- November 26, 2024
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In 1968, I was a platoon leader with the 196th Infantry Brigade in Vietnam. I was a new second lieutenant — fresh out of Officer Candidate School — and a recent arrival to the war zone. We were on a remote landing zone, deep in enemy-controlled territory, and had been given the order to “dig in.”
To our surprise, a helicopter landed, and it was the full colonel brigade commander. He was there to assess our situation and asked me how it was going.
I asked, “Sir, just how ‘dug in’ do you want us to get?”
He looked me in the eye and said, “Son, dig in like you’re gonna be here forever. But be ready to move on a moment’s notice.”
