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| I would like to thank Capt Bill Peters for sharing this part of our units history with us. This was, and is a very big important part of who we are and what we have become. This brings back the good, the bad, the sad and happy memories of a time that we will all remember with pride and honor. (Click on Title To View Photo) |
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| Part II |
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| AUSSIE M-113 This is an Australian M-113 that is securing us in the Hat Dich Secret Zone. Some plows and guys in the background. FIELD MAINTENANCE Here is shot of the same rig changing out a radiator. RECOGNIZE ANY OF THE GUYS? TREE ON CAB This is a shot of a cab that got crushed by a tree falling on it. The operator was hurt, but not to seriously as I recall. We did med-evac him. DOES ANYBODY RECALL THIS INCIDENT? PLOW MAINTENANCE ~ SHARPENING BLADES & STINGER This is an operator sharpening the lance or stinger, made of high tungsten content steel, it and the blade was sharpened everyday. PLOW MAINTENANCE ~ BLOWING OUT RADIATOR Here is a shot of an operator blowing out the radiator with an air-compressor. DO YOU KNOW THE OPERATPOR? This plow was definitely one of the older ones. Homade grille and a bar to protect the radiator. PLOW MAINTENANCE ~ WELDING ON #32 We broke all kinds of things that Caterpiller never expected us to break. Sometimes, to the consternation of the infantry who wanted strict light discipline, we had to arc weld all night! TALK ABOUT A TARGET! |
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| FIELD MAINTENANCE This is how we had to improvise to lift heavy things when we did not have those great M~88 track retrievers with us. This is a 5~ton dump truck(the standard engineer vehicle) that has a pair of "shears" mounted on it. We then used the hydraulic bed raise and lower the object. In this case a Rome Plow cab and headache bars. AUSSIE M~113 ~ MOVIING DAY This is a shot ofus on a NDP moving day. I think the guy in the unauthorized uniform (i.e., no shirt or hat!) and sunglasses is 1 LT Dan Lynes. The guy with his back to the camera and the floppy jungle hat is a LC'er but I don't recall who he is, DO YOU KNOW? AUSSIE INFANTRY Aussie infantry going out on a patrol is illustrative for several points. First and what we loved most is that they patroled so aggressively around us that we were NEVER mortared while being secured by the Aussies. Two ~ look at the size of the trees and the men in comparison. That is what we had to contend with. FIELD MAINTENANCE This is how we preferred to do it. Use the tankers M~88 VTR to lift the 250 cfm air compressor onto one of our M~548 tracked carriers. The M~548s were pretty beat up things, but worth their weight in gold. Each Company was supposed to have four of them. FIELD MAINTENANCE Here is a shot of an M~88 changing a radiator on #40. Note that #40 is a bull blade. Each company had three bull blades to clear the mess left by the plows so the security ttracks could secure us without throwing tracks. Note the yellow air filtration unit on the other tractor (another bull blade). |
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| VN ~ OH 6 IN NDP This was the preferred method of guiding the plows through the jungle. One of the best airplanes I have ever been in. Fast, agile, and crash-worthy. FIELD MAINTENANCE AREA Yuk! And we lived and worked in this muck! Note the engine crates and old engines sitting around. We did third shop work in the field. This was taken from the treetops in an Aussie OH~13. FIELD MAINTENANCE Here is the way the Engineer School teaches you to make a pair of shears. We used these when we had no M~88, no crane, no 5-ton dump truck. Worked, but not as well - not mobile. We had to push the plow under the shears to kift things. Used simple block and tackle and strong engineer rope. A Co. AREA WITH DAMAGED TRACTOR This is the A Co., area. It is a pic of a battle damaged D7 tractor, it hit a mine. Note the flattened idler wheel and the track frame was cracked. Pretty bad damage, but the operator survived. A Co. AREA WITH STUFF TO FIX The Land Clearing Companies broke them and A Company fixed them. In addition to the "Rome Runners" in A Co., A Co. had direct support maintenance wand welding capability including a tech supply. It was essential to keeping the plow operational. The guys did a tremendous job to get this back into the cut. MED EVAC NDP This is something none of us wanted to see, but at the same time we knew these guys were life-savers. "THANKS MEN!" MED EVAC NDP ~ DEPARTURE Here is the same dustoff making a safe departure. "AGAIN, THANKS MEN." |
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| THANKSGIVING DAY IN THE FIELD ~ 1969 ~ DESERTS Pumpkin and Mince Meat Pies.......YUM...YUM! The turkey was in the murmite can (kind of a thermos bottle for foods) at the far end of the line. THANKSGIVING DAY IN THE FIELD ~ 1969 ~ SHRIMP COCKTAIL How about some shrimp cocktail, jungle style? THANKSGIVING DAY IN THE FIELD ~ 1969 FRUIT & CAKE Happy Thanksgiving from Vietnam ~ 1969. Not too bad ~ huh? THANKSGIVING DAY IN THE FIELD ~ 1969 ~ SMASHED TATERS & STUFFIN Smashed taters and stuffin! Note the relish tray beyond. Big picnic! THANKSGIVING IN THE FIELD ~ 1969 ~ LC'ers EATING I am thankful the enemy did not hit us here ~ look at how everone was bunched~up. One round and.... Not exactly textbook tactical feeding techniques! So, who was in charge here? ? ? ? I do thank God that this was a happy occasion. CAN ANYBODY ID THESE GUYS? |
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| Thanksgiving ~ Jungle Style |
| Thankful For Each of You |
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| Thanks to Bill Peters for sharing his memories and photos with us. The history of these fine men has been kept silent for to long. With the help of more of these men we can let the people know what they did and the dedication to their mission in Vietnam. Thanks to Bill and to each Land Clearer who served. |
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