In early 72, I was transferred to a sleepy little village named Ninh Hoa. Home of the Whitehorse ROK Division headquarters and a tiny American outfit known as the 60th AHC, Ghost Riders. We had replaced the 48th AHC (Blue Stars) when they went north to a battle called Lam Son 714.

Now, Ninh Hoa was located on Highway 1, about 20 miles north of Nha Trang, separated by the mountains that reached into the sea there. Highway 1 curved around, following the seacoast with drop-offs on one side and steep hills on the other side. We usually followed the highway when going to Nha Trang, a short flight.

On days off, we had to take the daily mail truck into Nha Trang if we had a doctor's appointment, dentist's appointment, etc. This truck was driven by REMFS and always had a bed full of REMFs in the back. These REMFs always were armed to the teeth, guns bristling out the sides, cherry boys ever vigilant for Mr. Victor Charles.

At one point in this road trip, the highway passed very close to the South China Sea. At this point, the young American GIs would open up towards the sea, getting the fun of firing their latest toys of death. Now this day, as usual in Vietnam, was hot and sleepy.

I had been flying a lot lately, was tired, and took my day off to visit the dentist. So off we go, in the truck. Surrounded by these gun-bearing, ever-alert REMFs, I fell asleep, sitting on my ass, as comfy as one could get in the back of a deuce-and-a-half. Suddenly, gunfire erupted all around me. It sounded like a full on ambush, and like a dumb ass, I was the only one unarmed.

The sudden gunfire awoke me from my very deep, pleasant sleep. Instantly throwing myself on the bed of the truck, covering my head, I quickly attuned my senses, figuring out what was going on. I heard sounds of loud laughter...the SOBs had gone hot into the bay while I was sleeping.

Angrily sitting up, I soon found the humor in my situation...I felt like a complete ass...but at the same time I felt good as to how I had reacted...especially in front of cherry boys. Them boys sure were killers of waves and fishes.