CH43 - Gunfire

Six days later,

"We're almost there."

The distant shore was beginning to appear.

"Yes, you've done well."

I spoke with Major Yoon Jin-ho of the Mangho Unit, feeling the wind on the Unbong's deck.

Being a major in the advance team of the Mangho Unit, we naturally started talking.

Having already known Major Son Tae-yang of the Unbong, I now had the excuse of knowing two majors thanks to this ship.

"Please take care of us once we arrive."

"Likewise. We'll need heavy equipment for building the fortifications."

"Of course."

Borrowing a few pieces of heavy equipment through Mark wouldn't be a problem. With luck, I might even secure an official order from the engineering corps.

"You're quite resolute. The rumors about you dealing directly with the President weren't just idle talk."

"It wasn't courage, just necessity."

I was half serious.

"Having experienced Quyen, could I ask you a favor for the landing operation?"

"... Can I be of help? I'm here in Quyen just to make money."

"That's true for our military as well."

I was taken aback.

Even though I had mentioned money first, it was unusual for a soldier to say such a thing.

"No need to be surprised. The Vietnam War isn't a fight to protect our homeland. There's no objective worth sacrificing our lives for. Instead, we only have the purpose of serving national interests."

What a soldierly thing to say.

He distinguished between objective and purpose so clearly.

"Indeed, Vietnam isn't a country we need to protect or even assist. A nation where the vote count exceeds the number of voters in a presidential election isn't a proper country."

"That's right."

Vietnam holds presidential elections, claiming not to be communist. Yet, it's a fraudulent election where more votes are cast than there are registered voters.

Unlike Korea, Vietnam wasn't a country where democracy could succeed.

Democracy is a cultural system that can only be achieved by the people themselves, through blood and sweat, not by external forces.

A country without a national uprising even after a rigged election isn't a real country.

It means the entire nation is rotten from top to bottom, and not even God, let alone America, could change Vietnam's fate.

"Anyway, tell me. I'll help if I can."

"We need to find land near the village by Quyen Camp that is elevated and drains well. If you help, it'll proceed quickly."

"You mean for the fortifications. Understood. I'll help."

Why look for such land? I can create it.

We should build the military base near our lodging.

Beep beep beep. Beep beep beep.

<All crew members prepare for landing.>

We had arrived at Quyen.

True to an LST, they called it a landing.

Without proper port facilities, landing was indeed accurate.

"Please take care of us. We'll assist the Mangho Unit whenever needed."

"That's reassuring, Major Yoon."

"Prepare for landing!"

"Brace for impact!"

With the captain's order, both Major Yoon and I returned to our posts.

"Brace for impact!"

Soldiers hurriedly moved about.

The LST advanced, almost crashing into the beach's sandbar, so everyone had to be in position.

'Oh? A dredger is here. BR Corp has arrived.'

A dredger was floating by the shore.

We were entering a new round.

Thunk! With a loud sound, the LST grounded on Quyen's sandbar.

****

"Gasp! Sajangnim!!!"

"Sajangnim, he's here. Sajangnim has arrived."

Employees rushed towards me, looking alarmed.

"What happened?"

"Sajangnim, it's…"

"CS, hurry to the medical unit. It's serious."

Seeing the employees stammering, unable to speak properly, an American who had been signaling the LST approached and told me to go to the medical unit.

"The medical unit? What's going on?"

"Employees are injured. Even KIM is hurt…"

"What?!"

KIM? My father?

Panicked by the news of my father being hurt, I ran.

"Father… no, Sajangnim. What happened!"

"Ugh... Sajangnim. It's nothing serious."

"Nothing serious? You're wrapped in bandages like this."

"A bullet hit my left side, but it's fine. Don't worry."

"You got shot?"

"Fortunately, it was a bullet fragment. Bullets can pierce through truck doors."

Though it didn't seem fortunate, it was a relief in the misfortune.

It was a fragment wound, and there are no vital organs in the left side.

Judging by the slight fever, the treatment seemed well done.

"I'm more worried about the other employees. Kim hurt his shoulder, and Jung injured his leg... Damn it."

"We're fine. It just grazed us."

"Don't worry. It's nothing serious."

"Nothing serious? Damn it."

The employees lightly tapped their bandages and casts, saying it was nothing. How could it be nothing?

It was clearly gunshot wounds.

I was furious.

