Mortars became an important part of Roy C. Raisor’s experience in Vietnam. The mortar battery was located near the headquarters at base and consisted of three guns. The men built bunkers and placed sandbags around themselves and their guns, keeping the mortars ready to load and fire when called.
For Roy’s company, the mortar unit was not simply another part of the Army. Its support could become necessary within moments when soldiers were taking fire.
When the Landing Zone Was Hot
Roy explains that when the company landed in a Hot Landing Zone, they were taking fire as they arrived. The mortar unit provided backup.
The company commander would call coordinates to the mortar unit. The mortar men would first fire a smoke round so the company could see where the rounds were landing and make adjustments. Once the coordinates were correct, the commander would give the order to fire, and the men would put live mortars into the tubes as quickly as they could.
The mortar unit would fire for about ten solid minutes before ceasing fire. The soldiers would then get back up and continue moving forward. Roy describes this happening repeatedly, sometimes around three times a day.
The Importance of Protection
Roy depended heavily on the protection provided by the mortar unit. He believed that without the mortar platoons, many more soldiers would have died.
The support was especially important because the company was moving through areas where enemy fire could begin suddenly. The soldiers could not always know what they would encounter next, so having the mortar unit ready gave them an important form of protection when they needed it.
For Roy, the presence of the mortars became part of the routine of combat. The soldiers knew what they needed to do when they came under fire, and the mortar men knew their own responsibilities.
A Night Under Mortar Fire
One evening, Roy and the other soldiers had finished their sweep and returned to the area where they had started in the rice paddy. They were going to stay there for three days while carrying out search and destroy missions.
Their mortar team established an area and prepared its mortars for support. That evening, the soldiers were given a hot meal. After eating, they had a little time to rest, talk with friends, and think about what they would rather be doing or what they wanted to do when they got home.
Then the night changed.
The soldiers were mortared again. Roy heard people calling for a medic and help. The enemy was firing mortars at their position, but the mortar men immediately went to their stations.
They listened for the sound of where the incoming shells were coming from and began firing back. Once they got close to the enemy position with their own mortar fire, the incoming fire stopped.
The Cost of the Attack
By the time the incoming mortar fire stopped, several men had already been killed or wounded. Roy estimated the number at five, seven, or possibly ten men. Some were seriously wounded.
The company had to call in a dust-off during the middle of the night to remove the wounded. The soldiers also tried to gather their supplies and personal belongings so those things could go back with the wounded men.
The experience showed how quickly an ordinary evening could change. Only moments earlier, the men had been eating, talking, and trying to rest. Then they were responding to incoming fire and helping wounded soldiers.
Living With Uncertainty
Roy’s account makes clear that combat created a constant feeling of uncertainty. The soldiers did their jobs, even when they were afraid. In his chapter on fear, he explains that they continued doing whatever their assignments required, pushing their fear down and carrying on.
The mortars were therefore part of both the danger and the protection surrounding Roy’s company. Enemy mortar fire could bring sudden casualties, while the company’s own mortar unit could respond and help protect the soldiers.
For Roy, these experiences became part of the reality of Vietnam. There was no certainty about what the next moment would bring. The soldiers could only remain alert, trust the men around them, and continue doing their jobs.
For more about Roy’s story and latest updates, visit his official website: Roy C. Raisor.
Get your copy of his memoir here on Amazon: Boy to Man in 365 Days.
