The Chameleon Soldier: NOW AS AN ALIEN BLUE HE CANNOT DIE. (35 page)

But, what Killian enjoyed most were the long afternoon rides on one of his favorite horses, followed by dinner with Zack in the evening. He and Zack liked to get a snifter of liqueur and sit in the large, overstuffed chairs, talking about old times. They both had interesting lives. Killian enjoyed hearing about Zack’s past, and how he became involved in raising and training racehorses. Zack, for his part, relished hearing Killian’s tales about the Civil War and the old west, especially when Killian would tell him about how he had transformed into different people to engage in some mission or other. Killian enjoyed reminiscing about the past though he thought it odd, that when he told the stories, it didn’t seem like they’d happened many years ago.

The five weeks passed quickly. When Doli finally returned to the ranch, a few days before Christmas, Maggie arranged a graduation party for her at the Country Club. Drinks, jokes, laughter and family love were in plentiful supply. Killian and Doli were ready to leave for Vietnam, but were persuaded to stay at the ranch for Christmas.

O
n December, 27,
1965, Killian and Doli boarded a plane for Saigon. Upon landing at the Tan Son Nhut Air Base, they set off in search of Captain Wheeler, as it was their intention to be attached to his company. Killian would train the captain’s men, in addition to other military personnel in the area. Doli would organize and train groups of war correspondents and nurses from the field hospitals.

Captain Wheeler was surprised to see his friends, and welcomed them back into his company. Over the next two weeks, they held a number of training courses and went out on one patrol with Captain Wheeler’s men. But, they didn’t encounter any Blue Warriors.

Around the end of December, 1965, and the first week of January, 1966, the American Army gathered intelligence, through interrogation of prisoners, and aerial surveillance, about the whereabouts of the political–military headquarters which controlled all Viet Cong activity around Saigon. The headquarters were believed to be located in a sprawling underground bunker system extending through a twelve square mile area of jungle and marshland. This area, called the Iron Triangle, was pinpointed in the Cu Chi district, only twenty miles from Saigon. On January, 8, 1966, a “search and destroy” operation was launched. The ground assault was preceded by a heavy artillery bombardment as well as by napalm, and airstrikes from B52 bombers, which resulted in much of the area being cleared of its heavy foliage. The American fighting units were deployed by helicopters and military vehicles.

On the second day of the operation, which was called, Operation Crimp, Captain Wheeler’s infantry company was trucked to the field of battle. It wasn’t long before they were met by a small group of Viet Cong, who attacked them from positions in bunkers and through snipers hiding in the tall trees. The company eventually fought its way through the bunkers, but many of the surviving Viet Cong escaped down into the tunnels. As Captain Wheeler’s company passed through the bunkers, they had to be on alert for Punji sticks, a type of booby trap, placed in the ground. If stepped on, a sharp stick would penetrate a soldier’s foot or lower leg and take him out of the action. The area was also heavily seeded with trip wire grenades, which dangled from branches, and snipers remained a constant threat. Captain Wheeler ordered the company to dig in and hold their ground. They began returning fire, and managed to kill a few of the snipers.

Killian and Doli had positioned themselves at the right rear of the company. They were looking through binoculars for Blue Warriors. The firing had been going on for thirty minutes when Killian spotted a sniper, who was clearly a Blue Warrior.

“Look over there at that tree, Doli. It’s a Blue Warrior, who they won’t be able to kill.”

Doli shifted her binoculars and spotted the sniper.

“What can we do?” she asked.

“Let’s circle around, get under the tree, and throw a phosphorus grenade up at him.”

Doli agreed and, without any of the other members of the company noticing, they slipped out and around toward the sniper. When they reached the area near the tree harboring the Blue Warrior, they came to a halt.

“Doli, you take out your grenade, and get beneath the tree. When you’re ready I’ll step out and draw his attention. Pull the pin and throw the grenade up into the tree, then run.”

“Killian, that’s too dangerous for you.”

