PRESERVING A MILITARY LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
The following Reflection represents Cpl David Mulldune’s legacy of their military service from 1967 to 1969. If you are a Veteran, consider preserving a record of your own military service, including your memories and photographs, on Togetherweserved.com (TWS), the leading archive of living military history. The Service Reflections is an easy-to-complete self-interview, located on your TWS Military Service Page, which enables you to remember key people and events from your military service and the impact they made on your life.
What was the biggest personal challenge that you encountered during your military service? How did you approach and overcome this?:
Upon arriving in Vietnam, I was assigned to India Company, 3rdBattalionn, 27th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. I had only been in Vietnam for about three to four weeks when word came down that we would leave to go on Operation Allen Brook. During briefing, we were told that Go Noi Island was serving as a staging area for NVA units preparing for attacks against Danang. Intelligence wasn’t sure of the exact enemy numbers but figured it to be around the strength of the battalion (approximately 1,000 men). Upon reaching our objective, we came under heavy attack and, at one point, were encircled by several NVA units.
After several days of fierce fighting, Kilo Company broke through enemy lines, allowing us to withdraw to a safer position. We pulled back and were told that we were going off the operation and heading back to our TAOR. Over two weeks, between the KIAs and WIAs, we lost close to a hundred Marines killed and several hundred wounded, not counting heat stroke casualties. (We eventually defeated the NVA units, who suffered heavy casualties). I thought there was no way I could take thirteen months of this. Humping back through the bush, I was so exhausted and worn out physically, mentally, and emotionally. At one point, I saw hundreds of black gnats flying around before my eyes. I swatted at them to shoo them away, but nothing was there. I realized that I was hallucinating and that I was in the beginning stages of heat stroke. I just wanted to give up and go lie down and die. Just die. But then I could hear my D.I.s’ voices yelling, “ONE MORE STEP, JUST DO ONE MORE!” THAT provided the motivation I needed to keep going. (We were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for our action on Operation Allen Brook).
If I had to choose one thing as being the single greatest thing the Marines taught me, it would be that no matter what the obstacle is, no matter what life throws at you, never, ever give up. Many times, since Vietnam, I have wanted to give up, but that one life lesson, that voice barking out saying “one more,” wouldn’t let me. I owe a lifetime debt of gratitude to the Marine Corps and to my Drill Instructors: SSgt. Sunn, SSgt. Garcia, and especially Sgt. Clark. My Marine training and experience is something that time and reflection have taught me more to appreciate.
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