Delta Company 3/21st 196th Light Infantry Brigade AMERICAL DIVISION Vietnam

[White Oak]

I was assigned to Delta Co in late Sept 1969 after two weeks of in- country training at the AMERICAL's Combat Center. The AMERICAL or 23rd INFANTRY DIVISION was the largest Infantry Division in Vietnam.It was formed in 1969 by combining the 3 seperate Infantry Brigades they had been using.The 196th,198th and the 11th Brigades.The 196th had been working with the 101st Airborne Div and the 3rd Marine Div at Chu Lai.I was assigned to the 3rd/21 196th.3/21st had 5 Companys.Alpha Annihilators,Bravo Bushmasters,Charlie Tigers,Delta Black Death and Echo Assassins(Recon Company)and Headquarters Company.All companies had patches made up and had them sewn over our right pocket.This is the patch of Delta"Black Death", and may be the last surviving one.All my personal belonging was locked in my duffle Bag and stored in the supply room.I was given pack with enough stuff for 5 days and weapon.Early next morning about 5 of us NEW GUYS got on a 2 1/2 ton truck and went to the chopper pad.I can remember the guy at the pad telling us to lock a magazine in our weapons but not to chamber a round.I clearly remember thinking,for the first time since I have been in the Army this is the first time they have told me to without being on a firing range and having to do all kinds of safety checks to, load my weapon.Hey,this is it,this is where it gets serious.We were told we heading to Firebase Hawk Hill,home of headquarters 196th.After waiting most of morning we were told we would be going straight to Landing Zone Center

[White Oak]

Landing Zone Center was about 40 miles west of Chu Lai.It was a Landing Zone built on top of the highest mountain around.It had a stunning view of the whole area(the enemy also had a stunning view of us).One rifle company stayed on the LZ at all times.Every nine days Delta Co got back to LZ Center and stayed 3 days,then off 9 more days.Center had a messhall with hot food.Headquarters Co,mortar crews,ammo dump,Battalion Aid station and large communication bunker were stationed on Center.The 4 rifle companies patrolled the valley around the LZ and the small villages surrounding the area.

[White Oak]

Delta Company was broke into 3 platoons,1st,2nd,3rd but to keep so many numbers from being transmitted over our radio's we were given names instead,we had Kelso,Killer and Gladiator.I was assigned to Kelso platoon.A regular day in Kelso Platoon was be like this,daylight everybody up and ready to move,first hump of the day would be hour or maybe two.A day perimeter would be set up and everyone would drop their packs.One platoon would stay back and cover around the whole perimeter and the other two platoons would go out and patrol or hump the boonies.Kelso Platoon would have about 30 men in a patrol.The medic was the only one on patrol who job was to save lives,the rest of us was trained to take them.We were trained to take them alive and get them to tell us all the plans,times,dates,troop locations,etc.The problem was THEY didn't want to give up to us and give out that kinda information.The enemy that we ran into were young,skilled,smart.Fresh, young troops just coming out of their basic training, heading south and looking for a fight.All of us met up in the valley and hills surrounding LZ Center in 69-70.Photo is of a platoon moving onto a perimeter,we always set up on the high ground and dug mortar fighting positions.After patrolling all day we would come back to where we dropped our packs,at the day perimeter.One of the patrol would find a good night position while out and we would saddle up our packs and move to a night position.(the longer you stay the closer their mortars comes).Next morning do it all again.Somedays good days and some days bad or as we said over a cold can of C-rations while hulked down beside the trail in the pouring rain in the middle of the jungle"it don't mean nothin"I was wrong,It means everything to me.

[White Oak]

Before night falls we would move to our night defensive position,first thing every night,dig hole,no matter what, dig hole.It doesn't take but one mortar attack and you can plainly see the importance in digging a mortar hole.Some guys will get together and dig a large hole to share and some like to dig their on to the proper safe depth and width.Myself I liked a one man hole,one that was plenty deep enough.You can't fight mortar rounds,you can sweat it out,you can think every one that is fired is coming straight down to you.Thats all you can do is stay exactly where you are and hope it will end soon.Kelso Platoon would take up 1/3 of the perimeter at night.We would set up our M-60 machine gun at the best position to cover the Company and before it got dark we would go out in front of our positions and put up trip flares and claymore mines.At the fighting position two shelter half's/rain poncho would be snapped together and made into a shelter by use of bamboo found everywhere.Three people inside sleeping and one up on guard,with the guard changing about every two hours.No smoking,no talking,no moving,no nothing but watching out front and seeing who is out there.In front of you about 20 to 40 feet is 3 or 4 claymores, and 3 or 4 trip flares. At the fighting position itself you have clicker for the claymore mines,a pile of grenades and your weapon.If you need help behind you is three guys sleeping with their weapons,ready to move as moments notice.You would be surprised how fast you can wake up from a deep sleep if you know the man that you are hunting is hunting you.

