Howard McGrew (original post, June 7): Recuperating at FSB Mace after being stung by bees.
I wrote a companion story to this photo over a decade ago. I'm sure more information could be added from the perspective of others who were there. I offer this as a catalyst to building a more complete description of the incident. To read the details that were burned into my memory, click here: Medevac!.pdf
Doug Hilts: Howard the only thing I'd like to add is the guy had put his backpack over the bees nest. Once we got the ok from the LT, is when he pulled his pack off — the bees is when it went crazy. I got stung in my right ear only because someone came close to me hitting the bees, one of these bees stung me.
Norm McDonald: I was relatively close to the hive. I had already set up the squad's M60 guard post; essentially the same place as my ruck and hammock. I heard shouting and I knew something. Then suddenly, I was being stung all over. The bees were in my hair and in my clothes. I ran from as did a lot of guys, I did have the presence of mind to pick up the 60 and run away with it. Gathering all of us back together is a bit foggy, but I do remember going back into the perimeter after the bees had settled. They were all over the trees, the ground and even on the troops' personal gear. I was stung an awful lot, couple dozen times at least.
Cassy Baumann: Yeouch!
Tom Poore: This could have been when I came to D Co. It was said two men had gone into convulsions and pick a platoon. Also later we were attacked (a black cloud) we were popping smoke, it was crazy!
Jack Fink: I was also there that day. These are my entries in my Diary that evening on Monday, March 22, 1971. Wow! What an unbelievable day. We humped to our night location and someone in Range 3 stirred up a bee hive. There were thousands of one inch bees chasing us. We all ran. Some without weapons. Guys were screaming with pain. An hour later we gathered together, we slowly got our rucksacks and we formed a new night location. 5 guys were medevaced. Luckily I was never stung. The next morning March 23, 1971 we woke up and many guys had delayed reactions from the bee stings. Our squad leader can barely see from one eye. G.I.'s had to be again medevaced but the birds couldn't come because clouds covered our position. They came when it cleared up. We humped a great deal today. We came across signs of a Bunker Complex.
Howard McGrew: Jack - Looking forward to reading more of your diary entries.
Kirk Davis: Jack ... was there anything in your diary about who the five guys were that were Medevaced?
Jack Fink: No names Kirk. Sorry.
Kirk Davis: No problem, Jack.
Kirk Davis: I was the guy that couldn't breathe, Howard. And I was given the Co. Clerk position about four months later. I think I was the only one taken out on a rigid litter — at least that's what I heard. I had been stung so many times it was almost paralyzing my diaphragm. Every breath was a hard fought battle for more air. I was fading in and out at times, but I heard Stan Dillon, who was only a few feet away, say to someone he didn't think I was going to make it. That scared the hell out of me, but I myself didn't think I would either. I was the first one taken out on the medevac chopper, but since I was "in and out" of consciousness, they hauled me up in a rigid litter, all strapped in so tight I couldn't even flinch. They didn't want me falling off the jungle penetrator since I was so bad off, and might not be able to hold on if I started blacking out. There's a lot more to this story, but I'll fill in all the blanks when I send it all to Jim.
Howard McGrew: Kirk I knew the extent of your plight, but didn't know your name until later. I look forward to more of your story and hope others will help fill in a more complete narrative.
Kirk Davis: With me going in and out of rational thinking at the time, there's obviously a lot of "what went on" that I don't know about, Howard. I'm hoping more guys like you can fill in the gaps like you did in this posting. I thought I was the only one that took off running through the jungle being chased by the hornets, but since you and others did likewise, I can see a much larger, more comprehensive view of our situation. One thing for certain — if there had been a good sized VC or NVA unit close to us at that time, they could have gotten us piecemeal and probably destroyed us or at least caused mass casualties.
Kirk Davis: Thanks, Jack, Norm and Doug for filling in some more of the gaps!
Jim Garvin: I asked Howard to fill in names of the guys in his story and he says Kirk is the only one he knows for sure. We need help identifying the other cast of characters. Platoon Leader Stan? Squad leader. Medevac flyers.
Kirk Davis: Jim ... Joe Hall was evaced that day. I believe Bill Marr was too (he was my Squad Leader). That's two. I know for a fact Joe Hall was evaced. Howard and I were evaced ... that makes four. Don't know the fifth one evaced. I'm sure someone else does ... maybe Stan Dillon knows? He was sitting real close to me at the assembly point while we were being treated and waiting for the bird to come in and get us.
