Promoted

We were a recon unit with the 1st Air Cav and were made up of approximately 28 men. We normally had three squads of 8. I was the first squad's point man. I would remain so as long as I remained healthy (alive), would be on R & R for a 7 day leave, or injured. I never held another position during all my time in the field. The eight men had titles. They walked in the following order: Point man, who concentrated on his front and cleared a path well enough to allow the machine gunner get through the bush unimpeded. Next was a rifleman who carried extra machine gun ammo and had the title of machine gun assistant. He would normally carry a tri pod for the machine gunner who was one spot back. The machine gunner was normally a stronger then usual athletic type because he had to carry the M60. He was the MVP of the unit when we were in trouble. Next, another rifleman, then the commanding officer, his radio-telephone operator, a rifleman with a grenade launcher instead of an M16, and then another rifleman or possibly two. Most often the lone medic would walk up front with the squad leading. He usually was one who never even carried a weapon for most of them were “conscientious objectors”. I had the utmost respect for all of them. Squad #2 and squad #3 followed with pretty much the same order.

Squads daily rotated walking the point because the lead squad was always under extreme pressure..
On this particular day in August of 1969 I was the number 17th man. I had walked the point on the previous day and it was a “no brainer” that we were moving through dangerous territory. There were “signs” and we were all a bit edgy. We did everything to stay off the trails mostly choosing to make our own for safety sake.
For the past two weeks we had been adjusting to a new lieutenant as our company commander. He was a West Point trained leader and a bit more aggressive than the previous commander who had served his 365 days and rotated back to the USA. He was getting used to us and we him. We called him “sir” even though he didn’t wear his stripes out there in “the boonies” as we called it. Snipers were known to try to take out the people they thought to be the key players.
We were all known by our last names. We were never encouraged to develop close relationships. We were never on a first name basis. You can imagine the reason why. I have forgotten the last name of the young man walking point that day. I just knew that he was every bit as good as I thought myself to be and maybe more. Yet, on that day his life no doubt changed. He walked our company into a bunker complex which is usually “death written all over it” but this day was different. The bunkers were empty except for one. From that bunker the enemy exploded a rocket towards our unit. I could hear the metal pellets smashing the bamboo trees all around me even though I was 17th from the front . We were always very careful to observe the rule of having adequate space between each other. We were all well trained. We always seemed to be at the top of our game when “edgy”. It was so, on this day. Everyone hit the ground and those in front immediately responded with fire power. The M60 was on automatic with the assistant by his side. Squads 3 and 1 were too far back to contribute to this fight. We were all at the ready from all sides. The company commander and telephone operator were super busy at this point relaying information back to headquarters and almost immediately there were “Cobra” helicopters diving toward the bunker with “mini guns” and rockets launched for effect. I could see very little from my position as to what all was going on. I was curious though and wanted to know the whole story. The “Cobras” left. There was silence for a time and then all of a sudden there was another “laud burst” of firepower. It sounded like our weapons.. We learned to tell the difference. Then “the silence."  The “fire fight” was over. It was getting dark and we bedded down for the night.
I wanted to know what took place up front and if our point people were ok. I was relieved to see him sitting near his gear, quiet and pensive. He told me what happened. I quietly went back to my position for the evening, reflecting on the information I had received.
I was convinced that I needed to have a talk with the commanding officer. He wasn’t much older than I and I did respect him and I knew he respected me. He invited me to sit down and asked me what was on my mind. It was a quiet conversation of course, but one we might categorize as “a divine conversation”. It lasted but just minutes.
I said, “Sir, had you given me the order you gave the point man today, I would not have been able to obey you. I understand that the three injured men in the bunker were waving a white flag to surrender and you chose to have them finished off by the point man and machine gunner. They obeyed, I would not have.”
"Why not, Richner?" was his question. I told him that my conscience would not have permitted me to do so, since they were asking to be taken as prisoners. He gave me his reasoning behind the order and I respected his decision. I gave him mine. We knew where each other stood and the next day we were all out searching for the enemy. He was my commanding officer and I walked the point when my turn came up for the next 30 days.
Then, on a day I will never forget, my commander came up to me and said: “Richner, today a helicopter will be coming to drop off supplies and you are to return with the chopper for your next “very important assignment”. Congratulations, You have been selected as the 1 Cav. Brigade Commander's radio, telephone operator and driver. You will receive training for your new responsibilities as soon as you arrive. Your replacement will be arriving here today with the supplies.” He shook my hand and wished me well. Later, my fellow E company comrades shook my hand before climbing onto the supply helicopter and off we headed for Tay Ninh.
The rest of my time in Vietnam I would be working for Brigade commander Colonel Collins. I would be taking him coffee at 5 am in the morning to his command trailer, serving his meals, taking his clothes to be cleaned and picked up, shinning his shoes, handling his jeep radio and picking him up from the helicopter pad and running him to the hospital. He was the kind of leader not everyone was blessed to serve under. He taught me a ton.
I was especially impressed with how he handled injured soldiers and even those who lost their lives. Echo company lost their share including a number of “point men”. I was one of the more fortunate ones and I attribute that to Providence and that conversation with the West Point Lieutenant. Yes, we are to obey those in authority over us, and especially in the military. Opportunities do present themselves every once in a while when someone needs to step up and have a quiet conversation with their leader when he is convinced he “just must”. And leave the rest with the Lord.