My Story Page 3 - Working with ARVNs, Out at the LZs,
Cordon and search assignment for First Team Magazine
This was one of my major magazine assignments, and the first one where I actually worked with several ARVN units. I was teamed up with writer Steve Haldeman (who would later be editor of the Cavalair). He had set it all up with the Cav MPs.
See Steve's full story with my pictures
I was standing by the National Policeman (in the Beret) when he found the Booby Trap wire when he pulled it, I was standing on it. So in the picture to the left, I am casually leaving the area as Steve takes my picture.
A 105mm howtizer crew at LZ Grant gives me a smile while preparing a fire mission. It was great to see the enthuiasm and pride from the field skytroopers.
Life at a Fire Support Base (LZ)
The Fire Support Bases, or LZ's as they were called, were the backbone of field operations. The grunts in the field were only a quick radio call away from heavy, accurate artillery support. I spent a lot of time at several of the Cav's LZ's.(See Cav area Map). In the photo to the left, a 105mm howtizer crew at LZ Grant gives me a smile while preparing a fire mission. It was great to see the enthuiasm and pride from the field skytroopers whatever their job was. They were always eager to explain what they were doing and have their picture taken.
Most of the photos I took in the field were of individual soldiers for release to their hometown newspapers. Unfortunately for me I never got to see a lot of these pictures, as they were processed while I was out shooting others.
Every day that I was out among the skytroopers, I was asked " how did you get this job?" Sometimes several times in a day.
I did photo stories on 155 artillery at LZ Grant, (Aerial shots of LZ Grant to the left) the move of a complete 155 battery to LZ Vivian, the actual construction of LZ Mary, and the major combat assault operation from LZ Rock.
LZ Grant was the scene of several major battles in the spring of 1969. It was right in the middle of a major NVA infiltration route between Cambodia and the Saigon area.
(See Cav Area Map) The LZ was attacked by battalion sized NVA forces trying to overrun the LZ. Artillery was fired directly at the attacking NVA with "Beehive" rounds to foil the attack.
One thing common to all LZ's was MUD.In the shot below you get an idea of how muddy it was. In the aerial shot to the left you can see all the standing water all around the LZ.
