“Jump up on that thing and give it a test run, Dan. That’s why I had Ryder bring you out here.”
“Come on Tom. I’m still on R & R. Technically anyway. Besides I have one hell of a hangover headache.”
“Poor Baby. Just do me a favor and tell me what’s wrong with this thing.”
Shaking his head and pretending that his head really hurt, Dan sacrificed all and climbed up over the Cat’s track and cautiously sat on the comfortable seat.
“I thought it was your head that hurt. You act like it’s your ass.” Casey shouted at Dan.
Damn! This thing doesn’t want to turn to the left at all.
Dan stopped the Cat, slipped the forward/reverse lever into reverse and when he was clear of the parked vehicles slapped the gear shift into high as he opened the throttle wide open.
Wow! I do believe this thing has a problem. Likes to go to the right okay, but sure hates the left.
He stopped. Selected forward and low gear and as he headed back to where the vehicles where parked pulled one steering lever after the other alternately and felt the unpredictable results.
The three Seabees stood looking as he got off the machine. Chief Thomas spoke up first. “Can we fix it in the field, Dan? I guess we’ll have to give Casey your D8 since we need to keep the quarry functioning.
Next question. Do you want to take a crack at fixing it? If we put it in the shop we probably won’t see it again on this deployment.”
It might be possible. I’m not 100% sure without the manual but this model doesn’t have clutches and brakes in it as such. Nor is it all hydraulic actuated. It acts and feels to me like something came loose in the final drives. Or what we used to call the final drives.”
“Casey, let’s take it over to the rock crusher and see if we can put it into one of those ex-RMK shops. Then you can take Dan’s D8 out to the gate and to the quarry in the morning.”
“I’d rather Dan take this one in, Chief. It’s kind of erratic to run. Truthfully, it scares the shit out of me.”
“Dan, you alright with that? I don’t know as I blame Casey there’s going to be a tight spot or two before we get it into the shop.
I’ll talk to Smitty and ask if you can borrow his tools and I’ll try to have the shop manual for you first thing tomorrow morning.
“No problem, I’ll take it in. It will be nice quiet ride.”
A week later, Friday the 9th of June, with only Chief Thomas in attendance Dan Davis cranked up the D8 which he had been working on since he came back from Okinawa. Carefully while holding down the brake pedal with one foot and the decelerator foot pedal with the other, he slide the forward/reverse into reverse before slipping the gear shift over into the lowest gear.
Slowly releasing the brake, Dan felt the Cat barely creeping back out of the shop. Easing up on the decelerator it moved a bit faster. Once clear of the shop’s door he released the decelerator and allowed the machine to feel full throttle.
Here goes nothing. Go for broke!
He smoothly pulled the left turn lever fully back and the Cat responded by locking up the left track and starting to pivot around to the left as it was supposed. He released the left turn lever and when the Cat moved back in a straight line he started to manipulate the right and left turn levers with his finger tips and made the huge machine do a hula dance in reverse. Stopping and starting forward towards the shop and Chief Thomas he did the same thing. A hula dance in forward. He popped the gear shift in high and brought each steering lever fully back alternately locking one track then the other then pulled both levers back simultaneously and the D8 came to a sudden stop..
After he brought the Cat to a halt in front of the shop he looked towards his friend with a big smile. He got two thumbs up and a huge smile in return. He shut the Cat down and dropped off the track to the ground.
“What do you think, Dan? Looks like it’s running right now.”
“I hate to say it Tom, but I think the same thing is going to happen to the right drive. It feels spongy compared to the left that we just fixed.”
“Think it’s worth ripping down now?”
“No. I’m all for running it until it quits. I can limp it in from even the laterite pit if I have too.”
“Okay, it’s your call. Want to start back to work and finish up the laterite pit tomorrow?”
“Damn right. I didn’t fix that beast to have it sit around doing nothing and me playing footsie for the next two weeks.”
“You’re short. You don’t have to go out on Highway 1 if you don’t want to.
You know that?”
