In March of 1968, I travelled to Vietnam as a willing young soldier. I bought my first 35mm camera and went wild. Most of the photos are from slides I shot. I’ve been carrying them around for almost 40 years and decided to scan them before they fall apart. The poor quality is the result of the photo lab in Vietnam, where they were processed, and the age of the slides. Having said that, the main culprit is me. I knew very little about photography, and shot everything and anything.
Hi I just found your website.
I was stationed in Dong ba thin Viet Nam from Sept 1966-1967.
I was with the 18th Engineer bde headquarters. I worked in the mess hall,. I had been a Nikes Hercules Missleman before that but I wanted to get a band together in Germany where I was stationed and so I got permission to transfer to the mess hall so I could get all my nights off. Well the end result was also a tour in Viet Nam.
I got out of the army after 6 years after that tour.
Ken Maxwell
Ken, thanks for stopping by. I wonder what the place looks like now.
Steve
I was with the 608th from FT Bragg Feb 67 through June 68. We set up in Dong Ba Thin. Major McGlaun was in our unit for a short period before he went up to Na Trang. Thanks for you photos.
Denny McKeever
LTC (R) TC
Denny, glad you stopped by. Major Mac, as we called him, was a super individual. I read somewhere that he made LTC Before retiring.
Steve
CW3 (R) QM
I was with Bob Hope on his tours of Vietnam from 1968 through 1972, as a member of the Les Brown Band. I still have all sorts of mementos on my wall from those trips…unit caps and patches,plaques,etc. I’ve been a professional musician in Hollywood for 50 years, and I am more proud of those tours than anything else I’ve ever done, including playing at Carnagie Hall and the White House.
I’m a Korean War Air Force vet who never got out of Texas, so I consider those tours my overseas time. You guys were the greatest audiences ever, and what a great pleasure and honor it was to play for you.
Best wishes always,
Jack Redmond
Mr. Redmond. Jack, if I may. It is an honor to receive your comment. Millions of soldiers are better off after being entertained by you and the band. Thanks for stopping by. Did I post a picture of you on my site?
Steve
Hi
I am one of the men that was with the 610th trans co when it went to veit nam in 1966 from fort benning ga. For some reason the only thing about the 610 is from 1968 on. We landed at cam ruhn bay in sept of 66. We then set up at dong ba thin.
when we got there ,there was nothing but sand. we put up the maint tents & SET up base.It was either Jan or Feb of 67 that we left for anke to support the ist cav.
In april of 67 I left the 610 for the 79. I came home in Jun 67.
Would like to know more about the 610. Doug Muenzhuber
Crystal Mn.
Doug, I wish I could tell you more, but I’ve posted everything I have about the 610th. You might want to leave a comment on the 14th Transportation Battalion site and someone may be able to give you more information. I have the site for the Bn on the right side of the blog. Thanks for stopping by and good luck.
Steve
Hi everyone I was in 540th 12/67 till 6/68 when they sent me to phu loi…… I was in supply and arms control. Anyone remembering me or just want to chat email me at bphorseman@yahoo.com. and “WELCOME HOME” everyone!!!! Ken, I think we called you “Max”.
Bruce, good to see you. If anyone remembers Bruce, drop him a line.
Steve
Oops I misread….. Steve were you in the 540th 12/67 -6/68??? We are planning a 540th-79th trans co. 14th bn reunioun in Nashville this year week of veterans day in november please have everyone see http://www.14thtransbn.org for info and hope everyone can make it and thanks so much for your site!!!! Bruce (PeeWee) or (Shorty) in Nam!!!!
Bruce, I was in Nha Trang. I worked in the S-4 at the Battalion HQ. I did get out and visit the 540th and 79th on a few occasions.
Steve, I served with HHC in Nhatrang from March 67 to March 68, then the 79th for
six months, then finished up with HHC again for six months, Iwas the Commo SGT worked right behind the S4 shack. Do have any pictures of the Commo bunker that was a shore to build in 68. but it was great placeto holdup during TET. Welcome home, great web. Hope to see you in Nashville.
Dan, I checked, but found no shots of the Commo bunker. I remember it well. There was a dog there that they had adopted. Called it Commo, naturally. I’m sure we must have ran across each other at one time or another. I’ll do a blurb on the reunion soon.
