Shooting in the dark Burns recalls duty in Vietnam

As darkness enveloped the banks of the Mekong River on a humid evening in 1970, a 53-foot gunboat with machines and a grenade launcher settled into a coordinated position.
Stillness engulfed the boat, as sailors took up watch for anyone prowling the river banks or trying to cross the river. The mission of the five-man crew, including Don Burns, Gas, was to intercept and eliminate.
“‘Friendlies’ weren’t supposed to be out at night,” he said, during the height of the Vietnam War.
The first time or two on task was a little unnerving, but the river tours eventually became routine for Burns, who today works in maintenance for USD 257.
If hostile forces were detected, “We had to call in (to headquarters) to get permission to fire,” he said. Response usually came quickly, and led to Burns and his mates to unleash their firepower.
Other times the sailors’ role was to direct fire at timbered areas thought to contain the enemy, or intercept and search boats that might be carrying contraband, such as guns, ammunition or satchel charges.
Occasionally, Burns’ boat would take small arms fire.
He did suffer an injury, but it was from friendly that occurred in a quirky manner.
“We had been in a firefight and cease fire was sounded,” Burns said. “We were circling the boat and for some reason a grenade was fired just as we closed in on the bank of the river. When it hit, shrapnel flew back toward the boat and a piece hit me in the side.”
The injury was severe enough to have Burns hospitalized in Saigon a few days during Christmas 1970.
“I got to call home (to parents Bob and Maude Burns) on Christmas,” he said. “That was a big deal for a 19-year-old” on the other side of the world.

BURNS, 62, GREW up in Parsons and joined the Navy reserve while in high school.
About three months after graduating he and two friends decided on active duty with the Navy on the buddy system, on promise that they would be stationed together.
After training at Treasure Island, near San Francisco, the first of the trio was assigned to a base in Hawaii, the next to a ship that sailed out of Hawaii.
Things were looking good, Burns thought, with Hawaii in his future. “Then, I found out I was going to Vietnam,” with more training to be on a river patrol gunboat.
Following his time in patrol and ambush duty, all south of Saigon, Burns completed his time in Vietnam working security at a Naval base.
“Looking back, I never regretted going to Vietnam,” Burn said. “It was a heck of an adventure and I saw a lot I wouldn’t have otherwise — but don’t ask me to go back.”

AFTER RETURNING home in early 1971, Burns worked a year for Beachner Construction and then held several jobs before settling in for 27 years at Iola’s Gates Corporation plant, having moved here after his parents’ took up residence in Iola.
He left Gates for a job with USD 257 in 2007.
He and wife Jane have been married 20 years. They have a daughter, Becky, who is pursuing education at Allen Community College.
In recent years Burns has become involved in community activities as a member of the Thrive Allen County Board of Directors and for the fifth year in a row will portray Charley Melvin in Thrive’s July revival of “The Charley Melvin Mad Bomber Run for Your Life,” and associated activities.
He also has been instrumental in promotion and construction of the hiking and biking trail atop the old Santa Fe Railroad right of way between Iola and Humboldt.