Vietnam Fishing Guides


by John Kampschroeder


While experiencing what we would can stand down, my squad with A 1/501 had to guard a small bridge somewhere outside of Hue headed out toward Coco Beach. There was a bunker with a M60-on one side of the road and an empty bunker across the road. There was a small pond or lake, which I am sure, was fed by the river someway. One hot afternoon a small kid who was probably 8-10 years old in a mini san pan which could not have been more the 3 feet long was in the pond fishing. The kid maneuvered the little boat by a small paddle in each hand. It looked like Ping-Pong paddles. All afternoon we watched the kid throwing out a line with a hook and reeling in the line by hand wrapping it around his hand. After observing the kid for several hours, we said Lai Dai , and told him to come toward us. The little kid did that and got out of the boat. Two or three of us GI's were talking to him the best way we could about fishing. We kept saying No Fish? No Fish?? And he nodded his head yes, no fish. I told the guys to watch what I have in store for this kid. I went into the bunker and brought out about 4 grenades and gave everyone one and said let's help this kid out. We took turns pulling the pin and throwing the grenade into the pond. After each grenade was throw everyone would just look at each other and laugh. Since the grenades didnt make any noise in the water we knew we would not have to explain to anyone what we were doing. After we were finished and the water settled down, fish started floating up to the surface from the concussion. The kid had the broadest smile I have ever seen and got into his mini boat and paddled around the lake picking up fish. That went on late into the afternoon until it got dark. The next morning there were still fish floating to the top of the lake making a half effort to swim. That was a great afternoon and we didn't have to worry about explaining to the game warden we were over our limit.

John Kampschroeder
A/1/501