When I refused to disarm
During my tour of duty in RVN, Class of 65/66 I was stationed in a maintence and supply unit in the First Infantry Division in the little town of Phouc Vinh. We had a commander that was a bit different from others I had served under and one of his decisions was almost to much to deal with.
One evening we were getting ready to have our chow and had brought our mess kits to the chow line in the old French fort we were staying in. It had started a light rain and we were somewhat miserable and hungry when a sniper across the river fired a few rounds over our heads. This got the desired effect and we would not see chow for some time.
We all went to our positions at the wall or in the bunkers,both finished and unfinished. We all charged our M14s and placed the safety on and kept the muzzle up and away from each other. We waited for instructions and during that time the sniper cracked off a couple more rounds to let us know he was still around.
The first sargeant came around with a M2 carbine with no magazine inserted and went to each man and asked them if their rifle was loaded. Upon hearing the affirmative,"Yes sargeant!" he informed them that the CO was ordering that the rifles be unloaded and made safe. Each person immediately unloaded and cleared the rifle they were holding.
He finally got to my position and gave me the CO's message. I answered in the affirmative and also asked if his carbine was loaded,which I could plainly see was not. He replied no it was not and that it was the CO's order to unload all weapons. I informed him that we were in a combat zone and were taking fire from someone on the other side of our wall,and NO, I would not unload in the face of the enemy. He just looked at me and continued his mission. A mission to disarm all members of our unit.
In about 6 or 8 minutes my platoon leader a 2nd Lt. fresh from OCS came over all crouched down and trying to look as small a target as possible. He squatted in front of me where i was sitting on a log and waiting for something to happen. He addressed me and asked me if my rifle was loaded and when I gave my affirmative reply and asked about his he replied no and the usual drivel about everyone being ordered to disarm. I told him that was a foolish order and one that I could not obey with an armed enemy out there shooting at us. I also explained that if we waited until the enemy was coming over the wall we might just be too late to load and fire.
He thought about what I said and then asked me this question. "What will it take for you to comply with the captains order?.......a derect order??" I looked at him for a few seconds and then replied,"Yes"!! He thought about it for a few seconds and said that he had never had to give a direct order before and I said that was a new one to me since I had never been given one either. He drew himself up about an inch to look more officious I guess, and said, "I hereby order you to unload your weapon and make it safe!" I looked at him and replied,"Yes Sir!" I then removed the magazine and placed it in my pouch, pulled back the operating rod handle and ejected the live round from the chamber, released the safety, pointed the rifle in a safe direction and pulled the trigger. I dropped the rifle to the ground and stated that, "I quit!.........if the VC come over the wire I will have to use my mess kit on them."
The LT gave me a baleful look and still crouched down, scurried away back to officer country.
All the other guys were somewhat shocked at what I had done but a few told me later that it took guts to do what they felt like doing. I merely wanted to point out that it was not a good plan to disarm troops while under fire. I knew how to load and carry a rifle safely and to use it if I had to.
Nothing further was said but the CO was never a person that I would rely on after that. He is the same CO that I mentioned in a previous reply on this thread that wanted to take all of our ammo and lock it in a buried Conex container in the middle of the fort. That plan never happened either since several of us found out about it and started a letter writing campaign to the POTUS, Sec. of Defense, Congress critters,wives,mothers and girlfriends etc. The letters were never mailed and the ammo was never removed from us either.
