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At Christmas, it is important to remember our troops, whether stateside or operating in foreign lands. Our men and women of the armed forces may be in the field, far from family and loved ones on this Christmas, so say a little prayer for their safety.
On Christmas Eve 36 years ago, at Quang Tri Combat Base, I was visiting the various "hooches" of C Company, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor, and enjoying a little cheer with the boys of the company. On the way around, walking from one hut to the other, I was joined by a young tanker who asked if he could walk with me.
As we walked together under a starry sky, this 18-year-old draftee soldier asked if he could talk with me about something. He told me that he had a strong premonition that he wouldn't make it through his tour in Vietnam, and he was very upset about this premonition and that he was far from home.
I put my arm around his shoulders, gave him a hug, and told him he would be fine, that his parents would be proud of him, and that we would look out for each other. I also told him "Merry Christmas" and suggested we find some other folks with whom to share some Christmas cheer.
We went on to the next hooch together, and I felt that all was well, that I and others had cheered up a lonesome young man on Christmas Eve.
This brave young soldier was operating with C Company on the road along the Laotian border in March 1971 during the Army of the Republic of Vietnam operation into Laos. While manning his machine gun on a company tank in our position during an NVA attack, he was killed instantly by an artillery shell.
I will never forget this young man or the many others who have done so much, then and today.
God bless our troops.
Billy SeargeantSpotsylvania