Dan, I forgot to mention. I see you listed on the 79th Unit Roster that I posted from the Yearbook.
Yea, they did the year book the six months I was at the 79th. Lt. dean jernigan was the editor, he was also the Commo officer. I Spoke with Col. Paulson who was the Bn. commander at that time. He said he sent Dean to Taipe to get the book done and he was gone so long he thought he had jumped ship. Commo, was my dog I found him as a puppy, he was a good dog I hated to leave him. we also had a Black Lab type dog around the same time his name was BF. You can guess what that ment, he was very active among the female dog population, and after awhile there seemed to be an influx of black lab type puppies in the area. I think you music is great.
Thanks for the update, Dan.
Thanks much for putting this site together! It brings back some strong memories. I was with the 540th from Sept., 1967 to July, 1968 in the prop and rotor shop.
Mark, thanks for stopping by. It was fun and needed to be done before the photos and other things fell apart.
I served with the 79th from March 1969-September 1971. It was great seeing some of the pictures and I recognized some of the names on the roster as those of men that were there when I arrived.
If interested, I have a piles of pictures of the men, company area and flightline from my time in Qui Nhon. Those were the days.
Tony, thanks for stopping by. Have you contacted the folks at the 14th Trans Bn site about posting your pictures. The have a sub site for the 79th Trans Company.
Steve
steve, great to see people finding your site and thanks in advance for plugging the nashville reunion. Will we see you there???? hope all is well. Bruce
Bruce, thanks for the reminder. Hope all is well with you.
Steve
Hey,
Served with 540th 9/67 – 6/68, obviously during Tet, can’t believe I found this website. Worked in the aircraft instrument shop adjoined to the big 540th hangar. Problem, my name is not on the duty rooster. Would like to be included, is thet possible? Have my DD214 to confirm. Might like to be at the reunion, I’m in Atl., so will watch site for details.
Please advise about rooster.
Welcoime home brother and thanks again,
Danny Camp (Sp.5 at derios and ets. 6/22/08)
Danny, glad you stopped by. I sent you an email, but want to post some information here. Click on the 14th Trans Bn site on the blog roll on the right side of the main page. Then click on Association and then Officers and Committees. You’ll find some names for the 540th and email addresses. Get in contact with those folks and they can bring you up todate on the 540th web page and the reunion.
Welcome home brother,
Steve
Hi, I’m Vietnamese. My mom’s dad was a US soldier in the Vietnam war. As far as i know he was stationed in Nga Trang, and for most of my life my mom and i have been looking for him. We have no pictures of them as they were burned after the war was over, out of fear of execution. We also don’t know his name. All we really know was that he was an American.I was wondering if you know any ways that might help my mom and i find him. Your help would be greatly appreciated by both my mom and i.
Sincerely,
Vien Hoang
P.S.
If anyone knows anyway that i can find my grandfather please help me.
Vien, thanks for stopping by. I wish there was some great advice I could give that would help you find you Grandfather, but I’m not sure what it would be. The only thing I can recommend is to visit web sites where soldiers, who were stationed in Vietnam, post messages looking for old friends. Put in as much information about him as you can. Including your grandmother’s name and where and when they might have met. The best of luck to you on your quest.
Steve
Ok thanks Steve. I’ve lived 17 years and have not known any of my grandparents. Also , do you know of any other sites, that could help me?
ok i got more information on my grandfather. He was stationed in Cam Ranh Nha Trang. My grandmother’s name was Em Thi Nguyen, i also have her what i believe is her ID card to work in the American bases. She assisted the American during the war. There’s also an identification number on the card and it is 06341847. So hopefully this helps.
Vien Hoang
Vien, I posted the request for assistance on the main page. Hope this generates some help in your search.
Steve
thanks Steve my mom and i really appreciate you helping us.
Vien, glad to do what I can for your quest. Good luck to you and your mother.
Hey Steve do you know any other websites similar to yours?
Vien, on the right under blog roll is the 14th Transportation Battalion. They have a comment section also. You might try there.
Ok thanks Steve I will try it out. If you have any other websites in mind, please don’t hesitate to tell me.
