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The story behind the reunion:
After I graduated from Boot Camp I thought I would never see
Pete or any of my Drill Instructors again. I think most young
Marines would never even dream that could happen. But I was
wrong.
About 17 months later by pure chance I would meet Pete again
in the middle of a very nasty firefight on a Operation called
Allen Brook. I was with 3rd, Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Tanks
and Pete was with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines.
Below is a brief description of the firefight I believe to be
the one where we met again.
Reference: US Marines In Vietnam, "The Defining Year
1968"
While Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines relieved Company G on 7 May, Colonel Reverdy M. Hall, the 7th Marines Commander, also reinforced the 2d Battalion on the same day with Company K from the 3rd Battalion. Through 8 May, the Marine companies accounted for some 88 enemy troops killed at a cost of nine Marines killed and 57 wounded. On the 9th, about 1820, the sweep forces just west of the railroad tracks came under heavy small arms and machine gun fire as well as a mortar salvo outside the Hamlet of Xuan Dai (2). Taking casualties of one dead and 11 wounded, the infantry pulled back and called for artillery support and airstrikes. After the last air mission, the Marine companies clambered over the tracks which fronted the Hamlet on the west and pushed into Xuan Dai (2). Thirty minutes after the initial action, the Marines secured the Hamlet. As a result of this action, the Marine Battalion reported 80 enemy killed. A Stingray patrol about 1900 observed some 200 enemy troops moving to the southwest of Xuan Dai (2) and called in both artillery and another air strike which resulted in a secondary explosion.
Very shortly after the infantry and the tanks pulled back and
were in the process of setting up a perimeter my Tank Commander
and one other crewman left the tank for a emergency strategy
meeting with the infantry commander. Meanwhile there was still
sporadic small arms and automatic weapons fire still happening.
Being the gunner on my tank it was my job to man the .50 cal
machine gun in the absence of the Tank Commander. As I was at
the ready a infantry SSgt. ran up to my tank and asked for help
in going to the aide of one of his fireteams that was pinned
down in the middle of a open area very near the ville. That
SSgt. quickly recognized that my tank had a crew of only two. So
he immediately rushed off to the next tank down the line. It
wasn't until after the firefight was over that I realized that
the SSgt who asked for help was my old DI Sgt Peterson. Of
course he didn't recognize me, who has time to recollect
anything while the bullets are flying. After the firefight I
didn't see Pete again. In the middle of a operation like Allen
Brook there was no time to go out looking for old friends or time
for idle chit chat. After our participation in Allen Brook I
thought I would never see Pete again. Guess what, wrong
again!...
Almost 31 years later and by chance I would meet Pete again.
In 1999 because of the Internet, this web site and a operation
called Allen Brook I was reunited with Pete once again. Not long
after I posted the Operation Allen Brook page to this web site I
got a email message from a retired 1stSgt named Peterson who was
with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines in Vietnam in
68-69 (Email September 14, 1999). Pete
and I exchanged several email messages about Operation Allen
Brook and some of the things that we recalled about that
operation. About the 3rd message I got this short and oh so
sweet reply:
"Tim you should known who I am Pvt . Who was your Drill Instructor????"
I immediately grabbed my Boot Camp Graduation Book and there I saw that long
ago picture of Drill Instructor Sgt. Peterson. I think
"Shock" is a good word to characterize my reaction. Here is my reply to Pete:
"Sir! the private requests permission to speak to the Drill Instructor
Sir!"
After several very uplifting and inspiring phone calls Pete
was kind enough to invite me and my wife to his house for a
visit and later a short ride to Camp Pendelton and the annual
Retiree Fair. We had a great time at the fair and the afterwards
tour of Camp Pendelton. Much good natured talk about the old
days in Boot Camp and some remembrances about the hard days in
Vietnam, as well as talk about that day and days to come in the
future.
My wife and I had a great time and a time that we will always
remember with great fondness. Pete is a standup guy, a very decent person and a true friend. We still remain in contact and
you can be sure it won't be another 31 years before we meet again.
"Semper Fidelis"
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