Wayne "Doc" Bates

In the bleak, dusty landscape of Claymore Corner, a small, isolated base just thirty-five miles northwest of Saigon, Christmas 1967 was not a time for celebration. The soldiers stationed there were weighed down by the unrelenting pressures of war, their spirits dampened by the harsh environment and the relentless conflict surrounding them. It was during this season of despair that Doc Bates, a combat medic, arrived at the base, unaware that his presence would soon become a small but significant beacon of hope for his fellow soldiers.

The new company commander, Howard “Dutch” McAllister, himself struggling with depression as the holidays approached, couldn’t help but notice the state of the base. Among the few attempts at holiday cheer stood a small, scruffy artificial Christmas tree, perched on a set of flat rocks just outside the mess tent. Its presence was a stark reminder of the soldiers’ isolation, but what struck McAllister as truly odd was the ritual that took place around the tree each evening.

As the soldiers moved listlessly through the mess tent, their spirits low, McAllister would often spy one man kneeling beside the tree, brushing off the fine red dust that covered its branches. The dust, a constant presence due to the daily truck convoys, made the effort seem almost futile, yet every evening, the soldier performed this small, seemingly pointless act of care.

One day, McAllister decided to investigate. Approaching he realized that the soldier caring for the tree was none other than Doc Bates, the company’s senior medical aid man. Bates, though short and compact in stature, had a presence that commanded attention — a thatch of reddish-brown hair and a warm, quick smile that provided a contrast to the otherwise grim atmosphere on the base.

With curiosity, McAllister asked, “What’s this, Doc? First aid for the tree?”

Bates responded with a soft laugh, brushing the dust from his hands. “Just trying to make myself count, Captain.”

In that simple exchange, Bates’ quiet heroism became clear. In a time of uncertainty and darkness, when the war seemed to have stripped away much of the soldiers’ sense of self-worth and purpose, Bates had found a small way to make a difference. His nightly act of brushing the dust from the tree may have seemed insignificant to an outsider, but to the men around him, it was a reminder that even the smallest efforts to care could bring meaning in the most difficult of circumstances.

Bates, by tending to that sad little tree, was giving the soldiers at Claymore Corner a sense of normalcy and connection — a symbol that no matter how harsh the environment or how difficult the situation, there was always something worth caring for. His quiet determination to "make himself count" was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Doc Bates’ simple act of kindness during that Christmas season embodied the true meaning of heroism, showing that even in the darkest moments, a small act of care and attention could have a lasting impact. His presence at Claymore Corner would be remembered not only for his medical expertise but for the warmth he brought to the hearts of the soldiers he served alongside. 

Wayne "Doc" Bates, like so many others, was tragically killed in Vietnam, a victim of the brutal conflict that claimed the lives of countless soldiers.  As a combat medic, Bates embodied the spirit of selflessness, tending to the wounded on the front lines, offering care and comfort in the midst of chaos. His actions, like the small, meaningful care he gave to that scruffy Christmas tree at Claymore Corner, reflected a man who always sought to make a difference, no matter how small the gesture.

Bates' untimely death was a tragic loss to those who knew him, but his legacy lives on through the quiet acts of compassion and bravery that defined his time in Vietnam. His story is a reminder of the countless men and women who served, many of whom never made it home, and the lasting impact they had on the lives of their comrades.