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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