I was stationed at Bergstrom AFB, Austin, Texas, in 1968 and 1969 with the 75th
Security Police Squadron. I was called to the Orderly Room by then Acting First
Sergeant, TSgt Tecumseh T. Lee. I was then informed I had orders to Vietnam. My
heart jumped into my throat when "T" Lee informed me of the assignment.
I asked him about Bình Thủy and he told me that SSgt Ball had been stationed there
so ask him about the base. I was a young kid en route to an adventure, which really
scared the wits out of me. I contacted SSgt Ball and he told me about Bình Thủy.
SSgt Ball had been stationed at Bình Thủy in 67-68. He told me stories of how
Bình Thủy had been dredged out of the Mekong River and was partially swamp. Man
…was he ever correct.
I
wrote to several of the gang from my flight (D Flt) to warn them I was coming
and to be ready to party. I had some good friends stationed at Tan Son Nhut and
they would be awaiting my arrival. I would have to spend several days at Tan Son Nhut going through what was called "In-Country Training". These guys
were, Don Shulteys, Guy Ellis, Robert Blose, etc. I can't remember them all since
it's been 30+ years.
Photo
Left: Guy Ellis & Wayne Dezarn,
Downtown, Saigon, Vietnam, June 1969
Photo
Below: Guy Ellis & Wayne Dezarn, Downtown, Saigon, Vietnam, June 1969. Too many
years to recall the other Airman.
I
arrived at Tan Son Nhut on a hot afternoon in June 1969. I went through customs,
in-processed and then found myself a bunk in the transit billets. I then called
the Security Police Compound and got in touch with Guy Ellis and he told me how
to navigate the base shuttle bus to reach the SP compound. I arrived there around
1800 hours and off to downtown Saigon we went. We ended up in a bar called the
"Blue Moon" or "Moonlight Bar". Guy told me this was a "COP"
bar and we would have a good time. It was great to see my friends and we began
an evening of drinking Budweiser and an oriental beer called "33". The
"33" was also referred to as "Bom-de-Bom".
It
did not take long to realize that I was really hungry and getting a buzz. I was
also suffering from "Jet-Lag" so it didn't take many beers to put me
down. As we sat and caught up on old times, we talked about Bergstrom and friends
that we left behind, like, Richard Dankirt, Jack Robinson, Carl Murphy, Jerry
Woods, John Osterticki (OZ), Lonnie Hood, Joe Allen and many more.
As
the night went on I needed to get back to the base. Guy Ellis took me outside
and hailed a taxi that took me to the front gate of Tan Son Nhut. That was quite
an experience whizzing through the streets of Saigon in an unfamiliar vehicle,
and unfamiliar place and an unfamiliar world. I arrived at the main gate and the
SP's helped me get to the transit billets.
It
must have been approximately 0200 hours when the first explosion hit. I heard
people screaming, "Incoming" - "Incoming" get down.
Photo
Left: Captain MikeWheeler, Bình Thủy AB, Central Security Control.
Photo
Left: Captain MikeWheeler
and MSgt Jerry Spragg - Safeside.
As
I rolled off my bottom bunk and under itimmediately I saw the guy that was on
the other bunk under his. A new guy just like us was running up and down the isle
screaming "We are all going to be killed". Everyone was screaming for
him to get down. He had lost it mentally. The guy next to me and I reached out
and tripped this new guy and pulled him down between the bunks and we held on
to him or laid on him. He was trembling just like we were and he was muttering
to himself about dying. I guess we were thinking the same thing but this guy was
out of his mind. We kept our thought to ourselves. I have often thought we must
have been out of our minds also.
I
found out later two 122 Rockets hit the ground that night. One landed in the Security
Police compound under a tower but no one was hurt. The other overshot the base
and landed in downtown Saigon killing several Vietnamese civilians. This was my
first night in Vietnam and it scared the crap out of me.
After the all clear siren sounded the medics came and took this new guy away.
I heard he had been transferred back to the world. Maybe he was really the only
sane one in the bunch. This experience set the tone for me and I listened for
loud explosions throughout my time in Vietnam. I will never forget my first night
in Vietnam and the sounds that initiated me to a saga I shall always remember.
