Ed "Spooky" Nored

RVN Sep 69 - Sep 70

Click on image to enlarge

(Nored) This photo I'm fairly certain was taken at sometime during my last 30 days out in the bush. In the center is Jerry Allen. To his upper right is a man named Dave. (Can't remember last name.) (New info says that "Dave" is Dave Camp from Georgia.) Upper left of Jerry is Jay (Orby) Selby. Below left is a medic whose name I don't remember (however he was the replacement for Doc Kloss.) Lower right of Jerry is Joe Rucci..

(click on image to enlarge)

(Nored) This incident occurred sometime between July 24 and Aug. 19, 70. We were in the bush humping heavy when we were given the word to take a break. I had just lowered myself to the ground keeping my pack on. I was leaning against the pack with my legs stretched out in front of me. One of the new men was about 8 feet to my right sitting and facing the same way I was. His weapon went off and I saw the path of the bullet travel about 8 inches off the ground in the same direction his legs were out stretched. This was always a sure way home from Nam. Accidentally shoot your self in the foot. To do that you had to accidentally take the safety off. Accidentally put your finger on the trigger. Accidentally pull the trigger and have the weapon accidentally aimed at your foot. And assuming at the last second you realized how much pain such an accident would cause you would most likely close your eyes and accidentally miss.

8-1-70 Boonies

Company moves to another new area and begins chopping another log pad. After finishing resupply the company moves about 100 meters and sets up a night-lo (J.W.)

	(Nored) Wally ,"Shortround",Cezik believes the man in foreground might be Stephen C. Neitz. Cezik has a photo of him with the "60". The man in back is Steve Burns of 3rd. platoon. In the background is a fresh cut log pad. (click on image to enlarge)
	(Nored) Log day. Several men from Delta company are shown gathered around the water blivot filling their canteens. One man sits straddling the blivot in an attempt to force the water out of the spout. Jay Selby is on the left wearing the boonie hat. The small framed dark complected man looks like a Kit Carson scout. The others remain unidentified. (click on image to enlarge)
	(Swenson) I believe the guy facing the camera is Frank Opolka. Great shot of eating chow that would have been delivered via a "kick out" log. The canisters were originally used as powder containers for the firebase artillary. Then washed out (not very well I might add) and reused to deliver water and coolaid, and food to the field. (click on image to enlarge)
	(Nored) John Sanchez,R.T.O., closest to camera, seems happy he gotta a hot meal. The man in the middle still remains unidentified and Steve Burns from southern Calif. at the far right. Both these gentleman were recent replacements for 3rd. platoon. (click on image to enlarge)

8-2-70 Boonies

Went on patrols all day long out of the night-lo position. Then company moved about 500 meters and set up a new night-lo.

8-3-70 Boonies (log day)

While clearing a spot in the jungle for our re-supply helicopter to land. Jay Selby accidentally cut his leg open with a machete and went to the rear.

8-4-70 Boonies

My letter commented on our platoon Lt. Holden. His father is vice president of North American.

8-5-70 Boonies

8-6-70 Boonies

The company saddled up and moved to a nearby clearing. We are supposed to be air lifted out but as the day passes the commanders change their mind and the company gets logged instead. Jim Wastradowski begins learning how to run log days and will eventually take over as resupply man for the company. (J.W.)

8-7-70 Boonies

The company was supposed to be extracted but 2nd platoon runs into 6 gooks. There's a lot of shooting but nobody on either side gets hurt. The commander cancels the extraction.

8-8-70 Boonies

8-9-70 Boonies (log day)

Went on patrol to find a clearing open enough to use as a pick up zone for the company.

8-10-70 Boonies

The company saddles up and moves to the field we found to use as a pick up zone. 300 meter from our night-lo. 1st and 2nd platoon moved around the tree line and secured the area while 3rd platoon moved into position in the open area.

