9th INFANTRY DIVISION

 

 

2ND BATTALION 60TH INFANTRY

South Vietnam

Mekong Delta

TAN TRU 1966/1967

 

 

 

In November of 1966 the 2nd Battalion 60th Infantry of the 9th Infantry Division, that built up in Ft. Riley Kansas, began it's journey to South Vietnam. There were about 3,000 of us, comprising three battalions, the 2nd/60th, 3rd/60th and the 5th /60 who boarded the General William Weigle in San Francisco on or about the third week of November in 1966. The General was a troop carrier manned by the merchant marine. After leaving the United States we stopped for about 8 hours in Okinawa and then went warily on our way to South Vietnam. It took all of 22 days, one storm, never ending sea sickness(for some) and a lot of boredom before we got there.

"Thanks to the Australians", who secured an area in Vung Tau, we did a beach landing from landing craft!!!! Can you imagine, we were all given three rounds of ammunition for our fully automatic weapons, carried our two useless heavily laden duffel bags, wore flak vests, steel pots and our web gear. We actually jumped into the water, walked ashore and got into these trucks they called "duce and a halfs" (two and a half ton trucks) with sand bags lining the floor. The sand bags were supposed to help protect us against the unexpected---maybe stray bullets and the occasional mine. Did they work???? They took us to a place called Ben Cat at first. We spent Christmas in muck, we paired off and we kept fairly dry sleeping under two shelter halves, had to dig fox holes that were always filled with water, and the neighborhood was basically barren. The landscape there had been changed by Charles.

During the short stay in Ben Cat we did patrols in and out of rubber plantations, visited various hamlets etc, and some of the guys mined for Charlie. Did a few runs to Long Bihn for ammo. Shortly thereafter, we moved to the Mekong Delta.

We wound up in Tan Tru in the Delta. Our base camp was about 4 miles inland from the main highway and right next to the Mekong River. If memory serves me correctly we turned off Highway #1 at a juncture named Tan An. I've come across a couple of articles written by guys visiting the place after my departure and they had a name for this 4 mile slick mucky road. I think it was named “Thunder Road”.  Resupply was done in a couple of ways. One was by chopper the other by convoy so we had to clear this road every day. Usually a squad of guys would take mine sweepers to do the job and there were numerous times when some of the guys would get hurt. The Vietnamese would plant mines in the road at night and were able to detonate it from a distance--hence "command detonated mines". M-79's worked very well on those folks when you came across them anyway.

I still have a few pictures of the guys I lived with for a year or so. A terrific bunch of guys at that. I think most of us would agree that we were a family. A tight knit family at that. I believe we were closer to one another than we were with our families and friends pre military duty and even to this day. The odd thing about our relationships is that we’ve never touched basis with one another since. A few months ago I did touch basis with Terry Aitkinson and Ben Kruger.  Pat Ritter lives in Albany, Oregon about 100 miles from here. We’ve touched basis once although we did get together on the phone last year.

 

Recognize anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This is an interesting photo. Made with a Petri V6 35mm camera. I took this picture of Harriel mid day in base camp in Tan Tru.

Well, here’s Holloman, Futch and another troop. I believe the PFC was new. I’ve tried to touch basis with most of the guys you’ll see in these pictures with minimal success.

Here’s Ted Hammond, E-7. My boss throughout my tour anyway. He’s the one that gave me the leeway to do whatever I needed to do to do my job. Supported me big time. Would like to meet up with him again.

This was one of the roads we tried to use while we were in the Delta. As you can see, there’s a truck stuck in the muck. Rhymes, doesn’t it. Anyway, there’s a twin 40 trying to pull it out. Mr. Donald Hill is supervising.

Joe Bauch and Rudy Longoria taking life easy. I think they’re looking at dirty pictures.

Tis our shower. We wound up making these after the engineers put together these larger shower centers. What they did was, put up a huge tent, put in pallet floors, hooked up numerous shower heads, put heaters in 55 gallon drums and sucked the water out of the rice paddies. They forgot about the fertilizer used in these swamps. Most of the guys who tried these showers wound up with ringworm. So, we made our own. Two 55 gallon drums atop a frame, used a poncho as a door, pallet as a floor and got a shower head from the engineers. When you wanted to take a shower you grabbed  5 gallons of drinking water, took it to the top of the 55 gallon drums, dumped it in, slid into the shower and away you went. You can see the tank track we used as a walkway. 

Hey, here’s Cookie. Showing off his North Vietnamese flag. It’s in pretty good shape. Maybe he bought it at a PX somewhere.

Not sure if you can see this or not. I really didn’t take very good pictures over there. What we’ve got here are a few of the weapons taken away from the other guys. All kinds of Chinese and Russian goodies. Fairly often we found American stuff.

Tis me, can’t you tell. I was negotiating a deal with the local Nordstroms for some kind of dress ware. I think I sent some of that stuff home for my sister. That was a long time ago, can’t remember clearly.

Couldn’t pass up showing my bed partner for a year. It was one of the first AR-16’s. Check the flash suppressor. Served me okay. If you’ve paid any attention to the movies, you see characters getting around without carrying a weapon. We always had ours with us no matter what you did or where you went.

Ken Adams, how are you. My replacement, Werner. I wonder what you guys look like today. Ken, I hope you’ve gained some weight. Are you still living in California somewhere? Werner, are you in St. Louis?.

Mr. Johnson, long time no see. The last time I saw you you were heading to Long Bihn. Those were pretty wild days, weren’t they.

Ben Kruger, how about this young picture? You and I met several times this past year as you were traveling through Oregon. I’m looking forward seeing you more often although it seems someone turned the faucet off.

Mike Beyers, I wonder where you are. Time has flown by. It’s been about 35 years since we’ve seen one another.

Ben, where are you? We were in touch for a bit there around the late 60’s and early 70’s. I think you told me you became a photographer for the National Geographic Magazine and that you married an attorney. It would be good hearing from you again.

Don, I think this picture was taken of you and I in Ben Cat when we first got there. No vegitation to speak of. I wonder what your doing? Are you in touch with Stan?

Edwards, you haven’t changed over these past 35 years. A month or so ago I found an old address book which gave a California address. It was obviously outdated. I did a search for you on the internet and wound up with three possibles. I’ve called two of them leaving a message but haven’t heard anything so you must be the third one. I’ll call you next week.

Don Hill, how are you lifer?  I looked you up in the phone book the other day. I think I found you but your phone was disconnected. Not sure how to go about touching basis with you. Hope all is well.

Well Holloman, I hope life has been good to you. Are you still smoking and carrying around that pea shooter? Have you stayed in touch with John and Tony?

Jenkins, how in the heck are you? The pic of you was taken in the states. I don’t think I ever took a picture of you in SVN, I was afraid you’d break the camera.

Hey John, are you ever without women? I met one of the guys this past year and he mentioned he saw you somewhere in Louisiana. Is that so?

Charles Mote, where are you?

 

 

 

 

 

There sure were a lot of great guys that made up the commo platoon.  If you have a few minutes,  drop me a line dgw@spiritone.com or davidwarrilow@yahoo.com

Ken Naugle, Sgt. Reed, Harriel Futch, Bridgeman, Hartman(cook), Altmeyer(W.O), William Schuck(2nd Leiutenant), Sgt. Hays, Mathis, James "Wally" Brennan, Serna(Medic), Wickenburger, Schafer, Brown, Biddle, White. April 6, 2002