________________________________________________________________________Richard S. Kem
You know, it's sort of what General Max Thurman later called Rule 14. "When in charge,
take charge." In Vietnam then you knew you were in charge. There wasn't any question
about it. We would design something and then the 18th Brigade would say, "Well, who's
approved your design?" "Well, no one. You want to approve it? Come on up and approve it.
Don't tarry."
So, it was a bunch of can-do, move-out kind of folks, and we all had good missions. There
were construction projects, which were finite. I know my company commander that had
responsibility for that ammo supply point day in and day out got his equipment taken away
from him. I mean, I had to console him every now and then by saying, "Now, look, you
recognize that's just one of your many projects. That's not the battalion priority, so it's
always going to be delayed."
I made the decisions as to how we used the resources to do the missions we were given. I
made the decision to change our way of doing maintenance. I didn't have to ask for
permission for those things.
We learned to operate so that we could make things happen. We would get the LSTs to take
our supplies down to our new location. We knew the responsibility for security was ours, and
for patrolling, and all those kinds of things, so we just took charge. A very satisfying period.
Q:
Any other thoughts you have on the Vietnam period, '68 and '69?
A:
Yes, I should say one more thing. It just occurred to me. You asked how the equipment was,
and it occurred to me I didn't comment on getting supplies. The supply system where we
were was very tenuous. You could order something for a particular project, like certain
stringers and certain lumber, or your equipment replacements, and when they came into the
depot they probably would get diverted.
So, early on it was apparent that we needed our guy at the depot. So, I put a specialist 5 at
both the depot at Cam Ranh Bay and the one at Qui Nhon. His job was to go find our stuff, or
available stuff. If it was available and we needed it, he would make out the requisitions for it
and put it in "lot 16, bed 8," and we would go get the item. Then we would scramble the
vehicles or the aircraft to bring it from wherever it was.
So, to make the system work, we really had to have our own expediter, maybe even protector.
Q:
That's interesting. I've heard of a similar technique used during the World War II period too.
A:
I'm sure.
Q:
Perennial problem. [Laughter]
A:
Right.
Q:
This might not be a fair question, but let me throw it out to you. Shortly before this you were
in the 307th Engineer Battalion, 82d Airborne. How would you compare the two battalions,
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