Ed "Spooky" Nored

RVN Sep 69 - Sep 70

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(Nored) There is an incident that happens while I'm gone. that neither Jim or I have down in our letter. The following happened sometime when I was at C.L.C at Bien Hoa. 3rd platoon had gone out on a patrol and were on a trail. The platoon came to a junction where the trail split. The set up a parameter. Lt. Piekarski, Pineapple and two other individuals venture down one of the trails leaving the rest of the platoon behind. They come to another split in the trail and the group of 4 split up. Piekarski and Pineapple go down one trail and the other two the other one. They both move a short distance when the Lt. and Pineapple come to a small clearing. At this point they both spot a gook across the clearing. The individual has spotted the other two guys who went down the other trail. The enemy is stooped over a little and is slowing walking backwards. Pineapple and the Lt. both have their weapons raised and the gook in their sights. At this time the Lt. has realized the awkward position he has put himself in. He realizes he is out of sight of the rest of the Platoon. Not to mention the other two guys on the other trail. If they open up there is a possibility everyone else will open up on their position. The Lt. plays is safe and decides not to shoot. Soon the gook still walking backwards, disappears from sight and all 4 return to the platoon parameter and call in artillery in the area. End of incident.

(From JW's diary.) A man in second platoon accidentally shoots himself in the foot early in the morning while on guard. Woke everybody up thinking it was the enemy. (Duty officers Log in the rear says medavac was completed at 0700. Mans initials were R.S.L. and wound was not serious) Company resumed standard routine of more patrols and then moved about 1 click and set up night Lo in rubber tree plantation.

2-2-70 Boonies

2-3-70 Boonies

(J.W.) An automatic ambush goes off and kills a dog or wolf. An automatic ambush is a claymore mine set up like a booby trap. Humped 2 klicks thru swamp up to our knees. Hot days cold nights. You can see your breath.

(Check out Marcell Gorree's aka "Pineapple" 2 photos on this page. He captured us moving thru the swamp areas.)

Working in the "Swamps"

(source of photo Marcell Gorree.)

(click on image for a larger view)

If you look close, on one of the packs is a California license plate (they were black with yellow letters back then) that I had sent to me off my car. The large tube hanging off the left side of my pack is a "starlight scope" that we carried for a brief time while working in the open area during late December thru March. It added seeing in the dark.

(source of photo Marcell Gorree.)

(click on image for a larger view)

(Nored) This weird looking image is of Jay Selby. As mentioned in the above photo I carried a night vision scope called the Starlight Scope. I believe I had to carry it just for one mission. Concerning the photo of Jay. It was getting near dark and I picked up the scope, turned it on and put my instamatic up to the eye piece and told Jay to smile and you see the result.

(click on image for a larger view)

2-4-70 Boonies

DOL reports Jerry Spurlock of Delta Company was medavacd. There were was no additional information on how he was hurt or where he was medavacd from.

2-5-70 Boonies / Log day Designated Log bird "Black Bandit # 618"

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2-6-70 Boonies

(J.W.) Company humped (walked) 7-8 clicks. Jim Smichdt fell down twice. We moved thru swamp.

2-7-70 Boonies

(Nored) We moved several clicks and met up with one tank and 3 A.P.C.s. My squad bought a case of sodas from them. I put 4 into my pack."Good grief they were good". One of the guys on the A.P.C. had a tape player on playing the Iron Butterfly. It really brought back memories. These armored guys were in a different world then us. As grunts I dont think any of us got use to being out in the open and making as much noise as they did. Same war but 2 different worlds.

(J.W.) We humped 4 Ks through swamp again. They have been running us ragged. Past few days all we do is hump. Got late start to setting up nightlo.It was raining as we were putting out flares. Went to bed wet. Everyone PO'd at the C.O.

John T. Johnston "T.J." (Rhode Island) and the snake. (1st platoon). Not that "T.J." is holding the snake with a M-14 not the normal M-16. M-14's were normally carried by our snipers.

