The water buffalo

In late spring 1968, five of us young sergeants with F Troop, 6th Armored Cavalry Regiment decided to go to the Smithsonian. The 6th Cav was at Fort Meade, Md., a little less than 30 miles from D.C. and less than 20 miles from Baltimore. I don’t remember who all went, Frenchy Lamontagne, Bill Mumford, maybe Leo Bosner, George Martin and me. We all were not long back from Vietnam, six to eight months, Frenchy with the 25th Infantry Division, Mumford with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, Leo and George with the same company in the 101st Airborne Division. I had been with 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment.

When we got to the Smithsonian, we split up into three groups, with separate buildings to visit. I went to the natural history building.

At that time, the Smithsonian was nowhere near the acres-large facility it is now. For the most part, displays were confined in multi-story, 19th century brick buildings.

I went through the first floor of the natural history building and then walked up the stairs to the second floor. As I turned the corner from the stairwell, I froze.

Staring at me was a water buffalo, standing in two inches of water, its head shoved through a growth of reeds, in its eyes a look that said, “You are in my area. I am going to make you leave.”

I stood shocked still for less than two seconds. My heart rate increased to a very high beat. Then, I stepped back into the stairwell, slowly, lest I disturb the animal.

I leaned against the wall, not sweating or shaking, just trying to decide what the appropriate course of action was. The immediate thought in my mind: I don’t have my rifle! And then I wondered if a 5.56mm M-16 bullet would penetrate a water buffalo’s skull.

And then: You are at the Smithsonian. In Washington, D.C. Stateside. I took a deep breath and cautiously peeked around the corner. The water buffalo had not moved. It was still there, a large photograph in a wooden frame.

I walked to the picture. The animal had the same look as before. Yep, I thought. You were very dangerous at one time. And now you are likely long, long dead.