The Mighty Ninth

Strive To Reach The Summit


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Best_Buddies_-_Modern_Day.JPGBest Buddies - a few years laterWell, more than a few. Clint "McClintock" Curry (left, deceased 4/18) and Mike Medley at their reunion, March 2011.
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Brothers-in-Arms.jpgBrothers-In-ArmsHome from LZ Cathy 9-69. The non-lifer traveling FDC band of brothers (left to right): Clint Curry, Eugene ("George") Jarisch, Denny Mrowzinski, Mike Medley, and our leader eltee "Rucksack" Rucker (Lt. Hermie "Rucksack" Rucker).
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Candy_Kids.JPGCandy KidsGood catch, candy in one hand and camera in the other. These kids are quick, and if a little taller and they would make great NBA defensive players or NFL quarterbacks.
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FDC-Hooch.JPGCot in FDC BunkerSitting on a cot in the FDC bunker at LZ St. George. Wasn't my sack. I was the newbie who got the stretcher held up by ammo boxes. My bed was unfortunately used for its intended purpose in November and that was the last use of it or my poncho liner.
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FDO_Benton_and_XO_McKuen.JPGFDO and the XO"A" Battery officers Lt Jerry R. Benton (FDO) and Lt McHugh (XO) touching the roof of the twin CONEX containers of the portable FDC. Note the trusty ol' pencil sharpener under Benton's right arm and a flashlight magnetized to the joint in the roof. Benton was later promoted to Captain.
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1stSgt_McPeek.JPGFirst Shirt1SG James E. McPeek; he was the First Sgt. We didn't get along. He lived in the FDC bunker and he was a big poker player, going to the rear for the $100s of dollar pots. He had a poker game going in the front of the bunker. I was not a poker player and had to write down what-beats-what. I won a few bucks, he got pissed, and from then on wanted me off the FB. Don't know when he went home, but it was none too soon for me. Fortunately McHugh (XO) saved me since I could do a high-burst registration.
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Hip_Shoot_at_LZ_Marianne.JPGHip Shoot @ LZ MarianneLZ Marianne hip shoot 9-69. (left to right): "Pineapple", a Section Chief, Sp4 Donald F. Morrell, far right is the Chief of Smoke. It was Pineapple's tube that had to be dropped when the Chinook was shot up leaving LZ Tuffy. He was a great photographer and had his VT fuse box with his camera equipment and his photos slung in the ammo net under the hook, which went down. Morrell was with the soul gun crew, I think he became section chief (gun 4?). Chief was a great guy. I think he was given a compassionate early return to the World because of his wife.
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Clint_Curry,_Hooking_Up.JPGHooking up the CH-47Exciting task. Who wants to do it? Well, here's Sp5 Clint Curry volunteering to get under the mechanical beast. My notes indicate Clint was hooking up the howitzer for a hip shoot on LZ Cathy as it lifted off in Sept, 1969. The Advance Party discovered the proposed LZ wasn't ready and they used up all our C-4 cooking supplies to blow down trees. I still remember the lousy smell of those heat tabs....ugh.
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Hurdle___Medley.JPGHurdle & MedleySp4 James A. "Jim" Hurdle and PFC Mike Medley. Taken right after I got to "A" Battery late May '69 at LZ St. George.
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Not_Sure.JPGLikely taken around Sept/Oct, 1969.Not sure where or when. Probably Sept/Oct '69. Getting ready to go out again (since I am wearing the flack jacket must be lifers in the background). Can't make out the folks behind me.
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McKuen_-_Richardson.JPGLt Jim McHugh and BC Capt RichardsonLt McHugh, XO, and BC Richardson inside the FDC CONEX. I recall that McHugh's dad was a full bird colonel. He started college at VMI and dropped out first year and went through OCS. He was a 20 year-old 1st LT as XO. Really a great kid (I was 23). Between the two of us we could do a high burst registration, which helped keep me around. He knew his stuff, but we loved to fool around with him. He wanted to fire the battery in strict accordance with the FM6-40, but FDC was more conscious of potential "check-fire" situations. We got the section chiefs on the guns to go along with us, so rather than argue with him we just said "yes sir". So the next thing is McHugh: "Battery" then the Chiefs:"Platoons", McHugh: "fire" followed by a ragged "bang . . . bang bang . . . bang . . bang (we only had 5 tubes at the time). He came into FDC and we offered to show him how to do it. Chief: "Battery ready", Me: "Battery fire" BANG in perfect unison.
(Note. Lt McKugh died on December 8, 2017 from cancer.)
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LZ_Abbey.JPGLZ Abbey - BeautifulLZ Abbey was as beautiful as LZ Tuffy was terrifying. It was near Bong Son. (continued).
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