AUGUST 12th, 1971

I had been in country for the best part of 3 weeks. I hadn't been assigned a duty station yet because I had gotten snagged to pull guard duty around Cam Ranh Bay "AO" with a fistful of other new guys (cherry boys).

That night unfolded as many nights did there; utter black, with cool sea breezes blowing in off of the South China Sea. As the night passed and I stood alone in a guard tower next to the sea, two things happened I would never forget. First, the beach seemed to erupt in tiny movements. Seemed like thousands, everywhere I looked. Come morning, I saw that it was sea turtles hatching and moving toward the sea. Very beautiful sight, one I am happy I witnessed.

The second thing this day brings back to memory is that as the night passed, me alone in that guard tower, I remembered it was my 21st birthday. Little did I know that night would be a microcosm of my life after Vietnam. alone and witnessing beautiful acts of nature. We were alone for many years, and then started talking to other Nam vets. Now it's OK. Be at peace my friends; we are OK.