Christmas in Saigon

Based  on a real event.

By Ted Pannell

856 words

We drove slowly down a quiet street in Saigon.  The night was pitch-black, raining hard  in a

country where the monsoons came with great aggression.

We were part of a combat Military Police Company reassigned from the field to the city.   A

major offensive was to be launched against the capital city.

The cold rain poring off our helmets onto our rubber ponchos and my nerves were snapping

and popping like hot wires at every sound, every shadow-death waiting around the next corner.

The radio cracked and we both jumped.  "All patrol units switch to channel two."  Channel two

was reserved for security messages or combat information.  In a word , it usually meant trouble.

we looked at each other but said nothing.  I ordered the driver to pull over, tuned the radio

then climbed in back of the jeep.  This was a special jeep. A vehicle built for action.  All armor-

steel plated, the doors , the fold-up windshields, the back of the seats, and an M-60 machine gun

mounted in the rear.

I inspected the weapon: first the breach, the ammo belts then turned the powerful weapon a full

three hundred sixty degrees.  It was ready.  I sat down and waited.

The radio came on again.  A small red light cast a red glow across the driver's face.  It went

dead again. Once more the radio came on.  A voice spoke, "  This is control.  All units stand by."

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