“Yeah I know Tom. I’d rather be out there than hanging around dispatch or the Company Office.”
“You been talking to Ryan haven’t you?”
“He tipped me off about certain plans to try and get me to write a heavy equipment curriculum for graders and bulldozers for training in Port Hueneme.”
“OK. On the road until let’s say June 26th. Then into the A Company compound until you head for Okinawa on leave.”
“A deal. I’m sure that I can hide for 4 or five days before I catch my ride.”
“You don’t miss a bet do you?”
“What can I say.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
On the first of July, a Saturday, EON2 Dan Davis threw his duffle bag, flak jacket and 782 gear up onto the cargo deck of the duty driver’s 2 ton cargo truck before climbing into the shotgun seat
“Morning Dan. Catching the first plane out?” The CN (constructionman) duty driver asked. Dan knew his face and could read his name tag but had never worked with him.
“I’m catching hops to Okinawa on a delay en-route, Hank.” Dan recalled all of a sudden who the kid was. He was in the third squad of his platoon and had arrived about four months ago and drove this same truck everyday picking up small loads of cargo and passengers coming into and going out of the Chu Lai MCAF terminal.
“You can do that? Take leave when you’re transferring in-country?”
“Yeah, if you have the time on the books or a good Company Commander who will let you go in the hole on leave.”
“How do you get hops? You fly on government airplanes?”
Dan laughed quietly before answering. He understood how naive the almost 20 year old kid was. “They cut your orders for a given length of delay en-route with no transportation being provided. But anybody on active duty with orders can ride any military aircraft that will have or give him a seat. You just ask at the air terminals if there’s any rides available to where you want to go.”
They pulled up to the MCAF terminal at Chu Lai before 0600. It was still dim the sun was still a hair below the horizon.
“Good luck and see ya Dan.”
“Yeah thanks, Hank. Keep your head down”
It was still early and quiet in the nearly empty terminal. Dan dropped his gear by the flightline door before going to the counter. The Marine ATCO was shuffling papers but had looked up when Dan came through the door and was waiting for him to come up to the counter. “Where you going this time Seabee? R & R again?”
“Not this time Sarge. But I need a ride to Okinawa, but I’ll settle for Da Nang. Got delay en-route orders.”
“Got a Hercules leaving in 10 to 15 minutes for Da Nang and it has plenty of room. Come on I’ll help you carry your gear out and get you put on the manifest.
How long you going to be on Okinawa?”
“Thirty days, then I’ll catch a ride back and go to Phu Bai.”
Their C-130 was making a straight-in to the Da Nang runway when it started to climb back out. Dan was standing alongside some palletized cargo were he could look out the small window imbedded in the aft troop door. As the aircraft rolled up into a turn to the left he could see parts of the base and some aircraft parking revetments where several aircraft, two or three fighter types and two multiengine cargo planes obviously damaged and foam covered. One cargo plane was st
ill smoking as fire fighters sprayed it down with off white foam.
The loadmaster and crew chief came back into the cargo bay and were explaining to some of the passengers what was going on.
There had been several people aboard which Dan didn’t really pay any attention to on the short ride to Da Nang. Now he noticed a Navy Lieutenant in khakis armed with a Colt Officer’s model .45 in a shoulder holster and had a magazine in it which Dan presumed was loaded with copper jacketed ball ammunition. He was carrying a briefcase handcuffed to his left wrist. The officer stood up and moved up the tight space between the red nylon troop seats and the pallets of cargo to meet the loadmaster who had just reached the spot by the door where Dan was still standing. The two men and Dan kind of huddled in the slightly larger spot by the troop door.
