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Life on a firebase |
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The biggest threat to the firebase came from mortar fire and rockets that were fired from the surounding hills. A direct ground attack was unlikely as we were surrounded by open fields and could deliver a massive amount of defensive fire. |
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Our team rapidly reacted to threats, delivering 240-rounds a minute of 40mm projectiles that exploded on impact. |
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The firebase also had an 81-mm mortar team to deliver counter fire, along with the 105mm howitzers. |
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Between our 40mm guns, the 81-mm mortar crew and the 105mm howitzers, our counterfire could destroy threats on any of the surounding hillsides. |
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If we were unable to locate and eliminate the threat, an airstrike would be called in using F4 Phantoms from Phu Cat airbase located south of Bong Son. |
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The 105s provided artillery support for infantry units in the field. Between the six howitzers on Pony, each gun averaged 6-8 fire missions a day. |
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A view of one of the gun emplacements. Many of the crew members built their own accomodations to give themselves some privacy. |
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Notice the netting over the metal cot. Mosquitoes were a serious problem and the medics provided us with mandatory daily anti-malaria pills. |
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There were good times, too. Where else in the world could a cajun from Louisiana, a city-boy from Wisconsin, and a ranch-hand from Texas share a joint together? |
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When we first arived on the firebase a hot meal was flown in once a day by helicopter from LZ Uplift. C-rations were were standard fare for most of our meals. |
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C-rations came in a limited variety of individual canned meals ranging from "Chicked, Boned" to "Meat and Beans". Each meal was complete with a main course, canned white bread, jam, crackers and cookies. The accessory packet provided coffee, creamer, salt & pepper, toilet paper, gum, and cigarettes. If you were lucky you got the box that contained peaches and pound cake. |
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When the base was finally completed and secured, a mess tent and two cooks were added to provide us with 3 hot meals a day. |
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If the threat level was low, we'd drive to the nearby An Loh river and give ourselves and the Dusters a bath. The temperature and humidity were always in the 90's so this was a real treat. |
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Grab a drink and let's |