Interesting Viet Nam carbine photo

[G26ster]

Let me guess.....4/77 ARA? Don't forget North of there too! Regards, Rick.

Close, but I was with D 158th (Redskins). 4/77 ARA went in with last minute blasting of the LZ prior to insert, and we escourted the slicks in with suppressive fire and insertion security. But you already knew that As far as "North of there," we flew past the flag many times in support of Alpha1, Alpha 2, Charlie 1, etc. Larry

[shadycon]

Many thanks to you guys and the friends you lost. When drafted I went to Ger. in 1971, no more sent to VN. GK.

[sakorick]

Close, but I was with D 158th (Redskins). 4/77 ARA went in with last minute blasting of the LZ prior to insert, and we escourted the slicks in with suppressive fire and insertion security. But you already knew that As far as "North of there," we flew past the flag many times in support of Alpha1, Alpha 2, Charlie 1, etc. Larry

Wow...A blast from the past. We had a W2 in A/4-77 who decided to take care of that flag.......He fired 76x17 pounders and flechettes at that flag and beat it home. We found out about it during a drunken hail and farewell some months later( the gunner squealed).......Nobody ever said a word. I'm 65 now and remember many things back then but can't keep track of my keys now. Regards, Rick.

[G26ster]

Wow...A blast from the past. We had a W2 in A/4-77 who decided to take care of that flag.......He fired 76x17 pounders and flechettes at that flag and beat it home. We found out about it during a drunken hail and farewell some months later( the gunner squealed).......Nobody ever said a word. I'm 65 now and remember many things back then but can't keep track of my keys now. Regards, Rick.

Upon request of the guys on Alpha 1, Alpha 2 , etc. who were just south of the flag, we had standing orders, "DO NOT SHOOT THE FLAG!" Poor guys in those tiny fire bases paid the price if we did. I'm 69 now, and most of what I remember from then is being cold/hot, damp, and hungry 24/7, and a few memorable missions in between.

[ChipS]

Did we give the S. Viets auto carbines? I ask because I have a documented M1a1 Inland and a M1 Winchester "rescued" by Us transport pilot from a broken pallet of carbines on the tarmac that were destined for the Viets. Neither were auto. Needless to say, these two are my most treasured ones.

Well, since I didn't get there until Jan70 I guess I haven't seen the early SOG camo uniform as in the pic. I don't think I've ever seen a Nung. As far as M2 carbines issued to the VN, I can tell you I personally saw more than one ARVN in southern I Corps firing an M2 carbine in the summer of 1970. Most of the PF's carried M1 carbines as I recall, but at that time I was not aware of any collector niceties, nor did I care - only that it shot real fast. Semper Fi.

[DaveHH]

Most were mercenary guards and security people. We didn't hold them in high regard like the Mike Force guys. It was not uncommon to find them drunk and asleep on post. Boy would we screw around with them. The PF guys were always asleep in a hammock by the bridge they were suppose to be guarding, and some were collecting taxes for the VC. Mike Force would saddle up out of the 5th SF camp next door and off across the river, they were the real deal. Well armed in shape and tough. I've never imagined that you could hang M1 clips off so many places, they managed to carry A LOT of ammo. All in all the Viets weren't really into the war the way we thought they should be. The cowboys and ARVN were just about worthless, PF and Rangers were misbehaved, drunken little ********. The Koreans just scared the crap out of them. There was a shooting at one of the beach houses and a couple of Koreans were killed. The Korean General went down to visit the Viet Ranger commander with an escort of about 100 well armed men. He basically said if we catch your men in town we will come back and kill all of you. Never saw a Ranger after that. Things were very different in '66.

[G26ster]

Most were mercenary guards and security people. We didn't hold them in high regard like the Mike Force guys. It was not uncommon to find them drunk and asleep on post. Boy would we screw around with them. The PF guys were always asleep in a hammock by the bridge they were suppose to be guarding, and some were collecting taxes for the VC. Mike Force would saddle up out of the 5th SF camp next door and off across the river, they were the real deal. Well armed in shape and tough. I've never imagined that you could hang M1 clips off so many places, they managed to carry A LOT of ammo. All in all the Viets weren't really into the war the way we thought they should be. The cowboys and ARVN were just about worthless, PF and Rangers were misbehaved, drunken little ********. The Koreans just scared the crap out of them. There was a shooting at one of the beach houses and a couple of Koreans were killed. The Korean General went down to visit the Viet Ranger commander with an escort of about 100 well armed men. He basically said if we catch your men in town we will come back and kill all of you. Never saw a Ranger after that. Things were very different in '66.

The Koreans scared the cr*p out of everyone. When they did a "search and destroy" they killed everything! That included all livestock and chickens. Things were a bit different in Northern I Corps with the 101st., so I can't speak for troops "off duty." All Cities, towns, villages, and hamlets were "off limits" to members of the 101st Abn. I never spent a minute off the firebase during free time, except for a quick trip to Saigon to pick up an aircraft and fly it back. Also, above Camp Eagle (just north of Hue), no indigenous persons were permitted on the base. This changed in 1971 I believe, as the 101st became less "paranoid" I guess.The Nungs that were with the CCN SF guys were hardcore, at least on duty. I wouldn't know what they did off duty. The ARVN marines, with their Aussie advisors, were pretty awesome too.

[Bruce McAskill]

If you look at the AR he is carring you will see that it is an early M16 not the later M16-A1 as there is no forward assist on it. This would have been an RVN issued weapon as they were the first to buy the M16. Many of the US advisers early on tried these and really like them asking the Army to get some for them but that would take some time for that to happen.

[DaveHH]

They were the best of the best. Large, tough, well trained and they loved Americans. They put a company out beside a rubber plantation that used to be trouble for convoys on HWY1, they just killed everybody for about a mile around and no more trouble. Some of these Gulf War guys think I'm BSing when I talk about what it was like over there 45 years ago. It was not the "Be All You Can Be" Army with time outs and girls. It was a filthy, undisciplined camping trip with guns. You were very happy to get out of that place.

[sakorick]

They were the best of the best. Large, tough, well trained and they loved Americans. They put a company out beside a rubber plantation that used to be trouble for convoys on HWY1, they just killed everybody for about a mile around and no more trouble. Some of these Gulf War guys think I'm BSing when I talk about what it was like over there 45 years ago. It was not the "Be All You Can Be" Army with time outs and girls. It was a filthy, undisciplined camping trip with guns. You were very happy to get out of that place.

My first tour in 67-68 was in a Assault Helicopter Company in I Corps. It was a pretty loose leaderless outfit. My second tour was 70-71 in the 101st flying Cobras in I Corps. That was a tough, well trained and commanded division with great pride and focus. Leadership makes all the difference in the world. Units with weak leaders were weak and units with great leadership were tough, disciplined and mission oriented. We learned many lessons in Vietnam which led to the highly trained professional force of volunteers we enjoy today. Just my $.02. Regards, Rick.