I'M GONNA SHOOT ME A MAJOR

PREFACE
Colonel, if you by some miracle see these stories, there are two things I want to tell you.
1) I completed a 418 day extended tour in Vietnam without a Courts martial or even an Article 15. Came close several more times, but there was always someone who knew my intentions were pure, and my goals were just, and covered my rear end just as you did. If you could see my total record, I believe you would be proud of me.
2) I have never forgotten what you did for me, my men, and the civilians involved in these two stories. I am eternally grateful to you for all you did. Thank you.
Harold A. Doc Peterson Sr.

Man Needing Medical Attention

The facts are as I remember them, anyone who disagrees with my version is welcome to tell me about it. Time has erased the names of the Colonel and Major involved, so they will be referred to only by rank.
It was Oct., 1968 and I was a fairly new medic with 1st Platoon Bravo Co, 2/47th(Mech) 9th Inf Div. While confident of my medical skills, I was still overwhelmed by being 10,000 miles from home, in a land occupied by strange people with strange customs, some of whom wanted to kill me. I was just beginning to feel comfortable with the men of the platoon, learning just enough about them not to consider them strangers, but not enough to feel a part of the team yet.
We were assigned to provide additional security at a bridge in the Mekong Delta, I think it was at the town of Vinh Long. Our platoon took up positions at one end of the bridge, there was a large ARVN base on the other end of the bridge across a river. Bridge security was good duty, as you could relax a little more before dark, and even after dark, being in a open roadway seemed better than moving through rice paddies. Charlie had to come to us in prepared positions, giving us an advantage. Only drawback was we were in known positions, sitting ducks for mortars if he had them available. But to me, it was a good deal.
I had a deal worked out with my squad, I would pull guard duty from arrival at our site till 10 PM, thus if there was no contact, I generally got 6 or 7 hours uninterrupted sleep, a VERY good deal in my book. I pulled my shift and went to sleep. I think it was around 11 pm that one of the guys came and woke me up. I was told that one of my men, Ted Carlson,was sick and they thought I needed to look at him. As we neared the track he was in, I knew they were right. I could hear his breathing before I even saw him, the sounds of fluids in his lungs were like waves on a beach. As I began to examine him, one of the men told me he had been sick for 2 days, but they had promised not to tell me. I cursed at myself for not having picked up on his avoiding me. He had a 104 degree fever, was sweating profusely and shaking like a leaf. No doubt in my mind, he had pneumonia, probably both lungs. He was semi delirious, I managed to get 2 aspirin into him to try to reduce the fever, and got one of the guys to apply wet compresses to his forehead. I went to the Lt and told him what was up. He asked me if I could handle it. I told him I knew what was needed, but I did not have the necessary medicines or facilities to take care of him. Army policy was field medics didn't carry those things as hospital were only one helicopter ride away. I told the Lt we needed to Dust him off to the Division hospital for immediate treatment, and that he might not make the night without proper care.

Dust Off--Medical Evacuation

The Lt got on the radio and called for a Dustoff. He was asked for the number of wounded, and replied no wounded, one sick man with probable pneumonia. There was a pause,and then a Major came on the radio. He asked for a repeat of the problem, the Lt told him his medic requested immediate Dustoff for a sick man with severe pneumonia. The Major went into a tirade, that he was responsible for the helicopters and pilots, he had personally signed for the choppers and he wasn't risking one in the middle of the night for some guy with a cold! Tell the medic to take care of the man and bring him in in the morning. The Lt protested that we were of the opinion the man might not last the night, the Major responded that the medic should do better, Dustoff denied, Major Out. The Lt looked at me and said he'd be back in a few minutes to try again and left his track to check on the guard shift. Once he was out of sight, I turned the radio back on, and called Dustoff control. When they responded, I asked if the Major was there, I was told he was. In plain language I told anyone there to hear that if my man died during the night, I would find my way to Dong Tam, find the F--king Major and shoot him PERSONALLY!! Before they could respond,I turned the radio off. I looked out the rear of the track, one of our guys was standing there staring at me, he said "Oh Sh-t Doc" and walked away. That1s when I realized just how far out of line I had gone. I decided the MP's wouldn't get there till morning, so I settled in to keep a eye on Carlson and do what little I could for him.

