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If anyone has ever doubted anything I have told you about my 2 tours in Vietnam, from Jan 1969 to Jan 1970, and from Jan 1971 to Jan 1972, then looking at these pictures and reading the comments, should be proof enough.
This (my) website has a collection of my pictures, and pictures from other Vietnam Veterans that were donated, with a special focus on the "Siege of Dak To, Ben Het" and Fire Support Base (FSB) 6 located on Rocket Ridge overlooking the valley of Dak To, from May thru July 1969. This siege in 1969 was liken to the siege of Khe Sanh in 1968.
1-Operational Reports of the 1st Battalion 92nd Artillery, my Unit: http://www.bravecannons.org/History/hist_benhet.html
2-Another good story is at http://www.thebattleofkontum.com/memories/15.html
3-An excellent YouTube video also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-eYoL6IZXg
4-The battle of Ben Het Vietnam (1969): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adQnb_0cz4o&feature=related
I walked from my Apartment at 403 Baskins Creek Rd, to the Office where I worked for SKY MOUNTAIN RENTALS at 696 Sky Mountain Rd., which was 2.2 miles and the snow was really coming down. No traffic was possible. People (Out of Towners) were walking the streets and roads in a panic. Liken to the people in the "Walking Dead" movie. Seriously. That was the first thing I noticed, as to how the tourist people were scared. There was no Electricity anywhere around.
I do not remember where I got these B&W photos, but believe they are all in Tennessee.
None are for sale.
If you can identify any of these pictures, please, leave a comment below the picture and I will get it, or you can send me an email at ERayAustin@outlook.com
I do not remember where I got these B&W photos, but believe they are all in Tennessee.
None are for sale.
If you can identify any of these pictures, please, leave a comment below the picture and I will get it, or you can send me an email at ERayAustin@outlook.com
A collection of Vietnam Photos I took while assigned to HHC, 12th Combat Aviation Group, “Plantation Army Airfield” - “Blackjack Pad?” Vietnam, outside of Long Binh, from January 1971 until January 1972.
HHC, 12th Combat Aviation Group was located just across the fence from "90th Replacement" at Long Binh, and pretty close to the Bien Hoa Air Base.
12th Combat Aviation Group Website: https://eraya.fotki.com/milphoto/vietnam-photo/era5/
After Dylan graduated from Scott High School in May of 2011, he went into the U.S. Navy and graduated from Navy Boot Camp on August 5, 2011, at Great Lakes, IL.
If you want copies, contact me via email or telephone, and tell me what photo (Photo Number of each photo), what size, and how many of each. I can Up-Load them to a Walmart One-Hour Photo Lab near you and you pick them up and pay them - not me!
Please get in touch with me if you can identify any of these photos or if you have additional information to share.
This Norma Graduating Class of 1966 Album was provided by Norman "Ricky" Lawson
I guessed at the two pictures labeled as GIs processing out for the trip back to the “World”. I’m pretty sure I did not have a camera when I flew into Cam Ranh Bay in the Fall of 1969. Several days later I was headed to Qui Nhon where I would be assigned to a unit. While there I met a dude in personnel processing that was in my basic training platoon (Ft. Lewis, WA.) named Larry. He said he could get me a position right in Qui Nhon where it was safe with nearly all the comforts of home. I almost took him up on it but in my mind I gave thought to the pretty decent training in artillery repair and finally artillery repair supervisor which upon graduation promoted me to Spec5. I felt I wanted to put that training to good use. We got drunk and stoned that night and the following morning I was on my way to Pleiku and the 62nd Maintenance Battalion. There is one photo showing some GIs heading for a flight from Pleiku Air Base to Cam Ranh. I wasn’t on it.
Some of these pictures are from a man nicknamed "tellico" - not sure who that is. He said: "I flew slicks out of Holloway from 6/71 to 2/72 for A/227 AHB 1st Cav. I covered all of II Corps and got down the coast pretty frequently. Saw some beautiful scenery - too bad there was a war going on. I remembered this lighthouse although it was pretty beat up by the time I got in country and have posted a lot of pictures I took on Panoramio".
