Latest Comments

In response to: Fatal ambush in the rice paddies

Comment from: Sarge

Comments are from Richard Wiggins, A Co Commander, 68-69

We have talked about these roving patrols several times when we have been together over the years. I don’t think any of us cared for them. I hated them! The chance of encounters like that detailed in this post was high. In that type of terrain, at night, it’s next to impossible to keep an accurate pace count. In this case, off by 2500 meters. That’s a huge distance to be off but with all of the zig zags made by three different patrols certainly easy to see how this could happen.

One night we stopped next to a rice paddy dike to check our position and when I looked at my watch I couldn’t read it. There was a leach on the face of the watch which meant there were leaches every place else. I thought we had to stay in position for two hours but could have been one. One or two, that’s where we stayed until the next move. We were in water that was knee high or deeper and not a chance for anyone to get some rest. I’m not sure who’s idea it was to start using the concept of night roving patrols with a change of position at fixed times, but thank God they stopped doing it. Probably because of this incident or other close encounters like it. Just think how great it would have been to have had GPS back then.

I would hope they are still teaching basic land navigation using a map & compass and going through the land nav exercises. As good as the GPS and other forms of electronic navigation are there is always the chance it will go down and if you can’t read a map or navigate using a compass, you’re screwed.

05/20/18 @ 22:57

In response to: A swimming pool at Dau Tieng

Comment from: Sarge
*****

Tom

The dam that was built is northwest of Dau Tieng. Guessing, at least 5 miles or more. The village itself, including the old camp and surrounding area are still intact. You can see where the dam is if you use Google Earth. Thanks for the comments and contribution of photos.

09/05/14 @ 10:12

In response to: Trang Bang Village

Comment from:
tomdaniel
*****

If you would like to see more of my VN photos, go to: http://277arty.net/molecity.html

09/05/14 @ 04:47

In response to: Trang Bang Village

Comment from:
tomdaniel
*****

B Battery 2/77 Arty was in Trang Bang in June-July ‘68 for about 3 1/2 weeks. We got hit pretty hard with small arms, RPG’s, and mortars the first night there, shortly after I had gotten my first-ever weed buzz. I never smoked it again in VN. I have a pic of a USO band, playing for us from the seats of the old shot-up soccer stadium that our guns were deployed around. Enjoy!

09/05/14 @ 04:41

In response to: A swimming pool at Dau Tieng

Comment from:
tomdaniel

Ran across this site looking for a good aerial view of Dau Tieng. I was told by a guy at my AL Post(140)that a dam had been built, and most of the old DT base camp was now under water. I was in Ammo Sec. B Battery 2/77, May’68-May’69. B Batt. was at Mole City during the DT attack in Feb.’69, with re-supply by chopper out of Tay Ninh base camp. I, and half of Ammo, some Maint. and 2 Mess guys were at TN to load and hook up outgoing supplies. I remember fun at the DT pool in the daytime, as well as the all-night poker games in the
bunker behind the 2/77 NCO Club on the few days that B Batt. was in base camp. I am attaching a good photo of the pool, and maybe a few more.

09/05/14 @ 03:56

In response to: Dealing with Things

Comment from:
officer_bud
*****

Bamboo poisoning really put the hurt to the machete man. I hated rice paddies. Vulnerable and wet misery. How about prickly heat rash on our back from lugging back packs?

08/02/14 @ 15:43

In response to: Life in Camp Rainier (Dau Tieng)

Comment from:
basepiecegun3

Jan.1967, w/9th.inf.div.Bearcat.I arrive April of 67 to Camp Rainier. Unit was A 2/77 FA.I lost two friends from basic, They were w/ C 2/77. Ed.J. Colston KIA June 67,Tom B. Corbin^* KIA at FSB BURT.1968. Mike J. Molina KIA Feb.67. a friend from home.and 5 High School friends in 1968 Thanks to the 2/22 Mech. 2/12 inf. I’m here today.

07/21/14 @ 20:37

In response to: Other Memories of Dau Tieng by Tony Adams

Comment from:
tltremme
*****

Tom Tremmel here. Just stumbled onto your web site and it’s really a walk down memory lane. Hope everyone is doing well.

05/13/14 @ 21:53

In response to: "What's he doing now?"

Comment from:
scout2
*****

Started to type got logged off. Try again . Steve got a better dog story . We were ready to go out on patrol from Pershing.A chopper arrived LT and Sgt plus German shepherd got out. Dressed in beret’s and all .Ready to march in a parade. We start out Dog and handlers in front of us walking in a close zigzag pattern l . I was walking point and signaled to the other point man Eddie Fernandes to hold up. Wanted to give these clowns in front of us plenty of room. We weren’t more that 200 clicks out. The dog hits a booby trap .We end up medivac all 3 out slight wounds on all - 15 minutes in the field 3 purple hearts. Bet they never saw the field again-Paul Cipro

03/06/14 @ 10:53

In response to: About Story Blog

Comment from: Sarge
*****

Whoa! Talk about the fortunes of war. This is quite a story to read and to reflect up. Many men seem to be lost in these type of events often asking themselves, “why me, or it should have been me". I try to look at the bigger picture and believe at times destiny does play a role in what happens to us. On the other side of this thought is just plain luck or being in the right place at the wrong time. You decide. Thanks for sharing.