(Click on image to enlarge.)

2-8-70 Boonies

(Nored) On 2-8-70 third platoon was told to secure the landing zone for 1st. platoon which was rejoining the company. You can see in the photos the field is gigantic. All we could do was send my squad out into the clearing a short distance and cover the area the best we could. When the weather was good and I had film for my camera I kept it in my shirt pocket. This was the case this day and I took these shots of 1st. platoon as they arrived. Gordon Swenson of first platoon is on one of these copters. While first had been operating on its own they had a friendly fire incident with another unit of the South Vietnamese Army.

(Swenson) This was my 1st fire fight! Our Platoon was attached to a mechanized unit (tanks and armored personnel carriers) for a period of time. We had decided that we didn't really want to be around the tracks (term used for tanks and armored personnel carriers) during the night. So we walked out about 1000 meters or so from them and set up a NDP (night defensive position). During the night we had spotted what appeared to be a fire some distance away. We fired artillery and it finally went out. Didn't think to much of it. The morning of the 3rd we woke up and were just eating and getting ready to walk back to the tracks so we could ride with them during the day. Our "Kit Carson" scout had to go "outside" the perimeter to "take a shit" while he was out he spotted 2 individuals and opened up on them. All of a sudden all hell broke loose. We had rockets (or so we thought) coming in lots of small arms fire. I was carrying M60 rounds for our M60 machine gunner during this time. So I remember the gunner (his nickname was TJ) yelling for me to get more rounds for him. I had to crawl about 10 meters to get them and then crawl back so we could load them up. Suddenly lots of people started yelling to "hold you fire" "friendlies"......

Turns out that we had just engaged with a group of popular forces that were in the same area. Looking back it seemed weird that the rounds coming in sounded just like our rounds (M79 grenade launchers) etc, etc. Also the small arms fire was M16 (just like ours)

When everything was over the first thing I noticed was that all of the rubber trees that were around us had rubber coming out of them about 3 feet higher and up. (This is why we always stayed low).

Fortunately no one got hurt on either side.

	The following sequence of photos are of 1st platoon flying back in to rejoin the company on 2-8-70. (click on image for a larger view.)
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	(Nored) Worth noting is the Chiquita Banana logo on the nose of the copter. (click on image for a larger view.)

2-9-70 Boonies (Log day)

The DOL listed helicopters "Snoopy # 440" and "Chickenman # 610" but failed to make a distinction between which one was the "Charly Charly" (command and control) bird and the log bird. In most cases the DOLs listed the "CC" bird first.

(Nored) Vinny Sciaretti of 3rd platoon leaves the company to escort the body home of a friend who was killed in another unit.

(J.W.) Log Day. Moved about 1K. Easy day. Hotter then hell. Felt good to rest. TET started to pick up. Expect action in a few days..

(Nored) Vinny Sciarretti, of Don Ketcham's squad, is shown with his M-60 MG he volunteered to carry. The inset newspaper photo is of Paul R. Peluso. Paul was a good friend of Vinnys and served with another unit in a different location in Vietnam. Paul was killed by a landmine. Paul's family requested Vinny for body escort. On 2-9-70 he left Delta Company to escort Paul home.............On 3-2-70 Vinny returned to Vietnam and a few days later, to his other family, Delta company.

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2-10-70 Boonies

(J.W.) Humped about 1K. Went on patrol.Not much happening. No rain,hot day and nice night.

2-11-70 Boonies (Log day)

(Nored) My squad and Krsyminskis during the day set up an ambush just off one of the roads leading into Quan Loi. I commented how the "kick out" of rations dented most of the cans. Makes them hard to open..

"log day" All we get is a "kick out"

2-12-70 Boonies

2-13-70 Boonies (Log day) Designated Log bird "Killer Spade # 318".

