I was stationed at the Vinh Long Army Airfield in IV Corp which was referred to as the “Delta” because the Mekong River split up into several branches while heading to the ocean.
All air field personnel were responsible to pull perimeter guard duty several times during their year in Vietnam. The airfield had bunkers both ground level and some six feet tall. Surrounding the entire airfield. Each bunker had 4 soldiers plus an M60 machine gun.
Guard duty can be boring and stressful all in the same moment.
It was in the early part of my tour that I pulled guard duty at one of the ground level bunkers that was facing an Old French Orphanage near the canal than ran past our bunker. As I watched the canal for enemy activity the perimeter spot lights came on lighting up the entire perimeter. I had to adjust my night vision so I closed my eyes for a few seconds and when I opened them I could see much better. Guard duty can be boring and stressful all in the same moment.
I heard someone yelling off to my right and turned to see a soldier walking down the perimeter between the rows of barbed wire. He was waving his weapon as he walked down towards our bunker. I locked on him and had my M16 ready just in case it was an enemy ploy.
He stood in the bright circle made by the search light on the chopper.
One of the other soldiers with me called the Office-In-Charge to inform of the situation. He in return had a chopper go up and take a look. It paused just above the soldier in the perimeter who was now directly in front of me. He stood in the bright circle made by the search light on the chopper. He stood yelling then he put the barrel of his M16 under his chin and pulled the trigger. He fell like a sack of potatoes but it seemed like slow motion to me. I saw every detail of his suicide in slow motion that seemed to last for an eternity.
Today that scene still haunts me in my dreams and when I am alone with time to think.
DM Sheppard, US Army 292nd Finance Section, Vinh Long Army Airfield 1970.