Page 180 - Echo 127

doubted that my ‘luck’ would hold up the second time. I also have to admit that I was not pleased with the way our Marine Corps was being used in Viet Nam— the decisions that were being made or the politics of defending a Country that didn’t seem to want to defend itself!
The total number of KIA in Viet Nam in 1965 was 1,928; in 1966 it was 6,350; in 1967—-11,363; 1968—that number grew to 16,899. @ 63 These casualties were growing because of the incredible stupidity of our own government and top commanders in the field. We had the numbers—we had the equipment —yet— inexplicably, our commanders were sending ‘platoons’ into the hills to search for ‘regiments’ of the enemy. The VC simply observed when our troops came in by chopper—they retreated to pre prepared fortifications—lined up their troops in superior numbers and proceeded to ambush and annihilate our Marines on many occasions.
I had done well in the Marine Corps.—I had been meritoriously awarded a slot at OCS after two years in Recon- I had been promoted to Captain less than two years after being commissioned a second Lieutenant and I was currently number 43 on the ‘major’s list’ for promotion to major after only four years as a commissioned officer—I had been a platoon commander—a staff officer—an OCS platoon leader and served on independent duty with the command of the Recruiting Station for Virginia—my career path was very bright.
I weighed all of the above very carefully but the one overriding concern above all else was my family—I simply did not want to leave Kay and our two beautiful children and face the prospect of me not coming back. This tour would have
180