(Nored) A Feb. 14th. letter states that "yesterday (the 13th) we got a new man from Indianapolis."

"log day" (J.W.) humped (walked) 2 clicks set up by stream.

	Mail call on log day. Ron (with no shirt), Eugene Laurie (Black), just in to the right is Dick, the three guys on the right from back to front are Ed Bryson, Jim Smichdt and Jay Selby. Ed Nored is in the center. Nored. info/quote/letter to Linda. 2/14/70. "Yesterday we got logged and I got your Valentine package. It was beautiful. No! They weren't melted. Thank you much honey. We all loved the candy. I managed to get one piece. You see everything you get out here is shared." John Farrior also received a nice red box filled with candy and you can see it better in the enlarged photo. John Farriors photo. (click on image to see a larger view) (click here to see special image)
	(Nored) John Farrior poses with his much appreciated gift. Im sure his loved ones at home enjoyed seeing the photo and the environment he received it in. Jay Selby on the right starts reading a fresh letter from home. (source of photo John Farrior.) (click on image to see a larger view)
	(Nored) Jay Selby left and Ed Bryson on the right. The face on Ed Bryson shows an intensity much of us had as we read our mail from home. A short escape from the world we were in lie in each line of the letter. I'm sure many of us thought we'd wear out a letter rereading it. Other things in the photo worth noting are the 3 packs of toilet paper in the band around Jays helmet, a cassette player to the right of Jay and the X frame support on the back of the pack in the bottom right. (source of photo John Farrior.) (click on image to see a larger view)
	(Nored) John Farrior "the Reb" on the left and "Treetop", Randolph Foriest on the right. Man in foreground I believe is Ed Jones. (source of photo John Farrior.) (click on image to see a larger view)

2-14-70 Boonies

(J.W.) Company humped 6 clicks. The CO got us lost and everybody is pissed. It's very hot.

(Nored Info / quotes letter to Linda.) The company saddles up heavy about 0830 and moves about 300 meters then sets up a patrol base. 3rd platoon goes out looking for a "Redball" (road). Hours later they return without finding the road. The letter mentions "Garys squad" also went out so this would confirm Gary Borkowski is squad leader of 3-1. At 1400 I scribbled down that a man with the nick name "Borax" accidentally popped a smoke grenade on his pack. At 1430 Garys squad returned from patrol. We move out again and at 1620 I wrote "Jay Selby made contact with an estimated 40 red ants. We engaged the enemy with bug spray and came out victorious. There wasn't one red ant left on his pack." The company is still looking for that damn road. Amoung us we speculate, as soldiers will do, that "6" (company commander) is lost. 1711hours the company pops smoke and is working with a Loach helicopter. As it would turn out we wore our selves out looking for the road. In the morning were suppose to start blowing down trees and make a clearing to be airlifted out. In 3rd were all mad because in the earlier patrol we found a beautiful clearing we could have used as a pickup zone. Instead we humped heavy 4 clicks to where we are now. I mentioned Dick Fowler of my squad stayed true to his nickname and bitched every step. This was humorous to me and I kept laughing about it. I also wrote I was going to get something from "Doc" to help me sleep. My nights are crazy with dreams.

2-15-70 Boonies / Quan Loi / Ft Compton / Boonies

(Nored) Company is extracted to Quan Loi, then by Chinook to Fort Compton. Then back to the boonies.

(J.W.) A man passes out from the heat.