Their bodies were their assets, and there would undoubtedly be aftereffects.

What were the Americans doing that our employees got hurt?

"CS, you're here. KIM, are you feeling better?"

"Mark, what happened? You promised to take good care of our employees."

"Calm down, calm down."

"How can I calm down! Why are our civilians hurt when there are so many soldiers here!"

"I will formally report this to the ROK Army Headquarters in Vietnam. I'll say South Korean civilians were attacked by Viet Cong."

"Whoa, calm down. Calm!"

Major Yoon Jin-ho of the Mangho Unit, who had followed me, shouted as well, causing Mark to be flustered.

It seemed they hadn't officially reported it yet.

"Whoa, listen to me. This won't happen again. The damn site supervisor sent them to collect aggregates without an escort."

"What? Site supervisor? From BR Corp?"

"Yeah, a guy named Silverstein is the supervisor, but he's clueless. He sent a truck without an escort after the escort team had already left."

"That idiot."

The Viet Cong had sniped the unescorted truck.

When the Viet Cong mix with civilians, you can't distinguish them.

They ambush whenever and wherever, blending in with civilians.

"He knows he messed up, so work is halted for a few days. BR Corp is discussing compensation, so hold on, CS."

Seeing Mark clucking his tongue, the guy seemed genuinely clueless.

"Compensation isn't enough. We need military measures to prevent recurrence."

Major Yoon raised his voice.

He was right.

This wasn't something to be brushed off with compensation.

It was clear the Viet Cong had infiltrated this area.

The Americans might not care much, but I did.

With the start of the harbor construction, we would be frequently moving in and out of the camp. If such incidents were repeated, it would be disastrous.

We needed to nip it in the bud before more casualties occurred.

We had to clear the concealments and make the construction access road flat.

"Mark, where's that Silverstein supervisor?"

"CS, calm down. We'll finish the investigation and discuss compensation."

"It's not just about compensation. How can you guarantee there won't be another shooting? My employees are my family!"

"CS…"

"Where is Silverstein!"

"In the engineer office."

I headed straight to the engineers.

Ding ding ding ding.

"Everyone, gather around!"

"Sajangnim is calling. Everyone, come here."

"Truck and heavy equipment drivers, follow me. We're going to work outside the camp."

"Yes, Sajangnim."

"The rest, grab your tools, and gather at the camp entrance."

"Yes, Sajangnim."

"Let's go."

At my command, the employees swarmed.

"CS, what brings you here?"

"Is the BR Corp site supervisor here? The one named Silverstein."

"Well… yes."

"I need to talk to him."

Seeing my determined face, the American engineers sighed and stepped aside.

Understandable, since the first attack by the Viet Cong in the camp had injured my employees.

"Are you Silverstein?"

"Y-yes… Why?"

A bearded white man stood there, looking clueless.

He looked like someone who got his engineer certificate just by studying, without any field experience. No seasoned site supervisor would come to Vietnam.

BR Corp was comparable to GM in the 21st century.

"Give me the keys. Bulldozers, excavators, dump trucks, everything!"

"The keys? What are you talking about?"

"What do you mean? Are you not going to pave the access road? Do you want to keep driving on dirt roads? Do you want to keep getting shot at?"

"We need to pave it. Definitely."

"Hand it over!"

Reluctantly, Silverstein handed over the key box.

Opening the lid, I saw all sorts of keys.

"Everyone, take one."

"Yes."

Each employee grabbed a key for a bulldozer, excavator, or truck and rushed to the yard to start the engines.

"Who knows where the Viet Cong shot from?"

"I do. It was in the sugarcane field."

"There was also shooting from that forest."

"Okay. Let's go."

They were the perfect hiding spots for the Viet Cong.

We had to clear them all.

Rumble.

Leading dozens of heavy equipment, we advanced to the camp entrance.

"Waaah!"

Employees were crowded at the camp entrance.

Without hesitation, they climbed onto the dump trucks.

"Let's destroy those Viet Cong bastards."

"Waaah!"

"If you see sugarcane, burn it all. Uproot every tree. Fill in any tunnels."

"Waaah!"

"Shout it out

. Safety! Safety! Safety!"

"Safety! Safety! Safety!"

All the employees shouted for safety, raising their chainsaws and burners high.

Road work was tedious, but now was an exception.

Whether sugarcane fields or whatever, if it threatened our lives, we would clear it all.

