N. of Quang Tri City, 12/67;
w/ 1st Eng. attached to 1/1 running the waterpoint/shower unit, watching the Christmas celebratory fireworks from all the OPs along the Z. Didn't realize how close to the Z I was until then.
New Years '68: same light show except I "found" a case of pop flares for us engineers to set off at midnight. I had to instruct the new guys how to operate/fire them but, true to form, some guy missed the sandbag, firing the flare in the horiz. pos rather than the vert. So we watch it shoot straight down the company street. We ran back in the tent, and sat around like nothin'. Soon some yelling was heard and an SNCO ran in asking about this flare. He said no one was hurt, but the flare shot between the 1st Sgt and someone else (C.O.?) while they were talking on the street. We just looked at each other and said we didn't know nothin'.
Anyway, just wanted to add to the great posts juggling my brain. Thanks Marines.
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Terminal L/Cpl -Waterman