Practice

Bien Hoa Army Base Bien Hoa Army Base is a hot, dusty, mostly gray painted little rectangular city. It has electricity, streetlights and slightly paved roads that melt streams of shiny black tar. Bien Hoa has a post office, a post exchange and is home for elements of the First Cavalry Division. Thousands of rear echelon soldiers are here. They are command people and support people.
The command people run Bien Hoa and direct units in the field. The support people have regular jobs. The support people maintain helicopters, vehicles, buildings and utilities, keep books, cook, transport and warehouse supplies. Most of these soldiers main concern is their work. Many pull guard duty but in 1970, for most, Bien Hoa is a quiet little working city. For these rear echelon soldiers, war is far away.

Photo taken from the field below our platoon area; Inside Bien Hoa Berm.

I live here also. I'm located in a rural corner of this little city. I'm a scout dog handler. About once a week, Tux and I commute to war. But now, I'm just outside the gate, just outside the berm. I'm with about ten scout dog platoon guys and we have weapons. I have my M16, one guy, Leslie has a machine gun. I don't know how he got that, I didn't know we had a machine gun. Anyway, we're in line, firing, brass shells bouncing around, merrily putting new holes in fifty-five gallon drums.
I think, I'm the reason we're out here. I said; "I hardly ever fire my rifle." I complained; "I don't get to fire my rifle enough." I boasted; "We're the most battle ready unit on this side of Bien Hoa." (The Blues; a quick reaction force are on the other side and I don't want trouble with them.) A couple weeks ago, on a firebase, I use their firing range. I had to scrounge ammunition. I may have been a nuisance. Word may have come back to our lieutenant.
The excursion to the other side of the berm is pleasant. It ends with no surprises. I'm more comfortable with my rifle. Platoon routine continues.
After I leave Vietnam, years later, it occurs to me; people throughout Bien Hoa must have heard the gunfire. They did not know it was us. We must have disrupted the entire base.

Practice Page 1 of 1. Six photos including: Scout Dog Handlers, Two Women, Transition, Helicopters. Handlers and Scout Dog Handlers and scoutdog.

These photos were taken a few miles outside Bien Hoa. We paid some person to hide and took turns searching for him. We did this to keep up our skill.

Two Women
These women were among a handful of people there.

This area was dry and treeless. A harsh, inhospitable place. I ignored them. If I could do it over, I would be more considerate. I don't know what happened to them.

Transition
Our old Lieutenant completing a tour and his replacement.

Helicopters
The road back to Bien Hoa and two helicopters. They may have come out to make sure we were safe.

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