 When I went over it was 1965 just at the beginning of the war you know to tell you the truth a lot of us guys back then We knew very little about it. And I heard the other means look at a war. I think what war? We got on the ships in the middle of the night the ships turned course and before you know it We were on ships sailing for Vietnam. Oh my god We are and what's that? Operation Starlight was the first major battle in regimental-sized clash between US and enemy forces during the Vietnam War our precious Starlight came about because the the Viet Cong were massing a massive attack general Walt I believe Decided to attack them rather than let them attack us It's sunrise the next morning Chivers came in picked us up H company landed and the CP of the Viet Cong the command post All you saw was explosions and people shooting Next thing you know, I mean we were taking casualties right and left my squad was no sooner off the chopper One of my guys fell down. I went over and picked them up and he was hit through his shoulder By a 50 and blew out of sight And he died in my arms. I Was helping load the wounded and then I got hit and they took me back to LZ By then half our company was already Already gone. I was fighting so many guys I didn't howl his eyes, you know, I can't believe that I killed as many of them as I did, you know, just can't believe it I Landed that morning with 200 people at that time. I had 50 left It has often been said that no plan survives the first contact with the enemy and Operation Starlight was no exception Most of the enemy who were still alive filtered out of the battlefield and toward the western mountains The Marines chased after these Viet Cong and engaged in a series of smaller, but sharp firefights over the next few days Finally, they showed that the Marines were worthy successors of those who had fought World War two and Korea And the Marines is part of my life. I've never had nothing better happened to me in the Marine Corps As far as Marine to Marine today to meet Marines will always be Marines We are a brotherhood. I know a lot of Marines and they're all the same. They'll give you the shirt off their back If you ask for it, I don't care if you're a second World War Marine or Iraqi Marine or still a Marine you're carrying on a tradition a brotherhood. That's amazing