Big
Guns!
Đà Nẵng: Fire support, 1965-1966
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by: Don Poss
© 1996
In July of 1965, the big guns could be heard firing support missions around the clock. In fact, it took three days to get used to the booming of howitzers and finally sleep. Sleep actually followed exhaustion--and a lapse of Baptist ethics. Someone had stolen my mosquito net!
The Supply Sergeant asked: Did this careless loss of U.S. Government Property occur through your negligence, or during an enemy attack? I considered which response was likely to carry the most weight (and get me another net), but decided to lie anyway. ... Cause, young Airman, if'n your tryin' ta tell me that them there Viet Cong attacked this here air base just to capture your officially issued--and signed for-- mosquito net? No Sarge, but I think I'll double check my tent for it once more. I went out and found a mosquito net to sleep under (and some ear plugs!).
Most of the time, we could only hear the booming of out going rounds. Occasionally, when fire-missions were close in, we also heard the explosions on the receiving end.
105mm Howitzer |
Ear plugs anyone? |
... Lock and Load! |
... Another ... |
... round ... |
... for the boys! |
