By Rigo
Ordaz |
Introduction
Webmaster's
Comments: Rigo Ordaz, an Infantryman
with the 1/50 (M) Infantry has nothing but respect and admiration
to the Medics who patched us up and a lot of times saved our butts. |
Most soldiers who have
been in combat have a high degree of respect for the Medics who are
out there with the grunts, in harms way, rendering aid to the wounded.
They are not exempt from getting wounded by enemy bullets, mortars,
mines, and booby traps or by friendly fire.
Aside from tending to battle wounds Combat Medics in Vietnam were
also called to perform many other duties. They were also required
to keep the health of the platoon in check by administering Malaria
pills, salt tablets, applying various ointments, checking feet and
crotches and in general an abundance of first aid for scratches, cuts,
bites, abrasions and keeping diseases in check.
They carried a medic's bag, which could weigh quite a bit. Most carried
a rucksack also, with change of clothes, c rations, and extra water
for the platoon and whatever else the average grunt needed in the
bush.
Sometimes they were called upon to perform out of the ordinary duties
as Combat Medic Pete Tovar recalls. "We had been operating in
the coastal area near some villages where we had been in earlier firefights.
We were maneuvering around those villages with our APCs, when one
of them hit a medium size mine. One of the troopers who was riding
on top of the APC was catapulted into the air by the explosion."
Unfortunately, the trooper landed on a large cactus plant, which were
abundant in that area. Medic Pete Tovar remembers that "We were
still pretty wired up and jittery from the ordeal of the Battle of
Tam Quan, when I heard an explosion. We knew it was either a B40 or
land mine. Medic Ron Provencher and I ran to the track which had run
over a land mine to check for casualties. To my surprise one of the
wounded was the guy that got blown off the top of the track and landed
on a huge cactus. We answered the call of duty, with a smirk, as we
proceeded to extract thorns from the trooper's butt, back, and arms.
If there would have been a "Purple Butt" award, I would
have put him up for it."
Another incident happened when D 1/50 was operating close to a village
in another area, when Medic Pete Tovar was called into a Vietnamese
village to help deliver a baby. Here is how Pete remembers it. "I
recall once we were working somewhere north of LZ English and we had
just made our FOB for the night when a bunch of nearby villagers came
to the perimeter requesting a Boxie, which in Vietnamese means Doctor
or Medic. The LT dispatched me, Pablo Luna (medic later wounded and
evacuated) and a squad. When we got to the village we were surprised
to find a women laboring with childbirth. It surprised me as I thought
they just dropped these kids out on a daily basis with no trouble
at all. Sure enough she was lying on the floor with legs wide open
and other women hovering about. A couple of mama sons were trying
to help but the baby's head was stuck at the opening. I didn't recall
taking any pediatric courses at Ft. Sam Houston."
"We could see the top of the head, hair and all. I tried pushing
my hand between her and the baby's head but it wouldn't budge. This
went on for about an hour and we feared for the welfare of both the
baby and the mother who was in serious distress. At that point we
decided to call for a Medivac. The chopper arrived with a doctor on
board who advised she wasn't quite dilated enough and took her to
the Medical Aid Station back at LZ Uplift. Never saw her again."
There were many incidences and stories to include one where an ARVN
got an M79 round stuck on his thigh or buttocks.
Another incident having to do with an M79 is one where a young trooper
accidentally fired his launcher while walking in a column down a very
steep hill. The round hit a guy in the thigh not more than five feet
away and flipped him backwards like a somersault. "When I got
to him he had a very serious bruise but no broken bones. We sent him
back to the aid station later on due to sever pain, stiffening and
I am sure torn muscles. Fortunately the round did not go off. Another
more serious incident happened around that time also. While going
through heavy brush, a trooper had a grenade pin pulled off his hip
by the heavy foliage. The explosion taught us all a very serious lesson
off of survival. It was then that I quit hauling grenades; the only
ones I carried from that point was smoke.
Depending on the mission, the medical bag could weigh just as much
as a full rucksack. Russ Roth, Medic with D, and A Company recalls
that he was getting a good natured ribbing from his friend the RTO,
and how easy the medics had it carrying a medical bag. They exchanged
the radio and medical bag for a while. It wasn't long before he wanted
his radio back and never again complained about his load.
Aside from being called to perform out of the ordinary duties, Medics
were also in harms way without shooting back because they had to tend
to the wounded. They went through the same hairy situations as a Combat
Infantryman. Russ Roth recalls one incident when they were almost
left behind in a firefight.
"We (Delta 1/50) went on an air combat assault on 505 Valley
on March 18, 1968. We were supposed to execute a "stay behind"
ambush, but instead we were ambushed and receiving fire from all directions.
As the different platoons scrambled and maneuvered for a better fighting
position, several attempts were also made to secure an LZ for extraction.
By this time we had two kia and several wounded. Finally, as we tended
to the wounded, an LZ was secured and most squads started moving promptly
in that direction. We were carrying a severely wounded soldier in
a makeshift litter but the Bn. CO dropped off a litter. We started
moving in the direction of the LZ also. Suddenly we started receiving
fire and we scrambled to get behind a hedgerow. Adrenalin was running
very high as our hearts sank when we realized there were no other
friendlies around. We had been left behind and with nothing to defend
ourselves. Moments of panic were multiplied and our hearts sank as
we saw a Chinook taking off. For sure we had been left behind and
nobody knew about it. All of a sudden, we saw some moment close to
us and we expected the enemy to show up. We were very relieved to
see David Jones and his squad, Lowell Miller, Thomas Ramey and a fourth
man coming toward us. We all got together and started moving to the
PZ. We were sure glad to see them as they saved our butts. Within
minutes we were extracted and back at LZ Uplift.
These are just a few of the many stories that Combat Medics can and
should tell. Hats off to the Combat Medics of the 1st Battalion (Mechanized),
50th Infantry.
© Rigo Ordaz, 2003-2005.
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ORDAZRF@WEBTV.NET
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