"It Took Big, Big Man..."

DONG BA THIN, Vietnam (Special)

For eight weeks 1st Lt. David Spiegel had been leading convoys the length and breadth of Vietnam to gather the widely scattered equipment of his unit, the 19th Engr. Bn., which recently began inactivation processing.

His convoys travel over 3,000 miles, through dangerous mountain passes and over insecure roads, without mishap.

But tragedy struck on Spiegel's last convoy, only a few short miles from it's destination, the 18th Engineer Brigade Hq., where the 19th Bn. is standing down.

Torrential rains had washed out a road west of Nha Trang at the edge of the swollen Suoi Dau River. Spiegel was standing in the water directing traffic when he was swept away by the current. Spec. 4 Frederick L. Fields dove into the torrent to rescue the lieutenant but was carried downstream. Spiegel managed to grab onto a tree overhanging the water but Fields was swept under.

Spiegel later said, "The heroism displayed that day can never be measured in medals. That a young soldier gave his life to save mine has certainly changed my attitude toward life."

The action of Fields was especially heroic. For according to his friends, the soldier from Monros, LA. couldn't swim.

Pacific Stars & Stripes, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 1970