LETTERS TO HOME
by Lt. Larry Hallstrom
CONVOY FROM QUI NHON TO AN KHE
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS WITH ROADS AT AN KHE
24 Aug 65 Tue
Today was mostly setting up camp. The area we are in is a cemetery, and the local
Buddhists want the bones of their ancestors. Therefore we now have a lot of grave
diggers in the area, but they are carefully watched. Weather is quite hot. As yesterday,
could eat little for lunch. Just too hot and muggy. We are eating C-rations every meal.
Some of the 101st Division are in the area. Tomorrow they are going up Rt 19 to An Khe,
about 50 miles to clear the road again.
Last night it rained for the first time. I stayed relatively dry. Today we continued to
set up camp. Received word we may move out on Friday. Nothing definite yet.
The area we are in is surrounded by hills on all sides. Marines are in the hills for
security. The valley in the bottom is mostly rice paddies. We are up on the slopes at
the base of one of the hills, with no trees or any other type of shade. The sun is still
hot, but I am getting used to it.
BIVOUAC AREA, HAPPY VALLEY AT QUI NHON
26 Aug Thur
We are preparing to MOVE OUT tomorrow, up Rt. 19 to An Khe. The village is half way
between Qui Nhon and Pleiku…We will be there for approximately 2 months, building an
airstrip and helipad for the 1st Calvary Division…I get free postage beginning the 1st
of Sept.
27 Aug 65 Fri
Today we underwent our first convoy movement of 50 miles. We initially anticipated
trouble along the way, but the 101st Div had Rt. 19 quite well secured all the way.
There were no incidents. It turned out to be a scenic tour if you want to call it that.
The people here as a whole appear to be quite poor. I have seen one automobile. The
people either have bicycles or walk. There are a good number of bikes, but there are
also a lot more walkers. The buses consist of small cart type scooters loaded to the hilt.
Everything imaginable is loaded on the buses, from bicycles and straw baskets, to pigs
and water buffalo. These are strapped to the roofs, hanging out windows and tied to the
rear. Somewhere in the middle of all this the people manage to find a seat.
Practically the only occupation in this area of the country is rice growing. People are
everywhere in fields bent over and either transplanting the rice or picking it. Every
now and then you will find a mud brick factory. I have seen one slate mill and one
concrete or mud culvert piping factory. The peasants wear black pajamas or other more
colorful clothes if available…
Most houses are mud houses similar to those of Mexico, with thatched roofs. The doors,
if any, are often made of what appears to be flattened beer cans. The windows are covered
at night by the large woven baskets some about 5 feet in diameter which they use to dry
or carry food.
The mud to build the small one or two room home is dug out of the front yard in many cases.
28 Aug 65 Sat
Today we spent all day setting up camp. Just like boy scout days, except we have larger
tents. I am in a large tent which sleeps about ten, with the back half used as an eating
area for the platoon. We built a table in the back which serves as an eating table,
writing table, or any other use. We built wash racks in the back of the tent which holds
12 bowls.
I went to town (I use the word loosely) and bought enough metal bowls for the company.
What an experience! Communication is quite difficult when you do not know the language.
I finally learned a few essential words and can speak their numbers. All money is paper
money, ranging from 5, 10, 20, 100, 200, etc. dong, which is the unit of currency. I was
fortunate to get into town, because it is now off limits to everyone. The buildup in this
area is quite fantastic. Expansive plans are in the mill. We are working on a heliport
for the 1st Calvary Division, which will move to An Khe soon. If we stay in this area,
we will have projects for some time to come.
Have received no mail thus far, and do not know when we will. Probably nobody knows where
we are!
Many tools we consider primitive are in use. Rice paddies are plowed initially with a
long flat log with a few wooden pegs and drawn by a very slow water ox, or whatever the
animal is…
29 Aug 65 Sun
We spent all day in the field today clearing brush and undergrowth off the heliport.
Killed one snake. Also killed one trying to go into the Commanding Officers (CO) tent.
Still have taken no showers, but I sure have learned how to take a bath out of a steel
helmet.
30 Aug 65 Mon
Received our first big project today. The company is building a road into the airfield
area. Some areas are almost like a jungle, but even after today’s work the road is
beginning to shape up.
10 September 1965 Fri
…We have been working 24 hours a day building a road about 4 miles long through thick
woods. We are preparing an access road to the bivouac area for the 1st Cav Div which
should start arriving tomorrow or early next week…So far we have had little VC opposition
to our operation. C Company was fired on one night by a sniper, however I believe it was
the 101st shooting each other. The guards get quite jittery at night, and have often fired
at what later appears to be nothing.
Incidents have occurred twice in the last week or so where VC have been contacted. In
one operation 7 VC were killed about 10 miles from here, and in another 5 were killed.
The second was about 5 miles from here, and we could see two fighter planes making dives
on the other side of a hill. Then last evening 4 VC were reported in an area about a mile
from here. So tonight we are doubling security.
Several more snakes have been killed in the area in the last week. Two were bamboo vipers
which are highly poisonous. A person will not live for more than about a minute if bitten.
The snake is bright green, about the color of a garden snake, but much bigger. One we
killed was 3 feet long.
I finally had my first shower the other day. It sure did feel good. The ice situation is
still poor. All ice that we get comes from Qui Nhon or Pleiku, and the ice man was shot
the other day, so we have none. The food is better. We now have B-rations, which is mostly
dehydrated foods.
