Bill Fleming's first day with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam was a memorable one. The deceptive, crooked path that led him to today began a few months back. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, nineteen-year old Fleming was a professional baseball pitcher with the Chicago White Sox. His successful first year in the minor leagues was waylaid when he received his draft notice. Through a series of misadventures, he ended up enlisting for four years in an elite unit called the A.S.A. or Army Security Agency; the army's equivalent to the N.S.A. or the National Security Agency. Once in the army, Fleming learned that the recruiter had manipulated him with a host of untruths. Then, to his dismay, he learned that the army had lost his orders and he was placed in an infantry unit. Once in Vietnam, Platoon Sergeant, Levine questioned Fleming and dragged out of him the sad story of how he had enlisted for four years and ended up in an infantry unit. He became the butt of the platoon's jokes and underwent vicious ribbing by the other platoon members. That day, the platoon was ordered back to their base camp: L.Z. English. Before leaving, they endured a mortar attack and then a ground probe. Fleming's foxhole mate was critically wounded. Fleming did everything he could to save the man but his wounds were too severe and he died in Fleming's arms. Repulsed by the ordeal, Fleming was left wondering if he could endure a whole year of this. Twelve-year old Van Phan Duc and his two friends twelve-year old Hoi Anh Vanh and Dan Tri Quang lived happily in their village until the day a N.V.A. invaded and forced them to join their struggle and fight the invading Americans. They were then assigned to a Viet Cong unit where they met Sergeant Chi, the man who would train them to be soldiers for the revolution and lead them into battle. Three American soldiers had been captured. Chi ordered the three boys to participate in brutally torturing the Americans. Dan embraced the torture and it turned him into a brutal fighting machine, much to Chi's satisfaction. On the other hand, Hoi was repulsed by the events and a part of him died that day. He performed the torture but it wasn't to Chi's satisfaction. Van, a devout Buddhist, was also repulsed. He realized that life, as a soldier was three hundred and sixty degrees opposite of Buddha's spiritual path. The 173rd's area of operations was the Central Highlands. The 173rd's home base was in and around the town of Bong Son, but they patrolled all over the province of Binh Dinh. For the next few months, Fleming and Van's units met on numerous occasions. The first time they engaged each other in combat was in a simple ambush that lasted only two minutes. Both men were left repulsed by the carnage that could take place in only two minutes. Right after the ambush, Fleming's company was deployed in a battalion-sized operation located in the Dak To mountain range. It was an area where numerous North Vietnamese soldiers infiltrated into South Vietnam from neighboring Cambodia and Laos. Fleming's company was dropped into an area far from Dak To and the men were forced to march (hump) to their final destination. During the trek, they had to carve their way through impenetrable jungle and cross leach infested rivers to reach their destination, all the while suffering under Vietnam's oppressive heat. Van's Viet Cong unit was sent to the Dak To mountain range to do battle with Fleming and his company. Months passed with Van and Fleming's units constantly meeting. Both men had similar personalities. Both men overcame their initial shock at war's brutality and became highly competent soldiers who bravely fought the enemy. Both men were ultimately made into squad leaders. Both men continued to hate the war, yet were entrapped in the insanity that was war. They both recognized what war was-a brutally insane series of events where lives were lost and wher
About the Author: Tim Davis, served seven months with the 404th Radio Research Detachment (ABN.), 173rd Airborne Brigade at L.Z. English, Bong Son, Binh Dinh Province, Republic of South Vietnam. After seven months the 173rd Airborne was deployed back to the United States. He finished his one-year tour serving with the 330th Radio Research Unit, Nha Trang, Vietnam. He also spent a one-year tour with the 7th Radio Research Field Station at Udorn Thailand. Since his army days, Tim Davis has been active in the Health Club Industry. He has managed health clubs and has worked as a certified personal trainer. While in the Army in Nha Trang, Vietnam he began learning the Korean Art of Tae Kwon Do from Korean martial artists in the Republic Of Korea's White Horse Division, a Korean Army Unit also stationed at Nha Trang. He continued Tae Kwon Do training while stationed in Udorn, Thailand with the 7th Radio Research Field Station. Upon returning home from his army overseas tours of duty, he continued Martial Arts training reaching the status of third degree black belt. He also took up American Boxing which served him well during his career as a Professional Karate Association (P.K.A.) kickboxer. He fought most of his bouts in Atlantic City Casinos. He was also an accomplished karate tournament competitor competing in both forms and fighting. He worked for a time in Houston, Texas as a Martial Arts Instructor and Personal trainer. In Houston Texas he began writing and won an award for the novel The Eagle And The Tiger. He also took up acting in Houston and acted in many plays at the Actors Theater Of Houston. He moved to Los Angeles, California and continued acting and writing. He has appeared in stage plays in Los Angeles and has been in commercials and has acted in some television shows and movies--most notably the Television show Criminal Minds. He credits acting for much of his success at writing. He also studied the art of Massage and currently works as a Professional Massage Therapist