Michael Do

From my bunker, Aspirant Tĩnh walked toward the tent, cursing,

“The SOB thinks he was a general. What’s a fucking arrogant!.”

Sergeant Hung, who was sitting by me, approached the new guy and asked,

“What’s wrong, Aspirant? Who is arrogant?”

“That damned Lieutenant Phuc, the commander. He acts like a big boss.”

“ He is here with me. Look! He is drinking at the table. You may have seen someone else.”

“So, who is the Lieutenant in the bunker? I saw him with his rank insignia on his cap,”

We burst into a laugh! It was Vinh, the deserter laborer, who served as my helper and coiffer.

“I am sorry, Lieutenant. I did not notice you earlier. I think the guy down there is the commander since he talks to me like a boss.”

Michael Do

Lieutenant Nguyen Van Quoc, the Operation Officer of the 8th Regiment, lifted the poncho that covered the bunker to look at the sky. Although it was almost noon, the fog descended more and more over time and caused a thick blanket that obscured the view of the base area. Seeing the head of the S-2 Intelligence Officer peeking out at the next bunker, Quoc grumbled,

“What the weather! How do the soldiers fight in this bad condition?”

“The enemies are in the same situation!”

“Maybe they are fucking their bitches in that forest! Who knows?”

The two officers dressed up, walked to the TOC, and continued the chat.

Michael Do

“Raise the Flag on the ThPong Vietnam Village before the Sunrise! An Audacious Determination on Battlefield in Cambodia.”

That was the big headline run on the front page of all Saigon newspapers on the first days of the Tân Hợi lunar new year to celebrate the victory of the 4/8th Battalion at Snuol, Cambodia.

The truth is the battle began at sunrise and quickly ended in the afternoon. Although it was a short battle, it marked the first brilliant victory of the ARVN on the battlefield outside the frontier.