18th Brigade, 45th Group, 39th Engineers, Company D
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July 1
Went on mine sweep. Sat around most of the morning. Went to the old site, the beach, and then the old site again to get telephone poles. Went to abandoned 1st Cav site again looking for anything. I got a map of the Duc Pho area. Went to flick at night and saw "The Professionals"
July 2, Sunday
Went on mine sweep. 2nd platoon had six casualties during their sweep. One went to the hospital for observation and another may lose a leg. The rest were minor injuries. It also messed up the rear end of their 5-ton truck and totaled the rear-end of one 3/4-ton truck.
Started to work on CO's bunker. I left for night guard at 6:40pm but the rest worked till about 8:00pm. We had 3 infantrymen in the guard bunker with us four. They were sleeping on the ground outside the bunker and when the sergeant of the guard came by in his jeep about 11:00pm to check us out he ran over the leg of one of them.
July 3
Wasn't, was, wasn't, was on mine sweep this morning. Didn't get any time off for being on guard all last night. Worked on CO's hooch. Had to make several changes, about 6 really. Went to flicker and saw "The Story of Hank Williams".
July 4
Went on mine sweep. We lost two men this morning. Richard N. Robey died on the way to the hospital. Stewart is in Saigon recovering. He has a 50-50 chance. A man named Cecil F. Dixon was killed instantly. We finished up the CO's hooch and then started on the platoon sergeant's. I went down to get some barrels with Rushton.
July 5
Went on mine sweep. Worked on Shaky's hooch. He had us steal the mess hall's 6X6 lumber for his hooch. George [Brennan] and I helped. Rushton carried water out to the A.I.K. site on QL1. Everyone but George and I worked till 9:30pm on laying a floor in a squad tent for Robert McNammara's (US Secretay of Defense) visit. We went to flick.
July 6
Went on mine sweep. Returned and worked on Shaky's hooch. Some had to go finish up the floor in tent for Robert McNammara's visit. At about 3:30 me, Lanham, Hall and Rushton were sent to the beach to get some PSP for Shaky's hooch. We picked up some clothes too. On our way back we were stopped and had to go back for 500 feet of cable. We had buku problems with that job. Got back at 5:00pm and went to memorial services at 5:30pm for those that died two days ago. 1st platoon moved south.
July 7
Went on mine sweep south. Came back in and worked on Shaky's hooch.Went to movie but it wasn't any good so I came back and finished that letter I started on the 4th.
July 8
Went on mine sweep south. Worked on Shaky's hooch. Was sent to the orderly room with Thompson to bring some soda and beer down to the CP. Just as we got started Shaky grabs us and tells us to go get a culvert and take it out to the 1st platoon. We unloaded the soda and beer and picked up the culvert. It was getting kind of late when we got to the 1st platoon with the culvert and then found out they didn't need it. I was afraid we were going to be there the rest of the night but we got back at 6:40. I had to go on guard tonight.
July 9, Sunday
Went on mine sweep south. Worked on Shaky's hooch after sweep. At about 2:00pm we had to go pick up some soda and beer at S-3 and take it to the orderly room. At about 4:30 we were told to go pick up McNammara's floor. As we started a sergeant told us the floor was going to be used tomorrow. Sgt Dizon called our company and they told him to take it up. Shaky came by and checked and S-3 wanted 18 pieces of the floor. We delivered the 18 pieces and returned and was about to pick up the remaining 16 when a 2nd lieutenant came by from S-3 and said we would have to put the floor back down. We finished about 8:00pm and we returned to no lights because suddenly they were improperly wired and next there was no water in the shower. Thompson rewired our lights and I washed in a wash pan. Thompson, Hall, Brennan and myself stayed up till about 12:30 or 1:00am talking. I was the first to pass out.
July 10
Waited to go on mine sweep till 9:20 because there weren't enough mine detectors for the whole company. We only had 2 when we got them. I rode in the 3/4-ton truck because there wasn't a detector for me. That afternoon we put in a culvert. The MP had the road blocked off because of some general's presence so Lt Shamblen talked to them and we got through. It was put in along QL1 where Charlie blew out a concrete one and only 1/2 was left. The rest was covered with PSP and railroad ties. Came in about 5:30 and had to pick up flooring again. We told Sgt Dedmond that S-3 was to get 18 but he wouldn't listen so we took 1/2 to S-3 and 1/2 to our OP (orderly room). Then we found out we had to move some from the OP to S-3 so they would have 18. We told him! Cleaned up and went to the movie with Stub and then Swander came to get us because West wanted the flooring stacked in front of the orderly room moved to the front of his hooch. Did this and then went back to the movie.
July 11
Had KP today. Buku brass were around all day because QL1 was officially opened today from Qui Nhon to Chu Lai. Saw Col Castro, big thrill. Part of the squad moved the flooring from in front of West's hooch back to in front of the OP. This is harassment! Got off KP at 8:45pm, showered, hit the bed.
July 12
Went on mine sweep north. Came back and went to rock crusher. Stub, Swander and I carried PSP back to the area and unloaded it. We finished at 11:15am and had the rest of the morning off. After lunch everyone went 
to rock crusher and just sat around because they didn't bring the air compressor out. I had guard duty this night with Hohn and Burger. Hohn got 3 plates of chilly out of mess hall for us.
July 13
Went on mine sweep. Put PSP on next hooch and filled some sandbags for it but it was oh so hot so ... after lunch we built some shade with the parachute and just filled sandbags. About 4:00pm we started putting them on the hooch and finished up about 5:00 when it started raining. It didn't rain hard or long.
