William F. Harrington, My Best Friend

Bill and I were the very best of friends. We both served in the 4th platoon of Delta Co. 1st Battalion 12th. Infantry of the 4th. Infantry Division. We fought to the top of Hill 875 together on February 26, 1967, along with the 173ed. to victory against an overwhelming 6,000 NVA enemy. It was just before we took the Hill that the worst "friendly fire" incident of the Vietnam war took place. Two 500-pound bombs were dropped on us. One hit outside our perimeter and killed 25 NVA soldiers. The other 500-pound bomb hit our C company headquarters and wounded station. That bomb killed 42 of our own troops and wounded nearly 50.

In taking the Hill, I was wounded twice and was awarded the Purple Heart. The 4th Infantry decided to fly in a Thanksgiving meal to us late that night. It was barely warm, but not one gripe was heard. Bill and I sat near each other and ate without saying a word. We were thankful we were alive. I was evacuated down to Dakto airbase for treatment of my wounds. A few days later, back to my squad and Bill.

Bill and I then went on to the 1968 Tet Offensive. Fighting began on January 30, 1968, for nearly a month. We fought in and around Kontum and Dakto, Vietnam.

Wild Bill carried the M-60 MG. I took the image of Bill sitting on our bunker next to his M-60 on February 8, 1968. We had humped all day long and when we got to the top of an abandoned firebase named dog bone. We rebuilt our defensive bunkers right off. When we finished, I said to Bill, "You look like Hell!" "He said you look like Hell also!" We decided to get cleaned up a bit so we got out our half-full canteens and steel pots and went to work. After the spit shine, Bill heated-up some remaining water with some C-4 explosives and added a bit of instant coffee from a C-rations packet. We shared a C-rat cup of coffee together. We both sat there smoking a cigarette and drinking that instant coffee and talked about the day and the fact that we had made yet another day of being alive. I took this picture of Wild Bill because he said to me, “No one will believe I am this handsome. Bill then said, besides, maybe once the film gets back to the world and developed you could have my picture sent to my fiancée. Bill then said, "I know she would like to see it"! 

We both heard the pop of mortars being fired from below, the call went out, "INCOMING". Bill's last words I heard were; "Dam those -----------." The NVAs also fired a B-40 and as Bill dove for his bunker that round followed him in. I heard what we all dreaded to hear, "Bill is hit". All knew how close I was to Bill and I was told to stay back as there was nothing I could do. Bill was killed by that rocket atop Dog Bone FB in II Corps Central Highlands South Vietnam. Bill was snapped into a poncho. I knelt next to Bill before the Huey came in, I cried over the great loss of my very best friend. I told him, I would not forget him, he was my friend. My very best friend in the Nam.

53 years have passed since that February 8th. early evening in 1968 when one of this Nation's very best gave his very best. Bill didn't return home to his fiancé and unborn child back in Maine. He would have been a great husband and father, but that was not to be. Each time I go to Washington, D.C., I go to the Wall and leave an 11 x 17" picture narrative of Wild Bill Harrington. It is titled, the "Long Green Line". I miss Bill and trust he is in the "Mansions of the Lord."