The ships pulled out across some of the most beautiful water with the backdrop on mountains covered in green jungles. we were only underway for a short time when our commanding officer called formation. He gave us the news that we were headed to Vietnam. That we most likely wouldn’t see any action. He said that President Nixon was giving the order to pull the American Embassy out of Cambodia. The war was going to be over. When we were dismissed most of us headed to the fantail of the ship. I believe that most of us were scared. We never thought we would make it to Vietnam. Most of us just sat there watching the water from the propellers of the ship, then looking off to the distant horizon of the ocean.
The ships arrived in some bay about twenty miles from the shore of some land that was called Vietnam. The ship floated in the area for several weeks. General quarters had been called during that time. Some us were getting cocky, saying we wanted to go and kill some gooks. It was kind of strange, the fellows that were bigger and bossier then the rest of us seemed to be the ones scared the most. They seemed to be the ones talking to Jesus, reading Gideon’s bible. It humbled me to see such a sight. Seeing these big bad ass Marines weeping and praying. I guess we all thought that we were along for a big party. I too started praying, praying like I had never prayed before. I remembered the faith that I had been raised with. I went off alone to another part of the ship and did an act of contrition. I confessed all of my sins even ones that were not so serious. I wanted to be home where it was safe. I also wanted to help as many people as I could and if this was to be my job then I would serve my country and God.
To everyones relief the ships finally pulled out. We were given the word that the next float was going to get the job. Smiles everywhere we were going to stop at a couple more islands and then back to Subic Bay. We were only going to stay for a few more weeks and the cruise was going to be headed back to Japan.
It was a big party when we got back to Olongapo City, we partied all we could. Then before we knew it our time was over. We were underway and headed back to Okinawa. I was only back for about two months before it was time for me to rotate back to the States.
