THE DI AN DIARY--MEMOIRS FROM THE VIETNAM WAR/PART THREE: FROM RED ONE TO BLACK ONE
After a short while as Day Duty Tactical Operations NCO, I was asked to take a Vietnam survival-training course, which involved going on patrols, advanced map topography, and advanced U. S. and enemy weapon training. The duration was only a couple of weeks. At this point I was still a “cherry” as I had not been exposed to patrol in the field. This was probably only about 8-10 weeks after I had arrived, and was expedited by the return of the regular Day Duty NCO, an E-7 Sergeant First Class. My time as an operator in the Tactical Operation Center appeared to be over, and I was assuming that after the course, I would be deployed to a Big Red One combat unit. The intense two week regimen just completed seemed to point to the conclusion. I was both right and wrong. I was personally thanked by Colonel John Carley, the Brigade Commander, and Sergeant-Major Demarinus for my work in the TOC, and they expressed that they were very pleased with my comprehension and e...