The Vietnam War -The way it was 1971
My Story
A Combat Mission
Photos 1
Photos 2
Photos 3
Photos 4
Photos 5
Chronology
Facts And Trivia
History Of The Vietnam War
EMail me
View my Guestbook
Add to my Guestbook
Back to my Home Page
PHOTOS - 1
Click on the small pictures to see the full size pictures
The final parade at Woodside Barracks before we left for Vietnam. It was very hot, dull and boring, and we were all glad when it was over.
This boat delivered the last lot of mail to us just off Western Australia. It was a very melancholy time as we sailed away from the only country we had known.
On the way over we used to have weapons checks, drills etc on the flight deck of the Sydney.
We had target practice off the back of the Sydney. Yellow and white balloons were filled with air and water, thrown over the back and then we shot them DEAD!!
Practicing stripping weapons on the flight deck.
An aerial picture of Vung Tau harbour. Vung Tau was a safe area where we went to have R & C, (rest and recreation), I only ever had it once and the place was crowded, dirty and smelly.
A view of the "street of markets" in Vung Tau. This was where the local Vietnamese did all their trading. Bargaining was the name of the game, no-one was expected to pay the asking price.
Another view of the "street of markets".
Another view of the "street of makets". Yes, it was as dirty as it looks. We didn't eat any of the local food as it caused gastric problems. Gee, it looks really clean to me!!!
This view of the "street of markets" shows the open drains that were full of just about every sort of refuse and crap possible. Needless to say, we didn't go down there very often.
The main drag in Vung Tau. A lousy place to visit and a worse place to stay! You never realise what you've got 'till you see how others less fortunate live.
This was the market place in the town of Hoa Long. On market day it would be completely full.
The latest in tractors and plowing machinery. They used to work like this from morning to night. I wonder where they put the petrol?
This is what passed for a taxi. It was a Lambretta scooter with two wheels at the back and the "capability" of carrying a zillion tons of gear or at least a couple hundred people?
Some of the local peasants picking rice with the Long Hai mountains in the background. The Long Hai's were "out of bounds" for everyone, they were riddled with mines planted by the VC.
View of Bien Hoa village, while "sight seeing" from the outer seat of an Iriquois chopper on the way to an Op.
This was one of the bars in Vung Tau where prostitutes were plentiful and cheap. They would say "Uc Dai Loi number one" (Australian is the best), "You buy me Ba-me-Ba" (a watered down local beer). Then after a short time ask if you want "boom-boom".
Meeting some of the locals in a small village by the sea.
Women from one of the local villages sorting the fish after a catch.
Fishermen sorting out their nets on the beach after a days fishing. Doesn't look like there's a war on, does it?
A view of one of the more prominent homes. You can see the taxi "lambro" under the roof.
One of the local temples, this one didn't seem to have been shot up. Most of the buildings had chunks shot out of them.
Looking across the open fields at the Long Hai mountains. These had been heavily mined by the VC and no-one went up them any more.