[DMZ-LT]

Great pictures and narative Danny. Thank you. Welcome home.

[BLUEHAWK]

WhiteOak -
Damn near every time I stick my non-combatant airmanly nose into a warrior conversation I find all batteries open fire at it and I learn the meaning of a bunker, which I dug for myself with my fingernails...

However, while it may be impossible to say that a man could "enjoy" all these recent threads and posts about VN from you, LT and exlrrp and others, I can say that I'm learning important things from what you all have been sharing, explaining, confessing, describing... and that I just wish to God the ones who fail to see that once troops have been committed and war declared, it is time to do everything possible to come to the aid of the commander-in-chief, if nobody else and if nothing else is felt can be done to bring people home safe in one piece and halt the carnage... and just for one damn period of time stop thinking about themselves and their little special needs and ideas, pitch the fuck IN and help somebody for once! Suit up, fall in, salute, and do their duty instead of their whims first and until the damn thing gets finished.

I'm goin' on about this for a reason, and this may not be the best spot to be doing this, but for sure it'll get ignored (or shot at weapons free) if so.

Militarily I describe myself as a Standard Bearer, in the old timey traditional sense. I know, or believe, that anymore a unit does not follow a flag into battle... and I regret that evolution, frankly. Nevertheless, in 1963 when your war was heating up seriously I was 17 years old and an airman basic. First chance I was given I volunteered for permanent party in VN, twice. They chose not to send me, even though I was on 123 Providers and we had begun receiving some NCOs back from Da Nang... with stories that blew our eyes wide open. Turned out, what we were doing in Air Training Command was teaching air crews how to handle the 123 on their way west, to move stuff around and do some AO spraying. We thought we were just clearing the canopy for you guys, to better see on land and in the air, what you were shooting and where they were shooting from. Turned out we poisoned a few thousand of our own. I am ashamed of myself, to you all, for that personal negligence. I was desparate to get there, but not because I felt the urge to kill anything... I just wanted to DO something to help out, such as (in my imagination) carry the flag. In those days there was NO option when our country called, you just did it.

So I now need to say something about what it means to be a pacifist, that does not get said, or is presumed. I am one. My father served as a volunteer in the US Army during WW II, as a Conscientious Objector, played in the band at Fort Leonard Wood, Camp Crowder, Los Alamos and West Point... that was his service. He became an "Atomic Vet" from White Sands, and died as a result many years later from the effects... just as some of our men are today from AO.

Yet, I chose to be a Standard Bearer. I would have been a medic if they'd have let me, or a sapper, and would have carried or picked up a weapon in the hour of need... because I would have been angry that the men around me were in peril and had no choice but to hope their flag carrier survived long enough to care. Like exlrrp, I have a hard time with knowing that sometimes warfare entails murderous acts... and I think this is one reason it is best not to have too many warriors in the field over the age of 50. However, I have zero problem with self-defense, which is what it is... and maybe it was Humper or Seatjerker or Pho or somebody who said awhile back...something like, when it all comes down to it, you fight to save your buddy's ass and your own.

This is probably coming out very confused. I know what I'm trying to say to you guys, so tried to say it.

I WANTED to be with you.

[White Oak]

We built these little shelters every night to keep rain and heavy dew off us.We would blow up air mattress's and 4 could sleep here,one on guard and three sleeping.Everybody slept with their weapon except the M-60 machinegun operator.The guy is trying to dry his feet,every chance is a chance to dry your feet.Skin breaks after so long in the water.A friend with a dry pair of socks is a friend indeed.The fighting position and mortars holes are nearby.We were guarding the perimeter while 2 platoons were out patrolling.Helmet laying outside of was rare,most of us thought it was to hot to wear.We wore bush caps or baseball caps.

[Arrow]

What LT said...

And the picture quality is awesome.

Thank you Danny....

