I learned early that Army sailors were a breed apart from the “regular” GIs. We didn’t have much contact with the lieutenants and captains and operated independently of the rest of the Army. We developed an attitude that was somewhat different than “regular” soldiers. We weren’t all that military in appearance, attitude or deportment. This was hard for the regular officers and NCOs to accept and they would often try to "make soldiers out of us.” They usually failed miserably.
One night we anchored near an old cemetery. Everything was OK until shortly after two in the morning, when I heard someone load their M14 rifle and click the safety off. I opened one eye and saw our watch (guard) crouching in the crew's quarters, aiming his rifle at the door. I rolled out of my bunk with rifle in hand – there had to be VC boarders!
Nope! We had ghosts aboard. The watch had heard the normal creaking and snapping of a boat at anchor, watched the cemetery and his imagination ran wild. I stood watch with him until his shift was over.
It was well after dark and the gun cruiser opened fire. There were flares floating over the hill and dozens of giant explosions erupting on the hill. The jets came over and dropped napalm and their bright fires lit up the night.
It was a truly awesome display, worthy of the 4th of July. When the show was over, the sniper returned and fired one shot at us, just to show he was still there.
A squad – about half a dozen men – from the White Horse Korean Division was called in. They set up their tents on the hill and informed the local village that they were there to provide security. All sniping stopped. The ROKs had a reputation.
