Your True
Tales
May 2003 –
Page 6
Angel in
Uniform
by R. Thom J.
It was late 1966 I was at a LZ called Oasis, working as a door gunner. This night I was pulling perimeter guard. As we came under attack, a C-130 gun ship called "Puff the Magic Dragon" flew just outside our position and was working out their guns. It looked like fire coming from a hose in the dark; we were all impressed. The next morning, the other gunners and I decided to rearrange out-linked ammo to have all the tracers together to give the same effect as we saw the night before. That afternoon we went on a CA mission. As we approached the LZ, we opened up with our machine guns - a sight to see, but not as dramatic. The LZ was large and mostly clear waist-high dried grass. It was hot so we received enemy fire, but as we landed, our grunts chased the Viet Cong. Small fires started all over from our tracer rounds. I heard on the intercom a ship behind us was down with main rotor problems and fires had them enveloped, my captain ordered me to go back with a fire bottle and see if I could help them. As I jumped up and grabbed it, I didn't think to take my rifle. I ran back to their position, but as I got closer, the crew chief waved me back. It seems their main rotor was fine, and they were about to take off. As I ran back, I got disoriented. I was hearing less noise and, well, I was sorta lost. As I ran around looking, the fear came closer to me. I was sweating in the very hot and humid weather when I heard a "Dung Li," meaning stop or halt. I looked up and saw a North Vietnamese soldier pointing his AK at me.
I froze. My first thought was to defend myself, yet I forgot my rifle. I was too far away to jump him in hand-to-hand, and he had a rifle. I immediately dropped the fire bottle. I didn't speak his language, yet understood his commands. As I got to my knees, hands up, I could see he was stunned at finding me alone and unarmed. He was saying things to me I didn't understand, yet knew I was doomed. As he backed up facing me, I knew I was about to die. I went from fear to an overwhelming sadness as I thought about my mother and how this will hurt her when she finds out I was killed. I was not religious at all like her, but knew she prayed for me a lot.
As I sat there waiting to die, I looked down and saw these ants going about their business as usual. It hit me weird: How they could just be ants and do what they do as I was about to die? This all took place in about a few minutes, yet seemed like hours. My whole life was passing in front of me, all 18 years. I was just hoping it didn't hurt too bad, when all of a sudden a total peace came over me - a feeling I can't describe. I heard a loud crack. I jumped as I thought I just been shot, thinking hey, this didn't hurt that bad. I heard a thump. The enemy soldier fell to the ground.
As I looked up, I saw the tallest person I ever saw: a GI about 7 or 8 feet tall. He just stood there motionless, perfect in dress, unbelievable - no soil marks or sweat, a perfect-looking figure. His eyes shaded by the helmet showed through; an aura as I know it now was all around him. At the time I was thinking just the sun, but it was encompassing his figure. He spoke to me clearly. He told me it was ok, that I am safe now. "Thomas, go back to your bird."
How did he know my name? And a first name, too, something GIs don't normally call each other, and "bird," a term only crew members use. Also, his lips never moved. I now realize that his words were in my head, not audible, but I was young and scared. I jumped up and ran back to my bird, which I found immediately!
As I got back in, the captain went nutso on me. "Where you been?" I could not speak. As we lifted off and made a right turn, I could see the area for hundreds of yards in all directions. I saw the enemy soldier still lying there as if asleep, yet no sign of the GI. There was no time even for the fastest sprinter to run out of sight, yet he was gone.
I never mentioned what really happened to anyone for over 30 years. It took time as I thought about this, and now know what I saw and experienced. It seems angels appear to us as they think we can handle their image. They're real, and they are here to help us. I was spared, and I think about it every day. Am I doing what's right? I must always try to. There was a reason for me to live. I hope I do it right.
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