The Mighty Ninth

Strive To Reach The Summit


JCook30.JPG
JCook30.JPGBase Piece - May 1966Joe notes to family back home: "These guys are members of the Base Piece Section; we do most of the firing. On all adjustment missions, we fire the BP. It is set over Battery Center. 10,000 rounds shot in Vietnam. This round (foreground) was shot at a suspected VC campsite. The whole battery fired it".
JCook28.JPG
JCook28.JPGBase Piece - May 1966#3 Gun Section - Base Piece
JCook31.JPG
JCook31.JPGDUI Driver - May 1966Our Jeep Driver was drunk coming back from Pleiku on a pass and ran the Jeep off the road. No one was hurt.
JCook41.JPG
JCook41.JPGFeathered FriendThis bird showed up with the "A" mess ration, delivered every day in the field.
JCook-124.JPG
JCook-124.JPG
JCook42.JPG
JCook42.JPGField EntertainmentSgt Cook does a "Napoleon" pose seated next to an unknown star in the entertainment world. But, thanks to Danny Yates, he now knows that it is Diane McBain sitting next to him. She is wearing the same outfit she wore while visiting Danny Yates' battery. The arm of Tippi Hedren can be seen next to the Battery Commander. Seated next to Joe is Cpl William C. Tyler, based on the name placed on his helmet liner.
JCook43.JPG
JCook43.JPGLt Herrick, 2/9th FA staff; Lt James A. Mager, Corps of EngineersJoe poses with two Lieutenants. The sign overhead reads: "Bravo Ever Ready" and "Mighty Ninth Sir" with the unit designation and the 25th Inf Div Tropic Lightning patch in the center.

L to R: Lt Chris Q. Herrick and Lt James A. Meger (Corps of Engineers) on either side of Sgt Joe Cook.
JCook44.JPG
JCook44.JPGFeb 1966Taken from a truck: a village near Pleiku
JCook45a.JPG
JCook45a.JPGSpoils of warCaptured enemy grenades. Also known as "potato mashers".
JCook46a.JPG
JCook46a.JPGMore spoils of warNote RPGs...one of the enemy's most effective weapons.
JCook51.JPG
JCook51.JPGBomb craterAccording to the cardboard mount, it indicates a bomb crater filled with water. I think it was a 500-lb bomb.
JCook15.jpg
JCook15.jpgLizard on deckLizard found at LZ 270. Musta got into our supply of C-rations.
141 files on 12 page(s) 6