	The yellow line shows are travels on 2-15-70 from the boonies to Quan Loi then Ft. Compton and then back to the bush. The next 15 photos captures some of it. (click on image for a larger view)
	(Nored) On this day, 2-15-70, Delta is going to do more flying then humping the bush. A very rare day for sure. In the photo one of the first birds have landed and Delta grunts jump on board. One man looks like he's carrying a large spool of something white. It might be "det cord" . Cant tell for sure. Its apparent in this shot as well as in the neg. # 17 photo taken from the air (see green smoke) that we are on a road and the area has had a recent fire. There was a lot of black ash blown into the air as the copters came in. (negative 13) (click on image for a larger view)
	(Nored) After boarding we flew up to a safe altitude which would have put us out of range of the N.V.A. 51 caliber AA gun.(see photo of gun at 5-9-70) In this photo the door gunners M-60 is shown in the relaxed position. The speck in the air to the right of the gun is a Cobra gunship. It flew faster then the Huey and was able to fly circles around us as we flew in formation. (negative 15) (click on image for a larger view)
	(Nored) I'm sitting on the floor of a Huey. Right hand side. My left hand is holding onto that hole in the air frame of the bird. I lean forward enough with my trusty instamatic fighting the wind and at the same time try to move my knees out of the way to get a straight down view. Click! You can see a road and a green smoke grenade on it discharging smoke. That is where we had just taken off from. The pilot spiraled to this altitude and orbited at this altitude till the other birds arrived to pick up the remainder of the company. I hated being this high and I'm sure I wasn't the only one who had looked up at that rotor and thought.............well you guys know what I thought didn't you?. (negative 17) (click on image for a larger view)
	(Nored) As we continued to orbit the p/z (pick up zone) 4 other copters moved into to pick up the rest of 3rd plt. and then,they too,slowly rose and joined our formation. In describing the days events at the end of the day in a letter to Linda I wrote, "I sat there (on the floor of the copter) and then another copter pulled up next to ours and "Ski" was facing me from where he was sitting on the bird he was on". In the photo that's Stanley Krysminski facing me. We are on our way to Quan Loi. (negative 19) (click on image for a larger view)
	(Nored) 2-15-70. We all look very relaxed in this photo having just arrived at the Quan Loi airfield. Gary Borkowski has just brought over a case of RC Cola. Hot or cold they were always welcomed. Left to right is SSgt. David Stanley sitting. Ed Nored with cross on helmet. No I.D. on man drinking soda. Borkowski holding box. Don Ketcham with head bowed. Larry Antici to the right of "Ketch". Terry "Bambi" Bolby extreme right. The beards on many tell where we have been.
	Photo taken on tarmac at Quan Loi Feb 1970: Far left Terry "Bambi" Bolby, Jim Wastradouski (leafing through book), Pat Toon (sitting), Gary Borkowski, Tom Coker, "Pineapple", Don Ketcham, Bob Angle ,Jerry Reeves is standing behind Pinapple to the right. (click on image for a larger view) (Photo by Don Kechum)
	On 2-15-70 the company was extracted from the bush and flown to Quan Loi. I arrived early and was able to catch this picture of the rest of the company landing. (click on image for a larger view)
	(Nored) From 2/15/70 letter. "We landed at L.Z. Fort Compton at 11 AM. We ate lunch, a hot meal, we got some more "C's" and new clothes. That's a laugh. You should see these new clothes. Their all in a small size and won't fit me. They got holes in them , their ripped and stained with filth and sweat. These are the clean clothes we get. My pants are ripping out at the crouch and soon things will be hanging out all over." If you were tall finding pants to fit was always a problem. In the photo it looks like someone has with good intentions sent Ketcham a white towel. The 2 red bags you see on the ground were for mail and I remember beer and soda pop showed up in them. My letter also says at 1:30 we flew out to the bush. Most of 3rd Platoon at Fort Compton as everybody was busy restocking their packs with c-rations and basic supplies. (click on image for a larger view)
	Every ones attention directed towards a cobra gun ship that is attacking the area we will soon be in. (click on image for a larger view)
	Everyone loaded up and walking out to helicopters. (Nored) The man closest to the camera on the right is Dick Fowler. (click on image for a larger view)
	Loading up to go on our CA (combat assault) (click on image for a larger view)
	Taking off. (click on image for a larger view)
	Flying over Ft Compton (click on image for a larger view)
	In route. (click on image for a larger view)
	(Nored) Three airlifts later Delta company is placed in a new area. Ron McGlothlin of 3-3 squad holds up for a minute why I capture him and the flight of Hueys that had just delivered us before they disappear over the horizon. (click on image to enlarge)

2-16-70 Boonies

The DOL ,Duty Officers Log, says Delta Co. is under "opcon" ,operational control, of the 1/7th Cavalry.

