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
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