632nd Combat Security Police Squadron
- 1969
Late in 1969, at Bình Thủy AB, I was a young Airman First
Class at the ripe old age of 21 and working midnight shift, as we
called it. The hours were 1800-0400 hours, and most of the base
security forces were on duty during these critical hours. I was
responsible for transporting on-coming shift personnel and off-going
personnel. I transported them to and from the barracks, CSC (Central
Security Control), and posted many of the Devil Flight (midnight
shift) Airmen.
On one particular night I was instructed
by my Flight Chief and Assistant Flight Chief (MSgt Spragg &
TSgt Fieldhouse) to load the 2 1/2 ton flat bed truck with ammunition.
I was then to transport the ammo out to the far perimeter for H&I
(Harassment and Interdiction) firing. This was approximately 0100
hours in the morning and most of my other various duties had been
completed. The flat bed was loaded with large amounts of M60, M16,
.38, M-90 Recoilless Rifle, Flares, Hand Grenades, 40 MM Grenades,
etceteras.
The other perimeter patrols including
the SAT (Security Alert Teams), K-9 Supervisor, and QRT's (Quick
Reaction Teams) Fox # 1 and Fox # 2 were also instructed to respond
to the north end of the perimeter near Tower Kilo #15 Alpha. The
perimeter road was narrow at this point and there was swamp on both
sides of the road with deep trenches for water run off.
Flight personnel chose the ammo for
their respective weapons and commenced to fire northward off the
perimeter. The Flight Chief instructed the Mortar Pit (Fire Fly)
to shoot an illumination round out over the perimeter in our direction,
so we could see where we were shooting. As Fire Fly fired the round
it burst or opened prematurely over our heads. All personnel were
accustom to the sound of the metal shaft as it spun over and over
in the air. Security personnel began to crawl under vehicles and
seek cover from the falling object which could kill an individual
if struck.
I jumped off the bed of the truck
and crawled under it. I soon noticed the area was beginning to become
very bright and I could hear the hissing sound of burning
phosphorus. I heard the burning flare strike the flat bed just above
my head. At this point security personnel were yelling and running
down the perimeter road in both directions. I knew then I had to
do something---if I ran, the load of ammunition could explode before
I or anyone else could reach safety. I was compelled to attempt
to save the lives of my fellow airmen, or die trying.
I knew this was a grave situation
so I vaulted upon the back of the flat bed, and was confronted by
the sun itself having landed amidst the weapons and ammo!
Scared? You bet! I grabbed the smoldering silk parachute, which
was still attached to the raging glare, and whirled the brilliantly
burning phosphorus flare with all my strength out into the swamp.
My night vision was now zero, yet
immensely concerned, I began kicking ammunition around on the back
of the flat bed, attempting to keep the remaining burning phosphorus
from igniting the ammo. I was astonished and very thankful nothing
happened.
I was applauded by my Flight Chief and peers and credited for
potentially saving several lives. My Flight Chief, MSgt Spragg and
Assistant Flight Chief, TSgt Fieldhouse, documented this and submitted
me for the Airman's Medal. This action was terminated by the NCOIC
of Weapons Systems Security, who stated that "I did nothing
anyone else would not have done".