“Da Nang got hit with a heavy mortar and rocket attack about 6 hours ago. Sappers got through the wire and blew up a couple of planes . So everything was shutdown until Command Post figured it was over after Marine gunships nailed some of the sappers on the north perimeter and opened up the field again. Right after a 141 landed they cleared us to land and Charlie opened up with mortars on the 141, and we got a ‘get-the-hell-out-of-the-way’ and the 141 did a 180 and took back off with the wind. He has diverted to who knows where, but since there won’t be any flights out of Chu Lai to do you any good Sir, we’re going to hang around a few then duck in under Charlie’s radar. In other words wait for a quiet moment then pull a C-130 move of a steep and fast approach, so we can drop you and anybody else wants off. We’ll pickup the other courier then go back to Chu Lai. The Command Post will have somebody waiting for you in Ops to do whatever you have to, and then you can wait there for the first plane out or you can wait for a plane to Okinawa.”
“Thanks Sergeant. The Petty Officer and I will stay together.” And he pointed his thumb at Dan.
That was when Dan realized that the officer was wearing CEC (Civil Engineer Corp-crossed bananas) collar devices. He was a Seabee officer and by the holstered sidearm and briefcase handcuffed to his wrist was obviously a battalion courier with classified documents.
“You’re going to Okinawa, Davis?” The Lieutenant asked after the loadmaster had moved on to another group of passengers.
“Yes Sir. On leave between transfers.”
“So you’re on your own and catching hops?”
“Yeah.” Dan answered with a quiet laugh.
“That’s what my orders also say. Catch hops that is. I also have some priority which I can use to help you. I can decide that I need an escort.”
After about 30 minutes of circling out over the South China Sea the C-130 made a dash into Da Nang. Fast and steep it started to shoot its approach.
When the 130 started its approached Dan put on his flak jacket before moving his gear next to the ramp. The Hercules landed on the runway closest to the taxiway leading to Operations. When they taxied towards Operations the loadmaster opened the ramp and talking into the mike on his headset. As soon as the aircraft came to a nose dipping stop he motioned for the passengers to unloaded over the ramp. When Dan and the Lieutenant got on the ramp followed by 2 or 3 of the passengers who also wanted off, there were several armed Marines in a line to direct the passengers away from the back of the aircraft and the still spinning propellors. The sandbagged entrance to Operations stood out with two square double decked, double walled bunkers. One on each side of the main entrance with the barrels of a couple of M60 machine guns sticking out of each bunker. Hurrying towards Operations at the urging of the Marine guards they both instinctively ducked when they heard the whistle of incoming mortar rounds. Both rounds landed out of the hurt or kill range of the 130 and as the last of passengers came around the wing tip closest to Operations and two men in jungle fatigues ran and jumped up onto the ramp the loadmaster also jumped back onto the ramp. The 130 started a taxing turn towards the taxiway almost sliding in the intersection turning onto the runway. With the wind on its tail started its take off roll. As Dan went through the door into Operations he turned to see the nose of the 130 come up, black smoke was rolling out of its’ jet engines and it started a typical steep Hercule’s climb out of Da Nang and away from any stray mortar rounds Charlie may want to throw at it.
“I need to meet that Navy Commander standing by the counter. Do you want to find us some suitable seats and after I get done with him I’ll check on flights for us to Okinawa or some place else besides here.”
“Okay Sir. I presume we want to be insight of the ATCO but also close to the bunker entrance”
He didn’t answer. Just smiled at Dan and with a small wave headed towards the senior officer who looked impatient to remove himself from Base Operations and get back to his cozy bunker somewhere besides Da Nang Air Force Base.
Guess we’ll be here a while, Dan. They’ve closed the runways until they can root out those mortars and rocket launchers. The ATCO has copies of our orders so we’ll get priority on the first flight out of here. He thinks it will probably be going south like Subic Bay or Saigon. From there we won’t have any trouble getting into Naha or Kadena.
I put you on my orders, so we can leave together.”
“Thanks Lieutenant. I appreciate that. You do realize that I’m not armed?”
“No big deal. I just need you to watch my back so if we’re here too long I can take a nap or two. In return you may get out of here a little quicker and have a choice of what flight you want to take. You won’t have to take the same one as I do if it’s inconvenient for you. You can also get a few winks.”
“First on my agenda is to find something to eat. Looks like the snack bar isn’t going to be open for a while and I only had coffee before I left Chu Lai.”
