I first arrived at Con Thien after Christmas day 1967 as a radio operator with HST ( Helicopter Support Team). We were a small team of three and lived and lived together in one bunker and, of course the gooks had the place registered, so every time we had to go out and bring a chopper in ( helicopters seem to have some magnetic attraction to artillery shells!!!) we always had a foot race to get back to the bunker before the shit hit the fan!! Most times it was a draw....
This one particular day there were no choppers due...Charlie was just having target practice and must have had nothing more constructive to do because they hit us with a shitload of incoming, so there wasn't much we could do but pretend to be scared shitless and just play cards....As the intensity increased we decided that we had better find a corner that looked the safest ( opposite the door )( you know I am sure I was holding a winning hand when someone suggested that!!)
The scream of incoming just kept getting louder and the KARUMP ( why isn't it that we can't describe to anyone else what that sounds like??) of impacts were rattling the various works of art we had hanging on the walls ( you know...Miss December, Miss April...) We then found that we were trying to burrow into the wall while laughing and giggling about how we were going to die. ( seems to make it easier if you can die laughing!!)
Then Jimmie, I remember hearing a really loud drawn out scream of a shell and then there is a blank in my mind and all I remember is opening my eyes and the air was just a swirling mess of swirling dirt and smoke with sand bags and timber beams lying all over the place. A ray of sunlight was streaming in through the roof at an angle and with all the dirt swirling around it looked like a religous happening and I half expected to see God standing there with his arms outstretched beckoning us to go with Him...I didn't hurt anywhere and that's what worried me!!! I couldn't feel anything?? I was just numb in body and spirit and I was just coming to terms with the fact that I was dead, and so this is what it feels like... when someone calls from up top asking if we were OK. It seemed to break the spell that we all seemed to be in and we were able to yell out that we were OK, and we started to dig our way out.
The bunker took a direct hit right in the middle of the roof Jimmie....
Thank you my Brother...I don't know what else to say that would even come close to describing the way I am feeling while writing this, but I think you know...
I hope you enjoy your drink Jimmie.....
God Bless You and Semper Fi
Bob Depeau USMC
I wrote that letter and sent the Port
because it was the only way I could think of,
from this distance, to say
thank you
for just being the guy that built that bunker that ultimely saved
my life.
What I would like to see proceed the letter on your web site
is a
short story explaining the circumstances
that led me to write the
letter....
I want people to know what you did and how a brotherhood can form
and exist even without personal contact.....
and that spiritual
relationships are the real foundation for our brotherhood.....
Can you do that for me please??
Wishing you a very merry Christmas
and and all the very best for the new
year....
Semper Fi
Bob & Cheryl DePeau
Addy is wanda@vci.net
Webpage is http://geocities.datacellar.net/Pentagon/5300/
Home is Jimmie Alexander
625 Wadesboro Road
Paducah, KY 42003
I think Jim told you that your letter was now on our page.
He is still
overwhelmed by your words and thoughts.
Was glad to add such an experience on our website
for others to share.
Not
many good things to be said and any are welcome.
Again,
know that we celebrated life and the Brotherhood with the Australian
Port.
We haven't drank liquor since losing Jamie
and were pleasantly surprised
by
the Port. Very exquisite......
Take care and God bless.
Remember Christ this Season
and hope you and
yours
are happy and safe.
Much regards
Jimmie and Lonewolf
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