(J.W.) Were in very hilly area working a large trail. 3 clicks from the Cambodian border. Jets keep flying over.

2-17-70 Boonies

DOL. Delta Co. still opcon to the 1/7th Cav.

More up an down hills.

2-18-70 Boonies / log day Designated Log bird is "Chicken Man # 185"

Delta Co. still opcon to 1/7th Cav.

2-19-70 Boonies

Delta still opcon to 1/7th Cav.

(Nored) After a LRRP lunch of Beef hash,peanut butter/jelly on crackers. Our platoon operating on its own. Humped heavy down to a stream where we found very fresh footprints in mud. We formed a parameter and dropped our packs. One squad was left to secure them and then with my squad (3-3) at point we moved out. Jay Selby at point, me and then squad leader Ron McGlothlin. Were not on a well established trail but are simply tracking the footprints of 1 or 2 individuals. We stopped and called up the "Kit Carson scout". This was an enemy soldier who switched sides. He was taught English the best he could learn in a short period. But still Earl Falkinburg was translating the scouts broken english after we asked him to look at the footprints. He said they had been through here yesterday or today. What scared all of us watching this young man was the fact he was trembling with fear. He was shaking like a leaf and was anxious to walk to the rear. So he did. I turned to Jay and said "and with that encouragement my friend let us drive on." Jay went into slow motion. A lot of seconds were passing between steps. A few minutes passed when I heard Ron behind me in a rather frantic urgent whisper saying "Ed. Ed." I turned around and heard something race by my feet. It was the blackest snake I ever saw. I jumped about a foot and at the same time trying to be perfectly quiet and calm. Jay turned and asked softly,"Whats wrong Spooky?". I answered and he replied "Ahh a little snake aint gonna hurt you." I remember I never did see the head or tail of it just what seemed to be an endless middle. Our attention quickly returned to the business at hand. We continued tracking the trail until it grew fainter or we simply ran out of time. I do know that each step we took brought us closer to killing someone or being killed. That tension is very exciting. You dont forget that. After all these years I wouldn't change anything about that day. We returned to our packs. Saddled up and moved up a "steep ass hill" and set up our night lo.

L-R: The "Reb" John Farrior, Ed Nored and Jay Selby. Jay walked point and Ed walked backup for over 3 months. (Nored) Jay was a hard charger at point. There were days I held his 16 while he pulled his machete to cut a path thru a wall of bush where you couldn't see 3 feet ahead of you. Other days he would grow frustrated and start crashing thru these walls. I had said to him "You can't take it with you Jay". He would stop and I would clear his pack of all the vines that were clinging to his pack.(Feb.9th 70 letter)

(Click on image for a larger view.)

(Nored) Lying on top of one of the maps I actually carried in the field my last months in the bush is the typical compass and pouch used by people in leadership and point man positions. In the above photo you can see the compass hanging from Jay Selbys left waist.

(Click on image for a larger view.)

2-20-70 Boonies

Delta still opcon to 1/7th Cav.

(Nored) Working in extremely hilly area up-down-up-down. About 11 am we ,3rd.platoon, rejoin the rest of the company. My letter also mentions Ed Bryson who was walking behind me took a bad spill down a hill we were climbing. Half way down he managed to get out of his pack and then it rolled down the hill the rest of the way.

(Nored/Linda) I also mentioned in the letter that in the mornings I would mentally sing the Young Rascals Song, "Its a beautiful morning", to myself. It was a way of poking fun at where I was and in general being a smart ass with ones self.

