As I look at my blog I see some of my pictures are missing.
Well, that's another thing to figure out. Obviously, I'm not doing so good on this.
But, I'll keep trying.

Mail Call

Phil on the LZ getting his mail.

So many quesions... but how else would I know?

I begin writing my book by reviewing what the Vets told me.  Then I just start writing. 

 I can go back and make it sound better at any time.

But I cannot get far before I have to do more research. I need details. Lots of details.

I need to feel like I am there.  That means researching on the internet.  And asking Phil.

I ask Phil LOTS and LOTS of questions. I want details. 

He says that it was 50 years ago. 

Do I really expect him to remember details?  

But, he does a good job.  Some things he thinks about for a while, but every tidbit he passes on to me is helpful.

And we look at pictures.  They help a lot.

Me: You wore shorts?  I didn't know they issued shorts.

Phil: (Laughing) No. We were wearing our underwear. Drab Olive underwear. It was really hot there. And usually we had on boots.

Luxury Bathing in Vietnam

M16 Rifle

The M16 rifle is one of the world’s most famous firearms, iconic as the American weapon of the Vietnam War—and, indeed, as the U.S. military’s standard service rifle until only a few years ago. But the story of the M16 in Vietnam is anything but a success story.

In the early years of the war, the U.S. military had a problem: its primary infantry rifle, the M14, couldn’t stand up to the enemy’s AK-47s.

he search was on for a replacement that was lighter weight, more durable, and more lethal than the M14. After tests and debates , Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara ordered the adoption of the M16, which was rushed through production and rushed to Vietnam, reaching troops’ hands in early 1965.

Problems appeared immediately. Soldiers were often not adequately trained to maintain the new rifle, nor were they always given cleaning supplies or instructions. The harsh jungle climate corroded the rifle’s chamber, exacerbated by the manufacturer’s decision against chrome-plating the chamber. The ammunition that accompanied the rifles sent to Vietnam was incompatible with the M16 and was the principal cause of the failure to extract malfunctions. The result was the M16 often jammed, making the rifle “about as effective as a muzzleloader,” in the words of one officer.

Men were killed in combat because they couldn’t return fire until the malfunction was cleared. Congress investigated and the rifle and its ammunition were incrementally modified, greatly improving its reliability over the next few years. Troop training was also improved. But the damage to the M16’s reputation could not be undone, and many soldiers remained deeply skeptical of their rifle through the war’s end.

M60 Machine Gun

Phil Feder with his ammo belts for the M60

The M60 got the nickname of Pig or Hog because its report sounded like the grunt of a barnyard hog. It was also the only rifle that could “huff and puff and blow down houses.

Help from my Veteran

As I'm working on my book I need help from Phil.  He says, "Show me on the map. I don't think your right."  So, out come the maps.  And the coffee table is full.  But, now he knows what I am referring to, and he can give me some help.  I've studied this maps for hours. Of course, I was right.  But he is the one who helped me get things straight.  After all, he was there.

On the left is the coffee table in my living room.  On the right is some of the maps.

This has become my life. 

My husband in Vietnam

Map of Vietnam, including Hill 283

Chop Vum, also know as Hill 283, is where my story takes place.

Characters

So, I had an outline of the events, and a list of characters. Then I had to define my characters.
The book is historical fiction. That meant I had the liberty to make up the characters and make up any parts of the story that needed filling in. I did want to stick to the actual events in the battle, and use as many true incidents as I could.
The characters were all made up.  Some took on the characteristics of one person, but some of the characters are a mix.  I had to make up a background for each one.  Were they drafted? How old? Married? Hair color? Special habits? There was so much to consider.  I started a spreadsheet, and by the end it was 14 pages long.
I hope I have done the characters justice. They are not real, but they do portray a real story.

I realized there were a lot of characters needed.

Did you know?

- The Vietnam war began on November 1, 1955 and ended on April 30, 1975 with the fall of Saigon.  It lasted 19 1/2 years.

-Over the duration of the war, more than 58,000 Americans were killed in Vietnam.

- Over the duration of the war over 150,000 Americans were wounded.

- About 30% of Vietnam Veterans have experienced PTSD.

- A CIB (Combat Infantry Badge) means the person was in the infantry an he has seen combat.  The Army is suppose to award the CIB to an Infantry soldier who has engaged the enemy or was engaged by the enemy. They are the front-liners under hostile fire in combat zones.

Notebook

My notebook was filling quickly.  I had all kinds of notes.  Every time a thought came to me I wrote it down.  In fact, I had two notebooks started.   I think I ended up with five or six notebooks of different sizes, most of them full.  Plus several folders full of notes.

Then I started watching videos.  Back to the recoilless rifle. I watched them load and fire. I timed it. I watched the explosion.  I made more notes.  I found the training manual online.  More notes.

FIRING THE RECOILLESS

Making meaning of the Daily Staff Journal.

I finally had the words in the Daily Journal deciphered.  Now, what did they mean?
Of course, my husband was my first resource.  He could answer most of my questions. That's a good start. I've got a pretty good idea of the meanings. I need to keep notes. Lots of notes.  So, out comes my notebook.
Now I need more accurate descriptions. The internet is great.  But, one thing leads to another.  A better description, a picture.  Learning the technical meaning, then understanding it.  Then making sure it is the right definition for the Vietnam War.
For example, I talked about the Recoilless Rifle. I found a 57 mm, 75mm, 90 mm, and 105mm,  Which one did they use?  Charlie Company used the 90mm (also know as the M67).  NVA used the 75mm.
So, every item had to be researched.  And notes made.

I already had an outline.  Now I needed to update and make sure the outline followed the course of the battle as described in the Staff Journal.

That took a while.

 90 MM RECOILLESS