“All he can do is fire at me. I won’t die. Now get moving.”

Doli hesitated, but then slipped away and headed for the tree. As soon as Killian saw she was at the base of the tree, he stepped out in the open. Killian looked up and saw the sniper staring down at him. It wasn’t Lupan. A smile appeared on the Blue Warrior’s face.

“Taglito Silaada!” the sniper yelled down at him. “You make it so easy to kill you!”

But he didn’t fire his rifle. Instead he dropped a grenade. Killian realized instantly what was happening and dove behind two trees. When Doli saw the Blue Warrior, she pulled the pin on her phosphorus grenade and hurled it up at him, then ran for cover. The two grenades’ exploded simultaneously. The trees and foliage near Killian were set on fire.

Up in the tree, the Blue Warrior burst into flames. There followed the howling of a wolf, a bright flash of blue light, then the column of blue-white smoke rising through the branches and into the sky.

Doli hurried over to Killian, who had rolled away from the burning area. She grabbed hold of him; Killian saw the fright in her eyes.

“Damn it, Killian! You could have been killed.”

“I’m alright, I’m okay. I didn’t expect him to drop a phosphorus grenade.”

They became aware of the silence, as the shooting had stopped.

Killian looked around. “I think that wolf’s howl and the burst of light have scared off the other snipers.”

They stood up, and were making their way back when two of Captain Wheeler’s men met them.

“They’re okay, sir!” one of the men shouted back to the captain. “They’re over here.”

Captain Wheeler and his radioman hurried toward them.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing? This is war! You endangered my men.” He was incensed. “I’m sending you two back to Saigon.”

Wheeler turned to a sergeant. “Take them to the rear.”

Killian didn’t say anything, but only nodded. He and Doli started to follow the sergeant.

“Wait a minute!” Wheeler ordered. “Killian, what just happened? What the in hell was the howling sound, and the bright flash of blue light that came from the top of the tree?”

Killian shrugged his shoulders.

“That’s the second time something strange has happened while you’ve been in my company. Later, I’ll want to discuss it with you, Killian.” He turned to the sergeant. “Arrange transportation for them back to Saigon.” Captain Wheeler then stalked away.

Doli and Killian accompanied the sergeant to the rear. They knew it would have been useless to try and explain their actions to Wheeler. A short time later, they were in a jeep on their way back to Saigon.

The following evening they had dinner at one of the local restaurants, and then went to the Rooftop Lounge at the Saigon Hotel for a drink. They were about to sit at the bar when they were spotted by Ellen Devoe sitting at a table with another woman.

“Killian!” shouted Ellen. “You’re back!”

They went over to her table and he hugged her. “So, Ellen, you’re still reporting the war.”

“I am, and it’s a bitch, Killian. I’ve got to have rocks in my head to stay here.” She glanced at Doli, clearly oblivious of her old identity, as her reporter colleague. “What happened to Dolly Blue? I haven’t heard anything about her since she left with you for the States.”

“She disappeared,” Killian told her. “I think she decided to change her life. This is Doli Hooghan; she’s the first female SERE instructor to be assigned to Vietnam.”

“Nice to know you, Doli, I’m Ellen Devoe, and my friend is Ruth Zendray, who’s also with the
Overseas Weekly
. Have a seat, join us,” she invited.

They sat down, ordered a drink, talked about the war, and what was going on back home in the States. A half hour later, Doli got up and went to the ladies’ room. As she returned to their table, she noticed three men staring at her. She knew men found her beautiful, and she was used to being stared at. During SERE training at Camp Mackall the men were always gawping at her long legs and firm breasts, and trying to get her to go out with them. But, these three men were different. She stopped and stared back at them. Then she realized why they were different. She believed they were Blues. She crossed over to their table.

“Gentlemen, I’m Doli, known as Princess Bluebird of the clan Hooghan.”

The three men stood up.

“Excuse our staring, but you looked familiar. We weren’t sure you were a Blue. I’m Lieutenant John Badger.”