The Colonel

About 20 minutes or so later, one of the guys backed up into the track and said we had company coming over the bridge. I saw whoever was on the .50 release the turret lock, but he did not swing the turret that way. Then the guy who had heard me on the radio said "Doc,I think this may be for you." I stepped out of the track and saw 2 columns of troops, dressed in clean and I swear starched fatigues, shiny helmets and dress scarfs, weapons shoulder slung, marching across the bridge as if on parade. Between the 2 columns was a taller thin man, followed by 2 more men. Someone went to meet this group, he turned and pointed in my direction. As they approached I could see the troops were ARVN soldiers, and the three in the middle were Americans. The leader walked up to me, I saw the Bird symbols on his collar and went to attention. He came to me and asked where the sick man was. I took him in and explained the situation to him. I told him we had called for a Dustoff, he said he knew about that, that was why he came. He told me he was the advisor to the ARVN base across the river, that he had a doctor at that location, and asked if I had any objections to taking my man there to be examined. Shocked at the way it was phrased, asked and not told, I said I'd appreciate any help he could give me. We put Carlson on a litter, a couple of the ARVNs and Americans grabbed it and started off. I reached for my Aid bags and my M-16, the Colonel immediately said "You won't be needing that, you'll be with me." I suddenly felt I was no longer a invited guest on this trip, a feeling that was reinforced when the rest of the ARVNs fell in on both sides of the Colonel, the LT and me, and I noticed their weapons were now at Port Arms.

The ARVNs

We crossed the bridge and entered the ARVN compound, entering a building that looked like a old industrial factory. It was dark and it took my eyes a while to adjust to the poor lighting. It seemed we went down and to the center of the complex, I describe it as a boiler room. We entered a room with some medical equipment, I guessed this was their hospital, there were several Vietnamese who left immediately, then another Viet walked in. He had on a white coat. The Colonel introduced him as the unit Surgeon. He looked at me and bowed, I returned the gesture. He spoke in Vietnamese, an American Sgt translated that the Doctor was pleased to meet me, and would I give him permission to examine my patient? Again stunned that this was being asked and not just ordered, I asked the Sgt to tell the Doctor I bow to his superior medical training, and ask his help for my sick man. The Doctor smiled ,then went to work. He did all the checks he could do, then he and the Colonel and Sgt went to the far side of the room to talk. When done,the Doctor came and bowed again, the Sgt said the Doctor thanked me for letting him examine my patient. I extended my hand, we shook hands and the Doctor left. Was that it?? No treatment, no medicines, no oxygen? The Colonel then told me that the Doctor confirmed my diagnosis of pneumonia involving both lungs,and that there was a real chance he could die in the next day if treatment wasn't started. Then he added they could not do anything,as they were no better equipped than I was. He told me to come with him, we went down a corridor to another room full of radio equipment. He picked up one mike, and put a call in to Dong Tam Dustoff. At their response he gave his call sign and asked to speak to the Duty officer.

Major vs Colonel

The Major came on and in a surly voice asked what he could do. Conversation went generally as follows: MAJOR: Understand, we will have a Dustoff available at dawn.
COLONEL: Major this is Colonel_____, I repeat this is BIRD COLONEL____, I have had my Doctor examine this man, he has double pneumonia and may die without immediate medical care which we are unable to provide. Therefore I am ordering you to have a Dustoff at my location, which is secure, in 20 minutes or I will wake General______(9th Inf Div Commander) and have him do it. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR???
MAJOR: long pause, then Yes sir, I will have an MP on board to arrest the medic with that platoon.
COLONEL: Major, I have the medic in my possession, he will be available if necessary. But to make sure we both CLEARLY understand the situation, should this man die because you foolishly denied him a Dustoff, I will PERSONALLY place this medic in my jeep, I will PERSONALLY drive him to your location in Dong Tam, I will PERSONALLY lock and load my AR-15, and I will PERSONALLY watch him shoot you if he so chooses. THEN I will arrest him. Are we clear on this, Major?
MAJOR : Yes Colonel, perfectly.
COLONEL Out.
I didn't know what to do or say, the Colonel looked at me and said his Sgt would escort us back over the bridge, we should get what sleep we could, it was after 3AM. Before I could say more, he walked out the door and was gone.
Ted Carlson spent 4 days in the hospital, 2 days were in intensive care. He was returned to the unit, and over my objections went on his squads next overnight mission into the damp rice paddies. His pneumonia returned, he spent 2 weeks in the hospital the second time before returning to us.