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We've been learning about Ray Fox's service as an Army infantrymen to help us better understand the Vietnam War's impact on our region.
Ray was drafted into the Army in 1967 and, after completing his initial training flew to Vietnam in June 1968. The Army assigned him to the 29th Infantry "Americal" Division Vietnam's central region.
Ray's new unit, the 2nd Platoon of A Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, was constantly patrolling. After Ray's first patrol his Platoon Leader made him a Radio Telephone Operator (RTO). Ray's new responsibilities immediately changed his war.
Ray described his platoon's patrolling cycle.
"Most of my time was out in the field. I am guessing I was probably at six or seven different fire bases, but we were just there for a day or two and then we were back out in the field someplace. Always in the field."
Ray explained his role as RTO during his platoon's combat patrols.
"When I first carried a radio, I went with the [platoon] sergeant, so I got to the rear of the group. It also had its disadvantages. We only had two radios per platoon, so I got to go on most of these [nighttime] excursions because I carried a radio."
He described leaving the platoon position at night to set up observation post/listening posts (OP/LPs).
"Quite often we would set up our [platoon] perimeter and we'd send three people out, away from the perimeter, to different check points. Because I had a radio, I went on those things. I don't know how many, but I went on quite a few of them. When we went on those, we were up all night -- the three of us. We got to be very good at being stealthy. We'd get back by dawn and by eight o'clock we're moving on to our next day's laager (a defensible position). Then I'd try and sleep in the afternoon. Sometimes I'd have to go out at night again. So, [I was] just exhausted, but that was part of the game."
Ray explained his status in the platoon changed again about three months later.
"The regular Platoon RTO got promoted to Company RTO and I got promoted to Platoon RTO. Then I always walked in line with the lieutenant."
Ray's first night as Platoon RTO was one of his most frightening experiences in Vietnam.
"The night I was made RTO, we got word we were going to be hit and we had to dig foxholes. So, we dug foxholes down six feet and we pre-set all our artillery. It just got dark and a trip flare goes off. When a trip flare goes off, the claymore should go off. You are supposed to be holding the plunger and it should go off in a second. Well, it probably took 2½ seconds before the claymore went off and then it was my job to call in artillery."
But Ray realized he had a problem.
"I was in my foxhole and the red lens fell off or broke off my flashlight. It (the lens) suppresses the light. I thought, 'Man, if I turn this thing on, I know I'm going to get a grenade in here.' I thought about it for a second, but I turned the light on and started called in artillery for us. Boy, was I nervous! My voice was quivering calling in that artillery, every time I put that flashlight on. I was hunched down in the foxhole, trying to cover everything up and had to turn it on to give locations. Well, luckily, nothing happened. So, we had artillery pounding around us all night. The next day I got resupplied with a red lens for my flashlight. Another lesson learned."
Ray reflected on what that night meant to him, "That was one of those things that I did not know if I could do, but I did it. I got through the night and then I was fine."
Ray explained that the Platoon RTO had many responsibilities beyond calling in artillery fire when need.
"I called in the Medevacs, resupply ships, anything they needed. If you needed anything, you told me and then I would call through the rear and the next available helicopter would bring it out, if it was available. We'd be resupplied by helicopter for our food."
Ray participated in dozens of combat patrols as Platoon RTO. He became one of the veterans who knew what to carry and what to do while on patrol. Ray mused, "Most of my time was in the field." With only a day or two spent at a fire base between combat patrols, it was an exhausting, dangerous, miserable life.
The Lyon County Museum is organizing an exhibit about the impact of the Vietnam War on Lyon County. If you would like to share Vietnam experiences or help with the exhibit, please contact me at prairieview pressllc@gmail.com or call the museum at 537-6580.