Photo Of Stuck APCs

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I remember them reassigning me for my last month in RVN. They placed me in The 4th Division Exploitation Platoon. We were air mobile and we had 6 Armored Personnel Carriers. Our primary job was to plant and extract our Long Range Recons Patrols (LRRPS) from our Main Division Base Camp and flying various missions. I remember one of our duties was to fly on the road patrol between our Home Base Camp (Pleiku) and Dak To. On these missions the Chopper Pilot would stop @ every bridge so we could check them for mines.
I remember this photo was took by me during one our LRRP extraction when we got all 6 of our APCs stuck in a Rice Patty. We call to call in for Vehicle Track Retriever (VTR) to come to our rescue.

Photo Of A U.S. Army CH-54 Sky Crane Helicopter

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The CH-54 is better known as the Sky Crane. It was very successful in Vietnam where it was credited with the recovery of hundreds of downed aircraft as well as having the ability to move artillery and supplies to fire bases that were unreachable by land. It had a 4800 hp turbine engine & could lift over 40,000 pounds. I remember it carrying a D-8 Caterpillar Dozier in this photo without the blade out to us on 1 occasion in order for us to build a Forward Fire Base. Then on its 2nd mission it carried the Blade to the Dozier.

Photo Of The 170th Assault Helicopter Company: "The Bikini's"

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I will never forget those wonderful birds. They were our lifeline with the outside world. I remember them having a Bikini Clad girl painted on the nose of all their choppers. They resupplied us every 4 days with food, ammunition and on the 8th day they would bring us our SP packs.

I remember the SP packs contained our mail, toiletries, one pair of clean clothing , 1 hot meal. I still remember whenever it was possible a chaplain would come out and hold a church service with us.

I believe that after every 8 days in the Bush they would rotate one of our Line Company's (A,B and C company) to guard our Forward Fire Base. I believe the term was in Reserve. The Forward Fire Base contained our Headquarters Company and our supporting Artillery. I remember that we operated with 2 line companies @ a time in the Bush. We were also close to each other in case we had to assist each other. We only could operate a certain amount of distance between us and our 105 MM Artillery in the Forward Fire Base because of their limited range of fire support.

http://www.170th.org/Html/Bikinis.html

Photo Of A NVA Flag

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I remember the VC placed their flag near our Division Base Camp (Camp Enari). I remember that I had less than 1 month left before I could go home. I was assigned to a detail to remove this flag. They sent me along with a squad of men and 1 APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) to remove this flag. I remember us taking every precaution in removing this flag because we figured it was Boobie Trapped. We tied a rope around the Bamboo Flag Pole and pulled it down with our APC. Bingo, the VC had it Boobie trapped with a small explosive. We were protected from the blast inside our APC.

Photo of me in the Tuy Hoa Providence

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This photo was taken next to a beautiful waterfall in Tuy Hoa. You know the Rain forest is very beautiful. You may have heard the expression that you can't see the forest for the trees. In my case I couldn't see the beautiful Rain forest for the VC & NVA.

Photo of Me & Tommy Routh During Christmas in Tuy Hoa RVN 1966

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I still remember our Christmas in Tuy Hoa, RVN. They brought us in from the Jungle Bush so we could enjoy our Christmas. I still remember how good the hot showers felt, the hot meals and the clean clothes. Oh, and the COT that we could sleep on and the wonderful FULL nights sleep without having to pull Ambush Patrol or Listening Post Duty!!!!! You know, we shared all of our goodies with all of our fellow soldiers. You may have heard the Term "THE BAND OF BROTHERS". Well it is true. We were all that we had. You had to learn to trust each other especially during your 2 hours shift of sleep during the nights. The can near my right foot was a gift from Annette (Ervin) Quillen. I remember her sending me all that wonderful homemade candy while I was over there.

Photo Of Me

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If my memory hasn't failed me this photo was made in the Central Highlands. I remember us finding this old NVA Camp. For some reason or another our higher ups decided that we should spend the night in this present location. We immediately started to dig in for the night. I remember playing cards with my fellow men. Some of our men started cutting an LZ for the supply by Choppers. Then all of a sudden it all happened. Two of our own Hunter/Killer gunships saw us on the ground and immediately assumed that we were the enemy (NVA). They started working us over, I mean their Rockets and Mini Gatling Guns etc. I still remember the bullets kicking up the dirt in our faces. We were all in shock that our people had declared WAR on us. After the 2nd pass, I had my M60 Machine Gun ready for them but luckily there wasn't a 3rd pass. They must have received one of our radio calls that were attacking FRIENDLIES. The best that I remember we had about 6-8 casualties that day by our own forces

Photo of One of Our Downed Choppers

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I remember so vividly the day that this Chopper went down. They were resupplying us and they had the BIRD overloaded for the return flight. I remember the pilot made about 3 attempts to lift off. I remember that each time he tried to lift off you could hear him loosing his engine RPM'S. Finally on the 3rd or 4th attempt to lift off he was too far over the trees to back down to the LZ (Landing Zone) thus crashing. I remember him crashing right in the middle of a huge BEES NEST. I remember getting stung while we rescued them. The best that I can remember there weren't any casualties in this incident.

Photo of We were in a single file (as usual) and crossing a small creek

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We had to hump (Infantry Term) all of my Earthly belongings on my back, which amounted to about 75-100 lbs.

