Tom Pike

SFC E-7 Glen "Tom" Pike

U.S. Army

Vietnam

Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MAV)

25th Infantry Div.,B Troop, 3/4/CAV

On His Way Home 

Tom Pike had orders to return to the States at the end of his second tour in Vietnam. As he waited at the Cu Chi Air Base for transport to Tan Son Nhut Air Base, where he would board a plane for home, Viet Cong (VC) rockets began hitting the airstrip. Within minutes, Tom had new orders - assemble a convoy of men, weapons, and ammunition as fast as possible and head out to save Charlie Troop that was under attack, out of ammo, and taking heavy casualties in Saigon.  After an intense and ultimately successful mission, Tom was ordered to board a helicopter with some of the VC prisoners and was flown back to the Tan Son Nhut Air Base. Still in full battle gear, covered in blood and filth, Tom was rushed onto a plane for his flight back to the United States. To this day, he still feels the guilt of leaving his men while the battle was still going on.

In Their Own Words briefly describes a specific historical story told during an APHA interview that is used as short stories for the media.