They told us at least a dozen times

"Those little cheese containers with the flip top wire are only sold in the PX here. If you find one in the jungle it is a booby trap. Do not touch!"

They told every GI coming in country the same thing. Every GI in our area.

So we get a replacement soldier one morning and that afternoon we're on patrol. He reaches over and picks up a cheese container with the flip top wire. And his hand disappeared in a flash of light and a puff of smoke.

"Doesn't anyone listen," is the question we ask, but the real question should be, how can we better communicate the danger. It is the fault of the leaders when a soldier gets hurt that way.

If we had trained him better, he would have his hand today.

*No sympathy wanted - just needed to tell the story