[White Oak]

Photo is of a North Vietnamese Soldier captured by our unit.All prisoners were sent to the rear.We could not speak to them and they couldn't speak to us.All of the troops we went up against were like this one,well fed and well equipped.All carried AK-47 assault rifles.

[White Oak]

Sp/4 Lopez providing full medical coverage to Paul Mulcany.Medics, we loved them.I have seen medics do some amazing things.Some of the bravest guys I have ever met.

[chilidog]

White Oak,
Thanks for posting this thread. It really goes a long way to help people like me understand better.


Chilidog

[White Oak]

We could never keep our feet dry.Sometime during the day you will get your feet wet,rice paddy,swamp,creek or monsoon rain(Forrest Gump was right about the rain).Photo is of SP/4 Michael Walsh(NY) crossing one of the many creeks and small rivers in our area of operations.He is carrying a M-79 Grenade launcher and is the only man I know of who wore a steel pot the entire time he was there.The major problem with creeks were the leeches.Some creeks you could get 5 or more on you at one time.they were also bad in dark,heavy jungle,where no sun light gets.On main trails where you have to cross are good places to rig booby traps,best to go up or down stream and make your on crossing.Taken early 1970.

[White Oak]

Chopper is just taking off from giving us our resupply(looks like C-Rations and a new pack)We would always have two guys on each side of the chopper and when it landed they job was to pull it off as fast as they can,as soon as the last box is cleared the bird the pilot will apply full power and get his butt back in the sky where he thinks it safer.After chopper has left the detail has to move the stuff to the middle of the perimeter to where the Captain is at.It all gets divided up there.Everybody looks for the red nylon bag more than anything else,it holds the mail and mail is everything.Resupply would come in about every 4 days(weather permitting)Food and ammo and clothes if space allowed.New guys came in and old timers left,it was the freedom bird to us,the bird that come and got you and took you to the rear and never brought you back.If you were not an old timer or had a large serious wound or were zipped up in a body bag the closest you were going to get to it was when you are unloading it.
The choppers were from the 127th Aviation Brigade"The Rattlers" based at Firebase Hawk Hill(I believe that they have a web site)

[White Oak]

I took this one day on patrol and to me it shows me the Vietnam I remember.It was a beautiful place.Our LZ was located on top of the hill in the top right side of the photo.This was outside a little village of Nui Loc Son,at the foothill of our base.This was the only village of any size around our area.We were in a free fire zone which means we don't have to wait til they fire on us,if they packing a weapons they were enemy.Most of the village people that we run into were very good to us.

[MORTARDUDE]

Danny :

Excellent photos and commentary. Thanks for sharing.

Welcome Home !!

Larry

[Jerry D]

Danny: great photos thanks also for the excellant commentary also Welcome Home again. And get some dry socks on :) I know because mine got wet here in SE Georgia from that rainstorm yesterday :j:

[lcpd24]

Great photo's-Have a good bud that was with the 196th-here's web site I found for him

http://www.americal.org/units.shtml

[White Oak]

This photo is of Paul Foster(CA) he carried the Battalion Radio to always keep us in touch with our headquarters at LZ Center.The green towels were to keep the straps from cutting into your shoulders and the two ends were used to keep wiping the sweat out of your eyes.Wrapped up in the poncho were batteries,they were wrapped up and easy to get to and most important they balanced good there.Everybody carried the same weight,Everybody.Instead of a radio the rest of us had to carry claymore mines,trip flares,grenades,20 fully loaded magazines,extra M-60 ammo,some carried M-72 LAW,or carried ropes, machetes
.Now that was some of the stuff we had to carry to fight.We also had to carry two canteens of water,C-Rations for 4 days,air mattress,poncho liner and I'm sure I'm leaving something off.Most of the guys with me carried a personal box,it was a m-16 ammo box that was waterproof.At night you could open your box and read your letter again,keep your camera and film dry and writing paper and even above dry socks,dry Toilet Paper!This we would all get in a pack and try to stand up.Before we straighten up or try to we pick up our last item,our weapon.I would guess the weight at 60 pounds.Several of our medic's didn't carry weapons but made up for it with extra supplies.Paul was in our squad and carried the radio,when a old timer went home he got the battalion radio.I have mentioned that we make a perimeter every night.In the middle of this perimeter the Company Commander(Captain) and his CP(Command Post) dig their hole and sleep,It's the Captain,the Head Medic,the captain's radio operator and his(Paul) Battalion Radio operator.The forward artillery officer and his radio operator also sleep here.Paul was loyal to his platoon and always filled us in on what was going on,he listened to the Battalion move.