(J.W.) Found a lot of gook clothing.

	Left to Rt: Ron McGoughlin, Tom Cocker, Marcell "Pineapple" Gorree, and Oscar "Squirrel" Gaines. (source of photo Marcell Gorree.) (click on image for a larger view)
	Marcell "Pineapple" Gorree and Ed Nored (source of photo Marcell Gorree.) (Nored) This photo was taken sometime between Jan. 30th. and Feb. 15th. 70. Location is definitely in a rubber tree plantation. Note dog tags worn on Noreds boots instead of hanging around the neck. A common practice with most of the Grunts. Nored still wears his clean shirt with rank applied from the C.L.C. course. Its presence is what dates this photo. (click on image for a larger view)
	(Nored) The first of 6 great photos taken by 3rd. platoons John Farrior. The shouts of "Pop smoke! Birds Inbound!" could be heard across the pick up zone. A lone violet colored smoke marks where the lead bird should touch down. Its going to get noisy real soon. The faint wop wop sound grows louder and louder. (Photo by John Farrior) (click on image for a larger view)
	(Nored) The birds come in over the tree line and the door gunners let there "60's" relax. Their barrels pointed straight down for safety. All four of the Huey crew strain to find there spot to land. (Photo by John Farrior) (click on image for a larger view)
	(Nored) Getting ready to land. The door gunners have left their seats and are leaning out as far as they can to check for obstacles that could puncture the belly. (Photo by John Farrior) (click on image for a larger view)
	(Nored) The landing zone is covered with tall grass and fallen trees. A couple of men have lowered their heads to protect their eyes from the dirt and debris and have braced them selves against the rotor wash. (Photo by John Farrior) (click on image for a larger view)
	(Nored) On the ground and loading. The reassuring presence of a Cobra gunship can be seen circling above. (Photo by John Farrior) (click on image for a larger view)
	(Nored) In an attempt to date this particular extraction the presents of Jerry Allen standing in the doorway helps. He joined Noreds squad on 5-14-70 at Mo. The first extraction after that date is 6-8-70.But I see Allen is holding a "60" in his hands. Jay Selby gave Allen the gun on Mo 7-17-70 and the next date of a Delta com. extraction was 8-10-70. Based on that these photos were taken on or after 8-10-70. This date was my last extraction with Delta comp. and I do not remember the terrain being like it is shown in the pictures. So that's as far as I can take it.. (Photo by John Farrior) (click on image for a larger view)
	I am including a link to "www.masher.org" with some info about "tail # 425" the helicopter in this photo. http://www.masher.org/68-15425.html (Click on image for a larger view.)

2-21-70 Boonies / Log day Designated Log bird is "Chicken Man # 825"

Delta Co. opcon to 1/7th Cav. today but will go back to 1/8th Cav on the 22nd. Tomorrow.

(Nored) After completing the log the company moved to the top of a very steep hill and set up our night lo. Word was passed around to us that we would be moving to a p/z tomorrow and be extracted. Info from Feb.23rd letter.

2-22-70 Boonies / Ft Compton / Quan Loi

DOL. Delta company is opcon to 1/7 Cav. Michael Aronnie is picked to go to the next Combat Leadership Course. Mikes Deros date ( a persons go home date) is Dec. 2 1970.

(Nored) "The morning of the 22nd we moved out and humped about a click to an area that was bombed out by napalm. There was only enough room for 1 copter to land. So after sitting around from 11 to 4:30 that afternoon we were lifted out and taken to Ft.Compton". My letter also says in so many words the commanders weren't sure where they wanted us to go but after we unloaded at Ft. Compton about 5:30 a few minutes later we boarded a Chinook copter and were taken to Quan Loi and pulled quard. This would be Delta companys last visit to Quan Loi. In the coming days all operations would be moved to Song Be at the base of Nui Ba Ra mountain. Info based on 2-23-70 letter.

left to right James Bokowski, Terry Lawrence, Craig Sherwood, Steve Voncannon, Jim Wastrowdoski, ?,?, Masson-Norris and Larry Antici. .I believe the 3rd man from the right is Dan Kelly

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(photo courtesy of Jim Watrodowski)

Ed Nored on the floor with Dick Fowler sitting behind him. Photo taken in February 1970.

