I served with the 525th MI Group in Vietnam from October 1966 to November 1967. My story is about the death of 23 young American military men on January 7, 1967 in Vietnam, and how one of those young men’s death had a lifetime affect on me.
These men ranged in age from 18 to 37 and were from all parts of our country. Most were 18 to 22 years old and lower ranking enlisted men. Three of these men were from my unit and they were driving a supply truck to our unit and were ambushed and killed. One of these individuals I knew from having served on perimeter duty. Our unit was not an active combat unit but every two weeks each of the enlisted men provided guard duty on the perimeter of our unit’s facilities.
On one of my guard duties I met Pedro, a man my age from New Britain, Connecticut. He was my age but we were from very different backgrounds. His family was from Puerto Rico and I was from the steel manufacturing area of Western Pennsylvania, but we were both American Soldiers.
On guard duty you provided guard duty for two hours and rested for four. During our break Pedro and I talked and shared our concerns and aspirations. I could see that Pedro was very apprehensive about being in a combat zone, and in my naive way I tried to encourage him. I told him we were lucky we were not in a combat unit, and we would safely return home after our 12 months of duty in Vietnam.
On the morning of January 8, 1967 I found out that Pedro and the other two soldiers in our unit were killed.
For 50 years, I have felt sorry for my shallow assurances to Pedro. Military men and women sign a blank check when they enter the Service and Pedro and the other 22 men paid the price on that day.
They are my brothers and I salute them and their families for the sacrifice they made in serving their country.