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C-2The Albuauerque TribuneMay 25, 1967Most Heavily Shelled Spot in WorldAt Gio Linh Near DMZ You Live Like a• iBy JIM LUCASStrl9[»-Naw»r4 Sia'I WriterGIO LINH. South Vietnam —No spoi in the world has been more heavily shelled since World War 11 than Cio Linh.A bare knob of a hill less than a mile from the Dc* milila rized Zone (DMZ) dividing I h e two Vielnams, it sits astraddle long-established North Viet r. o mese infiltration routes.From Gio Linh, U.S. Army 175 mm cannun and Marine 155 mm; artillery daily fire into the DMZ and into North Vietnam where two enemyj divisions are massed. IThis is country the Com-Lueasas their own. They want desperately . to knock out Gio Linh.Since February, when we first moved in. the 505 officers and men ac Gio L i;n h have absorbed more than 51)00 rounds of Communist ar-iThat is all a man can take and still function normally. An old Navy hospital chief. Perry Sonnier of Lake Charles, La., remarked one night after a particularly vicious shelling:“It lakes a lot out of a mantillery and mortar fire. Abouljsecing 40 men have been killed. Several hundred more have been wounded.5 Killed .I have spent five days at Gio Linh—much of that time underground. In those five days, J78 enemy shells hit the encampment, barely 300 yards wide and 100 yards long. Five men were killed in Ihot lime; 46 were wounded.At Gio Linh you live like a mole, you act like a mole.Pretty soon you start thinking like a mole.Only 30 Days Artillerymen sent lo Giothese kidsI've• t ;* ’ 1 * • • i * • •aged 40 years since I camels' tuned lo the soujid of In-ends after that-to save: yourup here.’ One Ear At first J was puzzled because men I was talking io seemed not to be listening;.Actually, I discovered'they hear every word you say. But only with one car. The othercoming rounds.It's a. peculiar sound, one you're nett*- apt; to forget.There's adisfaritpop, then a low.whine! In the midst of a conversation, a man will say “incoming!” or -simply “gel down! You have four see-munists long have regarded Linh stay 3D days a I a lime.; ‘Inriinn f)nnr/a fn Clnsptbfe. . ..^ High Morale “ . Yet morale is high. These kids come up whistling and singing, shouting (heir defiance- at “Charley. Officers can't make them wear their flak jackets.Whenever, I think of Gio Linh from now on. I’ll remember Maj. A1 Gray, their commander, yelling: *AU right, you heroes, put on those flak vests and don't let. me have lo warn you again!Idcnl Target Major Gray concedes Gio Linh is an ideal target. The Communists have pinpointed every installation there. The mess hall, for instance, is hit at least once a day. The men sometimes go without n hot meal when their kitchen ranges are knocked out. But more ranges are always brought up from the rear.Going to chow, you plot your course.. You . make a dash for a truck and hold up behind it. Then you run for a trench and’ halt' there. After that, you make a break for the protective cover of a sandbagged hunker. After .a. while, . you reach,the bunker where breakfast is being served.4 Cups •One morning, I poured four cups of coffee before I drank one.Someone always yelled “incoming'’ and I spilled it.On anolher occasion the Communists opened up with a particularly heavy barrage. Ten or 12 of us crowded into one covered irench. •Dirt and Rocks It was .dark inside, andthose in the rear couldn’t move. Rounds were popping all over the place, throwing dirt and rocks in on us.A kid up front yelled '‘Char, ley. you dirty bastard!” From directly behind; me, another youngster said quiet 1-y; “Don't be. cussing the man. He's only doing his duty sajue as you do yours, and -that'sthe truth,It was incongruous. Half turning, I asked:'“Where are you from, soldier? •“Oklahoma, he replied, “Where in Oklahoma? !. “Ever hear of .Chccotah?”There are • 2100 people . in Cheeolah, Okla. I was bornthere.dIffmmIAttention!GRADUATIONSPECIALSSave! Save! __ L.fl * -
Newspaper Details
Albuquerque Tribune
Albuquerque, New Mexico, US
Thu, May 25, 1967
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Gerald F.
NA, 16 Apr 2018
Other Publications Near Albuquerque, New Mexico
Industrial Advertiser and Weekly News
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Albuquerque Daily Journal
Albuquerque Weekly Journal
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