… dying and suffering indelibly marked us all'
"It was Sunday, Nov. 14, 1965, just after dark when I climbed aboard a Huey helicopter filled with crates of ammunition and hand grenades and hitched a ride into the pages of history. We were bound for a small clearing called Landing Zone X-Ray, where an understrength battalion of the 7th Cavalry was fighting for its life.
I had been in that small artillery firebase trying to find a ride into X-Ray most of the afternoon. Five other journalists had gathered there on the same mission, including my nemesis Pete Arnett of The Associated Press. But I had an edge on them: I had marched with Lt. Col. Hal Moore's 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, troops three days before and I knew some of their faces.
A young captain hurried past and I recognized him. It was Capt. Matt Dillon, Moore's operations officer. I grabbed him and told him I needed a ride to the battle. He told me he was taking two Hueys full of ammo to X-Ray as soon as it got dark, but he couldn't take me unless Moore cleared it. I followed him to a radio tent and listened as he reported to his boss on the nighttime mission. Then he told Moore "that reporter Galloway wants to come along." Moore's reply, over the sounds of battle crackling on the radio: "If he's crazy enough to want to come and you've got room, bring him!"…"
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expands his 15mm modern building collection.
