Lucky, moved out cautiously at a crouch, he was point….AGAIN….It seemed whenever there was a patrol to do, and damn there had been a lot recently he was point.

But he didn’t really mind. Being in a town was in some ways better than the bloody bush. Ba Ria was big for the area and the township was shadowed by Nui Dat mountain, Screw that place for a joke. The VC had had tehir way with us seven ways from Sunday. There had been a fair dinkum stand up fight just yesterday here in town, after weeks of no action on patrol, a supply convoy was ambushed and burning hulks still smoked and smouldered around the township. As as he scanned buildings, rooflines and doorways he got “that feeling”… Surely he thought they would be nuts to hit us again so soon. It was not their style anyway. Slinky buggers.

He hugged the edges of buildings, and flitted in and out of doorways. Watching his step as he went. At least it wasn’t raining he thought. I’m called Lucky because I got a nose for trouble my squaddies think. I’m just bloody smarter than the rest of the knuckle heads in 2RAR He thought to himself.

Lucky ran across the street, weaving for the snipers, he paused, taking in a full 360. He knew the slopes hated city fighting. They could hide in the grass and disappear. But here if he found them, we would kill them all. Well assuming the bastards didn’t kill him first. He chuckled to himself, he adjusted his slouchy just a little higher.

He hand signaled all clear and went around the corner, and down 10m to watch the rear until the boys rounded into the next street on their patrol route.

He hurried them along, as PD [unit 15] slouched by he gave Lucky a wink and a nod. Lucky just muttered, “take yer bloody time you lazy bastards. I’ve got all ‘effing day.”

As the Lt went by, he paused and spoke to Lucky. “Private, lets pick up the pace a bit eh, not like we will see much of the enemy. Pick up the pace so I can get back for the Commandants brief eh?” “Yes Sir, but I got to do my job right sir?” Asked Lucky.

“Listen lad, we have done this patrol route a dozen times. Get a bloody move on before the rain comes in.”

Lucky picked up the pace. Over the next few blocks the men walked at a brisk rate, many exchanged worried glances and gripped the Automatic Rifles just a little tighter. As they moved faster, the formation of two columns rounded a corner and then began to back track on itself, and become disorganized. The Lt called a halt looking at his map and stormed over to Lucky ” What the bloody hell are you doing Private?” The men took a knee and assumed a watchful air, but all ears were on the exchange between the Lt and Lucky.

“Sorry sit, just ah, missed a turn I guess. I got distracted moving so quick….”

“Jesus…, the LT looked around… Hey Corporal; PD, take a man and head down the back of that building and scope out the last avenue we need to work down. Lucky, if its ok with you, maybe you could lead the rest of the men down the patrol route, or do I need to take bloody point and have you bring up the rear?”

Sir.. I got it, but we really should not split up right Sarge?” Lucky glanced imploringly at the Sergeant as he watched PD and Rylan head off around the corner. “She’ll be right Lucky, get on with ya, we are nearly back now lad”” But Sarge, I got a feeling, Sarge..I…”

The Lt interjected “move out, all of you, move out now!”

Around the corner PD the section leaders edged up to the edge of the building and peeked around the corner. He could hear the Lt and Sarge arguing, we are making too much noise he thought. Then he saw  sandled feet, poking out from underneath the smouldering truck!

He raised a quick fist, knelt, slipped the safety off and held up one finger, then gripped his weapon. Some sixth sense warned the VC, who looked back just as PD fired, and shouted “contact.”

The VC, rolled away, and hid behind the tires of the truck.

Lucky was first to move. ” Contact, contact. ” he raised his gun, and squeezed off spray fire at the upper stories of the building across the street.

“Cease fire damn it..what the hell are you shooting at?!” screamed the Lt. pointing to 2 of Lucky’s squad mates the Lt said “come with me” Before any one could acknowledge he had raced across the street and led the men into the building across from Lucky. Lucky rolled his eyes….and joined them. “Here we bloody go..hero time…again”

Machine pistol fire burped out, tracing the fighters footsteps as they raced in the open. The Sarge screamed at his men to take cover, they dove, rammed and jammed into buildings, battering down doors and began returning fire from the cover of windows and doorways. Round clattered to the ground and the bursts of fire reached a crescendo. The MG quickly began its chunk, chunka chunk rate of fire as it spread its special brand of mayhem. The Aussies quickly split into two groups and got organized.

Some one yelled RPG!!, they all ducked for cover. But the round fell harmlessly into the ground several meters away from Lucky. He joined the Lt in the building, gave him a nod and began shooting at heads as they bobbed up and down all down the street, spraying fire at the Diggers. The Lt turned to Lucky “Mate, good job, I’m a wanker sometimes, but it comes with the job. Next time I’ll listen to you!”

Lucky laughed. “Nah you wont sir, no disrespect but you are gunna get me killed one day, but thanks for the bloody compliment sir…” He laughed , slapped a fresh magazine in his gun and turned to keep shooting.

Over by the truck, Rylan raced past PD who had hit the VC with a round in the leg. Rylan sprinted across the open ground a few metres before the wounded enemy could take further action. He smashed the butt of his AR into the head of the enemy. Spun the weapon around and put a round into the back of his head. Rylan paused over the body, barely breathing hard, and looked up.

All was still.

The VC, suddenly stopped shooting, and melted back into the buildings.

This was a live play write up in narrative form. Taken from live session last night [ some point in the past mid COVID…] where a handful of folks joined in and each took a “digger” and gave him his orders. I refereed and provided the commands for the VC. The fighting takes place in a township near Nui Dat in Vietnam late ’67.