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2-23-70 Quan Loi

(Nored) While on guard at Quan Loi Masson-Norris, Bob Angle, Jim Watradowski and JIm Smichdt rig up "boobie traps" using blasting caps, to kill the rats that infest the bunkers we sleep in.

2-24-70 Quan Loi

Life on the "Green Line"

(Nored / Linda) Jay Selby and Dick Fowler went to the P.X. and on the way back managed to borrow some ice from the airfield. They were both soaking wet by the time they got back to our bunker. It was fantastic to drink cold sodas. There's a prostitute at bunker 5. Yesterday our squad checked the barb wire in our section and we ran into 2 "mamasons" on the other side of the wire who offered us pornographic photos and pot. Jim purchased 3 bags of pot for 10 bucks.

(J.W.) Went to the PX, sat around all afternoon. Drank beer then went to the gate and watched the Vietnamese civilians go home.(Many local Vietnamese had work doing odd jobs at the base.) Had a good time with Jim Smichdt and messed around with Bob Angle. We made up booby traps with blasting caps to kill the many rats that infest the area. They work pretty good.

	(Ketcham) Quan Loi, Vietnam Feb. 1970. D 1/8 1st Air Cav Green Line Guard. Vietnamese come to work for American G.I.'s. The entrance was next to my bunker - still had lots of rats. (click on image to enlarge) (photo courtesy of Don Ketcham)
	(click on image to enlarge) (photo courtesy of Don Ketcham)
	(Ketcham) Vietnamese coming to work. Daily processing before entering gate. (click on image to enlarge) (photo courtesy of Don Ketcham)
	(Ketcham) Photo was taken outside Ketcham bunker early morning. (click on image to enlarge) (photo courtesy of Don Ketcham)
	(Nored) This photo was taken at Quan Loi. The red soil shows its color well in this shot. In the back ground you can see the old bunkers and defense line in the trees before they expanded the parameter defense line across the road which would be just to the right of me in the photo. The boxes of "Cs" was our main source of meals out in the bush. Our company rear has most likely dropped these off so we could restock our packs. Their sudden appearance on the line could only mean one thing. Because the photo is 35mm I can only speculate that it is one of John Farriors photos.

2-25-70 Quan Loi

(Nored / Linda) Ron McGlothlin finally left for his R&R. He is going to meet his wife in Hawaii. He hasn't seen his wife in 8 months. He was very excited about it. I'm happy for him. He's a hell of a nice guy. I am appointed temporary squad leader. Dick Fowler is going to the rear to get his teeth fixed. That leaves us with a 9 man squad.

2-26-70 Quan Loi

(Nored) Got a chance to go to the famous swimming pool which is part of this huge rubber plantation that the Quan Loi base is built around.

(Nored) As infantry soldiers, "Grunts", we did not see a lot of "nice things". It was a world of the boonies, bunkers, barbed wire, c-rations, rubber trees, chopper rides where you could see bomb cratered jungle, circles of red soil cleared for our artillery bases surrounded by more bunkers and more wire.The jungle was green we were green everything the army owned was green and then boom! You saw the pool and it really was dream like. It was one of damndest "nice things" I remember seeing there.

(photo courtesy of John Farrior)

(click on image to enlarge)

This photo furnished by Jeff Croston taken at the swimming pool in Quan Loi. Standing left to right: Jeff Croston from Waldron, Arkansas. Jim Hughes from Tonawanda, NY. Marcell Gorree "Pineapple" from Sacramento, CA. Johnny Farrior from Sapsuma, Alabama, (kneeling) Loren Dolge, Pat Toon, Mason-Norris.

