Vintage work crew photos

[philippacificnw]

Duke_of_URL • • • • • • • In VIETNAM, I was stationed in the "Fishhook", Just below "Parrot's Beak".

When I got there,TayNinh Base Camp, was a 25,000 man base, it was located approximent 4 miles North, 3.5 miles East, & 4.5 South of the HO CHI MINH trail*, ( APPROXIMENT: distances, Metrics to Miles conversion) *by this point the "trail was more like a Freeway", capable of TWO LANE TRUCK Traffic. (circa October 2969).

Right beside our Company, was a Mobile Hospital, with Five Dust Off's who flew, "WHEN CALLED".

Our Company ORDERS *if invaded* WAS (also to) Protect our HOSPITAL STAFF, (187th AHC, 1st Aviation Brigade).

We seldom saw any Nurses, but I know they were there. THEY were TOO BUSY saving LIVES.

In the STUPIDEST NIXON DECISION (ever) {Spring 1970} Our 25,000 force was REDUCED to under a Thousand, REPLACED by about 3,000 ARVN'S.

The last to leave was our Hospital Staff, this occured around May, or early June, My time was over in August, 1970.

BEFORE 1970 was over, our Company did a TACTICAL RETREAT, our Cobra Squad ROCKETING EVERY vehicle, and "Classified Area" standing, AFTER our "set in place" DEMO'S were blown.

I only learned that, 30 +/- years ago, looking up our company's websight . . . .

Today, when I see/meet a MILITARY NURSE, from Any era, I give UTMOST respect to them the unseen, unsung HERO'S of every combat anywhere.

philip, from the Great Pacific NorthWET, Oregon, USA
"TRUTH, DOES NOT require applause, it only requires Survivors."

[gatz]

When I was with the 271st “Innkeepers” a Chinook unit based at Can Tho, we helped move some company out of their area. I don't recall if the company was being relocated or deactivated. Our involvement was to sling out a big pile of lumber. Listening in on the conversation between the ground people and our Pilot, they told him to get the hell out of there because they were in a hurry to leave.
As I was the one “running the hole” (that is; to guide the pilot over the hookup man) I asked about 3 or 4 pallets of rockets sitting nearby. Pilots asks the ground person. He said “we'll have a Cobra in and blow them up so Charlie can't make use of them”.
That's the military for you.