As I read the letter I wrote Linda on August 11th, the memories of how I felt this particular day rushed through me. As I stood out there in the open it dawned on me that I was going home very soon, that I would soon be leaving this strange world I was in. I remember growing extremely sensitized to what was going on around me. All this would soon be over. The pack on my back that I had cursed so often and the way my "16" felt in my right hand. I looked down at my shoes with the "dog tag" attached to my shoe lace I remember as I leaned forward as we all did to counter the weight of the pack the front of your shirt and bandoliers that held our ammo would fall away from your chest allowing the stench of our bodies to drift up and smack us in the face. I remember how extremely quiet it was. I remember felling extremely peaceful as I took everything in that day. We had positioned ourselves in 6 groups of 5 spread out in two rows. Somebody yelled "Pop smoke!" and at the end of the clearing the familiar sound of a smoke grenade being popped (It sounded much like a firecracker going off.) Purple smoke spurted from its base marking where the lead copter would land. Our friendly artillery began to explode on both side of the clearing about 200 meters into the tree line. This acted as a deterrent for any enemy who might want to get a shot at the last bird taking off. And if you were going to be the last person to be lifted out it was a reassuring sound. The sky was mostly clear that day. Off in the distance the Wop, Wop, Wop sound of the approaching copters excited everyone. One by one they appeared over the trees. Low enough to send the lower vegetation swaying to and fro. As they got closer the dust and fragments of dead plant life rose and clouded the field. We all boarded our birds and seconds later lifted up and over the tree line and headed for LZ Betty. Sitting there on the floor of the copter with my feet dangling over the side the "little boy" that remained in me sat back and took it all in. These "cheap thrills" were not going to last much longer.

After landing at L.Z. Betty a few hours later the C.O. informed us that our platoon alone would be going to a base next to the village of Bu Dop. We saddled up and once again found ourselves on 6 more copters headed for Bu Dop.

(Nored) In a letter written Aug. 11th at Bu Dop I wrote in detail what had happened on the previous day the 10th. Shown here is page two of the letter which included a diagram of the PZ (pickup zone). The smears of Viet Nams red soil are present on the paper.

Click on image to enlarge (so you can read it.)

The following photos were taken at Bu Dop special forces camp when 3rd platoon left the remainder of the company on L.Z. Betty 8-10-70 to 8-13-70 (click on image for a larger view)

8-11-70 3rd Platoon at Bu Dop. remainder of company at LZ Betty

The C.O. brought us some steaks and charcoal. He didn't want to return to L.Z. Betty so he stayed and ate dinner with us.

8-12-70 3rd Platoon at Bu Dop. remainder of company at LZ Betty

8-13-70 LZ Betty

In the morning a group of 3rd platoon including Jim Wastradowski, go out on O.P. At 11 AM they return. The Platoon saddles up and is flown by Chinook back to L.Z. Betty.

8-14-70 L.Z. Betty

Miss Universe at Song Be. A few guys from the company are picked up to go see this U.S.O. show. I received orders to be at Fort Dix New Jersey the 30th of October. I went up before E-6 board.

8-15-70 Boonies

The Company returns to the field. I am still having weird dreams at night. It rains too much, 3 days straight. The only real physical pain I suffer in the field is prickly heat. It is a sensation of having several hundred needles pierce your back from your shoulders to the base of your spine. It only lasts a second.

8-16-70 Boonies

8-17-70 Boonies

8-18-70 Boonies

8-19-70 Boonies

8-20-70 Boonies (log day)

I leave the field for good. My last ride on the skid of a copter. I dropped a yellow smoke on top of the platoon. When I think back upon that day it all seems like a blur. Deep down inside me there was a sense of urgency, near panic. My subconscious was yelling "get the hell out of here before something happens!" I flew to L.Z. Betty then caught a ride to Song Be the company rear.

8-21-70 Song Be

8-22-70 Left Song Be and flew to Bien Hoa.

8-23-70 Bien Hoa

8-24-70 Bien Hoa

8-25-70 Tokyo

8-26-70 Tokyo

8-27-70 Tokyo

8-28-70 Tokyo

8-29-70 Tokyo

8-30-70 Tokyo

8-31-70 Tokyo

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