Unjust Dessert
by Dave "Doc" Holladay
The time was Fall '68 near L.Z. Sandy not far from the South China Sea. Bravo company, 1/501st,1st platoon, in the I Core. It was another hot,
nasty humping day, and I was looking forward to dark and a slight breeze from the distant ocean, even though we , as usual, set up a ambush every night. We got set up late, and was
dark by the time everyone got into the positions. It was to late to heat my beans and weenies, so I carefully and quietly opened them and ate them with a plastic spoon. I think, I was
third on guard in my position that night, so had time to eat slow and listen for anything out of the ordinary. In the back of my mind was the thought of the dessert I had saved up just
for afterward of my beans. When ready for my dessert, I opened quietly, my favorite, peaches and pound cake. I mixed them together in the pitch black that night. We all got used to
doing a lot of things in the dark, that people never think they could ever do without a light. I then opened a packet of sugar and sprinkled it on top and mixed that up. I could hardly
wait! My all time favorite in the boonies! I started to eat my masterpiece and my mouth and brain went on "red alert". I had put a packet of salt not sugar on and totally ruined the
dessert , and pitched it . What a low to sleep on.
Dave "Doc" Hollady
B/1/501: Vietnam 1968-'69