[White Oak]

On my post regarding the Resupply bird or freedom bird,I made a mistake.Helicopters that supported us were A 501st Aviation Battalion Americal Division,The"RATTLERS"They have their on web page.

[DMZ-LT]

Danny what a great primer on light infantry in 69-70 in VietNam. Wish there was a way you could get this in front of more people , especially young people . Riding up to a HS on your Harley , dressed as you were back then with a full ruck with a slide projector and notes to tell your story to Mr. Ruperts 3rd period History class would be to cool. Thanks for this post , bro.

[frisco-kid]

Been following this thread from day one. What a great essay and pictorial history of your tour.

WELCOME HOME, BRO.

[PHO127]

Really, You don't get closer to anyone else than the guys you shared time in combat with. Really great pics and history.

Welcome home!

Proud to know you and call you FRIEND.

[Desdichado]

Whiteoak:

Feller by the name of Marshall Quinn is looking for anyone in 3/21 Delta Co. "Black Death" Chu Lai/Danang 70-71.

email: airquinn@grnco.net

[White Oak]

Sometimes it becomes necessary to have to make a water run for the Company,thirst was a constant companion.Water run would be each platoon volunteer 5 guys and these guys would gather canteens from their platoons.In this photo first guy on right,carrying Radio and canteens is RTO Roger Gorecki(Au Gres,MI)guy with water bags around neck is William"John Wayne"Sadler(VA).Was also the other new guy who flew out to my company in the bush.Behind him is RTO Ed"Easy Ed"Gibbs(South Side Chicago)holding Radio in hand,behind is Jim Caviness(LA CA)Across Sadler's chest is the Bra.The bra is the ammo bandoleer that comes with every box of ammo and it comes with a safety pin,First, start with 10 magazines,load nineteen rounds per magazine,put them in the little pockets,take the strap and pin it in the middle,put both arms through it and adjust it to your chest,easy to get to ammo and makeshift flak jacket.You can also hump your pack without it bothering you.The other 10 magazines was wrapped around your waist in a bandoleer also,cut the strap in the middle and just tie it on.The plastic bags we got from the medic(you don't want to know what their purpose was)We tired to find water that come out of ground,but brother when ya hot,water is water.In 1970 you could buy kool-aid with sugar already mixed in,two canteens of water plus kool-aid,shake well and you could have a grape or a strawberry day.My wife sent me 50 packs of kool-aid one time and I believe I drank about all of them,today don't sit kool-aid down in front of me.I'm attaching two photo,one I took looking Right of RTO Gorecki and next photo is the bags being filled up looking left of RTO Gorecki

[White Oak]

Reason I'm sending two is because I took two that day at creek.

[White Oak]

Sometimes we would find a creek that didn't have leech's and the patrol would divide up,one half washing and the other pulling guard.Someone always has a bar of soap.Now you only got a few minutes to smell your clean body and enjoy having the crud off cause as soon as you get out you put back on that dirty,sweaty uniform and swap places with the other guy who been watching for you.We sometimes got a change of uniforms on resupply,sometimes we have kept uniforms on for entire 9 day patrol.Resupply day we would pick up two duffel bags at Company CP.Bags would brought to platoon area and two men at a time would go to it and strip and pull out clean shirt and pants and put them on.Platoon Sgt got what was left over,he was always last and boy did he he sometimes dress funny.Dirty clothes stuffed back in duffel bags and dragged back to Company CP.To be flown out and washed.I can never remember a time when we got to take a bath and get clean clothes together.We knew for sure we could get clean clothes and a shower every two months.Every two months we caught choppers and flew to the rear for Stand-Down.Stand-down was a way to give us a break from the jungle,3 days of rest and out you go.When you got to the rear to at Stand-down it had showers,showers that you could stand under until your skin wrinkled.For all the hassle of going in the creek,just to be clean for 10 minutes was worth it.In the photo black guy is Selah Montgomery(ARK) and white guy is Michael Walsh(NY)(he is was in a previous photo crossing creek with M-79)

[White Oak]

