It’s been nearly 58 years since Army veteran Robert Hendricks witnessed among the worst moments of the Vietnam Conflict, however these stark recollections remained burned into his unconscious.
Hendricks, who was drafted into service in 1967, was in Vietnam when the notorious Tet Offensive started in January 1968 and noticed firsthand the damaging results of napalm, a mixture of numerous acids, soaps, and aluminum salts used to thicken gasoline that was utilized in flamethrowers and bombs. The thick substance, nearly jelly-like, might be launched additional and burn extra slowly than different foliage-killing substances.
After receiving his draft discover within the mail from Selective Service, Hendricks reported to Fort Ord, California for primary coaching then went to Fort Holabird in Baltimore, Maryland for army intelligence college.
“I believe everybody who was graduating knew precisely the place we have been going,” Hendricks informed Central Oregon Day by day News. “It was both language college in Texas or straight to Vietnam, and mine was straight to Vietnam.”
Hendricks reported to Soc Trang, “approach down within the Mekong Delta.” His unit was assigned to liaise with members of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and the Vietnamese Marine Corps to collect beneficial data on latest hostilities and enemy positions.
Surviving the Tet Offensive
Then got here the Tet Offensive. Jan. 31, 1968. Hendricks calls it probably the most disturbing interval throughout his time in Vietnam. The North Vietnamese army mounted a sequence of assaults all through South Vietnam. Hendricks was bunking in a small blockhouse with one other soldier when the assault started round 3 a.m.
“We started to creak open the entrance door, and you can see tracers going forwards and backwards, and we each knew that we have been in it, and we had no clue who was capturing or the place they have been capturing from, aside from watching the tracers,” Hendricks stated.
The veteran recalled having an eerie feeling when daybreak arrived, and he couldn’t hear any noise outdoors within the village.
“There have been no kids laughing and screaming and what have you ever,” he stated. “And we weren’t certain whether or not or not the village had really been captured. After which for the following 72 hours, it was ready for an all-clear in order that we might get to the airbase.”
Earlier than they may go away their location, nevertheless, Hendricks witnessed “probably the most horrific factor I’ve ever seen.” The U.S. Air Power used two F-100 Tremendous Sabres (supersonic fighter jets) to clear the roadway. Hendricks stated they dropped a number of 500-pound bombs earlier than heading out, after which a 3rd aircraft got here and dropped 500 kilos of napalm earlier than leaving.
The expertise shook the younger Army soldier.
By no means Once more
“I had by no means seen napalm in my life, and I by no means wish to see it once more,” he stated.
When Hendricks and his bunkmate lastly obtained an all-clear message that it was protected to journey to the Soc Trang airbase, they needed to stroll by means of the not too long ago napalmed space. It was not like something he had seen earlier than and opened his eyes to the horrors of warfare.
“That was disturbing,” he stated. “You noticed some our bodies that have been nonetheless smoking, and also you had no clue in the event that they have been Viet Cong or in the event that they have been merely civilians.”
These haunting photos have stayed with him for nearly six many years. By the years, Hendricks has contemplated the psychological toll on an individual seeing a physique – or no matter is left of it after a bombing – roasting within the oppressive 100-degree warmth of the Mekong Delta. Like so many different troopers in Vietnam, the warfare had hardened him considerably, however it didn’t trigger him to lose his humanity, his empathy for others.
“It occurred to me that one physique mendacity there—that was anyone’s father, anyone’s brother, anyone’s son. However there he’s,” Hendricks stated. “He had a historical past identical to I did. It took a while to regulate to that.”
Whereas he hated being in Vietnam, Hendricks was delicate sufficient to understand the enemy troopers he was battling on daily basis have been additionally individuals identical to him. He felt for the individuals of Vietnam, an historic civilization that merely wished to be left alone.
“In a single sense, I appreciated that have, nevertheless dreadful it was—an actual schooling in overseas affairs and human affairs,” he stated.
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