M1 carbine on a Delta Boat in Vietnam

[mja_20]

We carried 2 Carbine's on our Assault Craft. Main reason was that they were shorter then an M-14 and easier to manuver. Also had 4 Ma Duces, one at each corner.

This must have been a reoccurring theme for soldiers over there? Although not on a boat crew, my father in law was in a Cav Unit in 68 and said he carried a carbine with him in his tank or APC depending what he was driving at the time. Said it just fit better inside the small space. Claimed he found it early on at some point from a suspected VC, tried to take it home after his tour was done and had it in his bag, but when asked before leaving, he didn't want to get in trouble and fessed up to it being there. Said they told him it was "government property" and subsequently took it.

One of these days I'd like to get a decent shooter grade carbine for him so he can shoot it in his remaining years. I don't think he's used one since he left and he'll be 70 years old in a couple months.

[browningautorifle]

The movie was an insult to anyone who served there.

We never meant any disrespect to you guys that went there and did that. All would agree that the whole idea of girlies appearing out there would be hokum. The whole drawn out story was a cluster of short stories that came back through time, different places and different people. It was originally OK as a MOVIE. To me back when it came out and RVN was fresh in the minds of those that paid attention, it demonstrated the lack of care by outsiders as to what you'd been thrown into. There was a lack of seriousness about winning anything.

I feel the same about the movie Hyena Road, by Paul Gross. Recently released about my regiment in Afghanistan, he does what a civvie director does and writes a love tale in the middle of something that could be good. He did it with Passchendaele as well. A love tale in the battle front. In Hyena, he put a female captain in my Regimental hatbadge and had her running a JOC during battle. He had her fraternizing with the sniper chief, and carrying his child while in conflict...it had personal issues written in that would never be considered...

It's a MOVIE. Most of them DO insult those of us that did that. They sure draw a crowd with coin in hand though, which is what they were meant to do. We can't take fact from them, I watch Bugs Bunny but I don't believe rabbits can talk...

Agreed on the M14...

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Those of us that have combat experiences usually don't talk about them. I fear that the following generations that do not have military family members believe what they see. Sadly I have met some that do.

[Sentryduty]

Hyena Road, aware of it, never seen it. Few plans to do so.

Other war films on the other hand I enjoy.

[browningautorifle]

Hyena Road

It has it's moments. You can recognize people in it.