Steve,
I am trying to find the CO of the 79th during Oct. 1970. There was a Captain James Laird who drown on Oct. 31, 1970 and I was with him on that day. I was a truck driver in the 79th. On that day I was driving and another one of our guys, Stan Kirby was riding shotgun with me. We were caught in a flash flood and had to stop. We were piockup off the top of the load and flown back to the base. We both talked to the CO and he decided to send us and two other guys and gto retrieve the truck. It was us four and Captain Laird was put in charge of the recovery. When we returned we were dropped off about 100 yards from the truck and had to walk across the levy to get to the truck. About half way across the captain lost his footing and was swept away by the current. Kirby dove in after him and then one of the other guys was swept away. That left me and one other guy. I really want to talk to the guy that was left with me. Also the captains daughter wants to talk to anyone who was there with her father that day. She has a post on the wall with her e-mail but it doesn’t work so I like to find her and let her know how her dad died. He died carrying out an impossible mission and with a great deal of honor and bravery. Any help that anyone can get me to find and contact these people will be forever apperciated.
Ronald W. Prewitt
SP4
79th Trans Co.
I’m Captain Laird’s daughter. Mr. Prewitt, Ron, and I have been in touch and are on a united quest to see if we can learn anything more about my dad. I noticed a couple of the guys who have posts listed here may have been stationed with my dad, bruce philipie & tony fraticelli. Would it be possible for you to forward Ron’s note to them to see if they may have known him? Thanks so much and I apologize if this is a duplicate request. You have my permission to give them my email address.
Elin Laird
Elin, I will send them an email with a CC to you. Good luck on your quest.
Steve
I am trying to find a picture of a USAF LtCol Albright, an O-1 Forward Air Controller who
was pictured on the front page of a 1969 Stars and Stripes Vietnam edition. Pictured with
a captured 12.7 AA gun.
Hi,
I just happened on your sight and was hoping you may be able to help me out. I am working on my Master’s thesis and am writing about Country music during the Vietnam War. I was wondering if you or any of your fellow soldier’s remember hearing country music while stationed overseas, or if you remember seeing Country musicians tour with the USO. I know some country stars were over there, but unfortunately, the USO archives burned down in 1979 and lost all records of who actually went abroad. I know this seems like a strange request, but I would really like to include what music soldier’s listened to because I think it gets overlooked in contemporary histories. Thanks so much.
Katie
Katie, thanks for stopping by. One of the more popular songs that I heard in Vietnam, and seemed to be performed by quite a few of the bands that traveled the clubs, was The Green Green Grass of Home, popular at the time by the Tom Jones remake. I don’t recall seeing many American groups. Most were from Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Australia. They performed lots of country. I’ve posted some pictures of some of the groups on this blog. Perhaps some folks will read your request and post some of their thoughts.
Steve,
Thanks so much for the response, it’s really intriguing. The groups that you did see performing country songs, do you remember any other songs they performed?
Katie, another one that sticks in my mind, is Leaving on a Jet Plane. Not sure if you would call that country or not.
Steve,
Just this evening found this site. I was with the 540th from 5/68 to 5/69 as Company Admin, I replaced Vern Swanson. Days would find me just about anywhere in the unit area, but most often in the evenings, I was tending bar at the club. Rotated back to the World, and assigned to the POW Records Center in D.C. While I found you late for the reunion this time around, I will keep the next one in mind. It would be great to see some of the guys again. Hope everyone had a great time at the reunion, and all are well.
John, glad you stopped by. I’m unable to attend the reunion also, but am sure lots of folks will see old friends. I also wish them a good time.
Steve
I was in the 540th, engine shop, from April’68-April’69
enjoyed looking at this site.
Gene
I am looking for an Afircan American Solider named Sorrell (Surrell) he was stationed at Ft Bragg in 1966. If anyone knows him or where he is please let me know
Alvin Thompson
Gene, thanks for stopping by.
Alvin, good luck.
Sgt Qauckenbush,
You were my first seargent in country in 1968. I was a replacement. I took care of commo after you left!!! The other dog your talkin about got lost one night and never came back. So excited i found this website, i cant contain myself, it is so cool. Just lost my father Albert Boudreau WWII decorated wounded in Normandy, purple heart. Received the flag and his medals. It meant more to me than words can explain. Would like to hear more of our battalion and all my brothers who served. your brother, Roger A. Boudreau ie “babyson”
Rodger Boudreauie,
Thanks for the update somethings you just wonder about why don’t you email me directly, at quack0711@twcny.rr.com, and we can discuss the upcoming reunion and old times, My dad was a WWII vet as we’ll they were a special breed, I love them all. talk to you soon.