July 14
Went on mine sweep. Started moving Sgt Dedmond's hooch across the road. After lunch 2 others and I shot-gunned three trucks up to Mo Duc. That's north of here about 15 K's. Came back and finished Sgt Dedmond's hooch except for the 2nd layer of sandbags on the top. Got our new CO. We were told we would move to Company A's location for six or seven days while they finished up a bridge. Went to movies.
July 15
Went on mine sweep. Came back and worked on Sgt Dedmond's hooch awhile before lunch and he then let me knock off and write a letter. By 3:00pm we were on our way to Company A's site near Mo Duc. Arrived and had some tea and talked till about 5:00pm and then went to check out our new home and guard post for the next 6 or 7 days.
July 16, Sunday
Went on mine sweep. Found obstacles in the road, concrete blocks. Finished about 10:30am and got back to our area about 11:00am. Took a shower and had the rest of the day off. Went to church and learned that we would be at the airfield [LZ Bronco] till after the monsoons. Went back to Company A after supper, about 6:00pm. Finished a letter to the folks at work and one for home. About 11:35pm, while I was on guard, Charlie fired some automatic fire over 1st squad's area, to my rear. Was on 100% alert till 12:35am and I had to pull 35 minutes of Hall's guard.
July 17
Went on mine sweep. Finished up at 9:30am and returned to area. Got a cholera shot. Sgt Dizon and I put PSP on our hooch to keep from working on Sgt Dedmond's. This afternoon we worked on straightening the center support for our hooch. It was starting to lean. Ate supper here and then left for Company A. Test fired my weapon.
July 18
Went on mine sweep and found a mine but it had gotten disturbed somehow and the firing device, a log, had rolled off to the side of it. Sgt Male dug it out. Thompson, Swander and I went over by artillery hill and bought 400 sandbags. The locals filled and loaded them for $6.00. Came back and ate lunch and then began work on 24 inch culvert for down by the motor pool. Knocked off at 3:00. Left for Company A's site at 4:00 and had supper there.
July 19
Went on mine sweep and got back in about 9:50am. Worked on culverts till lunch, ate lunch and then at 1:30pm went back to culverts. Finished them at 3:00 and knocked off so we could leave for Company A's site at 4:00m. I got to stay back this time from going to Company A. I wrote a letter home, ate and then went to the flicks. Went to bed at about 10:00pm.
July 20
Got up at 7:40am. Had breakfast and began writing a letter to my brother Bill. Had to go up to CP with Rushton to build a liquor cabinet for the lieutenant. We also policed the shower. Went down to supply and got my stuff from the conex container. Put sandbags on my side of the hooch and then went on police call. Ate lunch and went down to motor pool and put in the culvert. Finished at 3:45pm and took a shower.
July 21
Went on mine sweep. Charlie detonated one of his mines, which went off between the 5-ton dump truck and APC. Kimbrough's ears were hurt a little but Murr had to go to Qui Nhon for his injuries. The vehicles were unhurt. Picked up one little girl as a suspect spotted by a chopper who saw a man, a little girl and a boy run out of the woods. The man and boy got away. Did nothing the rest of the day. Returned to Company A's site for supper.
July 22
Went on mine sweep. Left company A's site by chopper and went south of Duc Pho about 8 miles to where Charlie had blown out a concrete bridge on one of the railroad by-passes. There was a company of infantry at the bridge waiting for our arrival. We met up with 1st platoon and 2nd platoon and replaced the damage with some culverts. Charlie dug two sets of ditches in the road also. We came back to our area at LZ Bronco, ate lunch, worked on culverts. Returned to Company A's site.
July 23, Sunday
Went on mine sweep. Came back and was told we were to prepare for a CMMI (Command Maintenance Management Inspection). Policed area and went to lunch. Worked on tools till 2:00pm and then for some reason we got to go to the beach till 5:00pm. One of our sergeants got drunk and didn't make it to Company A's site with us.
July 24
Went on mine sweep. Straightened out short pioneer and went to chow. Sat around and did nothing till we left for Company A's site. On our way to Company A's area Charlie ambushed us. No one was hurt but maybe a Charlie or two.
July 25
Went on mine sweep. Prepared hooch for colonel's inspection and cleaned rifle till lunch. After lunch we slept and waited for the formation to be called in front of the company C.P. Had it about 3:00 and three guys received purple hearts from the colonel. Hooches were never inspected. Took a shower and left for A Company's site and ate supper there
July 26
Went on mine sweep. Worked on tools till lunch. Filled sandbags with Lanaham for Sgt Dedmond's hooch. Sat around till it was time to leave for A Company. 2nd platoon of A Company fired on what they thought was Charlie but it turned out to be our infantry. No one was hurt. Phyllis's birthday today.
July 27
Went on mine sweep. Came back and rested till lunch. After lunch I helped load 12 bags of cement on the truck and the platoon went out to the site where we pulled out the bridge and installed 5 culverts. We mixed the cement with dirt, put it in sandbags, wetted the bags and placed them on the road bank and made back walls around the culvert. Left for A Company's site after chow.
July 28
Went on mine sweep. Rested and then went to culvert site and ate lunch there too. Left for A company's site before chow and on the way Charlie fired on us again. We stayed on the trucks this time and fired back fiercely. No one was hurt.
July 29
Went on mine sweep (back truck). Afterwards swept through area where Charlie had been ambushing us. Blew some bunkers and set fire to some straw stacks. Came back and rested till lunch. Went to culvert site and left for A Company early.
July 30, Sunday
Went on mine sweep (radio). Came back and went to culvert site. Had some trouble getting out the gate because Chief of Staff, General Johnson was in the area. Quit at 2:00pm because we ran out of sandbags and prepared to leave for A Company at 4:00pm.
July 31
Went on mine sweep. Came back and did nothing all day. Got paid and left for A Company after taking shower at water point. It rained pretty hard this night but I stayed dry.
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