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(Nored) Photo taken at Quan Loi. I would speculate that these guys are on trash detail. Which means they have gone around to all of the bunkers on the defense parameter and picked up the 55 gal. drums filled with our garbage and are heading down the road to the dumps. I mentioned earlier in the diary,10-17-69, that our squad had pulled security for the mine sweepers while they checked the road to the dump. Since the dump was outside of the secure parameter the enemy over night would sneak out to the road and plant a mine and hope for a kill. In the background you can see some defense bunkers. They remind of a terrible accident that took place during a large attack on this base shortly before I arrived in Nam. During a night attack and in the confusion of battle one of the American tank crews spotted a bunker and thought it had been over run by the enemy. They fired a flachet round at it and mistakenly killed 4-8 American soldiers. Many "new comers" to Quan Loi were told the story by the "old timers" accompanied by photos of dead V.C. caught in the wire. The guys I recognize on the truck are Doug Gorton standing behind the cab.Hanging to the side of the truck is Steve VonCannon, Scott Lemanski and Dick Fowler. All from 3rd. platoon. Most likely John Farriors photo.

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(Ed Svoboda is wounded in the mouth and shoulder while unloading a case of M-79 grenades. One accidentally goes off.)

2-27-70 Quan Loi

(Nored / Linda) They broke down the first squad and gave me 3 more guys. Our squad size is up to 12. In my letter I write and say we flew to Buc Prang. Jim Wastradowski's diary says Bu Prong and on the officers log there's mention of Duc Phong. Humorous to say the least.

The correct spelling is Duc Phong. It is located due east of Song Be/ LZ Buttons about 30 km. L.Z.Audie is located due North of Duc Phong about 25 km. The engineers that helped build Audie was Bravo company of the 8th. Engr. Bn. 1st. Cav. We begin to work the enemy's system of infiltration trails called the "Jolly Trail". Please refer to the maps section for more detail.

Left Quan Loi and flew by fixed wing to Duc Phong. We were on a C-130 and the pilot decided for some reason or another to do a "touch and go" landing on the dirt air strip. It scared the hell out of all of us. We landed the 2nd time around and found ourselves the center of attention of the local villagers. There was a lot of 8 to 10 year old kids joking with us. I remember a lot of them smoking. A group of copters arrived shortly after and flew us to a new area in the bush where we secured it for a new L.Z. name Audrey. (GS note: name was "Audie")

(Nored / Linda) In reference to the kids who crowded around us I wrote."The young kids are real cute. We stayed in one spot for about 15 minutes then moved out. There was a real young kid about 5 or 6 standing next to me and I gave him my "16" to hold why I threw on my pack. He was cute. He held my "16" like it was a baby and seemed to be prouder then hell to be helping me. I wish we could work in or close to a village so I could learn something about the people damn it. but were always out in no mans land.".

	The yellow line on map shows our flight path from Quan Loi to Duc Phong. From here we loaded onto Hueys and headed north west to start building the new L.Z. Audie. (click on image for a larger view)
	In this enlarged section of the map you can see Duc Phongs location in the bottom far right corner. Audie is located at the upper right hand corner marked in black letters (click on image for a larger view)
	(Nored) A Cobra gunship and several Hueys taking on fuel at Quon Loi. In the background behind the Cobra is a C-130. John Farrior may have taken this photo on 2-27-70. Location and the presence of the C-130 suggest it may have been the C-130 that flew us to Duc Phong. We can only speculate whether it was at this time. (click on image to enlarge) (photo courtesy of John Farrior)
	(Nored) This photo taken minutes later after the one above shows the C-130 taxing by at Quan Loi. Note the name on the Cobra gunship fueling in the background is "Proud Mary". My clothes are filthy and suggest we just came from the "bush". Clean clothes would suggest we were on our way back. Can't really tell for sure. (click on image to enlarge)