CHAPTER THIRTY-TW0

Bobby - The Wedding

I made it to the church on time, but barely. I could not find that blasted bowtie. Wearing the Thai formal uniform, boggled my mind. There was no need for the tie after all The attire buttons up to the neck. In place of my ribbons were my medals and a few I did not recognize. I wore the Order of the White Elephant around my neck.

Standing at the front of the sanctuary, offered me the best view in the place of worship. It was a beautiful old structure with custom made windows. The ushers escorted Dawkmymy's mother to the front pew.

Suddenly, all the bridesmaids rushed into the church on the brides side, and all the groomsmen hastily entered from the grooms section. In the rear of each group was a single gunman. Two other gangsters came in from other doors. A fifth gang member appeared next to the altar.

The one by the communion table was probably the leader. He threatened, "Stay seated, unless instructed to do otherwise, and you will live. He further ordered, "The ones in the front, move to the first pew on the side nearest you."

Without thinking, I completed a front flip, knocking the gun out of the stunned leader's hand, while kicking him in the head. He fell to the floor with a thump. General Puk knocked the gun out of one of the robber's hand and kicked him in the groin. That person was bent over groaning. George did the same to the thief closest to the bridesmaids. He slumped and was not moving.

Rusty decked the fourth. The final raider squared off with me. I thrust his weapon into the air, caught it and whacked him under the chin. He crashed against the wall, then to the floor.

Rusty, George, General Puk and I retrieved the firearms, and held them on the crooks until the police arrived. Dawkmymy climbed the staircase, and bade, "Why has no one called me to come up the steps?" Everyone burst into fits of laughter.

Dawkmymy and I did get married a little bit later. The ladies in the fellowship hall kept the food warm and fresh. We enjoyed the reception. Again, there were wedding gifts on a table. Mae Sua presented us with fifty thousand Bhat ($1667.00 U.S.)

We had the gifts moved to the house to be opened later. Rufus assured Dawkmymy that everything belonging to us would be moved from the apartment to the house. Then he gave me an envelope and said this is a token of our love for the both of you. I opened it later, and discovered one thousand dollars.

We spent a wonderful two weeks swimming, fishing and sailing in the Gulf of Thailand.

The Cha-am community was about twice the size of Tingkee Village. Within ten kilometers we found a day market and a night market that could compete with the markets in Chiang Mai. Our comforts, as well as our needs, were satisfied.

When we returned to Chiang Mai, we had to go to the local Ampher to register our marriage, in order to make it legal.

Martha, the kids, Uncle Rusty and Aunt Dok Mysoad had made the transition from the apartment to our house. Dok Mysoad and Rusty had dinner at our house every evening while we were gone. Martha invited her with the excuse they could exchange Thai and American recipes. As a result, the kids are calling her Aunt Dok.

Rusty was the new Executive Officer for the American Brigade in Northern Thailand stationed in Chiang Mai. He assists the Brigade Commander in supervising five Battalion Commanders in Northern Thailand. Each of these units are commanded Lieutenant Colonels, but he outranks them by time in grade and position. His previous assignment was a Battalion Commander in Vietnam. Prior to that he was a Company Commander inside South Vietnam. It gives me an understanding from where Rusty has come. He was a seasoned officer.

The Brigade's primary mission is to back-up the Royal Thai Army, strategically and instructionally. They are to search for and capture Chinese and North Vietnam infiltrators. Fighting them only if they resist or begin firing on them. The geographical area inside the Thai border extends from Muang Pheir, Laos to Swo Koke Ko, Burma.

The Central Brigade and the Northeast Brigade overlaps the Northern Brigade's territory utilizing a five kilometer margin. I realize this gives the overall expanse of land covered by the brigade. On the other hand, it does not explain the difficulty of the terrain to be encountered by the Thai borders.

There are thousands of communists from China and North Vietnam in Northern Laos and Eastern Burma that attempt to infiltrate Thailand. Burma and Laos are fighting internally, preventing them from adequately protecting their borders.

Thus, the U. S. Army's Northern Brigade's First Infantry's Battalion has twelve Companies watching the Thai borderline starting at The Golden Triangle to Muang Pheir, Laos. The Second Infantry's Battalion has twelve Companies guarding Thailand's boundary beginning at The Golden Triangle in Thailand to Swo Koke Ko, Burma The other three Battalions provise relief and support.

Much of the country in Eastern Burma and Northern Thailand is full of mountains, which makes crossing the area extremely difficult. Additionally, it gives the rebels ample cover from detection. The Pink Handkerchief Gang embraces the spies into their ranks, creating havoc across Thailand.

They commit mass murder in mountain villages, and kidnap their young women. These females are drugged, repeatedly raped and converted into prostitutes. I informed Rusty that is where my rescue teams come into play. We liberate their captives. I shared that my heart cries out for them.

The battle never ends. The enemy are persistent. We must be committed never to give up, until we have eliminated the threat we face. The menace drains our resources, and strains our ability to defend the ones who need our help.