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| VI-DAN (FOR THE PEOPLE) |
A few days ago was the 8th of August 2018, I find it a good time to post my intention concerning the publishing of a book about my life following up on a life time of desire and almost 11 years of effort. I Always intended it to be raw history in the first person leading toward the personal side of a long life. Written, edited and published my myself. I have decided that instead of do it myself I will sale the movie and publishing rights to an established publishing company or studio, why because technology, marketing and the world in general has moved on so much, changed so much, event my self made web-site impossible to update because I built it with iWeb, no longer used. I’ve gotten older, money is never enough and my abilities our less on some fronts, not greater.
Why mention 8 August to announce this, well because it’s 52 years ago August 8th, 1966, that I was a 19 years old into my 8th month of to much combat in Vietnam as a member of E-company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines 3rd Marine Division. On this date we went on a hurried up operation with my platoon of (about 40 men) to help extract out a 4 man Force Recon team of the USMC. We landed & they worked there way to us and the extraction begin, in the end I & 19 Marines became stuck on that hill top, deep in the DMZ or demilitarized zone separation the two waring parts of Vietnam, North and South.
The extraction begin at about 5:00 Pm, the incoming firing from the enemy became so heavy that the helicopters could not land, the last chopper out was hit bad and almost didn’t get off. The whole operation had started maybe 4-5 hrs before, but at this moment 20 Marines were stranded on a hill, we were being attached by a battalion of 300 North Vietnamese solders, a battalion that discover they had a group of marines surrounded, so this was the beginning of the sustained attach that would go on until the morning of August 9th. The first assault on our small hill was ferrous and intense, their was no time to plan for anything, only to react & move or be killed. Somehow in this blind fury I decided to go off the hill to fire into a blind spot, a sharp drop-off on one side of the hill from witch hand-grenades were being tossed with great effect and deadly results. I know it was unsustainable, I charging off the hill toward the enemy lines, then while lay down firing into the blind spot, I didn’t see or hear a head-grenade that land next to me, going off and shattering my left femur boon from my hip to the knee. I will not go into details now but with-in a min or a few seconds, who can say, a North Vietnamese (true worrier) charged me from the brush 15 feet below me, reaching me and shooting into my chest area at the same time I made a desperate attempt to turn and retrieve my rifle. His bullet entered my side, passing out my upper back, a clean shot hitting no bones or vital organs, the powder burn to this day as noticeable as the bullet entry.
That worrier gave his life in his attempt to kill me, dying instantly from a bullet from a M-14 fired by my fellow marines above me about 30 Ft. The details of that event will be in my book, their was a time frame of about 8 to 10 mins of intense battle before I heard the voice of my friend Doug Van call out to me, Richard - Richard, I called back (I'm hit, I can not move), (it was for me like the empire state building was sitting on top of me). Doug said hold on I’m coming to get you !!! In the time it took Doug to call out, then come get me, was close to 8-10 mins. In that time frame I came to the realization of my condition and applied my own web belt to as a truncate to stop or slow the bleeding, another action left for the book. Doug came to me, crust, flipped me over and pulled me slowly sideways up the hill about 60 feet, while the marines laid down cover fire. Doug of course had the biggest part in saving my life, not only saving my life, most-likely saving me from a horrific death while enemy solders, who would have keep me alive a while, to sing or squeal later like an injured pig to the marines in the dark in this deadly battle to the death. It’s impossible to know the timeline but helicopter gunships were in support at about the same time.
Marion F. Sturkey was the pilot of one of those helicopters, laying down support fire at ground level, his helicopter gun-ship was shoot up bad, he was shot through the foot, his co-pilot shot in the chest, somehow he got his copter and crew back to Dong Ha, the Marine base where high level generals were assessing the movement of the large numbers of north Vietnamese solders directly coming across the DMZ. In life Marion went on to do several jobs, fly for several companies in the oil field and then became an author of 13 books, his last book is a well research and written book called (No Greater LOVE, The Groucho Marx Battle) It details my final battle. This book is available on line from Heritage Press International. Marion contacted me a few years back from records, they're our a few former marines still alive, much of my time is covered by historic records, Doug Van who gave me the opportunity to struggle on to live, basically saving my life is also still alive.
