First
USO
Tour
October
6-November 16, 1971
(VietNam,
Thailand, Australia, and Diego Garcia)
Trish
and Jeanie boarding helicopter.
Linda
narrates from the side.
We
were at Qui Nhon when it was
ought to our attention that one of the perimeter fire bases lost their
company commander. Morale was low, and we were asked if we would be
willing to do another show on our day off. We always volunteered to do
extra shows so, of course, the answer was "yes." However, there were
complications to doing this show.
The
"hill" was always closed by 6pm
each evening because of its vulnerability to VC and VC sympathizers.
And we were going up that night! It was sunset as we were leaving and
very much into the evening as we arrived at the base.
They
had quite a convoy
accompanying us up the hill. There were five jeeps and two large
trucks. Each jeep had a driver and a machine gun mounted on the front
for the number two man to operate. The third man carried a mobile radio
and was armed as well. The fourth passenger was one Hilltop Singer in
complete camouflage including netting covering our faces. Our own
parents would not have been able to recognize us at a three foot
distance! The fourth jeep carried just the three soldiers and had an
opening in case one of the others developed mechanical problems.
I
think the big truck was called a
deuce and a half. It was quite capable of carrying the equipment and
all of us as well. The second truck was its equal. When I asked why we
were being taken up in separate jeeps, it was explained to me that if
we came under fire there was a better chance of the show going on,
maybe as a duet, but that most of us would make it that way. I guess if
they had known that there were three American girls from the USO in
those jeeps they may have been more resourceful and more tempted to
attack us.
Anyhow,
when we got there and
climbed out of those fatigues into our miniskirts, hose and heels, it
was quite a treat to our countrymen. The show was well received, and we
feel we did a great job in boosting the morale at that location.
The
safety concern was never an
issue with us. Our Christian upbringing, as well as the naivete of our
youth, provided us with a very secure "comfort zone." It was not until
years later when watching a weekly series on VietNam that I realized
the danger we had undertaken that night. And, as it was with all our
USO and military involvement, we were treated with the greatest respect
- like precious cargo.
