Chapter Three
Excerpt from the book (continue...)
For the North Vietnamese troops, these tunnels were fighting bases, capable of providing continuous support. The bases were well hidden from American spotter planes, and the remote swamps and forests provided ample cover from air and ground alike. Vents were installed in order to hear approaching helicopters. Smaller vents were used for air. There were hidden doors and punji traps. At deeper levels, there were chambers for arms factories and a well for a steady water supply. There were storage rooms for weapons and rice, and hospitals for guerrillas. Communication tunnels connected one base with another. The tunnels not only allowed guerrilla communication, but they allowed surprise attacks, even within the U.S. military bases.
Weaponry changed. The Viet Cong arsenal-handmade but deadly-included booby traps, pits, rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, and recoilless rifles. Recovered American shells and bombs were turned into traps, mines, or another explosive devices. One of the most common, and hated, mines was nicknamed the "Bouncing Betty." It was triggered by the release of pressure on the mechanism. The soldier could stand on a Bouncing Betty, hear the arming mechanism operate and know perfectly well that if he moved his foot, the mine would jump in the air and blow up at chest height. Mortars were easily portable and easy to operate, their main appeal being their extensive flight time. A mortar team could set up a position out of the sight of the enemy, fire a number of rounds, and be moving away from the firing sight before the first rounds even hit their target.
The list of non-explosive booby traps was just as deadly, including punji stakes, bear traps, crossbow traps, spiked mud balls, double-spike caltrops, and scorpion-filled boxes. The punji stake was by far the most common booby trap weapon. It was a shoot of bamboo or metal with needle-like tips that had been hardened by fire. These tips were often coated with excrement, poison or other contaminants to cause infection. Designed to "fix," or locate American troops, punji stakes caused a wound that, if not treated within 24 hours, often required amputation. When victims were medivaced out, the Viet Cong often shot down the helicopters.
When Tommy J. arrived at the Da Nang air force base, he was assigned to Fox Company, 2nd battalion. The second Battalion, 1st Marine Division had recently completed its participation •in Operation Hastings during which many of its members had been wounded or killed, including the commanding officer. Captain Gene Deegan assumed command of Fox Company during late August 1966. Deegan was well-liked and respected, with a genuine concern for his men. In Fox Company, Tommy's job would be to conduct search and destroy missions, and run ambushes and combat patrols.