VietnamJC.com Fifth Page.
          Browser back for previous page.

Vietnam was a beautiful country. This morning view from hill 1338 (I think) saw just the near hilltops sticking up with clouds filling in around them. That's how we knew where we were. Shooting a compass azimuth to the surrounding hills and estimating the distance. Then, we just located ourselves on a topographical map (a map that shows hilltops).

Left to right: Jim Spearman, David Vold, Joe Cummings and I can't remember the name of the 4th man. A helicopter caught us unaware right after this and blew what ever we couldn't grab everywhere.

I think most every heli-pad operator had a monkey. Joe Cummings waiting in Dak To or Pleiku for a ride out to our company firebase. You had to be kind of careful with them, some of those monkeys would bite the heck out of you.

Sgt. Max Worthington. Max was and remains a good friend. He was wounded in action on March 11, 1969.

This hill had a wide gentle ridge that came up allowing easier access for enemy attack. The 55 gal napalm canister was to help defend the hill. When detonated, all in a fraction of a second, the wraps of white plastic detonation cord around the drum would cut the end off, as the shape charge at the other end would spray the napalm out over the ridge. The barrel parts would become shrapnel. Trusting souls we were... Sitting there in front of a huge napalm bomb waiting on helicopters. Retrospectively, this firebase layout might have been poorly thought out!

Link to: VietnamJC.com First Page.
Link to: VietnamJC.com Second Page.
Link to: VietnamJC.com Third Page.
Link to: VietnamJC.com Fourth Page.
Fifth Page Being Viewed.
Link to: VietnamJC.com Final Page.

Please use browser back arrow to return to previous page. | Home