![]() ![]() As of my 2005 visit, the entire area is now a rubber plantation with mature trees. Huey Cobra Gunship taking off from FSB Libby, 1969. UH-1C Huey gunship with rocket launchers on the LZ at FSB Libby. On chopper operations, I as LT was usually in the second chopper in (first was point man riflemen and M60. Being the last team to be pulled out was always interesting. On extraction me and and RTO Horst and Sgt Larry Fowler and several riflemen were usually the last out. As usual, hot, wet, sticky, and smelly, area was near Nui Soc Liu, a very violent area Waiting for extraction after a fire fight. This LZ, we thought was hot ,ended up being a quiet day at the office. When we hit the ground we were running to get out from under the chopper, in case it was hit. Jumping down 6 ft wearing a 35 pound ruck sack made for sore backs and hurting feet. The pilots who dropped us in had iron balls and steady hands. All hell could break out without warning. ![]() I got a permit and carried it home to USA on the airplane no problem.Ĭoming into an LZ with dense vegetation surrounding was always tense and nerve racking. This was a 9mm Chic-Com officers pistol I took off an unlucky local VC regional leader I shot during a fire fight. He weighed 110 pounds soaking wet, yet he carried the PRC 25 radio, his full gear, food and water, and extra ammo for the M60 machine gun he never once complained about the load or his duties. Left to Right: Boa, Lewis, RTO Mike Horst. Later I ass-chewed everyone for not being careful. My point man had already cleared and crossed it before I saw it, but I was very mad because it made us sitting ducks for an ambush. This was something we almost never did – used a bridge – because they were always booby trapped. bomb blew the leaves and bark of surrounding trees. Notice the vegetation is starting to grow back after a 500 lb. This was an area immediately adjacent to a B-52 bomb crater. C-4 cost about $50.00 a stick, but it sure worked. Steven McDonald 8 Stevens?ī.J.Khalifah cooking spaghetti and meatballs.I was using a piece of c-4 explosive to cook my meals. Boaīreaking camp early morning wet and rainy. My camera was soaking wet, the shutter and focus was way off. I do not know who the men in the photo are. Photo 663, man with hands on hip at right is 1LT Joseph Cathy, 5-12th Artillery forward observer/spotter.īreaking camp, early morning. Things like this happened all the time during rainy season, in a jeep or on foot. In the field in Long Khanh Province with Alpha 5-12, 69 – 70. I f you happen to know who these Redcatchers are, please contact the TOC at inf ail.com and let me know!** ** For the following A/5-12 pages, a few of the men in the pictures are unknown and I have a “?” beside them. Richard Lindholm (Minneapolis, MN) nickname of “Sue” as in the popular Johnny Cash song “A Boy Named Sue.” (Freddy) White (buried in Knoxville, TN…home of record Steve McDonald (Charlotte, NC…now Clover, SC)īJ Khalifah (TX now Gross Pointe Park, MI)īedford F. Szymczyk (Windsor Locks, CN…now in Feeding Hills, MA) Roster for Alpha Company, 5-12th Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade Bruce Osborn (California)įelix Felix-Gonzales (or Garcia…not sure)ĭavid (Tex) Welch (TX)…guy you couldn’t identify in the group shot of the rain soaked bunch of us including Richey, You, Kelly, Szymczyk, and me).this man saved my life and several others by spotting the claymore and allowing us to hit the ground before they fired it.Ĭhester F. Note: All the photos used in this story are copyrighted and can’t be duplicated or used without the explicit consent of the author. Although every tour of duty is different, this presentation of 250 + pictures offers readers the opportunity to witness a life that a few of us lived…and as the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Enjoy! Khalifah was fortunate in that he was able to capture much of his experiences on film, and then using the photos in a presentation “showing” what it was like to hump the boonies. Khalifah, served in Vietnam as an Infantry First Lieutenant with Alpha Company “Redcatchers” 5-12th Infantry, 199th Infantry Brigade, 1969 – 1970. So what if the author compliments his story with photos? ‘Oh yeah, now I know what you’re trying to say!’ Seeing is believing! My guest, B.J. All veterans have a story to tell – whether they choose to write a book, tell their story to others either individually or in front of large groups, one thing for certain is that words alone may not paint enough of a picture for others to fully comprehend the experience. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |