I pointed out to her that,-"To insure that would happen, I would have to volunteer"- She asked, which unit ?

My Answer, The 173d Airborne Brigade.

I sent in my request.- I had the feeling, that the brigade would make a combat jump- Sometime ?

I had a problem though ! "I needed surgery for double Hernia's- I just had to get that fixed. The Hospital at Ft. Polk, did not see that as an emergency, they asked for orders, which I did not have yet ! It was a struggle. However I made it happen.

The morning after surgery, I had asked my wife to bring me a news paper. When I spread the paper- front page, in Big letters- 173d Airborne makes parachute drop in Viet Nam. Can you imagine, what I felt like recovering from surgery, and getting those news ?

The next day in the hospital, I get the news from our company clerk- he says Sarge, I have orders for you for Viet Nam !- I said 173d Airborne, Right ?

No, It's another unit. I said well, no I can't go then ! He said sorry, but you have to go with these orders. Needless to say, I very depressed. The next day, my first Sgt. drops in for a visit, he says Sarge I have orders for you for Viet Nam, sorry it had to be while still in the hospital.

Yes, I already know about my orders. He said no, these are different orders, you are going to the 173d, and I 've already called AG, and they said the last orders, are the ones that counts. Great, just Great !

How about the surgery ? well, the doctor told me that he would give me a deferment, until I had recovered. Gee, Thanks Doc, but I have already missed out on the combat jump. Thanks, I'll go, I'll be okay. In Viet Nam-while I was waiting for shipment at Ccamp Alfa, one morning after chow- I stopped at the shipping point- I thought I might just recognize someone coming through ?

Low-and behold, the young specialist reading the names off the roster couldn't pronounce the name- it sounded like mine ? I asked, Yep ! Sure was. I asked him where those people were going ? He said, Big Red One. Oh no, I'm going 173d, He said you have to get your gear and load up. No way, I asked for the person in charge, he did not like it. That's okay, I went and talked to the E-8 in charge. First question-Are you jump qualified ? Affirmative ! Well "The Herd" needs NCO's like everyone else! It will be a couple of days before I can get you out. "Big grind on my face, take your time Sarge- Thanks."

When I arrived at An Khe the next day. That evening, I stopped at the club. Standing in the middle of the room was my Ole first Sgt. from Ft. Polk, and my friend whom had helped expedite my orders to The Herd. Their first question- where are you assigned? I said 3d Batt. 503d- Their reaction. Heck, those Sky Soldiers are always fighting, and that's dangerous.

Gee, so ?? They said tomorrow we will check into changing your orders to our unit- 1st Cav. I said heck no, are you Nuts ! I will report to the 3d 503d (Period) Thanks. When I arrived at LZ English, I was assigned to Bravo Company 3d Batt.

One of the first things I did was to report to the Battalion Surgeon, to check the progress of my surgery?

After his check the Col. said, well Sgt. it still needs some healing. I will give you ! light duty, and stay here in the rear area. I said Sir; Thank you, but if I wanted to stay behind, I would have done that at Ft. Polk, and I could have stayed with my family a few more days?- Thank you Sir, but, I just want to record it just in case. I have to get to my job. He said Okay, if it dose not heal you can come back .

I joined my company, and was assigned as platoon Sgt. 1st platoon. First few days were though; I could not hit the ground, and get up . My ruck sack was too much, one time I saw a stand of young saplings, I cut one down, and cut all the little branches off with my Bowie Knife, with that and my weapon, I managed pretty good.

That stick has a story, used it all through my tour, and I still have it in my office today. I call it The M-19 A-1 all purpose stick.All the men of Bravo company were great, the LT's, and the company commander, I remember as Captain Moore- He was one of the best company commanders I had the pleasure to serve with. He could call in Arty, and place a round inside of a helmet. I served with the company for six months, and my plans were to change, and get as much experience out of the tour as I could.

In my two tours I served with Bravo CO. 3d BN 503d, then with MAT 102 TM 55- out of Rach Gia in the Delta. My second tour was with Charlie CO. 2d BN 1st Inf. 196th LIB 23rd Inf. (Americal)- The 196th became (SEP) when the 23rd faced out. I had the opportunity to operate from The U-Minh Forest in the Delta, to the Central Highlands, and from Da nang to the DMZ.

(My present Mission)

I would like to try, and do my very best to locate Sky Soldiers Of My Platoon: Though I had my platoon, the Company Commander used me as field first most of the time. So, I got very attached to all the company members. Later part of my first tour, I met a former Sky Soldier- from Bravo Company, in the conversation, I said I had written to the first Sgt. and the Company Commander, and I never received an answer, where he told me. Maybe it was because they had run into an ambush- and had lost a platoon, and even the C.O. had been wounded ?

On my second tour again I ran on to another former Sky Soldier, he had been in country for three tours he told me. He was a Medic, in the conversation- I mentioned -that incident, and I said- I hope it didn't happen ?

He said yes, Sarge it did happened, he said he had been in on the detail to evacuate the KIA's from that battle ?

All these years that have past, and I have not been able to confirm that action ? My Hope is that some how ? Maybe through this story, I might be able to make contact- with someone that served with me, back then in 1968/69.

I've made contact with members of our MAT MACV, and 20 members of my platoon- the last tour- We will meet with them in June 26-29- Little Rock, AK. Hopefully, some day, I will be able to meet with some of my Sky Soldiers ?

Ben O.Musquez MSG. E-8 (Ret.)
P.O. Box 517
D'Hanis, TX 78850-0517
PH.# 830-363-7306