Don Bonsper > Quotes

“They would quickly carry the gear and weapon of anyone who was having trouble to avoid his becoming a casualty.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“There were stories of friendly units telling the color ahead of time and then the pilot seeing multiple smoke grenades go off while the enemy pretended to be a friendly force. ”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 2: My Experiences as an Advisor with the Vietnamese Marine Corps

“The time without water during the day had impressed upon me the need”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“That was all the attention I needed to shift to the tape (short) antenna which was not visible to the enemy. ”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 2: My Experiences as an Advisor with the Vietnamese Marine Corps

“was mad and embarrassed not knowing where we were but pleased to see the platoon didn't seem to mind. They just did what they had to do. No bitching, no complaining, just work.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“Our patrols during the day and ambushes at night were designed to prevent the enemy from getting close to Con Thien in force without being detected.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“But then the practical, organized part of my personality took over.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 2: My Experiences as an Advisor with the Vietnamese Marine Corps

“A listening post was supposed to be "eyes and ears." If it detected heavy enemy movement it may be recalled rather than fight, but not an ambush. The ambush patrol is out there to fight.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“platoon liked to complain when we were the only ones who had to do something, but you could see they were proud of their reputation of being able to get the job done.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“Because the plane carried flares it was nicknamed "Puff." And then because of its incredible firepower, the name was expanded to "Puff, The Magic Dragon.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“we were lucky we had some ground pepper or hot sauce from a care package sent from home.  Having an onion was like having edible gold.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 2: My Experiences as an Advisor with the Vietnamese Marine Corps

“But here on my first operation, I felt as though I hadn't prepared at all. I had used most of my water just like the troops. What kind of an example was that? I would have to do better next time...that is if I got a chance at a next time.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“Once on the trucks we lost control of our destiny. It was like getting in an airplane back in the world.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“C-rations (MCIs) we heated with sterno cans or heat tabs. We had a choice of 12 meals in a box.  Each meal had three parts that came in a total of 4 cans.  There was a meat portion, a bread portion and a desert.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 2: My Experiences as an Advisor with the Vietnamese Marine Corps

“to be water conscious all the time.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“Now I was grateful for these few days in Saigon to again start the process of returning to a land free of combat. It was like living in a half-way house after being released from prison or some form of rehabilitation.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 2: My Experiences as an Advisor with the Vietnamese Marine Corps

“Someone said the mud of the wet season becomes the dust of the dry season.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“They had completed their preparations like true professionals. No one had to holler at them or scream any threats. They were told to get ready and they did. They were quiet, efficient,”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“hard to associate the ground with the map because of the dark, and”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“He asked the CO to verify our location and then asked for clearance to use his minigun.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“Wiggle your light so I’ll know it’s you.” ”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 2: My Experiences as an Advisor with the Vietnamese Marine Corps

“The heat and humidity were alive. They were like creatures, or a jelly covering and squeezing you. They choked you with their intensity. You felt caught in something you couldn't take off.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“I told the "doc" to keep an eye on the bites and to make sure everyone had bacitracin available.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“was a lonely time for me, especially since I was normally such an outgoing person. The war was forcing me inside myself, more than I was used to and more than I wanted. The brief moments of closeness, like the time on the rock, were valuable to me.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“My body acclimated quickly to the physical requirements of the patrols. It was still hot and humid but I slowly felt stronger and better able to cope.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“there was the flak jacket. This was my first encounter with the beast; we hadn't used them in basic school. It was like a suffocating oven, causing me to stew in my own sweat. I could open the front of the jacket to expose my sweat-soaked shirt to the air, but that provided little relief.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1

“We never revealed the color of the smoke grenade ahead of time.  We knew the enemy could listen to the radio transmissions and could also”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 2: My Experiences as an Advisor with the Vietnamese Marine Corps

“This involved one fuse to set off the first string of detonating cord which set off the blasting cap in the first block of C-4, which was connected by detonating cord to the next block of C-4 at the next bunker and so on.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 2: My Experiences as an Advisor with the Vietnamese Marine Corps

“The airborne FAC was in contact with everyone, filling the role of orchestra leader with aircraft as instruments and firepower as music.”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 2: My Experiences as an Advisor with the Vietnamese Marine Corps

“Each man carried three canteens and most of them were already drinking”
― Don Bonsper, Vietnam Memoirs: Part 1