"My First Day as a Headhunter"

"My First Day as a Headhunter"
Submitted by - SGT Don Jordan, 219th Co Clerk, Pleiku

          It was a short trip of no more than and hour or so from Qui Nhon to my new home away from home.  When we touched down on that big runway at Pleiku, I thought that it was my new base.  But it was not to be!  My base, I found out, was located to the south at another smaller airfield on Camp Holloway.  Camp Holloway was a few miles to the south of the main Air Force base at Pleiku.  So I hopped on a truck and headed down the road to my new home.

          I remember being greeted in the Orderly room on that first day by my new First Sergeant.  His name was Sgt. Rush, and the Company Clerk was a Spec/4 named Mathews . . . .”Matt” for short!  I didn't know it at the time, but I was to be Matt's replacement once Sgt. Rush found out that I could type. The XO (Executive Officer) was a Major Spence.  I was given the customary cordial greeting when I turned in my Orders, and then received a short briefing on the ways of the world at Camp Holloway.  

          I was then introduced to my new Commanding Officer (CO).  His name was Major Ogburn.  I stood in front of Maj. Ogburn’s desk, came to attention, and gave my best snappy Army hand salute. 

           “Specialist Fourth Class Jordan reporting for duty as assigned Sir.” I said.

           “Welcome to the 219th Jordan.” He said, as he stood up to shake my hand.  Then came the “New Man” questions:

        “Where ya from Jordan?  How long have you been in the Army?  What’s your DEROS date?”  The DEROS date is the date when I go back to the States. 

          The officers in Vietnam were sure a lot more civil to the enlisted men than the ones in Basic Training at Ft. Ord.  So for the next few minutes we had a nice little chat.  The one thing that I remember most about the meeting was the sign on the left side of his desk.   It read “Headhunters!”   On the right side was a human skull with a bullet hole in it, and a cigarette clinched in the Beetle nut stained teeth.

          After that Matt gave me a short tour of my new home. Buildings like the latrine, the Post Exchange (PX), and the mess hall were all pointed out first. Then came the supply building where I picked up my bedding, an M-14 rifle and one clip of ammunition.   In the barracks Matt and I were sharing the same semi-private room.   I was assigned the “Top” bunk.  I found out later on January 7th why all of the new guys got the top bunks.    I have few memories of my first couple of days in Pleiku.  I do remember that the air was dryer, and it was a little cooler.  Particularly at night!  The nights could get downright cold!  Pleiku was much higher above sea level than Qui Nhon.

​          I joined the Army to be an Army Aviator. But I was tricked into becoming a Crew Chief on the O-1 Bird Dog.  I was told that all pilots had to take a mechanics course first.  In the 219th they turned me into a Company Clerk.  Such were the recruiting practices at the time.