This man, 1LT. Rich Golaszewski, was on the chopper that almost got shot down as they flew to the ambush site between Dak To and Ben Het, where LARRY BURROWS of LIFE Magazine was taking pictures. I remember him, and the others, when they flew up there that day. After all these years, 1969-2020, I think it is ironic that I am writing this book and I hear from him pertaining to this ambush, that’s why I wanted to add his message: “I was at Dak To through July 7, 1969, and with the 1/92nd Arty when I was wounded and evacuated to Japan. I was in the helicopter with Col. Howard as we were responding to the convoy ambush between Dak To and Ben Het. My job was to call in artillery fire from Fire Base 6. When we arrived at the scene the helicopter circled the site so we could get oriented and determine where our people were vs the NVA. The helicopter took intense fire and all three of us on one side of the helicopter was wounded, co-pilot, door gunner, and me. The pilot did a super job getting the damaged helicopter back to Dak To. I was medevacked to the hospital in Nha Trang. After I was stabilized, I then went to a hospital in Japan for a few weeks and then back to USA. - 1lt Rich Golaszewski
Great website with lots of information and pictures provided by someone who was also at DAK TO. Ernie Camacho, ATC: https://www.daktomemories.com/
On my "first" tour of duty to Vietnam I was assigned to Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion 92nd Field Artillery, in the Central Highlands on a Firebase called, DAK TO.
On my Artillery Unit's website, 1st Bn 92nd, tells of the Battle of DAK TO while I was there: http://bravecannons.org/History/FireBase6.html
The 299th Engineers have a really good description of the "Siege of Dak To" May thru July of 1969: http://www.war-stories.com/dk-siege-of-dak-to-gearhart-murphy-1969.htm
SIEGE OF DAK TO: MAY THRU JULY, 1969 By Ed Murphy: http://www.returntodakto.com/blog/2015/10/19/link-to-historian-ed-murphys-excerpt-on-the-siege-of-dak-to
1969-1970. Bravo Battery occupied FB6 from January 1969 to December 1970. The 4th ID pulled out of Dak To in January 1969 so security for FB6 was then shifted to a CIDG from Ben Het. In turn, two of our howitzer sections were displaced to Ben Het in a counter-battery role. Bravo battery's missions were in support of ARVN and local indigenous forces advised by US Special Forces. Enemy activity increased these two years. The 66th and 28th NVA Regiments supported by PT 76 Tanks and 130mm artillery were detected moving towards Dak To from Base Area 609 in early 1969. Ben Het was struck in early March. The assault with tanks was the first of its kind in the war. Firebase 6 provided a wall of steel around Ben Het to help repel the attack. Bravo Battery's fires were so effective that the NVA launched an attack against FB6 on June 11, 1969. Sappers penetrated the perimeter but were ultimately, driven back with heavy losses thanks to the courageous CIDG defenders. This occurred during the Siege of Dak To/Ben Het.
Photos scanned from “American Lumberman”, April 2, 1910, “Tennessee Hardwoods of the New River Lumber Company, mill at Norma, Tenn. pp.51-74. Document resides at the Museum of Scott County, Scott County High School, Huntsville, TN.
NOTE: This report was written by students of anthropology teacher, Gary Sexton, from Scott H.S. Students names are below.
The New River Lumber Company
As we live in a generation of machinery and technological advances in our society, many forget the once difficult tasks that our ancestors went through. As they faced cold weather with no shelter and the hardships of finding food, many have forgotten exactly where we came from. However, one advancement that was made in lumber production was right here in our own backyard. The New River Lumber Company was responsible for providing many jobs, a logging railroad, and was one of the largest distributors of lumber in the nation. These are some of the details of the company, which have been provided by The American Timberman Magazine from April 2, 1910.
The New River Lumber Company had many mills in the Norma area, which were all very successful at one time. Each of these provided hardwood timber that was often considered "A" grade wood. Their central offices, however, were located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Many of these central offices took care of sells and purchases by and for the company.
The New River Lumber Company had extraordinary and attractive types of hardwood. They were known for having some of the prettiest poplar trees that any lumber company had ever used. There is a record of poplar logs being cut that scaled to an amazing 1,300 bd feet! This is somehow unbelievable to the generation that we are living Ill.
One of the things that the lumber company faced was the diseases and conservation concerns that were new to people in the industry. Many bugs, fungi, and lack of replanting put a major setback upon the industry. Clear cutting techniques also helped in the depletion of the supplies.
By Whitney Jackson and Leshia Byrge
- Mountain Settlers: 1910 - 1940 -
http://www.handsontheland.org/hands-on-history/cultural-comparisons/details/53/159.html
I designed this website in 2003, just for you!
“I hope you enjoy the pictures” MSG. E. Ray Austin, US Army, Retired - The Webmaster |