I would like you to meet my band of Brothers.This is(except for me taking the photo) 1st squad Kelso Platoon Delta Company "Black Death"3/21st 196th light Infantry Brigade 23rd Infantry Division AMERICAL Vietnam.With out these men I don't believe I would have made it.I'm not a hero but some of these guys are.I have seen them do things that will never go down on paper and they will never be rewarded for it.Guys who have risk they lives to help one another,guys who shared their coffee in a canteen cup.Guys who would show you their pictures of family and girlfriends,ones who pass around the letter with all the perfume on it, guys who reach back down and help pull you up one more rough place in the trail.These are my brothers for life,I can't think what I wouldn't do if called on by
one.I have and can trust my life to these guys.I meet with 3 of them and have E-Mail contact with one.One had disappeared off the radar.I will start with him,left side,smoke dangling from mouth,SGT Steven Eidson,Retired US Postal Worker,Chattanooga,TN,unable to locate at this time.Sitting behind him with no shirt,Gary Cochran,"West BY GOD Virginia!" Gary works in Maintainace at a Medical college in Lewisburg,WV.Laying on ground looking back is William"John Wayne"Sadler.(a name he received for doing some pretty wild stuff) He was and is from Peariburg,Virginia.He is a blaster in a carbon mine in Virginia.Standing is Roman"Guam" Castro,from the Island of Guam(E-Mail Contact)Banker,Bank of Hawaii,Island of Guam.Guys who I will never forget and guys you should know.At one time I guess we thought we were the roughest and toughest Infantry squad around,I know that we all got through and that's what counts in the end.If you run across any of these guys today,give them a big"Welcome home"

[phuloi]

Thanks,Danny.I wish that I still had pictures..and memory.
Lost all my photos to some shiester in L.A.,and my memory got lost somewhere in a jug of bourbon.

[White Oak]

If another one of our companies run into a larger force or a more dug in force and needed help,the Battalion Commander hovering overhead could check and see where his next closest Company was and have them hump it over to help,if the distance was to great he could call Firebase Hawk Hill to headquarters of 196th and get choppers(UH1B Huey) to come and move his troops. A combat assault for us would be two or more Cobra Gunships showing up first,fast and low,circling around.Checking the area for the flight coming in.6 to 8 choppers,Platoons would have been broken down and there are 6 man groups positioned around the LZ and ready to go.Bird lands,first two guys sit on ass,facing forward,two guys on each side sit on ass,feet on skids.Choppers all lift at same time and remain in formation.All weapons are loaded but no rounds in chamber.The time spent from lift off to the LZ is a rush I will never get again,hell I'd have a heart attack nowadays.When the flight got close the Battalion Commander would let the chopper know if the LZ was secure and or unsecure.If unsecure we would come in hot,hot meaning the gunships would leave us in route and go to the LZ and fire it up.They would shoot rockets and fire their 40mm chain gun.As the flight gets a few hundred feet off the ground everyone locks a round in the chamber.The Door gunners open up with their M-60 machine guns and just spray the woodline.When they stop firing and the chopper flairs up in the front, the pilot will stop the forward motion.Whatever distance that pilot thinks you can leap safely is how far you will have to jump.But all he wants from you right now is to JUMP,to get off of his chopper as quickly as you can.All you got to do is JUMP and go 10 foot in a sandstorm and hit the ground.Make a perimeter and as more flights arrive expand out. That what you do if the LZ is cold,if the LZ is hot, young men die.

[Desdichado]

Did you see my note above?

[White Oak]

yes I did,Thanks

[sn-e3]

Danny the story and pictures are very good and very interesting. thank you for sharing with us....chris

[White Oak]

I have two photo's that were taken of me one afternoon on LZ Center,what I would like to explain is in the background.Bunker duty on LZ Center.Every nine or so days we would come out of the jungle and pull bunker duty on LZ Center.One infantry company was always on duty at the bunkers.LZ Center was a little town,mostly under ground or surrounded with sandbags.Men who operated the commo shack,the Aid-Station,the mortar tubes,the messhall,the battalion Commander and his staff,don't know how many.The first line of bunkers that you come to coming up the hill were where the infantry companies guarded.In front of our bunkers were razor wire,rolls and rolls of razor wire.If they come to take LZ Center they have to go through us first,if they go through us how long do you think it will take to overtake the guys in the radio room with their shiny pistols.Behind me is bunkers made for 5,one always on guard at that bunker,at night one up and 4 sleeping.behind me to left are ammo boxs under lean to,that's M-16 ammo.We stacked our packs on top of lean to,our bunker also had a fighting position made on top.Just 4by4 nailed together and sandbags packed around it.The fighting position is in front and I will post next photo about it.No lights were allowed on LZ Center at night.Any light gives them a target to aim for and remember what I said"you can't fight mortars"The poncho over the door is in case you wanted to light a cigarette.Inside two long shelves,sleeps 4 men and 20 rats.

