Yea! I swept that road in the Hai Van Pass for Golf Co. and Echo Co.. Do you remember the Gunnery Sgt. from Somolia Africa, he had me blowing up bunkers, walls, clearing mine fields, and anything he could think of. He got my replacement killed when I was sent to NCO leadership school in Okinawia. The Esso plant was alright, at night we would sit on the side of the hill and look over at Danang which was lite up at night. I was in Vietnam from June 1967 to July 1968. Tet was hell, I found myself all the way up in Dong Ha to reinforce a tank company. But, it was a trick, we had to turn around quick and go back south where the 2nd NVA Div. had launched an attack near Danang. I came close to death many times, a lot of near misses. I was scared to death!!! Beleive Me. The Hai Van Pass was known as "Ambush Alley". We were ambushed on a mine sweep and lost three men. I was always the team leader with four- men teams. I was promoted twice in Vietnam real fast because they needed leaders in the field, last promotion I was an E-5. A year later after I returned back to the states, I made staff sgt.. We tried to get Hazard Pay because we were doing dangerous work; clearing mine fields by hand. Oh! I was the Africian American, tall guy (6'2"), up front with my team. I know you probably don't remember. I swept that the road every morning. No breakfast and no lunch because we left early and got back too late.
Cpl Jimmie Yates
1st Combat Engineer Bn.
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