Vietnam War: U.S. Army Infantry Squad | Eastern NC Now

Vietnam War Teenage Soldier's squad     Click image to expand.
    Look at the pictures carefully and you see 6 guys. Add the teenager in a separate photo and you have a squad of infantrymen. The Sarge, Machine gunner, two ammo bearers, One rifleman and one who might have been a medic. This may have been the whole squad which was normally 7-12 guys.

    This is not a Hawk or Dove story. I printed this photo and entered Charlie's Bar & Grille at happy hour with a few grunt friends to spend the evening learning about boot camp, weapons, counting steps while recording compass readings, and sending up different color flares before sundown on night patrol. VN tactics long replaced by GPS and cell phones.

    The Vets said this about the photo. The Black soldier in the middle was the RTO (Radio Telephone Operator) and the ammo belts are for the M60 machine gun. The guy with the forlorn look is the Gunner. Just below the Medic, you can see a claymore mine. That is an antipersonnel mine that can be placed at night and blown with a wired remote detonator. Most of the vets had carried M16, M14, M1carbine, and 45 pistols at different times. Most never carried the M60 that was heavy and usually one of the taller or bigger guys had that duty. Once they got used to it you couldn't pry it out of their hands even though the gunner drew the most fire and the officers, if the enemy could identified them.
Vietnam War Teenage Soldier's squad     Click image to expand.
    A drafted infantryman would serve for two years: 10 weeks of boot camp, one year in country (jungle) and then given one week leave out of Country and return for one year support duty with one week leave in Country. Finally, he returned state side.

    When I returned, I used the VA benefits to buy a house, go to night school, and get discounts at Home Depot. When older, I will receive a subsidized senior housing allowance and someday burial with full military honors.