Our Earthly belongings consisted of the following in our rucksack: one case of C rations (12 meals), one case (1,000 rounds) of .223 caliber ammunition, a hundred rounds of ammo for the squad’s M-60 machine gun, four pounds of C-4 plastic explosive, one claymore mine, poncho, poncho liner, several pairs of socks, Tabasco sauce (to enhance the flavor of the C-rations), These, and other sundry items, were in my rucksack, one PRC-25 radio battery, one machete, two smoke grenades, my letter writing materials, about 3-4 LRP Rations, my bandages, one gallon Lister bag of water, three canteens of water making the total weight in excess of 80 lbs.

We had to protect our feet from the Jungle Rot. I still to this day have scar-tissue from the Jungle Rot on my hands/wrists. Jungle rot sets in from broken places in your skin and all that awful rain. It would rain for 24 hrs. day, for about 2 months (Monsoon). I went through 2 monsoons while over there, because they moved us from Tuy Hoa to Pleiku.

We got re-supplied every 4 days except during the monsoon season. I will never forget the time that we went 28 days without getting re-supplied. My cloths actually rotted off of me. On the 4th day they would send us food and ammo then on the 8th day they would send us food, ammo, toiletries and one set of clothing. We took our baths whenever we came upon a stream. So now hopefully you understand why the photo quality is so poor of my photos.

Photo of ???????????

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My Mind has drawn a blank as to his name. All that I remember is that he is from North Carolina and he was all the time singing his favorite singers songs. I believe if my memory is correct his favorite singer for JIM REEVES. I would appreciate your comments with this boys name and oh yes I remember that RICHARD PETTY was his hero.

Photo One of The Few Good Times in 'Nam

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The time was around Christmas 0f 1966. The place was in Tuy Hoa. I remember they brought us in from the jungle for Christmas. I remember going swimming in the South China Sea. I believe this Photo is of Jernigan, Callicutt & Wray. All three boys are from North Carolina.

Photo of a Vietnamese Pot Belly Pig

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This is a rare photo of a Vietnamese Pot Belly Pig. I thought that they were the funniest thing. Little did I know then that they would become popular in this country as PETS.

Photo Scene Just Hours Before The Battle for Plei Ya Bo

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I took this photo just a few hours before our Battle for Plei Ya Bo (Three Trees). All I can remember is that we were dug-in for the night and we were HANGING OUT I think this is today's terminology. I think a couple of the boys names were Tommy Routh and George Talton.

Photo of us Parlaying (interrogating) the Montygnard People

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This photo is of us Parlaying (interrogating) the Montygnard people. Let me see if I can remember the Montygnard custom-- they would place a huge CROCK OF RICE WINE in the center. The rice wine was made up of slices of green bananas along with rice with the husk on it mixed with water. I remember them having the croak covered with a banana leaf. They would then lay a flat piece on bamboo wood across the top. They would cut a small splinter in the center of the flat piece on bamboo. They would stir the mixture and then top off the CROCK off with water. They would then take a long piece of bamboo which served as a straw. It was their custom that we and they take turns of drinking from the CROCK. It was the custom that you drink until the wine cleared the splinter on the flat piece of bamboo lying across the top of the CROCK. The best that I remember that was anywhere between 1 pint & 1 quart of rice wine that you had to drink per your turn. I remember the comments from everyone participating in the ritual was Boy that was a cheap drunk.

Photo of Our Close Allies, The Montagnard People (Dega People)

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This photo was given to me by my good friend Doc Kurt Nagl. They were great Allies to us. They were Polynesian and not Asian.. They inhabited the Central Highlands of South Vietnam many centuries ago. They migrated from India. I have an original Montagnard friendship Bracelet that a little Montagnard girl gave me for sharing some of my C-rations with her. I will cherish her Bracelet forever. I have a modern bracelet that I wear to commemorate my friendship with these people. They were greatly persecuted by both the NVA and the VC because they supported us. You know what, we pulled out of Viet Nam and left them to defend themselves. I have read all kinds of harrow stories about them after we pulled out. Only now are we starting to bring them home to us in N.C. I am supplying a link for your convenience.
http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/montagnard.htm.

Photo of Leroy Shaffer, Bobby Woods, Tommy Routh and Stanley W. Dix

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This is my only Photo of Stanley W. Dix. He was killed in The Battle for Plei Ya Bo (Three Trees). You can read about the details of how Stanley was killed that day July 23, 1967. I will tell you a story about Stanley W. Dix.

Something like about 1 year ago I received an email from a Stanley W. Dix. I thought someone was playing a dirty trick on me because I knew beyond a reason of doubt that Stanley was dead. I was afraid to open the email. Curiosity finally won out with me and boy did I receive a surprise.

He told me that his grandmother (Stans Mother) wanted him named after his Uncle Stanley W. Dix. He went on to tell me that his grandmother willed all of Stanleys personal belongings to him. He told me that a chest that he received from his Grandmother contained A SILVER STAR POSTHUMOUSLY and a small piece of a $1 Bill USD.

He told me that he found my site when he performed a search on Stanley W. Dix.
He asked me how his uncle won the SILVER STAR and if I held one of the pieces of the $1 Bill. His note told me that he believes the $1 bill was torn into and distributed to about 3 other GIs, sort of like BLOOD BROTHERS.

I scanned a page from Charlie Floods Book "THE WAR OF THE INNOCENTS" that told about how Stanley was killed that day and how that he was granted the SILVER STAR. I went on to tell him that I wasn't a holder of a section of the $1 but I would email some of my Comrades to ask them.

Photo of a Dustoff Chopper

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This is a photo that I took after our Battle for Plei Ya Bo (Three Trees). I took the photo of one of our Dustoff Choppers (medivac) as it was lifting up with some of our fallen Comrades.