[White Oak]

This is taken in front of our bunker,at our fighting position,all of our clickers for our claymore mines,all our frag grenades and flares were placed here.Wire fence across front of bunker is to pre-detonate RPG rockets,1st detonation at the wire 2nd detonation at the bunker wall,beat's hell out of 1st detonation bunker wall 2nd detonation back wall inside bunker.Someone is always awake at this position at night.Notice the burnt spots in the open area in background,it was burned when parachute flares landed.There were two helmets and two flak jackets at every bunker.The reason I am wearing them is because you could not eat at the messhall unless you had a helmet and jacket on.I was coming or going to messhall.This is the only time I put the things on,it was to hot.A few guys wore helmets but none wore a flak jacket.Red flare at night means perimeter under attack,Green flare means enemy in perimeter.Every night at different times they will have a "Mad Minute",mad minutes was when you fired up in front of your position,just fire away for a minute and stop.The enemy don't know when you are going to pull a mad minute so it keeps him away from the wire or at least makes him think about it a little longer.Mostly we guarded the LZ and pulled details like unloading and loading choppers,working at the ammo dump and any other labor producing jobs they had.I think most of us would have rather stayed in jungle and worked around Center.I can not remember a ground attack while I was there but we had our share of mortars rounds.

[White Oak]

Every boot had to have a dog tag,AMERICAL regulation 1969,they tried to make us wear one around the neck but it was noisy and it kept getting caught on everything so they backed off on that.I must have had last guard the morning I took this photo.Everybody was still sleeping.Some took their boots off at night,I didn't.Air mattress helped a lot.I pulled off the top of the sleeping hootch because it was getting daylight.It makes me appreciate my bed more nowadays.

[White Oak]

I forgot to introduce Philip Baker,he is sitting(My band of brothers photo) in front on right side and I forgot him,He's from Ohio and works for Airborne Express.This is a photo of us a couple years ago up in West By God Virginia(near Lewisburg)from left to right William"John Wayne"Sadler,Gary Cochran,myself and Philip Baker we could all still hump a pack but we would have to take a whole lot more breaks and sleeping on that ground may pose a problem.

[frisco-kid]

Dangerous men back in the day, and men to be reckoned with today. I hope the years have been good to each of you.

WELCOME HOME, BOYS :ae: .

[formergrunt70]

Wow Danny! This is just like it was yesterday. I can remember every scene in it's entirety. Even saw Myself in one of the pictures
I never thought it would turn out this way. You did a great job! I
hope to see You in the next 30 days. Maybe We can stroll through the woods in peace for a change. Folks! Danny and I went through all of this together. One hell of a friend! "1st shirt" :ae:

[White Oak]

Sometimes we would come across enemy bunkers and we would have to call the dogs to come out.These dogs were not used on point,they were called in whenever we come across a lot of bunkers.Somethings we missed but not the dog.People in Vietnam didn't get to see a dog this big and were very afraid of him(I was also!)Handler and dog would stay 2 days maybe 3.Most handlers carried CAR 15,shorter version of M-16.

[White Oak]

In this valley called Hiep Duc sat LZ Center.About 40 miles east of Chu Lai,Chu Lai was home to the Americal Division.Going north from there you will come to Tam Ky,few miles outside is Firebase Hawk Hill,home to the 196th Light Infantry Brigade.Chu Lai is also home to the 3rd Marines.

[White Oak]

On my left and right are Kit Carson Scouts,from that name you would think these guys have special training in scouting,maybe some kind of secret commando outfit?Far from it,these are just x-regular soldiers of the North Vietnam Army.To me this was one of the worst programs the USArmy tried.Captured enemy soldiers were selected and given a crash course in America military language,made to give oath that they wouldn't fight against South Vietnam and Americans.Given weapons and packs and sent out to field to advice and translate for the Americans.My personel opinion of them is I wouldn't follow em 10 foot.I distrusted them from the moment I met them.To me they were con men,regular soldiers who were sent south and caught and didn't want to waste away in prison.There may have been some good ones in the other units but the ones we had were useless.I didn't trust them or their translations.Only way I knew we were getting close to enemy was to watch them,when they got nervous and on guard,it was time for you to get nervous and on guard.Getting caught again by a North Vietnam unit with a American unit,wearing and carrying American and helping the Americans was reason I guess for them to become nervous and on guard.The white Tee-shirt was from his pack,when I ask for a photo he dug it out and put it on.he then pulled it off and put back into pack.I can't remember their name so I'll call them Bullshit and Artist.

