Dieter served in Vietnam, fighting the Viet Minh. He fought at Hoa Binh: three months of Hell, from December "51 until February "52. A grumbling appendix meant evacuation from combat, and his malaria flared up. After convalescence, Dieter arrived in Algeria and joined 2 REP. He had been with the Regiment since the beginning in 1955.
I was lucky; Dieter liked Scots. Gradually I mastered the arts of soldiering serving in his section.
The Well was my first operational outing. The section was to reconnoitre a friendly village that had requested a patrol. Dieter had logged that immediately.
“Something odd there, Sir,” Dieter said.
“I don"t think so, Sergeant. Just routine.”
Dieter persisted. “Sir, it"s a secure friendly village. Why did they request a patrol? We should be careful.”
Lieute
