Over half a century ago, the United States was in a seemingly endless war with Vietnam. Over two million young men were drafted and sent to the lush green jungles of Southeast Asia. Those deployed quickly learned about the horrors of modern combat. Millions of innocent civilians lost their lives and 58,220 Americans died in battle. Military personnel who survived the gruesome conflict returned with physical and emotional scars. All shared harrowing firsthand stories about fighting ruthless militias. However, one soldier’s astonishing experience stands out from typical veteran accounts. What he encountered during a routine mission would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Soldiers on Patrol
1970 a U.S. Army corporal was stationed thirty miles from the demilitarized zone in Southern Vietnam. ‘John’ and his team were tasked with constructing bivouac sites throughout the region. One evening he was patrolling the area in search of enemy troops. After steadily marching through dense brush the group noticed scattered movement nearby. Each man instinctively braced for armed revolutionists. While hunkering down, sporadic blurs of swift motion could be seen in the dark valley ahead. Within 15 minutes, the activity ceased so they continued trekking. Moonlight illuminated the rugged terrain as John sauntered forward. In front of him were rocks and boulders unnaturally stacked next to a peculiar structure.