I have to say many Marines did extraordinary things, our Captain, Howard V Lee made an effort to lead a small relief force in, of witch only he and 1or 2 others made it to our hill. He received the Congressional medial of Honor for his efforts. Doug Van my friend was awarded the Navy Cross with a combat-V, Doug a quit American hero who’s friends and neighbors never event heard the story of his actions I found out when I spent a week with him 36 years later when we finely talked about that night, we had meet a few times after the war but never really talked about it, lost connection for many years, Doug was wounded about a month later, completed is enlistment, then finished his degree become a Captain in the USMC to fly, then got out and flow jets for airlines, now retired. Doug confirmed many things that were cloudy memories when we finally talked about that night. Medials of course only represent the actions of many. The Captain was one fox hole over from me after arriving, I heard him shout over the radio about need of supplies, then a grenade went off and I heard the Captain once again report, I’ve been hit. I have also meet with Captain Lee, now a retired Lt/Corneal. We talked about things only he and I know about, about my friend Rodney James a black private, often in trouble over small bull shit, but a real marine, the Captain agreed. You see Rodney had died in my arms a couple weeks earlier in operation Hastings while a medic attempted to do a field trac-anmey (cut open his wind wipe to breath) on him, it mean a lot to me the Captain had the same memory of Rodney.
It should be noted about this famous battle, one other remarkable hero, that was Major Vincil W Hazelbaker, the volunteer pilot that flew Captain Lee and his 12 or so men into our hill just after dark, dropping the Captain and 2 men off, but had to drop the other men a little further on, he realized maybe by of radio that the Captain was off toward our hill top, that the other marines were to far away to make it. So he in a hale of incoming turned back picking up all of them, cuticle back to kick out ammunition toward the hill top. That same Major Hazelbaker then volunteered to take another helicopter back-into the battle with water and ammo. On this attempt, just as he was landing his helicopter, it got hit by a rocket into the tail section. The battle at that moment again was very intense. The Major was wounded and his Co-pilot killed. The marines scrambled to unload and pass out supplies. The 16 hrs were not a single battle, different periods of intense battle to periods of dead silence, flares were drop that turned out not a great idea, finally the gunships of the day in modified C-130’s I believe, came and laid down cover, event in those days able to cover an area with bullets, the shells casing kicked out was like rain down on top of us, something I remembered and confirmed it by Doug Van some 35 years later, (they hurt like hell, I had to put my helmet on, I don’t know what you did Doug said)
Doug did place me in a small hole, then took up a position near my hole defending his part of a small kind of 360 circle the marines had created. The battle would go on for another 16 hrs (It was not one event as stated, but many different, from savage fighting to dead quit as men attempted to kill one another). Our band of 20 marines were out of range for artillery support, in the dark on a mountain top with clouds coming and going (like in Hawaii if you have ever visited), in an area of the DMZ we were not as Marines event support to be, to be honestly, I could not event tell you the number of marines that survived, details of such things our simply of little interest to me, or the guns or weapon system used. The truncate I had applied ended up being my only medical care except Doug retrieving water off a dead enemy solder killed at his hole, tossing the canteen of swap water to me, you see two things must be said, a marine fighting for his life in tropical conditions consumes water, a man bleeding to death like me also basically thrust to death.
I tell this story on my blog, linked from Facebook and other media links for two reasons, first it’s my reality, told open and truthful, the need for me to sell my story instead of publish it myself a hard but necessity to share my story. Today is the anniversary of not just my final battle, but something much deeper, I look at it as the birthing of my second life, you can call it reality or awareness or what ever. Like all birthing, it was hard, the new life but a babe, but very real, with me, not event aware of it arrival, so my life did struggle with many aspects and concepts from my first life, that all American farm boy, God fearing 100% marine who became a worrier, I had to learn & except many things over the years.
