Letters From War Wednesday: Vietnam War – Terry Weber.

This Wednesday, our letter comes from Albion, Indiana infantryman, Terry Weber.  Weber served in the Vietnam War with Company A, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division.  Known as the “Golden Dragons”, the unit worked the Central Highland jungles as part of Operation Paul Revere.  This personal note to his family is date June 17, 1966, only one month after his arrival in ‘Nam.

“Hi Mom, Dad & Nick (little brother),

Terry Weber - Co. A, 14th Infantry, 25th ID

“I’ll bet you didn’t expect to hear from me again so soon did you?  We’re sitting out on an ambush right now.  I thought I would write and tell you about the close call I had.  I finally killed my first V.C., not that I wanted to.  I didn’t have any other choice.  My buddy and I were sitting in the thickets along an open field.  I was sitting there day dreaming when I heard my buddy shoot.  I jumped up and this V.C. was running straight towards me.

“…He wasn’t anymore than 20 feet from me.  I quickly grabbed my weapon and shot three times.  …I think I was scared more than the Cong was.  There was three of them altogether.  They were guides to some platoon.

“Then last night we were mortared.  Two guys had to be sent to the hospital with leg wounds.  We were lucky that no more men were hurt.  It seems like you just can’t dig a deep enough hole to hide from a mortar round.

“…Last week, a buddy and me found a banana tree.  We left the bananas lay in the sun for a week and ate them.  They weren’t too big, but they were good.

“…How is everyone at home?  I’m getting along fine.  I’m beginning to get used to this hell hole.  Even the Sea Rations are starting to taste better.  Ha!

“Well … I have 11 more months to go, starting today.

“Take Care,

“Love,

“Terry”

Weber would earn two Bronze Stars for his extraordinary courage under fire.  Sadly, he was killed in action on November 13, 1966 at a ferocious battle on a map spec known only as YA564510.

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