I just got called back on the road. We have to finish by midnight and have a long way
to go.
12 Sept 65
We finished the road, but it poured down rain. One culvert that C Company installed was
washed out. So yesterday we had to help them replace some and install new ones. My
platoon has put in over 6 culverts since we started.
CULVERT SITE CONSTRUCTION
ROUTE 70 CONSTRUCTION, LT. HALLSTROM
Incidentally, there were no incidents the other night. In fact it was quieter than usual.
Yesterday I did have the life scared out of me. I was riding along our road in the back
area when all of a sudden a number of artillery pieces opened up in the woods. I thought
we were being attacked for sure. They were only about 50 yds up in the woods and firing
directly over my head. They sure do make enough noise.
We moved today to a new location about a mile from the other. We are adjacent to the
new airfield which is being built. The 1st Cav started moving in today. Gen Westmoreland
was in the area yesterday looking the place over. I understand that Pres Johnson picked
this area out himself, so I will soon be in a strategic stronghold, and well secured…
PLATOON BIVOUAC AREA, AN KHE
CHINOOK BRINGING IN SUPPLIES, 9/65
The mail is coming in regular now. It takes about 5 days from the day you mail it. I
get free mail now, which will save some postage.
I built a foot locker out of some scrap lumber so I would not have to live out of a duffle
bag.
I now have a steel bunk and mattress…We should get enough big tents soon so that all will
be in them, including the squads…
14 Sep 65
We were finally granted a 48-hour break yesterday and today. So we have been busy making
improvements in the area.
Seven picnic tables were built for the troops to eat. We built a wash rack for officers
and NCO’s just outside the officers NCO tent. The big tent houses about 16 persons very
comfortably. Everyone is in good spirits now. We have settled down in a more or less
permanent location so people are working on the niceties…
Our next mission is to build supply dumps. It is estimated 30 days will be required.
Must go recon the area now.
20 Sep 65
…the supply dump is coming slowly, but we will get it done. We have 30 days to complete
the job. So far we have dug up two snakes, a tarantula as big as a half dollar, and a
centipede six inches long. While riding up in the brush we scared up three peacocks.
Wildlife is very abundant…
POL BERM AREA, CLASS 3, 9/65
A lot of shooting took place last night around here. At the other end of the base, one
of our squads was pulling road maintenance when they were fired on. Some infantry took
off into the woods, as of yet I have heard no report.
You said if I had a want list, just forward it. So here goes.
2 small boxes of Tide
2 Gilette stainless steel blades
Cool Aid
Potato chips and/or potato sticks
No soap is available in the area to wash clothes with and razor blades are scarce.
Yesterday we rigged up our own officer NCO shower. We welded two 55-gallon drums
together and bought some shower heads. Was a little chilly, but sure felt good.
OFFICER - NCO SHOWER AT AN KHE
We also had fresh meat! The company bought a cow, slaughtered, cooked and ate it for
supper. It was a little tough, but different. We also picked enough corn out of the
field we plowed up to feed everyone. So life is not too bad…
I built a foot locker and a small book shelf to keep things within easy reach.
The mail reaches me 5 to 6 days after you mail it.
21 Sep 65
The fighting over in the pass ended with unconfirmed reports of as many as 150 VC killed
and I know at least 12 Americans from the 101st were killed. About a day later, 4 VC were
reportedly killed on Hon Cong Mtn which is just across the street from our bivouac area.
One of the Vietnamese workers who came into the area every day to cut brush was caught with
a basketful of anti-personnel mines.
LOCALS FILL THE HIGHWAY ON THEIR WAY TO WORK
Then last night while I was working at our job sight we were called back into the company
area because of enemy activity in the area. The division headquarters was reportedly hit
with one or two mortar rounds. So it appears that the action will pick up in this area,
but we will plug right along on our project. I am scheduled to go back out on the job
sight tonight. I hope we do not get called in again, because we are already a little
behind.
I have enclosed some Vietnamese money. The exchange rate is now 118 piastres or dong per
US dollar…
Food is improving. The mess Sgt has traded for some yeast and baking powder and recently
we have had fresh doughnuts, cinnamon rolls and butter rolls. They sure tasted good…
23 Sep 65
…The 1st Cav General would not let anyone dig foxholes on his “Golf Course,” as this area
has been so appropriately named, until night before last when a few mortars were dropped
in on his headquarters. So last night we ended up digging a large bunker in the back of
the tent for protection in case we are hit again.
BUNKER BEHIND OFFICERS/NCO TENT
Everyone wears soft caps within the area instead of helmets. So in the day time it is
just like Fort Campbell. At night there is usually something going on…
The weather is getting worse. It rains about twice every day and at night. So all in
all it is pretty cool around here…
CULVERT PROJECT, 3RD PLATOON, 9/65
The next roll of pictures…Culvert at An Khe. This was the first project that my platoon
had. Before we started there was only a cow path leading through thick undergrowth…
A Buddhist grave which is now in the middle of the 1st Cav airfield. The monastaries or
whatever they are, appear all over the country side in the strangest places…
70TH BN BIVOUAC AREA FROM ROCK QUARRY
An Khe and valley, taken from the rock quarry. The rock quarry run by C Co…
Letters to Home Part 2, end
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