I’m not only a survivor beyond anyones understanding of that fact, I’m also a member of that club of few who have know whats called (close encounter combat) and lived, where men look into the eye of the enemy and do anything / everything to kill the other. Doug Van who beyond any question had the largest part of saving my life among hundreds of marines on the ground and in the air, and Yes my own efforts. To comprehend that one man saved your life is an extraordinary fact to live with, makes for a complex yet respectful bond and friendship thats complex. Doug did not do what he did because we were such close friends, we were only becoming friends, he had not a single thought about marine history, the star spangle banner / flags, we have talked about it and he will say yet today (I must of had a brain fort) ! However what I have taken from it is this, Doug Van on that day 52 years ago (Did the right thing When doing the right thing came to him). A simply and unexplainable action of good, that saved my life.
I’m a survivor but that in it-self is complex, this thing has shown its self in many ways witch I can’t explain hear, I will simply say Doug’s actions became a command, a necessity for me in living out my life, (To do the right thing When the doing the right thing is an option for me) It’s been played out in my life in many different ways, maybe besides just wanting to know and understand, it's one of the reasons after a year in the hospital and another year searching I returned to Vietnam at the hight of the war Jan 1969 and stayed until it end in 1975, then worked in the evacuation of Saigon until 2 days before the final fall of Saigon. Doing the right thing when it presenting its self to me has brought me Great rewards, Love and purpose, it’s also brought some challenges, heart break and disappointment and can be costly in times & money, 90% has been a blessing and 10% a little challenging. For me Personally it was Doug, that one person that save my life, in life I’ve found were never really free if you're going to sincerely live out your life, be a responsible member of the human race. We do have responsibilities, duties, jobs, examples to set and many things we have to do to be productive and worthy of this think called life. Maybe one of the reason’s I’m such a supporter of women everywhere, they our the greatest teachers & example, they have babies and 99% of the time live out their whole lives dedicated to their child’s well being, so many lessons can be had by the love and acts of mothers. I’m so grateful I had the great teacher I had in Doug, and the many - many teachers I have meet and had come into my life.
So my book Vi-Dan (For the People) USA is not so much to praise or glorify war, the Marines or anyone, including my self, of course the true story of 50 years of rather extraordinary, adventurous and often joyful moments with feeling of deep love has to be told, for me it so often lead to what I learned by living this extraordinary life. I feeling I’ve had the most wonderful life any man could have, a life that's left me with a sense of deep awareness, of contentment. Of course it's a very personal human story, one I have no shame in telling, of course it's the only thing or can do to hopefully leave this world a little better then I found it. Simply share my story as raw history in the first person, hopefully confirm that (Doing the right thing when doing the right thing comes to you is a great way to live life). If man-kind could live out their lives a little more with this thought, I can’t help but believe it would make for a better world.
I do have a not so great web-sit, done by of iWeb, me unable to event update or fix. vidanusa.com It dose have page one that explains my hope or understanding of reality, it has 700 real pictures, page 6-takes you to my blog. vidanusa.blogspot.com
Will someone buy or help me publish this very down to earth book, so wrapped up in an American story, Oh did I mention the young Vietnamese girl I meet and married 48 years ago is still my wife & life long mate. The things I experienced our not hard for me to share. I did forget to finish high school, completing 1 day as a junior. I did get a Doctors degree in the humanities from pay close attention to life, earnestly attempt to understand others & event with an open mind, reading often about history and current event, learned something everyday and still seem to, I found after 52 years of searching and living its time to report my findings. I’m not so sure if everyone is ready to hear or except reality. The lesson I learned our not popular, today we live at a time great knowledge avalable to people, it's a time when published knowledge multiplies, technology dose also, mankind is at the threshold of the Greatest change that it has ever pass through, it’s happening faster then ever in human history. History tells us humanity our not great in excepting change, however we have evolved, our thinking, sensitivity and awareness has also evolved, what was unthinkable a short time ago today is excepted as a reality. I am a very optimistic person and always have been.
