The ARVN don't celebrate our holiday, so we worked. In fact, I flew down to Bac Lieu, and had an unpleasant conversation with the Division Senior Advisor, Colonel Wallace. A week ago he wanted me to draw up plans for sand bagging and wire to defeat the B-40 rocket which is now making it's way south. When it hits a wire fence, the mechanism shorts out, and it won't explode.

I drew up the plans, and developed a bill of material. Tried to get them from PA&E, ARVN channels, and failed. They won't give it to me. PA&E said it was combat supplies and had to come through troop channels. ARVN said it had to come through MACV channels. I gave the requisitions to our S-4 Advisor, and he says he can't get the material, either.

The old man got mad at me for lack of progress, and I told him I couldn't shit material for him. Really shouldn't have done that, but I am frustrated, and short, and don't give a damn about this stupid job I'm in. I told him I could build anything, if the supply wallahs got me the material. I said his headquarters people weren't supporting me, that they didn't understand engineering and combat engineering, and were hampering me in the completion of my job.

Fucking infantry types, anyway. Engineers can never satisfy them because they are too damn lazy to help out when needed. I told him again that his people had to get the supplies; and then I jumped him on "his" G-1 advisor not getting me a replacement for SSG Bell; and then being a smart ass, asked if they were going to get a replacement for me in little over a month.

You wonder why I never made General. I never was a yes man, nor a diplomat! Too much politics in the Army.

Jeeze, it's been almost two months since we have done anything worthwhile, and I really wonder why I am here in MACV. I would much rather be with US Troops!

Oh well, 43 and a wake-up, with Australia in-be-tween.