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and four days back to the Battalion perimeter. This allowed troops to get hot showers, hot chow, receive the mail, wash their uniforms, maintain their weapons and gear and—rest. Even though we were supposedly back in a ‘rest area’ there were still work details, guard duty, meetings and inspections—all part of the Marine Corps way—stay ready to fight—rest didn’t really mean ‘rest’ —it meant ‘recharge’!
These ‘rest’ breaks were about the only time we could catch up with friends in other platoons and in other companies. I rarely saw Lt. Boryszewski , Lt. Kozak, Lt. Lloyd, Capt. Tolleson or Lt. Clancy unless we were back in the rear area. We did see one another occasionally when we were on a Company or Battalion Sweep or Operation. The same was true with my fellow officers from F, G, H and H& S Companies. I heard what other platoons—other companies were doing and I was proud to be a part of 2/7. We were accomplishing our mission by controlling our TAOR. That took everybody—every Marine—every platoon — every company and Battalion HQ. Qui Nhon was a vital supply depot with an airfield, shipping facilities and was critical to the operations of all Marine Units and Army Units in the mid section of Viet Nam.
Protection for the Secretary of Defense—Robert McNamara
On August 19th. the Defense Secretary , Robert McNamara, came to visit Qui Nhon and my platoon was selected to provide security at the airport for the
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