Pictures from my tour on duty in Vietnam in 1971
Our company worked in the mountains north of Bien Hoa/Long Binh and along highway 1.
Sorry for condition of the pictures. Some of these pictures are weather damaged and faded.
First days at the arrival depot in Bien Hoa
Here I am at the new arrival depot in Bien Hoa Jan 1971.
My buddy Jim Stephens.
My friend Theodore Mason at Fire Base Mace, Jan 1971. We were waiting to see where we are suppose to go. 3 weeks after this picture was taken Theodore was killed in action on Feburary 7th, 1971 in Long Khanh valley, when we were ambushed.
My first look at what a shower looks like. Little did I know what I was in for. At least here you have water. When we go out to the smaller fire bases you have to get your own water and it's poured into a 5 gallon bucket and thats after you let it sit in the sun for a couple of hours to heat up. In the bush there were no showers.
Getting ready to take my first helicopter ride to join up with my unit at fire base Silver. It will be months before I come back to fire base Mace. Compare to fire base Silver this place is a 4 star hotel. I had no idea what I was in for.
Well here I am getting ready to leave for fire base Silver. Now here's a picture of real killer. Notice the poised stance and the stupid look on my face.
My first look at fire base silver. This is getting worse by the minute.
Playing baseball on the helicopter pad.
Well here's your traditional picture of a person sitting on a bunker holding a rifle trying to look dangeous. The only thing dangeous about this picture is me holding a weapon. Notice the wonderful tan I have. This is what 16 weeks in trainng in Fort Ord will get you.
Artilly firing to support a grunt (infrantry) company in trouble. This scared the hell out of me. It's starting to dawn on me this is for real.
Well here I am on my first mission in the bush (jungle). That ruck sack is loaded down with food and ammunition. Also about 16 quarts of water. I thought I should carry a lot for washing and brushing my teeth. After this mission I only carried enough water to drink and cook with. You have any idea how much 16 quarts of water weighs? Our mission were usually around 12 to 15 days. Then we got to come in for 3 days to stay on a fire base. Then back out for another mission. Those of you who know me now have a hard time believing that they would trust me with grenades and a weapon. Notice the burned out area. The choppers blew that place all to hell before we landed and the grass caught fire. Well at least there was no place for any NVA (North Vietamese Army regulars) to hide.
There is a funny story on how I learned to get off a helicopter. Remind to tell you sometime. I'm sure the pilots and the door gunner are still talking about the idiot who jump out of the helicopter head first all these years later.
It's hard to tell what this picture is because it so damn dark in the jungle. But this is Louie Fox and Joe Ford two of my friends there.
This is picture of some of the guys in my Platoon, Jan 1971 .
Here's a picture of my squad on fire base Fontaine.
Here is my squad leader Clarence Lee, he took over the squad after our first squad leader, Brian Foley was killed.
This is Dave Dodd from my squad. Later medicvac in July.He passed away Feb 2009.
My first convoy on Highway 1.
Passing a village along the highway. Check out the water buffalo.
Here we are getting ready for an air assault.
Here's our Medic, our supply sergent, Mike Erhart (spell?) and platoon leader Lt. Doll.
We took turns at our chance for a bath.
One squad at a time got to go down and bathe while another squad stood watch. That's Stanley Goscinimski with the clothes on.
You can't tell but this is me bringing in a supply chopper. We got re-supplied about every 4 to 5 days with ammuntion, food and water.
This is the chopper coming in as I was taking pictures of it. I was always getting yelled at for taking pictures at the wrong time. As the Lt. would say "You're not a F@#$KING combat photographer".
This is Louie Fox getting ready to go out on an ambush.
At times when you didn't have to go out on an ambush or patrol we would play cards for hours.
This is Gilbert. Taking a break during a patrol you would write a quick letter to home.
A K-9 dog and his handler that we used once in awhile while on a mission.
This is Lt. Doll writing a letter home and me relaxing in my hammick. These were one of few creature comforts we had there. You'll notice on the ground is my constant companion, the radio better known as a "Prick-25".
Here's Lt.Doll, left (Bronze Star) and Mike "polar bear" Cook (Silver Star) after receiving their medals for the Feb 7 battle.
Lt with one of our lady friends we met in Vung Tau. I think her name was candy. I don't think I have to tell you how she got her name.
Chopping down a tree to make a hole in the jungle so we could get resupplied.
Here I am with my ever constant companion....PRC-25 radio better known as a Prick 25. Hump one for awhile and you'll understand why we called them "Pricks".
Our medic "doc", myself and Mike.
Another picture of "doc". Later wounded when a short round fell on us.
A squad getting ready to go out on patrol.
If not on patrol or ambush you would sit around waiting for something to happen.
Here I am on fire base Fontaine, March of 1971.
Digging a bunker on fire base Jeffery. I just loved the monsoon season there. Those wooden crates on the ground are what we slept on in the bunker when we came in from a mission. Other than having hot food we were better off in the bush. All you had to do is just lay down where you were at and wrap a poncho around you and sleep.
This is Jim Fiefer.
This is our "kit carson" scout. A Cambodian name Sam. He's been fighting the NVA since 1963.
This is my squad in Oct of 1971. So many different faces.
Here I am in the jungle around March of 1971. You can tell I'm still new. I still wear my helmet. As your tour goes on you start just wearing a boonie hat. As you start to get "short" (little time left before you go home) you start wearing a helmet again.
Six or 7 months later you can see I switch to a boonie hat....less weight.
A picture of Sam and I.
On the horn listening to chatter.
Doc, Louie and Mike.
Taking a nap. God I even slept with that damn radio. That container beside me is from a NVA supply of food we found on patrol.
The boys in Vung Tau.
Louie and I on fire base Billy.Those straps on our legs are called leech straps. You wear them so when you cross a deep river or stream the leeches couldn't crawl up your legs to parts of your body you don't want leeches on.
A picture of some of my platoon on fire base Billy.
Louie coming out of a bar in Vung Tau. Those are the famous ladies of Vung Tau. "You buy me a Saigon Tea I love you long time". You would be surprised what you could get for $20 American dollars.
Here I am in Vung Tau. My driver was camera shy.
Another shot of my squad on fire base Jeffery, March 1971.
The men of Bravo Company, 2nd of the 8th Cav, 1st Cavalry Air Mobile Division who were killed on Feburary 7th, 1971 in the province of Long Khanh, Republic of South Vietnam.
Men from Neff High School that died in Vietnam.
SSGT Brian Foley
1st Lt Thomas King
SSGT Richard Kulwicki
CPL Theodore Mason
SSGT Bruce Van Dam
SGT Lewis Yates
SGT Bruce Heil, March 10, 1971
Charlie Tricker 2/27/71 class of 1968
Richard "Dicky" Lee 6/5/71 class of 1968
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