Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
4:56 | Walter Kaczmarek was high up on Hai Van Pass when the Tet Offensive began. He thought the tracers over the bay were a celebration. Soon he would be in Hue with no supplies fighting for his life.
Keywords : Walter Kaczmarek Vietnam Tet Offensive Hai Van Pass tracers North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Francis Meyer Ron Christmas Hue water steak and eggs Hue 1968 Mark Bowden
It seemed that everyone in his small town was a veteran. Walter Kaczmarek was determined to follow that tradition. When the Army recruiter found out that he was already a gunsmith, he said we'll send you to Germany, not Vietnam. Wait a minute, said Walter, and he went to the Marine recruiter.
When Walter Kaczmarek boarded the train to head to Parris Island, he encountered the bizarre sight of men handcuffed to the seats. They were also "recruits." Boot camp was brutal but he had an ace up his sleeve. He was already an expert marksman.
The heat and humidity of Vietnam was a real jolt for Walter Kaczmarek when they opened the door of that plane. It didn't take long for him to be immersed in the war. On his very first operation he witnessed a man blown apart by a powerful booby trap.
When Walter Kaczmarek entered the city of Hue, he and his buddies had no idea how bad it was. They did know that they had hardly any rounds for their grenade launchers so the first order of business was to get some at the MACV compound. Then it was full blown urban warfare.
In the fierce battle for Hue, Walter Kaczmarek would see his whole platoon lost, either killed or wounded. Before then, there was lots of action, especially once they were ordered to take the capitol building.
He drew the short straw on first pick. That meant Walter Kaczmarek's squad would lead the assault on the Capitol building in Hue. It was close combat, clearing offices and hallways of NVA troops, who had been using the building as a headquarters. One thing bothered him, that Communist flag on that tall flagpole in the courtyard.
Not only was the fighting fierce in Hue but there were a lot of Marines with no food or water. Walter Kaczmarek and his buddies cooked up some NVA rice in beer and Coca-Cola. He was wounded when a pilfered American hand grenade was thrown into the Capitol building that was just taken by his company.
Walter Kaczmarek had just recovered from a minor wound when he went right back into the fighting. He came face to face with three NVA while bringing up the rear of a column. He dispatched two and had the third one on the ropes when he heard a sound he didn't want to hear.
He was a mess. Walter Kaczmarek had tubes and drains going in and out of his body in various places. He was in a hospital after being on the receiving end of an NVA mortar round. Then he had a bit of luck when a gifted surgeon was assigned to his case.
Walter Kaczmarek's last stop before going home was Okinawa where he enjoyed eating at the Air Force mess hall. Not like that Marine chow! He was upgraded to first class for his flight from LA to Newark when the ticket agent noticed his Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.
There was a problem with Walter Kaczmarek's paperwork. He had time left but no orders. He contacted the recruiter who had signed him up and who guided him to the perfect assignment to finish out his time in the Marine Corps.
