ONLY ONE SPEED IN REVERSE
My name is John Gerber a USMC 1970 Viet-Nam vet assigned to 1st FSR/FLC Rat. Co . Along with our regular duties and the shortage of grunts we at FLC did all our security, patrols and shotgun duties every day. It was on one summer day when I was assigned to ride shotgun with three other Marines, to deliver supplies to an orphanage somewhere in Happy Valley that we were almost all killed. As we past the last artillery outpost I wondered why we were sent so far out without an escort or a radio, I guessed this was a secured area. Miles into the ride as we came up a sharp turn heading into tree line, we ran right into approx. 25 to 30 vc, they were sitting, laying down and standing ,taking a break. WoW, our truck driver, whom I don't know, stopped immediately and scanned the situation. We were just as surprised to see them as they were to see us, I was locked and loaded and realized we were out numbered and this was the end. As I took aim at the one VC holding the RPG, our driver, a corporal told us to “cool it don't fire” thinking he would put his truck in reverse so we could shoot our way out, he did the unexpected and drove right into them. To my surprise they made a hole and let us pass without firing a shot. Our driver told us that he only had one speed in reverse, “slow” but forward he had many speeds, giving us a fighting chance. In all these years I often thought of that lucky day and why we were not all killed, but the thing that bothers me the most is that we didn't write up this cool headed ,brave young Marine, he saved our lives and should have been given a medal, truly a Marine Hero!!!! He was assigned to seventh motor transport battalion FLC, Red Beach and he used a 50 cal. shell for a shifter knob. So if your reading this corporal I thank you.
Sgt. John Gerber USMC 1969-75,SEMPER FI