This place had no law or justice.

Prepare yourself, damn Viet Cong bastards.

How dare you shoot my father.

"Let's go!"

"Waaah!"

Money was our purpose, and safety was our goal.

"Stop, stop! CS!"

Out of nowhere, Mark appeared, blocking my path.

"Mark, move! We're going out for construction."

"No! There might still be the Viet Cong. Clearing operations come first. Follow procedures!"

Clearing operations? Don't make me laugh.

Clearing was impossible here in Vietnam.

If you tried clearing operations, both soldiers and our employees would die.

With accumulating casualties, the Americans would indiscriminately spray defoliants in the area.

Then we'd all die.

We had to go now while they were still in shock from the first attack.

"Sergeant Mark! The Mangho Unit will escort us."

"... You?"

"I'll report to Colonel Godell later. The ROK Army has a duty to protect South Korean citizens exposed to enemy territory outside the camp."

"!!!!"

Major Yoon's words were flawless logic outside the American camp. He was logical and spoke excellent English.

A remarkable soldier.

"Mangho Unit, initiate escort operations!"

"Advance, Mangho Unit!"

At Major Yoon's command, the Mangho Unit surrounded us.

Despite only having a few Jeeps and military trucks with machine guns, their presence was imposing.

The reason for the loud noise of military truck engines became clear.

With the ROK Army escorting us, it felt incredibly reassuring.

Mark, who had blocked the camp entrance, had to step aside.

<Do you know what the ROK Army did in Vietnam? When soldiers were attacked by Viet Cong, they retaliated thoroughly. If there was a village hiding they'd gather all residents and use 4.2-inch mortars 81mm to destroy every house, warehouse, stable. Everything burned, rice livestock included, leaving tears. Despite controversy, Cong disappeared from area afterward. The became much safer. Although Americans paid for dead houses, commanders shouted that preferred water buffaloes over Korean soldiers. They incredibly gutsy!>

Seeing the Mangho Unit reminded me of stories I'd heard in my previous life. The local grocery store owner, a Vietnam War veteran, had told the same tale countless times. The heroic tale I was sick of hearing was now about to unfold before my eyes.

"Advance, Mangho Unit!"

"Advance!"

As expected of the advance team, they were the elite of the elite.

They moved swiftly in perfect formation.

"Follow with the bulldozers, excavators, and trucks!"

The Mangho Unit led, followed by dozens of bulldozers, excavators, and trucks.

***

"Where is it? Where did the shooting happen?"

"There in the sugarcane field. And over there in the forest."

An employee who had narrowly escaped the attack pointed out the locations.

"Is everyone ready?"

"Bulldozer ready."

"Excavator ready."

"Provide cover."

"Commence warning shots!"

"Loyalty!"

Tat tat tat tat tat. Tat tat.

With the Mangho Unit leading, there was no hesitation.

They fired into the air and shouted through megaphones for anyone to evacuate.

Even if they didn't understand the language, the atmosphere should be clear.

If anyone didn't flee at the sound of gunfire, they were definitely Viet Cong.

"Clear it all!"

"Clear it!"

"Cut down all the trees here. Redirect the water flow!"

"Yes, Sajangnim."

"Create a waterway. We'll cut it down."

"Gather the sugarcane leaves and burn them all. Divert the water here. We're turning this place into rice paddies."

I directed the operation through a megaphone.

"What? Rice paddies?"

"Vietnamese rice also grows in paddies. You know how to make rice paddies, right?"

"Of course, Sajangnim."

"No one can hide in rice paddies. And no one will complain about making paddies."

"!!!!"

"Waaah! Rice paddies!"

The employees cheered at the thought of creating rice paddies.

In this era, who didn't have a farming relative? It was a natural reaction.

"We'll build a company base here. We'll create a mound to oversee the area and turn the surroundings into rice paddies. Mangho Unit, please distribute the paddies and secure this area."

"Distribute paddies…"

A veteran had once said that the safest place was around rice paddies.

Unlike sugarcane, rice only grew to knee height, making concealment difficult, and anyone crossing the paddies would make splashing sounds.

The Viet Cong couldn't approach the base.

"In Vietnam, ordinary people have no interest in the war. If they have rice paddies to live off, they won't need to harbor the Viet Cong."

"!! Brilliant strategy."

No defoliant would be sprayed over rice paddies.

Everyone would be safer.