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My name is Ed
Pacilio, I just discovered your roster at the 5th Infantry
Division web site. I was in A Company from November, 1969 until
about August or September of 1970, then I got a rear job driving a
2 1/2 ton truck. Some of the names brought back some memories.
As you know that was 35 years ago. I can remember the CO when I
came in was Captain MacDonald, who had recently arrived himself. I
was in the second platoon, second squad. At that time the squad
leader was Nick Baylus, from California. I remember a guy named
Joe Pagon from New Jersey who had a friend who joined up with him
named Kenny. I can't remember last name, but about my second or
third day with A Company. in the field, Kenny was hit from rocket
or mortar, leg wound, went home and was killed later in a car
accident. Kenny had a M-79 grenade launcher and I picked it up and
carried it the rest of the time there.
One of my strongest
memories was when we had just returned from a tour on Dong Ha
mountain, FSB Fuller I think it was called. After we returned to
camp Red Devil and had a shower and hot chow, my squad, 2nd
squad, was on call. It was called "Sparrow Hawk" or something
like that. Anyway, we ended up going back to Dong Ha Mountain
because Delta Company, who had replaced Alpha Company, was getting
hit with rockets or mortars. So they choppered us back out and we
ended up stuck there and getting hammered for almost another
month. I remember a Chinook helicopter getting hit as it was
trying to resupply us. It crashed and burned on the pad. The NVA
had the pad zeroed in. We just kind of stayed in the bunkers most
of the time.
Finally we were
choppered off. I heard A Company and D Company walked off a couple
of days later. Like I said, this was 35 years ago so my memories are strong on some points and not on
others. I believe this was in May of 1970, but I am not sure.
I was there
from November 1969 until October 1970. I think it was August or
September when I was transferred to Headquarters Company for a
couple of months for a rear job as a truck driver. I knew a guy named Larrabee, I think
his first name was Jim. He was from upstate New York. He broke his
leg, non combat related, while he was there. I remember him
walking around with a cast on his leg and a big peace sign painted
on it. Anyway these are some of the memories. |