Doli extended her hand. “It’s nice to know you, Na Hash Chid,” she said, speaking his real Navajo name.

John Badger smiled and shook her hand. “This is Sergeant Bill Riley and Sergeant Jeff Tyler.”

They each shook hands with Doli.

“Like you, I’m a first generation Blue,” John Badger explained. “Riley is a second generation and Tyler is a third generation Blue.”

“It’s good to know we are a growing nation of people,” Doli responded.

“Would you care to join us?” asked John Badger.

“It’s good to see Blues here,” she replied. “My friend and I have only encountered Blue Warriors in Vietnam.” She gestured toward where Killian was sitting. “I’d like you meet him.”

“Is he a Blue?” asked Bill Riley.

“Yes and an unusual one.” She looked slyly at John Badger. “Maybe you’ve heard of him, Taglito Silaada.”

The lieutenant grinned. “It’s a name I’ve not heard in many years. I thought he was a myth.”

“No myth, John,” Doli answered.

“Please bring him to our table.”

Doli walked back to where Ellen, Ruth and Killian were sitting. She told them there were three men who wanted to meet Killian. They excused themselves, telling Ellen they’d get together later. As they approached the three men, Killian hesitated when he saw they were Blues. Then Doli introduced him and they sat down. Killian noticed the airmen patches on their uniforms.

“Are you stationed in Saigon?” he asked.

“No, our home base is Camp Holloway, Pleiku,” answered John Badger. “I fly a ‘Huey’ UH-1 Iroquois helicopter on rescue missions. Bill and Jeff are my crewmen.”

“We were only aware of Blue Warriors fighting with the North Vietnamese Army or the Viet Cong. Their aim is to kill Americans,” said Killian.

“There are other Blues fighting here, but we could use more,” John Badger informed him.

Killian nodded slowly. “It’s good to know there are others.”

“I think the Blue Warriors’ numbers are being reduced by all the napalm bombings,” Jeff Tyler speculated. “I don’t think they figured on that.”

“A lot of them have left the highlands and marshlands due to the bombings,” Bill Riley added. “They’re now fighting with the Viet Cong out of the tunnels.”

“Killian, you’re not a native American Indian. How is it that you’re a Blue?” John Badger asked.

Killian told them the story of his becoming a Blue and of his fight against the Blue Warriors, especially Lupan.

“So far we haven’t met up with any of the Blue Warriors,” Jeff Tyler told him. “But I’d sure like to kill a couple of them.”

“You might want to be careful what you wish for, Jeff,” Doli cautioned him. “The Blue Warriors are extremely dangerous. They’re very skilled in warfare.”

“Still…” said Jeff.

They all smiled at his eagerness.

“So you’re both doing SERE training, but you’re main objective is Lupan and the other Blue Warrior leaders, right?” John Badger asked.

Doli told them about the Blue Warriors’ recruiting efforts, and what had happened in New York City with the Blue steeplejacks.

They continued to talk, drink and become friends.

The next night they had dinner together; the following morning, the Blue airmen flew back to Camp Holloway.

Doli and Killian moved from Captain Wheeler’s company, and rented an apartment at the Votalin Apartment House. Many Americans who were stationed at the Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon lived in the building. They continued to train military men, nurses, newspaper correspondents and civilians working in construction in the methods of SERE techniques.

Six days after Operation Crimp had begun, it ended. Only a fraction of the tunnel system had been destroyed. The American’s discovered the tunnels covered a much larger area than they had imagined. The miscalculation had resulted in a failed attempt to root out and destroy enemy forces. The tunnel areas remained a key communist transit and supply base. The enemy also continued to develop the tunnels, using them as armories, mess halls, hospitals, storage facilities and manufacturing centers. The complexes were like a series of small underground cities, which enabled the enemy to ambush American troops, and then safely vanish into the maze of tunnels. The area was a heavily defended Viet Cong stronghold, and a base for ongoing attacks on the South Vietnamese capitol of Saigon.