Rockwall, TX (October 16, 2023) – This article was first published in December of 2009 and then again in 2020. It is being repeated at the request of numerous readers.
Anyone who spent any time in Vietnam, especially around the Danang area, knew of “Monkey Mountain”.
It was one of several spindly shafts of rock that overlooked the Danang area standing about 350 feet in the air.
The mountain was mostly made of marble but turned to limestone near the top. As such, it was full of caves and tunnels with most of them too small for a man to enter. If it had been possible to saw it in half, it would have looked like a plank eaten by Texas termites.
On top of the mountain the Marines had established an observation post with the mission of watching enemy activity in the Danang Airfield area. Marines were stationed on top of the rock led by a second Lieutenant by the name of Harry Hooper. In discussions with him he told the following about his residency on top of Monkey Mountain.
There were eight Marines assigned to man the observation post on the 20-foot wide by 150-foot-long top of the mountain. One of the problems they had was field sanitation.
They had temporarily solved this issue by placing an ammo box, with an appropriate hole cut into it, over a shaft in the limestone that seemed to go 12-15 feet straight down, and then it angled off to the side. They suspected it then continued deep into the mountain.
The problem was that it quickly became smelly of sewage. And here is where the 2nd Lieutenant put his knowledge together and produced a solution!
First, he contacted his supply people and requested they send a helicopter up with gasoline that could be poured down the hole and then ignited. (This is the way it was done at the base camps throughout Vietnam.)
However, when the helicopter showed up it was carrying 20 gallons of diesel fuel instead of the gasoline.
As soon as the helicopter left, the ammo box seat was removed, and the 20 gallons of diesel was poured down the hole. Then a match was thrown down the hole: nothing. Next a book of matches was lit and thrown down; again nothing. Finally, an illumination grenade was tossed; again, absolutely nothing!
The lesson learned: diesel does not burn easily!
After much “discussion” with the supply and helicopter people, next week the helicopter finally arrived with 25 gallons of gasoline.
And then the fun really started!
Into the abyss went the 25 gallons of gasoline which mingled with the diesel which had been pooled there from the previous weeks’ activity.
It was late afternoon. The sea breeze wafted in from the South China Sea rustling the hair on the heads of the Marines already tinged with excitement.
Because of the gasoline, a decision was made to throw in an illumination grenade from a safe distance. A volunteer agreed to do the deed and he pulled the pin and tossed the grenade directly into the pit.
For a moment there was dead silence. Then the mountain began to shudder, and then to vibrate, and then a loud roar split the silence of the afternoon. Flame burst from the mouth of the pit like a mighty tongue, and to the Marines amazement, additional blasts roared from the sides of the mountain like fumaroles on the cone of an erupting volcano!
It was Vesuvius, Krakatau, and Pinatubo rolled into one!!
Immediately the radio cracked to life with Battalion Headquarters located in the flatlands some three miles away, excitingly inquiring as to the nature of the calamity. Flame and smoke, they stated, were coming everywhere from the mountain. They demanded information as to the cause.
And the 2nd Lieutenant, as is typical for that rank, reported, “No sweat Sir, everything is OK as we were just doing a little routine field sanitation”.
Just one more funny real episode from one person serving their country.
Helps put a whole new perspective on what our warriors are really like, doesn’t it?
Jerry Hogan is a former Rockwall County Judge and retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel who volunteers to write these weekly articles. He can be reached at jerryhogan@sbcglobal.net or 214-394-4033.
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