The Nation: V.C., R.I.P.

An infantry company from the 1st Air Cavalry Division ambushed a team of Viet Cong tax collectors recently in the jungles northeast of Saigon. After collecting the enemy's weapons, the G.I.s dug the customary shallow mass grave for the five slain V.C.

What followed was not so customary. After covering the enemy corpses with a green rubber poncho, the men who had just killed them stood with bared heads as an Army chaplain conducted a brief funeral service. Intoned Chaplain Michael Chona: "May they rest in peace. O Lord, we implore you to grant this mercy to our dead brothers that they...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!