When Bob Moberg finally
wrote his story "Shot Down With Robbie" I felt a sense of pride
for I had sent him my version of the story, many years
later, suggesting he re-write and edit my version. In
rather typical Moberg fashion he threw my story out calling it
"fiction" but it prompted him to write his own story about
the event which you can find in either the "Stories" section of
our web site or in Bob's special tributes' Died After Tour(DAT)
stories. Bob sent his revised version back to me and I
sent it to the VHPA magazine where it was published.
But, the rest of the story has never been written to my
knowledge. So, here it is as I remember it:
When Bob and
Eldon Smith returned to the Nha Trang villa, shortly
after the shoot-down, those of us present at the
villa congregated on the second floor in Bob's bunk
room to hear his and Eldon's first-hand account of what
really happened. Their story then was the same as the one
published years later in the VHPA magazine, previously mentioned.
The same night
these two warriors returned from combat they
imbibed in a few undiluted liquors of their personal choice with
their villa mates. This drinking added to the adrenalen rush which they
were still experiencing as a result of their close brush with disaster.
Around ten to
eleven P.M. Bob and Eldon felt an
urgent need to relieve their anxieties. They disappeard for
a time and returned shortly in their jungle fatigues, sloppy jungle hat
and combat boots. Camouflage paint was added to their
faces. No weapons! Bob and Eldon had determined that
they were going to litteraly raise hell in the
darker environs of Nha Trang. They were gone for several
hours and by their own admission had gone to the red-light district
which was too quiet and needed some noise and activity. They later
told us how they had harrassed the red-light district breaking
windows, kicking in doors and other juvenile actions. And since
they weren't detected and got home safely "all was well." It
appeared to the rest of us in the villa that Bob
and Eldon had expended the necessary bravado to help settle them
back to "normal".
Not so!
The two warriors had such a great time that
night that they decided to repeat the activities the next night
much to the surprise of their villa buddies. This included the alcohol
swilling before the time of attack. Our warriors departed the
villa. Time passed and passed and passed. Our two heroes did not
return.
In the wee
hours of the morning the phone rang in the commanding
officers bedroom (Major Bill Griffin). He alerted several villa
mates to accompany him. It seems the MP's had captured
our two warriors as they rounded a dark corner in the red light
district and found a MP with his loaded .45 caliber pistol pointed at
their noses. They went to jail. Thus, the phone call.
Some time elapsed before Major Griffin returned with the
dare-doers after explaining to the MP's the reason for
celebration.
This is one of
my favorite war stories.