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UNITED STATES MARINES

Mac and one of the helicoptors he was on.

Arrived in Vietnam April of 1969, delayed for hours at Camron Bay waiting for 130 to take us to Bien Hua for Charm School.(1st Cav Training Area fo new guys). After about 10 hours with no water or food the plane was fixed and we went to Bien Hua. I was supposed to be assigned to a cushy job as an E7 at Division Hq but some guy about sixty was really scared and me being stupid, said give him my job and Ill take his. I soon was on a hook with a 50 mounted on rear ramp and dropped off at Lai Khe..





I went to a little shack and was told just follow the trail and you will find it. Right in the middle of hybrid rubber trees what fun especially when it rained and they fell on top of hooches. Not much happened at Lai Khe except when 122 came in at 229, then across the road and one hit close enough for the shrapnel to rip through our walls. I did some flying with our oh6a pilots but only took fire once.We finally packed up and went to Phouc Vhin where our Flight crews were stationed and I thought not bad except for a few rounds not too much trouble .

Well 2 weeks later packed up on 141 aircrafts and went to Buttons. What a hole, right under Nui Ba Ra mountain but lots of fire power/ We had Qiad 50's, mini guns on trucks, 8 inch 175 mm mortars cobras 155's and you name it. Felt real safe till the s-- hit the fan.




BATH DAY IN VIETNAM


We got mortars and rockets almost nightly and once in a while during the day. I went on resupply missions to all kinds of little LZ, Ike , Joe, Don, etc and when in camp guarded the Tactical Ops Center with my guys. Sometimes a bit hairy and I was sure glad when Apr 70 rolled around. Had a couple of TET offenses 60-70 tried to kick our butts but the gunships and Loaches did a great job. Some B52 strikes quite close shook the hell out of the camp but it was a good show to watch. We were about 3 klicks from Cambodia and Mr Busse flew me out to Bien hua in the fog at tree top level one morning and we had limbs in skids when we got there. Waited 3 days in the rain and then the Freedom Bird.

This is Mac today at the age of 60. Great to have you with us Mac.