June 17 Shirt Off My Back & Thong's Eye (Neil)

Mr. Man, the Vietnamese fellow from DaNang who served with Delta Company 3/21 Infantry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade 69-70, now has a spiffy 196th t-shirt. On June 11, Thong (Damn Guide) and I traveled via motorbike to Man's small jewelry store in DaNang to present the gift. This presentation allows Katie to retain her 196th hat. Whew. I worked my way out of that jam! The proud veteran continues to insist that he very clearly remembers Thua, who also served with the 196th Light Infantry.

Much thanks is due fellow 2nd Platoon, A Company, 3/21 Infantry comrade Gary Bonar, who provided the shirts and hats. I was 3rd in line behind Sgt. Bonar and Sgt. King when we walked into a minefield coming off LZ Center. Both King and Bonar were injured and evacuated via dust-off chopper.



Thong's eye, injured  June 12 in climbing LZ East, is coming along fairly well. When he came to see us off at DaNang train station June 15, the large initial bandage had been changed to a smaller one. Now Damn Guide has yet another bandage, which he has been ordered to change three times daily. Thong has been taking an antibiotic, as well. Quite the trooper, he now is up north guiding a veteran group on visits to Birmingham Firebase, Bastogne Firebase, Hamburger Hill, Khe Sanh Firebase, Lang Vei Special Forces Camp, LZ Stud, and The Rockpile. With that eye patch, he now refers to himself as Damn Pirate.

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