Dear Editor:
Recently during a conversation with my mother she recounted a story of which I was unaware, of my departure to the Vietnam War. Her oldest son was going off to war. As she sobbed into the arms of her second son he promised that he would stay with her; two months later he too would be gone.
It was September 1967. I was a United States Marine, doing my duty for my country and going to where I was being sent. I was 18 and full of life. For me the war was an adventure. I guess that’s how many young people view life.
Once in the combat zone I learned quickly about the rules of life and death. Mainly I learned that in a war zone life is cheap both yours and that of the defined enemy. Except for some “Search and Destroy” missions, skirmishes during patrols and the occasional nightly mortaring or rocketing, I didn’t see death up close until December 7, 1967.
Alpha Company of our battalion has been pinned down by North Vietnamese Army regulars west of the Con Thien fire base from early in the morning. They were a couple of miles away and under fire. Our unit was in a “reactionary status.” We almost ran through the brush and elephant grass until we came under fire from enemy positions.
We were hold up in a thousand pound bomb crater when mortars started falling around us. By the time we reached our fallen comrades rigormortis was starting to set in some of the bodies. The look of painful death frozen on some faces. We fought the enemy and after the dead and wounded were choppered out we returned to the fire base.
I often think of the Marines that died that day. But, mostly I think of Corporal Carmine Novembre from Passaic, New Jersey. He was the “Squad Leader” of the third Squad 3rd Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. He was my squad leader and I am alive today because of him and Sergeant Joe Kimble from Kentucky.
Carmine Novembre was a man ahead of his time although he didn’t know it. Pragmatic, rational and with a natural streak of common sense, which I’m sure he got from his father Alfredo. Corporal Carmine Novembre was driven, not to produce a body count, but to protect the lives of the men under his responsibility.
The way he conducted himself and utilized his men saved the lives of many Marines, including myself. Unfortunately, on April 25, 1968, shortly before his return to the United States, Carmine was killed in action by enemy mortar fire on Hill 881 near the Khe Sanh fire Base.
I have always lamented Carmine’s death and dedicated part of my life to his memory. Now we are facing war in Iraq, and hundreds of thousands of young Americans are, once again, in harm’s way. What lessons do we take from our past experiences of war?
If any lesson is to be learned from the Vietnam War, it is to question and hold accountable our government and political leaders, to ensure that the lives of our military are not jeopardized or placed in harm’s way for frivolous or political causes. The life of one Carmine Novembre isn’t worth it.
There is only one lesson to be learned from war, that is to fight for peace, acceptance and understanding. I continue that struggle in the memory of Carmine Novembre and all of the men and women who have given their lives for our country. We must ensure that the injustices of the past never occur again, not in Iraq, not anywhere.
Jaime Vazquez
Veterans For Peace