Emotions Anonymous
Vietnam 1967—A Team
By Samuel E. Seetin, Jr., LTC SF USA (Ret.)
God grant me the serenity to
accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Example: We were out numbered by the enemy on a remote fire base in Vietnam, but did what we could to defended our selves. God took care of the rest.
General Creighton Abrams (Deputy CINC MACV) timely spot inspection directed construction of mortar pit.
NVA observers mistook the mortar pit as strong point rather a show case ready should the general return before CIDG soldiers could be trained-up. Enemy penetrated our camp fortifications and blew up the mortar pit blunting their own attack.
From: Seetin, Samuel
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2001 1:44 PM
To: Abrams, John GEN
Subject: Your Dad Saved My Life
Sir,
Early Aug 67, your father made an unannounced inspection of A334 SF Detachment at Ton Le Chon, RVN. Our under strength Camp had recently experienced mass desertion because of the corrupt LLDB, and was reinforced with the Mike Force and a Company from Minh Tan.
As the Executive Officer I reported to him and escorted him around the Fire Base. It was constructed of laterite soil in concentric circles defense perimeters, consisting of an inner and outer berm with an adjacent fortified dependent housing area secured by a fierce platoon of recently galvanized Cambodian of X-Communist POWs.
Your dad jumped into the 81 mm Mortar pit and pointed out that only a few illuminations rounds were ready to be fired. He ask why. I told him that rounds corrode quickly in humid weather and will misfire. He rejected that and told me to fix it. He proceeded to check police of outer barrier, noted trash in the barrier concertina and directed a that CIDG conduct police call.
The last spot correction he made was ordering the immediate emplacement of the 4.2 mortars and ammunition we had just received and to proficiently train up the CIDG to effectively fire the mortars. He departed the Camp indicating he would be back to check on corrective action identified.
U.S. Army General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr., Long Binh, Vietnam, December, 1968. (Photo credit: Michael Kopp, Stars & Stripes)
Sergeant First Class Jerry Friend and I used a D5 Dozer to dig outside the inner berm a telephoned shaped mortar pit emplaced with two 4.2 mortars connected by a covered tunnel to store over 1000 rounds of HE and White phosphorus. I went up with the a forward air controller piloting a light fixed winged aircraft and registered the guns on road crossings in the area. We did this to get ready for re-inspection. The 165th NVA Regiment Recon elements noted our activity and identified mortar pit as strong point.
Just after midnight the morning of 7 Aug 67 a reinforced 165 NVA Regiment launched a vicious attack our Camp penetrating the barrier fence. The enemy Sapper combat engineer team set off the huge assortment mortar rounds stored in our mortar pit using Chinese communist C-4 that caused a huge explosion, unintentionally blunting their own attack, and killing several hundred or more NVA soldiers. It gave us time to counter-attack, call in Air Force fighter and Artillery supporting fires, and re-establish our defensive perimeter. Your Dad’s spot correction accidentally saved the lives of everyone on the Team and many of CIDG soldiers we advised.
During Operation Desert Shield build up, I was a LTC SF assigned to (MOSO-DC) in the Army Operations Center you were my Senior Rater. I wanted to tell you the story but didn’t think you would believe it. I have thanked your Dad in my prayers, now I’m thanking you.
WVGR,
Sam Seetin,
LTC(Ret), SF USA
From: Abrams, John GEN
Sent: March 15,2001 8:29 AM
To: Seetin, Samuel
Subject: RE: Your Dad Saved My Life
Sam, thanks you for sharing the experience of my father. He had a major influence on so many of us in his lifetime. Thanks for all the help you gave us in the AOC for ODS, we made a difference for our soldiers and their leaders for which you should take great pride in being part of. If you don’t mine I’ll pass this story on to my mother and brothers and sisters. We will keep you in our prayers. R/ John Abrams.
Update from Sam Seetin: I also shared this story with GEN Abrams’ youngest son. By the way, a friend of mine Anh Nguyen a RVN refuge visited Ton Le Chon battle site last month and identified the location burial site of NVA and CIDG soldiers on the map that I gave him. In October the military Vietnamese authorities and Professor from Hanoi will use a donated ground penetrating radar to uncover the remains of those buried which will bring closure to grieving families. Our foe is now our friend.
Key is gaining wisdom on what you can change—and what you can’t. Serenity in the face of what you can’t change shouldn’t mean utter complete desperation, but it comes from the comfort of knowing that Our Maker holds those unchangeable things in His hands. He shall work due diligence on changing them in His own time and own way.
About the Author:
LTC Samuel E. Seetin served 53 years in combined military and Army civilian service. A Special Forces officer with combat tours in Vietnam, he later held key leadership roles in logistics, communications, and aviation readiness worldwide. His awards include the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars (one for valor), the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Distinguished Service Medal for Civilians (awarded by Secretary of the Army). Learn more about him by visiting this link to his interview on the Library of Congress website.
Leave A Comment