[frisco-kid]

Danny, same-same you. I didn't trust them as far as I could throw a helicopter. Always figured if they turned traitor to their own country and buddies, their loyalty to my country and buddies wasn't worth spit. Fuck 'em.

[White Oak]

Not all of Vietnam was bad,there was times when we goofed off just like every American soldier has done.The story with photo,the guy with the foot powder all over him is Guam(Roman Castro(GUAM)The guy next to him is William Sadler(VA).Sadler, who is white and Selah Montgomery,who is black, were talking about being black and white.Guam walked up and asked them what was he, black or white?Both thought about it for a while and said he wasn't in either.Guam ask them both which was the best race to be with and both of
them started to give good side of their color,after a while Guam wandered off.Few minutes later,he wandered back,he had went to the medic"Doc"Jerngan and got a can of foot powder and as you can see,applied.he walked up to Sadler and told him he wanted to be a White Boy. Story about Guam,he was born and was raised in Guam,drafted and send to Sunny California to train.He was then send to Korea,he said he volunteered for Vietnam to get him anywhere away from SNOW,he had never seen it and he never wanted to see it again.

[White Oak]

This is what we paid in Vietnam,this fucking pile of rusting junk cost us 4 young American men,Private First Class John Dean Retseck,Jr,Staff Sgt Gene Gordon Wells,Specialist4th Class Frank Zyzdzik and 2nd LT William James Erkes. All members of Delta Company"Black Death"and all killed-in-action on Jan 7,1970.4 men killed and many more wounded and this is what we got,This pile of rusting junk........

[White Oak]

Our standdown was held in the rear at our company area.We were right on the South China Sea,beautiful palm trees and white sand.When 1st arrived in Delta Company,all new members sign paperwork to allow $5.00 per month to go to special Standdown fund.Standdown just means to come to rear area for three days and relax and get away from the jungle for a while.Every two months all four line companies rotate to the rear for three days(one afternoon,one whole day,one morning).Choppers would pick us up and fly to Firebase Hawk Hill.From there we would be taken to some convoy that was leaving Hawk Hill and going south to Chu Lai.Convoy drops you off at Company area.This is what you have bought with your $10.00,all the beer you can drink,if you drink hard stuff and let someone know it would be there.All steaks,burgers,hotdog cooked any time,any way you like it,First and best,showers,cold but wonderful,plenty of soap and towels,it was wonderful.Next clean uniforms,from there(sorry almost forgot,when we got off trucks from convoy all weapons,hand grenades,things that blow up were taken away from us and locked away.We were in the rear and the people in rear know what happens when drunk grunts and hand grenades come together).They have movies playing outside shining up against a plywood painted movie screen at night(saw Green Berets 1st time there,it got bad reviews by audience)and the best for last,two nights of live bands.Band's from all over the Pacific,Japan,Australia.Bands that would come and play and have a female singer,young and always in a tight dress.You don't have to be a great band when you have 90 young,horny,drunk American GI's in front of you,you just have to be female and sing like you are singing each song just for each and every man there.I also joined the crowd just like everybody else,I knew when I had to get back on that convoy,I partied like there was no tomorrow and ask myself in morning"I did what last night?"

[Arrow]

I'm not getting some ofDanny's images just a little box with a red x in the center. I can'tview the last two and there were a couple of others. Anybody else having the same problem. Over :(

[frisco-kid]

I'm getting them just fine. It must be on your end, Darlin'. Maybe try hitting your "refresh" button a couple of times :r: .

[Arrow]

Thank you for the feedback Frisco...it worked...:nn:

[DMZ-LT]

Thank you Danny. Followed a pig trail the one and only time we had a Kid Carson for half a day. They just wanted to stay alive , just like us . Rode the bike for 2 hours yesterday.

[White Oak]

We had small groups of people who lived deep in the jungle.They knew the drill when the Americans approached,walk away from their hootch's and all get together in central spot.We were not there to see them,we were there to find North Vietnamese Soldiers.If we found none we left and life went on.Most of the time while we were there we were like soldiers of wars before,giving candy to the kids.It was never like the movies where we come in and slaughter the people and leave the village burning.I was lucky to be serving with men above that.I have always held a personal grudge against Lt William Calley and others for the actions he committed for two reasons,1st for what he did 2nd because he was wearing a Americal Division Patch.I don't know what drives a man to give such an order and I don't know what makes a man follow a order like that and I don't know why somebody didn't put a bullet in him when it all started.