I do know I lived at one of the most remarkable periods of history, I was born on a small farm in Iowa, went to a one room school, in fact walked a couple miles to school, went bare food in the summer because we got one new pair of shows each year. I eat 100% self grown food or food made by my mother, learned very young everyone had a job. When my family left the farm for Fort Collins CO. it was only natural to work out side the home, at 11 years old I started to work outside the home, I having the distinct history of being the first one in the family to have a job, such things normal & essential for ex-farms working as janitors, cleaning folks and cook.
My first airline flight was to marine boot camp in San Diego, however I ended up fly all around the world all my life, every month while in the oil industry I flew half way around the world for work, only one of many rather unusual and adventurous things in my life. But the question is will anyone buy my book, would it make a good movie, that is unknown. Almost every aspect of my unusual life is in the records of the military, maybe the CIA, and company records. But frank reality may scare many, I hope my generation read it, I already know if I do have readers it will be mostly the women of the world and the young, 25 years old and younger because they have something very powerful, open minds and a desire for reality.
Of course many will push back, disagree with what I learned in life, many may attempt to misinform others, hide the truth as I observed it. To be truthful about what I observed on several touchy subjects will not be easy for a publisher so it has to be one with the right intent. If anyone knows of a person with the ability and talent to help me forward my efforts please do let me know, I do appreciate any and all help. I can be contacted at vidanusa@gmail.com
Personally the point is it’s the anniversary of my re-birthing, this one moment in time many will also be remembered by a few others. I will not give up my dream but except that I need help to share my story, a story I believe should to be told, it could be helpful for many. I understand at this time our nation is pass through a strange period of history, event a distasteful period of American history to me but it's also reality. Stay tuned is all I can say. Also a big shootout to all Marines and in particular the Marines serving in 1966 in the i-corp area of Vietnam, I can only say I understand your feeling and emotions, event if Ur take and thinking may be different then mind !!! Our numbers our small in comparison to the size of our nation, men and women that do serve and have served their country, simply because it was a duty or calling in life.
Although I have disagreement with chosen leaders of our nation, not my first on some policies of our government & military, it’s conceived mission at the time, it’s way of operations at time. I Love our country & Arm Forces, the fact is yet today they US military turn out these incredible young folks to do the work and carry out the mission of our country. I retired as a Corporal E-4 at $54. per month 51 years ago, this gave me the opportunity and privilege to be close to the US military over the last 50 years, made it possible for me to do several thing unattainable without being a retired marine. One of my great privileges is being on a base and the young men and women say good morning / afternoon Sir, they have no concept of my history or service, yet I sense their respect for me as a retired member of the service. Our military is very large, an institution on to its self, has been and can be a great instrument in our on going progress as a nation, the training and spree decor that comes only from serving ones nation. I say that although I’m one that a-hordes pure nationalism, playing king of the hill, war’s of choose, but recognize the reality and good of a great nation and it's institutions that's made mistakes but has created so much good at times in history !
I am an American, my life and lively hood is wrapped up in my country, my second life was born in Vietnam, I feel and consider Vietnam my second home. The world has become my home and I’ve found good and bad in every nation that I’ve ever visited, including our own. I learned that event before being an American, I’m a stand alone biological human being after my own first birthing, this is the most rewarding of all the things I learned, also I must add I have found that Love is the most powerful force with-in any person, human Love is powerful, it’s more powerful and longer lasting then greed, and the many of the other human in-stinks humans follow. And that why I’m such an optimistic person, why I feel it would be good to tell the story of my life, want I leaned by life it, how I came to realities.
This I hope in some small will help me to leave this world just a little bit better then I found it, a thought I've carried all my life !!!
Richard L Iverson
Remember Happiness is Oh so simple, that a grateful heart is the beginning of wisdom, that Effort is essential for anything worthwhile in life !
vidanusa@mac.com
