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17 C H A P T E R 2 COMPANY CHECKOUT We headed out on Sunday, May 24, 1970, for the home base of the 71st Assault Helicopter Company. It was a dry, sandy road, and our jeep left a light cloud of dust as we traveled down it. The company area was situated along the South China Beach, about a mile from the Chu Lai airstrip. As we traveled down the dirt road, my mind ran wild with excitement. Changing units was a lot like moving to a new job. You are excited about the future and what it has in store for you, yet you are also sad and lonely, for it is not easy to re-adjust and make new friends. As our jeep pulled around the bend, I saw the South China Sea. It had the most beautiful, glistening, white sandy beach that I had ever seen. I instantly felt the cooling breeze coming off the water as it swept across my face. Our driver pulled into the company area and stopped in front of the orderly room. I jumped out and pulled my gear out of the jeep. One of the first things you were required to do upon arriving at your new unit was to report to the orderly room and sign in. Being as trustworthy as I was, I set my equipment down outside and entered the orderly room. I pulled my orders out and presented them to the company clerk. He looked them over and told me to sign in. I reported to the commanding officer, Major Tommie James. Major James welcomed me to the unit and gave me a short briefing of the 71st operations. The 71st was part of the 14th CAB and would fly support for both the 196th Light Infantry Brigade and the 2nd Army Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Division. The tactics used in Vietnam were different from the tactics used in previous wars. Rather than trying to acquire 18 R A T T L E R O N E – S E V E N territory, our goal in Vietnam was to locate and destroy the enemy and their supplies. Once the enemy was found, our troops relied on artillery and air strikes to help destroy them. These missions were called search-and-destroy missions. Due to this type of tactic, our area of operation (AO) had several fire-support bases (FSB) to give the necessary artillery support. Another concept that was introduced in Vietnam warfare was air mobility. The army would use the helicopter to transport the troops and their supplies while working in their AO. When the enemy was located, helicopters quickly transported the infantry soldiers into battle. These insertions were referred to as combat assaults. Air mobility was the job of the 71st AHC. When Major James finished my briefing, I was shown to my new quarters, where I was assigned a corner section of a hootch similar to the ones that we had been staying in previously, only these hootchs were a little smaller and they had partitions set up between the bunks. A bunk and a small locker were the extent of my furniture. When I returned to the orderly room to pick up my belongings, I noticed that my flight helmet was gone. Someone had stolen it. At this point, I began to realize this was going to be a different world from what I was accustomed. I immediately reported the theft to the orderly room. Even though I was new to the company and had yet to meet anyone, I felt a strong reaction to the theft of my helmet. It was hard not to take a theft personally. It did not take the first sergeant long to find out who had stolen my helmet. He appeared to be well acquainted with what was happening in the company area. A couple of enlisted men had done the dirty deed. The first sergeant felt that because the helmet was returned, no harm was done, and no punishment was needed. This did not sit right with me, but since I was new to the unit I felt it was best not to make a fuss. This incident did not make me feel very welcome to my new home. After my helmet was returned, I was taken for a tour of the company area, and was shown the location of the supply office where I would be getting the rest of my equipment. I...

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