Quack
Welcome brother.
I was stationed at Dong Ba Thin in 1970 with the 608th. I was later transferred to the 210st Aviation in Nha Trang in 1971.
I was a Turbine Engine Mechanic but also became the Company Clerk when someone knew I could type.
I will try to find some pictures and post them although most of mine were lost in teh trip home with my baggage.
Mike, glad you stopped by. If you get them posted let me know so I can take a look.
I was with 5/4 HHB FSCC in Quang Tri and Dong Ha from 1/70 to 12/70. I was a radio operator (call sign was Red Devil Arty) and when we went into the field I drove a command APC.During the rainny season and I think when Typhoon Patsy hit Quang Tri every think was flooded and I had to go to the motor pool to check on my APC. Around the motor pool was a high enbackment and people were watching three guys that were stranded on top of their truck about 100 200 yards out. The water was swift and up to the top of the truck. Without thinking, I ran back, started my APC and headed out of the motor pool. No one was on top so the guard tried to stop me but he didn’t. The APC did not have a float kit but it floated and I used the motion of the tracks to guide me. I was able to get the three off the truck and then noticed two guys hanging on in the top of a small tree. One of the three off the truck was a Colonel and he stayed in the top hatch and we could talk with our headsets on. He asked if I could get the two and I said yes and going with the water and then turning around I was able to get up to the tree. I was against the tree and one guy jumped and grabbed me and then he was going to help get the other guy but with his weight water starting coming in my hatch. He had to leave. I was still against the tree but the other guy would not jump. He was froze to the tree. I was only like two feet from him but he just would not jump. I will never be able to forget his eyes stareing at me. After several attempts I was ordered to leave because we were sinking. I had water over 18 inches in my area. We finally made it back and alot of people saw what happened. The Colonel said “son you just won a Bronze Star”. I asked about the guy we left behind and the water had already carried him away. I didn’t get the Bronze Star and aft the time I didn’t care but I have never been able to forget the guy’s eyes looking at me. I know this is long and drawn out but I am trying to find someone that witnessed the incident. I read the emails above and at first thought I had found what I was looking for but a chopper was involed in that incident. Please if anyone can remember seeing what I have said please contact me. I have been looking for something for a long time. Please forgive the spelling, I’m not much of a typist.
Lynn, good luck. I hope someone that remembers the incident contacts you.
Dear Lynn,
How ironic that we have the same last name and that we both experienced somewhat simular experiences. Although I don’t have any information to give you about the incident you experienced I am overwhelmed to share something with you. Like you I was looking for something and I didn’t even know it. I have something to say to you but I won’t say it here. Lynn I know what you have lived with through the years.
Let’s talk?
Ron Prewitt
ronwp53@yahoo.com
PS….all during the army my last name was spelled with two t’s but as you can see in my email address the correct spelling is one t. lfprewit@yahoo.com
Love the site. Can you setup a blog for the 608th on here or in some way help me set up one.
Milton L. Lane Jr. 608th 69-70
email: lanemoyock@yahoo.com or miltonlane@wordpress.com
Milton, glad you stopped in. This is basically a blog about my two tours in Nam. Setting up a blog isn’t too dificult and it’s free. I recommend you got to wordpress or Blogger and sign up for a blog. You’ll need to play around with posting photos and things to get a feel for it. After you spend a little time, it’ll be a lot easier. I’m not much of a computer guy, but I caught on to it with minimal problems.
Steve
Milton, if you go to the 14th Trans Bn web site, they have a page reserved for the 608th. Contact the webmaster.
Steve
http://www.14thtransbn.org/
I served with AVEL North in Nha Trang from March 1968 to June 1969. I have a 14th Trans. Batt. yearbook from 1968. Kind of fun looking through it now and then.
Tom, we may have crossed paths a time or two. I see your name in the AVEL company listing in the yearbook. Thanks for stopping by.
I served with the 608th Trans Co. in Dong Ba Thin from June 1967 to July 1968. I was very familiar with the picture of the building built between the two vans. This was our platoon office for aircraft supply parts depot. A buddy (Ronnie, can’t remember his last name) and I built this office in 1968.
Lt. Denny Mckeever was my platoon commander for most of my service time.
Thanks for the memories.
James, thanks for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed your visit.