Vietnam Trip – Saturday, June 16, 2018

I was awake at 4:00 am this morning, exhausted but did not sleep well. I met Mike and David downstairs at 6:30 for breakfast. The hotel had a great breakfast for the guest. Everyone we encountered so far has been great to us.

At 7:00 the driver, Vinh, arrived on time, and we loaded into the van for the 2 ½ hour ride to Quang Ngai. There were many, I mean many, motorcycles and scooters on the road and very few cars. Mike and I watched out the windows and commented on changes to the countryside and the Vietnamese people.

After arriving at Hill 4-11, the driver parked the van, and we got out. Nothing looked the same. The hill was completely overgrown, and there was construction, moving dirt, at the bottom of the hill near where the entrance used to be. We roamed at the base taking some pictures and then followed a trail to the top of the hill. We found many cemeteries among the thick brush and trees. Nothing was familiar. Mike and I located our bunker position, and we located the bunker where Dusty, Chuck, Renolds, Ramos and Okino were.

We drove around the Hill to the north side and walked to the top again. The terrain looked familiar at this location. This is where 2nd and 3rd platoon had their positions. Mike and I talked during the climb and while we on top of the significance of FSB Hill-411 and explained our memories to David. From both locations, we climbed the mountains were visible.
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More pictures later, need to meet Mike and David downstairs for dinner.

Stopping to get ice for our water on the way to Quang Ngai, Mike and David.

Mike Dankert and I talking to the two women working at the foot of Hill 4-11 on the south side.

Mike Dankert and the foot of Hill 4-11 on the south side.

Mike Dankert and I standing where we believe our bunker position would have been in July 1969.

Mike Dankert and I are standing where we believe the bunker position of Dusty, Chuck, Juan Ramos and Eldon Renolds would have been in July 1969.

Walking up the north side of the Hill. This is where 2nd and 3rd platoon had positions.

One of many cemeteries we found on and around the Hill.

Looking east from the north side of the hill.

​Mike and I on the north side of the hill.