01/28/14 @ 11:25

In response to: About Story Blog

Comment from:
andy

Crash of CH-47; March or Ap.’70. My two friends and I were getting out of the field for a night, waiting for a Chinook at Dau Tieng pad with about 20 guys from other companies, platoons, maybe brigades. The tower hollered to us that a Huey was coming in, room for 4: I said, “Let’s go", to Randy McCormack and Kim Burns.

In Cu Chi later, someone tore into the hootch announcing a Chinook was shot down, dust-offs were coming in to the hospital which was near us. I was certain it was our missed ride! We bolted for the hospital to see the guys we knew.
I talked to a guy on a gurney I knew, following him into a large room where more and more gurneys were gathering. A black man was having the skin peeled off both of his burned arms, revealing stark white meat. I was transfixed by the injuries and number of men impacted,now in this room.

My friend said the Chinook picked them up, then went to re-supply FB Tennessee. Hovering, it was brought down by an RPG round, crashing on the riverbank in flames.
My friend said he saved a guy’s life twice; first, he grabbed a confused man telling him to “get out the back". Out the back, he went in the river unable to swim, and was saved again.
Recently reunited, my friend Kim reminded me that we had signed a manifest to be on that Chinook. He said his mother was doing dishes at the sink and fainted dead away as she watched two uniformed officers emerge from a car. They came to say Kim was missing in action!
The family was called the following day to correct the error.
I mentioned this story to another recently contacted platoon mate who said they heard, in the field, we had died. He said he started crying, then turned angry after that, though we were unharmed and rejoined them the next day. Doug(Andy)Anderson D Co.,69-70.

01/27/14 @ 15:22

In response to: OH-6A Cayuse

Comment from: Sarge
*****

You bet. It was very unusual for us ground guys to do an aerial recon. Any you’re right, chances are it was the 116th that gave us a lift. As I recall, not much happened the next day if spite of all the build up and planning. Thanks for the post.

01/21/14 @ 17:46

In response to: OH-6A Cayuse

Comment from:
1968huey
*****

Hey Arnold, the next day after your OH-6 recon flight, chances are that my unit, 116th AHC, gave you the ride to a place you probably didn’t really want to go. But picked you up again after the party was over, and got you home again.

01/21/14 @ 11:20

In response to: Other Memories of Dau Tieng by Tony Adams

Comment from:

Just made contact with another vet. The platoon picture with names shows Gary Hoops but it is actually Gary Ascher. Also Gary thinks the guy on far right first row is Arlie Whitlle. I am working on tagging all my pictures from photo album and will forward to sarge to replace current album.
Adams 12/12/2013

12/12/13 @ 08:58

In response to: Dealing with Things

Comment from:
adavis

Not having c4!

11/05/13 @ 02:46

In response to: Scout Dog

Comment from: steve gray
steve gray
****-

I worked with a dog team one time. I was the point man and the dog and his handler were behind me. Nothing much happened that day and the dog found nothing. I have a story about that day if you want it.

10/14/13 @ 23:46

In response to: Hollywood has it all wrong!

Comment from: steve gray
steve gray
****-

The only movie that I watched was WE were Soldiers, and that was after I read the book. The others I watched a little and gave them up as Hollywood flops. No where near the truth from my experience.

10/14/13 @ 23:37

In response to: About Story Blog

Comment from: Dennis Nutter  
Dennis Nutter
*****

Hey guys I wondered onto your website looking for the 2 stepper snake. This was my company Charlie co. 2/12th in 1970-1971.From Kokomo Indiana.Couldn’t believe when I saw this sight. Hey guys go to v.a. Rep apply for disability for tinnitus( Ringing in the ear) 10% disability $128 per month,plus great property tax exemption. Anybody can contact me at vietnam70@comcast.net

09/13/13 @ 01:59

In response to: Pets and Snakes

Comment from: Final Fantasy XIV Gil
Final Fantasy XIV Gil

Thanks for your marvelous posting! I actually enjoyed reading it, you will be a great author. I will ensure that I bookmark your blog and will come back in the foreseeable future. I want to encourage that you continue your great job, have a nice weekend!

09/11/13 @ 04:36

In response to: Christmas Leave 1967

Comment from: Jerry Virzi
Jerry Virzi
*****

Great Story Sarge

You and I might have been in Ft.Polk
and Dau Tieng at the same time.
I landed in Country March 27th 1967 and came home March 21, 1968. A/2/12

Keep up the great job on the web site
Sarge and welcome home brother.

Jerry Virzi
A/2/12

08/30/13 @ 09:57