“Me either. I do believe we will be treated compliments of the US Air Force, to some good old American food of unique varieties. If you want to go ask the ATCO I’m sure he will let you see the menu which consists of 12 selected entrees with various fruits and meats as appetizers and deserts.”
“Are you sure that you’re an engineer, Sir?”
“Of course.” He answered with a smile. How else would I get to wear these CEC, crossed banana, devices?”
“I thought maybe with your description of what we can get to eat here you worked on Madison Avenue in your spare time.”
“Can’t blame me for trying to improve our appetites and giving us the idea that we are about to have a unique dining experience compliments of the US Air Force.”
“Oh, brother.” Dan said in response as he stood up and started for the ATCO’s counter. “What is your choice this morning, Sir. A full gourmet meal or just a breakfast roll and gourmet coffee?” He tossed over his shoulder as he walked away.
Off and on all day and into the early hours of evening the muffled sound of in-coming rounds exploding in various directions from the bunker, though muffled by the structure and sandbagging of the Operations bunker startled them.,. At one point a close by fire fight erupted within hearing of the bunker which the ATCO said later was when a squad of Marines had discovered a small group of VC sappers trying to reach the aircraft in nearby revetments.
By midnight all was quiet and at 0600 the oncoming ATCO said that the runways were now open and they would have some outgoing and incoming flights shortly.
At just before 0800 the Lieutenant and Petty Officer Davis were called and a flight was available to Subic Bay on a PBY.
Oh, that is going to be one long rough ride. Should I or shouldn’t I?
“Up to you Dan. If you want to try for something different you will still have priority. Personally I like the Philippines. Truthfully, there’s a Navy nurse at Subic that a I would really enjoy seeing and I can get rid of this briefcase at least overnight until a flight I’m booked on leaves.”
“You’re not booked on a flight from Subic Bay to Naha.”
“I know, but I can be after I get to Subic.”
“Thanks Sir, but I’ll
wait around a bit longer. Probably can’t get anything direct to Okinawa, but hopefully closer than Subic Bay and not on a PBY.”
“You don’t care for a ride in a PBY?”
“I appreciate your help and your company Mister Goldman. But a PBY to Subic is a bit more than what I want at this time.”
“An elitist, heh?
I owe you Dan, I couldn’t have got any sleep at all if you hadn’t been here to watch my back.” The Lieutenant offered Dan his hand. “Good luck and wish I could be at your wedding. Take care.”
He picked up his AWOL bag and briefcase before turning and starting for the door out to the tarmac.
Finally at few minutes before 0900 on Sunday morning the ATCO caught Dan’s eye and motioned for him. “Got you on a C-124 to Saigon if you want. Leaves shortly as soon as any passengers I have are loaded.”
“Yes. I’m on it.”
The ATCO handed Dan his loading pass and said, “Grab your gear. You’re first on.”
“Thanks Sarge. Appreciate it.”
“No sweat. Have a good trip and you won’t have any trouble getting out of Saigon for either Naha or Kadena. When you get to Tan Son Nhut go directly to Air Force C-141 operations and they’ll fix you up. Most likely into Naha. Which won’t be a problem for you will it?.”
“Only a $2.00 taxi ride difference.”
Being first on and on the upper deck of the C-124 Dan had his pick of seats and took one nearest to one of the cabin windows. About ten or so more passengers boarded before engine start. They were mostly Air Force personnel with a couple of Army officers who were deep in conversation with each other and didn’t seem to have any time for anybody else.
Pencil pushers. Never been off the paved sidewalks of Da Nang AFB and are headed back to their plush duty in Saigon. Probably came up here slumming so they could say how they were in Indian Country. Trying to earn their Combat Infantry Badges. The only sign of wear on their jungle fatigues is the seat of their pants.
Those three Air Force dudes look like they just came out of Indian Country. Not so clean jungle fatigues and in need of haircuts. Real Australian bush hats. FAC controllers. Betcha.