I was stationed at Phu Bai, 2/9, 81 Mortars. My older brother was with 1stReconBn at Chu Lai. When time would allow we would take turns and catch a hop back-n-forth to visit each other. Finally the scare of my life happened around Feb 1967. I recieved a letter from… with a return address from Gen Westmoreland. My first thought why am I getting a letter from the General. Opening the letter I read the words I dreaded to read. My brother was MIA. I freaked out. After getting myself to calm down I went to my CO and asked permission to go to Chu Lai and find out what happen to my brother. Permission was granted and I was advised not to start WW III. I said my farwell and loaded up my overnight bag with grenades and boxes of 45 ammo. I had all the intention of shooting every villager if necessary to find out what happened to my brother. Upon arrival at the helo pad at 1stReconBn I met the SgtMaj who did a double look at me thinking I was Sgt Jim Griffith and then realized I was his brother Sgt Don Griffith he smiled and inquired if I was here to find out about my brother's MIA status. The SgtMaj explained the screw up with the status lableling my brother as a MIA when it was suppose to be not due to action. The screw up was a C-130 landed at Chu Lai and my brother was due to rotate back to the good old USA. his flight went directly to Okinawa and by-passed Da Nang where he was suppose to check in. So the military had him AWOL/UA. My notification indicated MIA. I got on the HAM radio and called my Mother and explained the mistake and to assure her, her Son is safe. Then I heard a laughter in the back ground and I sensed my mother didn't seem to be very much alarmed about the whole screw up. Then I asked my Mother who is in the house? She replied; Do you want to speak with your brother Jim ? He's sitting here laughing. Talk about freaking out and angry at the same time I chewed his butt out with some choice words until the HAM radio operator had to calm me down and told me I couldn't use that kind of language on the radio. The end of this story turned out great. I didn't get to go to the village and terrorize the local and go to jail for murder… But I think I aged a few years faster then just being in Vietnam. Attached is a copy of the radio msg explaining the screw up. Semper Fi Brother,
Don Griffith