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Date:
01/28/2021
Time:
02:02:00 PM
Remote User:

Comments

Hi. My name is Louie and thank you so much for all the photos to see. I was in Head Quarters company of the 11th Brigade, Americal Division. We formed the 11th Brigade at Scofield Barracks Hawaii. I was at Scofield Barracks from June of 66 to Dec 67 and the entire 11th Brigade landing by Ships in Vietnam in Dec of 67. We convoyed to Duc Pho and I was there during Tet of 68. In May of 68 I was at LZ Rose fire Base when the 2nd offensive was. Our Ammo Dump was hit there and duds flew all over along with illumination rounds all night. You mention LZ Baldy, well to go to Ross the road you traveled to get there was open only once a week and had to be mine swept. There was a mountain that you saw from Ross, I think it was part of what they called the Queson Mountains not to be confused with Khe Sanh where the long battle the Marines were in after Tet. On the mountain I was referring too there were several American casualties, and you could watch continuous air strikes from Ross. I regret I didn’t take enough photos while I was there and wish I had. I live near Akron Ohio where Lebron James was from. Since I Ets out of Vietnam at Ft Lewis Washington in Nov 68 I was home by Christmas and will never forget watching the Bob Hope special in 68 and seeing all those soldiers at the Vietnam Christmas Show having such a wonderful time. I broke down with tears when Silent Night was sung and not knowing how many of those soldiers were going to make it home like I did in one piece. I found your sight by accident as I wanted info about Duc Pho and so glad I did. Thanks for sharing and I hope this email finds you in good health and safe from this virus.

We arrived in Vietnam at Qui Nhon and convoyed to Duc Pho and we stayed at a temporary camp like you did until the main camp was ready and maybe the delay was waiting for your company to leave. I was the Battalion motor sergeant in charge of our motor pool. We were 1/20/ Infantry Americal Division 11th Infantry brigade. When we arrived in December 1967, we put the total to over500 thousand troops in Nam. I was lucky when I left Hawaii, I got to go on a new Merchant Marine ship with all our vehicles, myself and 3 other Army men. We had a nice cabin on ship to stay in and could get food in the mess hall any time. Our job was to make sure vehicles batteries were up and vehicles would start when we got to Qui Nhon to unload. We all went through amphibious landing training in Hawaii and staying on troop ships wasn’t fun, so I lucked out by being in advance party on Marine Ship. I know you probably heard the names Lt Calley and Capt Medina, well they were in Charley company of 1/20 Infantry and I knew them from using the motor pool. I got to stay in Chu Lai for about 2 months and loved the F4 fantom jets, they sounded like no other jets. Take care.

Louie Fontana
E-mail: pastafol@aol.com

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