Most viewed - Dennis L Dauphin
|
Capt_Mike_Casp,_BC.JPGThe Best110 viewsCaptain Mike Casp, KIA in November, 1967, was the best commanding officer that I served under during my tour from 1966-67. Mike was a West Point grad and Captain of the West Point football team. May he rest in peace.
|
|
LZ_OD_Mess_Kitchen.JPGChow Time101 viewsPFC Alvin Hite, Cook and SFC Frank Venegas, Chief of Smoke, enjoy a "hot meal" from the mermite cans at LZ OD, firebase for 1/35th and "A" Battery.
SFC Venegas eventually became the Command Sergeant Major of III Corps Artillery located at Ft. Sill, Ok where he resided until his death.
|
|
I_m_Home.jpgReturned home from Nam55 viewsWell, I made it back home. I went over in a khaki uniform and still wearing it at Camp Chaffee, AR for the National Guard's ATT. I was the Safety Officer, assigned to protect the good people of Ft Smith from losing any cattle or their City Hall. They had reason for concern, too.
So....here's my story in pictures.
|
|
FO_on_Duty_-_Hwy_19.JPGHighway 19 - Guarding the road with A-2-3550 viewsPhoto taken in January, 1967. Remember it well. Wasn't long after this photo was taken, the VC started lobbing mortars at our perimeter. The rounds were landing between A-2-35 and a nearby village. They knew it would be difficult for us to return the fire. But we did. An Infantry mortar hit a rotted tree trunk, setting it on fire. That gave us the target zone and we returned fire. No casualties, but we found plenty of blood near the impact zone.
But, let's go back to the beginning.
|
|
Huey___155mm.jpgEarly Days of Duc Pho - Spring, 196735 viewsA Huey drops off supplies that go with the 155mm howitzer. Don't think that the Huey can pick up the 155; it can't.
|
|
Pleiku_Sign.jpgWelcome to Pleiku35 viewsWell, not really. After my one-week excursion thru Camp Alpha and Saigon, it was time to get down to business. I caught a 0400hrs flight out of Tan Son Nhut into Pleiku in mid-Nov 1967. That's where the "real stuff" began. It was the HQ of the 2/9th FA Bn at the time. After checking in and getting my assignment, some of the "regulars" wanted to show me the town of Pleiku. You can tell from the sign alone this was my first mistake. It was a shithole of the worst degree. I never went back there, EVER!
|
|
LZ_English.jpgLZ English at Bong Son31 viewsThe 1st Cav moved on to another mission and we take their firebase. The red tubes made a nice parapet wall, but I don't know where the red came from.
|
|
155mm_at_Duc_Pho.jpgEarly Days of Duc Pho - Spring, 196730 viewsA quickly laid spray of asphalt was laid down to control all the dust on the landing pad. A 155mm howitzer awaits transport to its destination.
|
|
Holbrook_-_Casp.jpgThe "Boss" goes to the field27 viewsLtCol Bruce Holbrook. 2/9th BnCo, chats with "A" Battery Commander Captain Mike Casp (KIA in Nov, 1967) after landing at LZ OD. His C&C chopper can bee seen behind them.
|
|
Tam_Ky_1.JPGTam Ky - Final LZ26 viewsThe mountainous, and very uneven terrain of Tam Ky, was my last stop before DEROS. It was the WORST LZ I have ever been on! There was not enough flat, level ground to place six howitzers in the standard star formation. Judging from the slushy ground and unkempt look of this position, this photo was taken after a very severe monsoon hit us.
|
|
Spencer___Casp.JPGLt Malcolm Spencer and Capt Mike Casp26 viewsSince I was heading home on my DEROS, Lt Malcolm Spencer was called out of the field, where he had been pulling FO duty, to replace me as the XO of "A" Battery. Behind him is the Battery Commander, Captain Mike Casp, who was killed two weeks after this photo was taken. He was on a reconnaissance mission when the chopper was shot down.
|
|
|
| 191 files on 16 page(s) |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16 |
|
