Wednesday, 23 July 2014


My Luck in
"Song Tinh Thuong" Campaign

Major Cao Van Tam

At about 11.00 am, when I was in my tent, I suddenly heard "Whamp… Whamp!" Although it was the first time - as a Corps of Engineers 3rd Lieutenant, I accompanied my unit to participate in an operation which was the Song Tinh Thuong Campaign. I guessed it could be the VC shellings. I hurriedly put on my belt with my Cold 45’ pistol around my waist, put on my helmet, and ran out of the tent entrance. Outside of this entrance there was a wall. When I was reached that tent entrance, another 81 mm mortar fell on the other side of that wall. I lost balance but I did not fall. As I was lost in thought, I took another blast. By reflex, I stepped back and rushed to the other opening of the tent on opposing side. I was just out of the tent for a few meters when another VC 81 mm round fell close to the river bank, only five to six meters from me. Because that mortar round fell into deep mud, there was no flying shrapnel when it exploded. Only masses of mud were thrown up in the air and then fell down. The VC shelling was not abundant. There were only about ten rounds.
After the shelling, I recalled the two mortars which I had met. Had the wall not been there, or had the mortar round fallen a metre shorter, i.e. on this side of the wall, I would have been killed! Or had the second mortar round fallen a metre longer, i.e., on the riverbank, it would have also taken my life!
Major Cao Van Tam



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