My Summary

Summary

April 15, 1967

My first KIA (killed in action).
He was a Viet Cong guarding a rice cache down around Tuy Hoa. Me and my good friend David Culbertson were ordered to search and clear a bamboo hut in the middle of a large banana grove. We proceeded to the hut and all of a sudden out from behind the hut he came charging after me with a hand grenade. I will never forget that moment. He came charging towards me pulling on the string to detonate a hand grenade, when I gave him about a 10 round burst from my M16 rifle killing him instantly. We later confirmed that he was guarding a rice cache and that I had surprised him. We later found a 30 cal. U.S. Carbine Rifle. You must understand that I was only 19 years old at the time and I was a born again Christian. My parents started me in church when I was about 14 years old and I still am a member of the same church. Very few days have passed without me asking my lord for forgiveness for what I had to do. I firmly believe that only god has the right to take human life because only he can give life to us. I was told that the killing would get easy after the first one but it did not get any easier.


June 17, 1967
My second KIA,
We were out on patrol one day in early June. I was walking point when all of a sudden i walked upon a NVA soldier. I brought up my M16 and gave him a short burst killing him instantly.

July 23, 1967 (three trees - Plei Ya Bo)
My Third KIA.
"C" company was ambushed by a sizable NVA unit. We found out later that the entire notorious 66th NVA Regiment had ambushed us We, "B" company, 3rd battalion, 8th infantry, 4th infantry division were about a 1/4 mile away dug in for the night. We were ordered to assist "C" company with their battle with the NVA so we ran to their assistance. Bullets were flying everywhere along with RPG rounds and mortar rounds. A NVA ammo bearer showed himself from around a large tree and he didn't see me. I gave him a short burst from my M16 rifle. I must have had some tracer rounds in my M16 because when I hit him in the stomach the tracer rounds ignited his RPG rounds burning him to a crisp. It was an awful experience that I have to live each day of my life.
The night before this battle I remember saying a silent prayer to my Lord while in my foxhole to forgive me for killing my 2nd person. I also asked him to spare me from anymore killing. I told him that I would treat people kindly (not that I was a mean person) and try to lead a productive life if he would only spare me from all the killing.
We were ordered to search & clear the battle zone immediately after the battle. In other words, we were to get a body count. I will never forget that day because what happened that day was a miracle.
The NVA never gave themselves up. I was walking point Thur the jungle. All of a sudden, I heard someone crying with pain and then I found him (a NVA). He was bleeding from both ears with busted eardrums from the concussion of a 500 lb. bomb that one of our F4C phantoms had dropped on them. He surrendered to me.
Just a few feet more then I found a young ammo bearer about 13 years old badly wounded in the crotch area with maggots already eating away at his wound he surrendered to me also.
A few feet further I walked upon a NVA with his AK47 pointed right towards me from a foxhole. Instinctively I brought up my M16 with the safety off and all of a sudden he threw up his hands and said Chu Hoy (I give up) to me. He had a badly wounded buddy in the same foxhole with him. He could have mowed me in half with his AK47 assault rifle.
I knew that my God had answered my prayers of the night before & that he had taken over the situation. I never had to kill another person for the rest of my tour of duty. I also knew that he spared my life for some good reason. I am still to this day searching for what the reason is that he spared my life so many times..
I tell everyone that I have 9 lives to live and that I have already lived 8 of my 9 lives that god has granted me I lived 6 of my 9 lives while in Viet Nam. The 7th of my lives when I had a heart attack in 2000 and the 8th when I had a bad stroke in 2001.
I ask my lord every day for forgiveness for my killing. I know that was war but that doesn't ease my feelings any. I have a conscience, and I have to re-live these scenes over and over and again - again in my mind. I also ask him for forgiveness from the families of the ones that I killed, just like I forgive the NVA & the Viet Cong for killing us. I firmly believe that only my God has the power to give us life and only God has the right to take our lives. It is a shame that our governments can't reconcile their differences and get along even thought my bible tells me that there will be wars and rumors of wars.


The following scriptures give me comfort in my taking of Human Life. I just substitute my name in the place of Pilate. I substitute Ho Chi Minh name in the HE in verse 11. Then I substitute the people that I had to kill in the place of Jesus.

John 19
10Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
11Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.














After Action Report about the Plei Ya Bo Battle
http://www.ivydragoons.org/Files/Logs/AAR%2023%20July%2067.PDF
Kenneth H. Ervin

Photo of Me & Tommy Routh During Christmas in Tuy Hoa RVN 1966

Click On The Image To Enlarge %

I still remember our Christmas in Tuy Hoa, RVN. They brought us in from the Jungle Bush so we could enjoy our Christmas. I still remember how good the hot showers felt, the hot meals and the clean clothes. Oh, and the COT that we could sleep on and the wonderful FULL nights sleep without having to pull Ambush Patrol or Listening Post Duty!!!!! You know, we shared all of our goodies with all of our fellow soldiers. You may have heard the Term "THE BAND OF BROTHERS". Well it is true. We were all that we had. You had to learn to trust each other especially during your 2 hours shift of sleep during the nights. The can near my right foot was a gift from Annette (Ervin) Quillen. I remember her sending me all that wonderful homemade candy while I was over there.