Class of: 1966 1972
Brick: yes

THE HILL OF ANGELS I.
The Cacophony of Vietnam PFC Elbert Ford Price, Jr., was a casualty at Con Thien, South Vietnam November 6, 1967, as a U.S. Army combatant of the Vietnam War. Archival records report “artillery, rocket or mortar” as the cause of his death. As is often said, “You do not hear the artillery round that kills you”. So it was with PFC Price. He was 21 on his death; I was 23. Elbert Price was posthumously promoted to Corporal. This is the first time I have written his name since November 6, 1967. Even as I write, it is emotional. These thoughts and notes are dedicated to Cpl. Price and the 58,220 Vietnam War U. S. military combatant deaths in service for the United States of America.

I arrived in Saigon, South Vietnam Oct. 2, 1967, for assignment to Dong Ha (1st Bn, 44th Arty, 108th Arty Grp, I Field Force, USARV) in I Corps. In mid to late October 1967, I was deployed to Battery B (“Dusters”) 1st Bn 44th Arty at Con Thien, a U.S. Marine Corps combat base directly overlooking the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). Con Thien is a vietnamese name given to the hill by local missionaries… meaning “small mountain with heavenly beings” or simply “Hill of Angels” (because of the massive number of casualties). This was the first active duty combat assignment of my 12 month (plus 6 month extension) tour of duty in Vietnam. The first casualty in my unit was Corporal Prince. Replacement personnel and equipment rotated in and out of Con Thien once a day since Con Thien was the site of some of the fiercest fighting and incoming artillery and mortar shelling during the war from February 1967 to February 1968. I was only there a matter of weeks… seemed longer.

II. The Music of Stetson
My arrival at Stetson began in a similar manner to that of Vietnam… unsure, lonely and somewhat nervous about the future. But, you get over those reactions (in school or combat) and you move on with making new friends and with your business and duties. Beginning work (cafeteria… then library & later dorm Resident Adviser) for student assistance and National Defense loans. My first extracurricular activity was singing in Stetson’s Concert Choir. I may be mistaken, but I believe concert choir was part of my work obligation. Music was important to my enjoyment and education at Stetson. Looking at those days, one realizes it is not only academics but more importantly…the people, the organizations and experiences that shape our lives. Significant elements of my life are directly connected to Stetson as “a ship’s anchor is connected to the ship”. It is easy to see the relation between Stetson and my future employment in the building materials industry, in law (Stetson Law School) and also my marriage in 1969 (introduced to Mimi through a Vietnam military colleague). These experiences were gained through campus organizations such as Baptist student groups (BSU), Student Union Board (SUB), ROTC Scabbard and Blade, Men’s Judicial Council, intramural athletics and dorm Resident Adviser. I was honored by Stetson nominating me for Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.

III. A Patriot’s Song
Three brothers serving active duty in the Air Force provided motivation for my enlisting in Army ROTC. Note: Receiving a $40 monthly ROTC stipend was a luxury… it allowed me to have a clothing allowance, snacks and also an occasional “truck stop” meal with close friends. Being awarded a U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant officer’s commission at graduation May 29, 1966, was received with equal pride as my BBA diploma.

After graduation, I drove across the United States (Florida to Seattle via contract auto delivery) cost-free in a new Cadillac; flew from Seattle to Anchorage (only 75 cents to my name plus college debt on arrival); and worked the summer in an aircraft parts business while staying with brother Bob and his family. I was soon notified to report for training and active duty Sept. 15, 1966 to the U.S. Army Artillery & Missile School, Ft. Bliss, Texas. My primary training was preparation for deployment to the 44th Artillery, 108th Artillery Group, 1st Field Force, USARV (in South Vietnam). The weaponry and equipment of the 44th Artillery are described as “Dusters, Quad 50s and Searchlights”. The internet can provide “illumination” to anyone wanting to know exactly what they are and how they’re used. However, to briefly explain: 1) the Dusters (M42) is a light tank (similar in size & appearance) with twin 40 mm rapid fire cannons; 2) the Quad-50s are a set of four 50 caliber machine guns quadrilaterally mounted in a gun-turret; installed on an armored truck; & calibrated to fire simultaneously; and finally, 3) the Searchlights are powerful 23 inch lights (powered by and mounted on a jeep) used to illuminate long distances either in bright light (125,000,000 candlepower) or black (invisible) light (and viewed through night vision scopes). The Dusters and Quad-50s date to World War II and the early Korean War for air defense purposes. In Vietnam, the Dusters and Quad-50s weaponry was used for two essential purposes. First, they were deployed for convoy support; and, secondly, for perimeter defense of isolated fire support bases such as Con Thien on the DMZ as well as mountain top helicopter landing zones (LZs). The searchlights were used for perimeter defense illumination of such outposts in coordination with Dusters, Quad 50s and with infantry combatants guarding the perimeters of such outposts. Early in my tour of duty in Vietnam, I began working with Battery G (Searchlight), 29th Artillery. A battery of searchlights consists of 36 searchlights, 154 personnel and were deployed to more that 30 outposts over 230 linear miles of Vietnam. Part of my job as battery Executive Officer was to travel (by land and air) to these locations coordinating tactics and logistical matters with the 1st & 3rd Marine Div., 101st Airborne Div., Americal Div. and 1st ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam). For these activities I received The Air Medal Award and my nickname “G29 Jet” or simply Jet. Beginning my six month extension (with base camp in Danang), I was promoted to Captain and Commanding Officer of Battery G (Searchlights), 29th Artillery taking over from best friend Cpt. James H. Cook. My greatest fulfillment was not only coordinating and executing the tactical purposes of our mission but equally meeting the personal and logistical needs of the soldiers in Battery G. Their service and sacrifices whether physical or emotional cannot be overstated.

IV. The Sound of Silence
We all have images of the iconic LIFE photos of soldiers being welcomed and celebrating homecoming from World War I and II. When we returned from Vietnam… those images vanished. There are obvious differences of past and current military conflicts, their geo-politics and ideologies but the return home from Vietnam was nonetheless a discouraging “sound of silence”… “You get over those reactions and you move on with making new friends and with your business and duties”. The symbol most meaningful for Vietnam veterans is the Washington D.C. Vietnam Memorial that my wife and I visited Nov. 2001. I was caught off guard as we neared architect Maya Lin’s marvelous black granite V-shaped memorial wall and sensed a deep respect and appreciation for those war casualties represented by the engraved names. Ms. Lin’s objective was to create by sculpture “an opening or wound in the earth to symbolize the gravity of the loss of these soldiers”. Her objective was remarkably accomplished. I paused as we approached the memorial to gather my emotions. Later during the visit, I tried to locate Cpl. Elbert Ford Price Jr.’s name on the wall… to no avail. Only when researching to verify the information for this biographical essay was I able to find his name/engraving referenced in the Vietnam Memorial archives: Panel 29E LINE 34 CPL ELBERT F PRICE Jr. The dedication of the Stetson Vietnam Veterans Remembrance on November 14, 2015, is an appropriate homecoming… thank you Cpl. Elbert Ford Price, Jr. and may God rest your soul. James F. (Jerry) Jackson, Cpt ARTY U.S. Army