Wrong First Impression

submitted by: Alva Leon Matheson


One day as I was waiting in Kontum with the Elliot FACs for my turn to fly, an Army enlisted fellow with a bandaged arm came in. Said he was looking for Elliot β€œ?”, forgot the number, but it was Rip Worrell. The soldier said he had just come from Dak Seang. We asked him how he got wounded. He said it was a piece of Willy Pete shrapnel. Well, we figured Rip was going to get it pretty good from this fellow!
And then he said, β€œAnd it was right where I wanted the smoke. I want to thank that FAC in person for my being alive and here today.”