The
Strangest/Best 5K?
Col. Bob Glick Background. In
1971, I was
stationed
in Viet Nam
as a member
of the US
Army Special Forces (Green Berets) to assist
in closing
down some
rather remote
military
sites. There
were 12 of
us, all professional
soldiers,
who were
on our 4th
or 5th year
in Viet Nam,
hence the
great assignment,
for the previous
years had
been in the
bush with
Infantry,
Airborne
Infantry
and Special
Forces
assignments. Among us there were several purple heart medals, for wounds
received in
combat. Anyway - the great 5k.
We
were in Kontum
a very remote
site in the
mountains of
Central Viet
Nam turningterrain,
equipment,
and assets
over to the
Tribesmen in
the area (Minority
Tribes contingent
to the area).
Commonly classified
as Vietnamese.
We
had all been
in the area
before and
as Special
Forces guys
were physically
fit, but due
to the area
had not been
able to conduct
much PT (Physical
Training) outside
of conditioning
and stationary
exercises. My
Team Sergeant
come up with
the idea of
doing a run,
which started
as a 5K, but
due to the
enemy proximity
came down to
a 2 mile run
with ruck sacks,
weapons, and
radios in combat
boots in standard
military clothing
(Jungle Fatigues)
My
Team Sergeant
checked local
intelligence
reports, checked
with the local
Vietnamese/Tribe
officials to
ascertain the
current location
of all enemy
forces; they
were not, according
to sources
within 4K's
of the city.
The
Team Sergeant
decided that
0500 (5:00
AM) would be
a good starting
time as it
was still relatively
cool (about
90 degrees)
and the enemy
reconnaissance
units would
be returning
to their base
camps after
a night of
scouting our
positions with
sporadic mortar
and small arms
fire (which
happened every
day and night).
Anyway,
the day of
the great race
came, marked
in memory today
as 27 Jan 1971.
Off we went,
all 12 of us,
with full military
gear, in boots,
with radios
and rifles
(M16's). The
Team Sergeant,
who by the
way today lives
at Point Clear
Al and whom
I visit at
least semi
annually (he
is a little
bit fatter
today) had
laid the course
out in generally
a square, since
only one 1/4
of the square
would be facing
enemy positions.
The first 1/4
- 1/2 mile
went well we
were all OK
and neck and
neck) The Vietnamese
and Tribesmen
had heard about
this event
and had begun
to come out
of their little
hooches (houses)
and stare,
grin or even
clap.
As
we rounded the
2nd part of
the square 2/4
(1.0 Mile)
some Enemy
Officer had
probably seen
us through
his Binoculars
and ordered
his mortar
crews to fire
at us - fortunately
moving targets
are hard to
hit, we (12
of us) must
have set a
record (in
full combat
gear for the
next 1/2 mile). However,
as we rounded
the 3rd part
of the rough
square (1.5
Mile), we noticed
that one of
the mortar
rounds had
landed in a
housing area. We
stopped running,
entered the
area, and helped
Vietnamese
put out small
fires, provide
CPR, triage,
and provide
medical care
as possible.
About
three hours
after all this
had started
we moved back
to the road,
last 1/4 of
the square,
and just began
to walk, we
were pooped! As
we crossed
the so-called
finish line,
the Vietnamese
had seen and
heard what
was going on
and they had
collected,
as they had,
small balls
of rice, some
French beer,
and some wilted
flowers. As
we crossed
they gave what
they had to
us - there
was not a grown
man who had
served in combat
before, that
day, time,
and place without
a tear and
great understanding
of humanity,
which we still
hold today.
In
Dec 1998 I
went back to
VietNam and
backpacked
the country
for 45 days.
On 10 Jan 1999, I
arrived in
Kontum and
after a search
found 2 persons
who where there
when this great
race happened. They
gave me a bracelet
that I wear
today with
their marks
and culture. Outside
of my wife
and siblings
it is my most
worthy possession.
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