The crew got
out with cuts and burns. 28 (Capt Carey) had an engine
failure by Ca Lu where he successfully autorotated the
aircraft in. I guess we’ll get the Slick (Huey) out
tomorrow. The ARPs have it secured tonight. Capt
Mills was told today that he had killed an NVA trooper with
nails (flechettes about the size of a nail) yesterday on one
of his rocket passes into LZ 5. This makes him very
happy. It was his 166th confirmed kill. He flew
scouts on his previous tour, personally killing 165 gooks.
11 Nov 71 CE
I was on standby today. The two teams have been shooting
up trucks and bulldozers out on 616. I pulled officer of
the guard this evening.
12 Nov 71 CE
I slept most of the day since I was up all night (with the
guard duty). The teams went back out the truck park
again today.
13 Nov 71 CE
We didn’t do much today. I did a GCA (ground controlled
radar approach) with Capt Mills into Camp Evans which was fun.
14 Nov 71 CE
We didn’t do much today. We flew around QT and sat down
the rest of the day at Camp Evans. I spent the evening
getting ready for a CMI (military inspection)
15 Nov 71 CE
The CMI team arrived this morning…we sent all the aircraft we
could get up to avoid the TI (technical inspection)
teams. We did work out on QL9 at the Laotian border.
Deady took a hit in his main rotor spar making it necessary to
set the helo down at Ke Sanh airstrip. We hooked
(airlifted by Chinook) the LOH without incident. We
received a “Satisfactory” on the CMI which is what we wanted.
16 Nov 71 CE
I was off today, really not much to tell. The LOH was
shot at again today on 616 but that’s normal! An
Australian floor show played at the club tonight. They
were good.
17 Nov 71 CE
I had standby with Capt Becker today. I and Sp4 Banchblt
flew 110 out to the beach for a test flight following
maintenance. Sure was fun! Both teams took fire
today on the Laotian salient. Marv (Quinn) and
Rickabaugh both claim three kills! Poor Smith got his
teeth busted up in a brawl at the Redskins club tonight.
Goes to say that clubbing can be unhealthy!
18 Nov 71 CE
I flew with Richardson today. We did Ke Sanh, the Red
Devil road, Raakasan (I saw where the Cobra went down, still
in good shape aside the river!). Not much happened
today. 32 had his ship 624 catch fire at the POL
(refueling point) at QT but were able to put the fire
out. Bob Ramsey made AC (aircraft commander)
today. His call sign is 41. He certainly is happy!
19 Nov 71 CE
I flew with Cocherell and 41 (Ramsey) in 2nd team today,
spending the entire day with ARA and AF bombing the place (we
were working). We found two trucks, 3 scout cars, a 37mm
AA (anti-aircraft) gun, and large bunkers. We received
.51 cal fire in the area.
20 Nov 71 CE
There was nothing as exciting today as yesterday. First
team went back out to the truck park we found yesterday.
After all that bombing, rocketing, and strafing, only about
half the vehicles there were damaged! Ugh! They
found four gooks there and shot them up but don’t know if they
got a kill out of it. I was on standby so I didn’t fly.
21 Nov 71 to 30 Nov 71 CE no diary notes exist
25 Nov 71 CE (from my recollections)
What a day! Thanksgiving! Turkey!