[White Oak]

Of course they were issued by the North Vietnamese Army,the trick to this is getting them without getting got yourself.They were light and small(about the size of a softball) and fast to put up.Since the sun is directly overhead I assume we are on break to dry our feet(feet in air and drying socks on branch's).William Sadler and Roddy Hopkins(Hoppy) taking it easy.Middle of day the heat soars and we try to get out of it for a few hours.

[White Oak]

This was taken at a night defensive position and looks like the Stars and Stripes newspaper just arrived,notice it's in 3 pieces now.From left to right Philip Baker,William Sadler,Selah Montgomery and Mike Walsh.When it gets darker they will stretch out the sleeping hootch.Stars and Stripes was the official newspaper of all US Forces.If it wasn't in there it didn't happen.

[White Oak]

Jerry Argo(Charlotte,NC) received a pair of Christmas shorts(with little faces of Santa) from his wife back home.I had to get him in a photo with them on because shortly after that they were torn into cleaning rags and we all cleaned our weapons.So much for the Christmas spirit.December 1969.Jerry still lives in Charlotte and has worked for Duke Power Co for many years.

[White Oak]

Taken of Paul Foster before he started carrying Battalion radio.We were being dropped off somewhere,to long ago to remember.Paul lives in Riverside,Ca and works for Exxon Corp.

[White Oak]

reckon Mack was dreaming about being a 1stSGT?

[White Oak]

Platoon coming off of patrol,must have picked up this guy on sweep.Roman(Guam)Castro has boots and rolled up pants standing to right.

[White Oak]

Ten days before I was to rotate home I was sent to the rear.I was a oldtimer and all oldtimers do are take showers,go to the beach,take shower,eat and go back to beach,take shower,drink some beer,take shower.Left Vietnam Sept 11,1970 on a American Airlines bound for Japan and McCord Air Force Base,Tacoma,Washington.I spent a full tour with Delta Company"Black Death"3/21st 196th Light Infantry Brigade 23rd Infantry Division Vietnam.I was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge,Bronze Star with"V"Device,and Purple Heart.I went over there to fight the battle for Mom,the USA and apple pie but after I got there the fight changed to a battle for Sadler,Gatewood,Baker,and everyone else who was left standing near me.I fought for them and they fought for me.When you are put in this position friends are about all you got.Not all of us made it back and some of us came back in pretty bad shape.I am proud that I served and hope that I did a good job.I hope you have enjoyed the photo's and maybe even learned something for them.My hat goes off now to all the guys who supported me,without you guys working your ass off,my ass would have been left dangling.From guys loading ammo at Danang,to the guys fueling F-4's off the coast and to the guys training Air Crews,"Thanks Brothers, couldn't have done it without ya" :)

[DMZ-LT]

Welcome home Danny. What a wonderful and informative post this has been. Thank you - thank all you brothers in arms. God bless us one and all.

[PHO127]

Post I have read on the PF, Talk about preserving history. It dosen't get any better than this. Thanks Danny.

[BLUEHAWK]

"and to the guys training air crews..."

Thanks Danny, a lot.

It's the best Welcome Home I've ever got.

It was you and yours of whom we were thinking, constantly.

[frisco-kid]

What a great documentary of your tour, Bud. I got to looking forward to the next installment each day. And the ending was as it should be.

Thank You.

[Jerry D]

Thanks Danny for all the wonderful history and photos of your time in Vietnam. When you flew into McChord AFB, Mt St Helens was still the tallest Mt. in Washinton. I always wonderd if you could see it from the flightline. Mt Ranier was Pretty awesome to see every morning from my barracks there at McChord for twelve years. " Welcome Home "

[Arrow]

Danny,

Thank you for letting us get to know you and themen you were with. It's clear to me why Frank loved you so and treasured your friendship.Thank you and all those that were with you. Thank you and Welcome Home.

Peace on your path today, :a:

Arrow

[MORTARDUDE]

Awesome post !!!

Welcome Home !!

Larry

[Gimpy]

What a great post!

I feel proud to have met you brother.

Welcome home. Frank had a great friend in you old trooper!