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My name is John D. Brown. I joined the green machine in late september 1965. I was one of the original 71st Transportation Battalion members when it was deployed to Vietnam in August of 1966. Through the course of
events, I was assigned to the headquarters and headquarters detachment, 71st Transportation Battalion located at Fort Story, sometime in late spring of 1966.
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SP/4 John D. Brown - Just After Arriving In Country - Just Finished Setting Up Our Tent
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I was a private with an MOS of 81B20 and assigned S-3. The unit was an alerted unit going to Vietnam but without a specific destination. I guess you know the secretary of the army didn't take the time to give me any
information except get ready. Our commanding officer was LTCMosgrove. We had a great Sergeant Major; I'll never forget old what's his name.
Working On Headquarters Building At Camp Camelot - December 1967
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Our Entertainment Center HHD Shower Area
I remember names: Marshall, Fornal, Richmond, Childress, Manning, Schuster and Reilly. We trained, attended lectures, shipped our gear and finallystarted our journey. We flew from Virginia through Chicago and on to
Oakland Marine terminal where we immediately boarded a troop shipin August of 1966.
Overlook Of Camelot - January 1968
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Construction Of Our Bunkers At Camelot
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The View From Inside One Of Our Bunkers
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We left San Francisco and sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge and into the Pacific Ocean. I remember one of the guys, Chuck Fornal, was sea sick for the first ten days. We sailed west and diverted to Subic Bay, Philippines
to avoid a typhoon and for fuel, and then on to Vung Tau.
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Our unit disembarked after about 23 days at sea and we all were happy to be off the ship. We off-loaded with landing craft to the beach and onto waiting 2 1/2 ton trucks for a ride to an air strip. The flight to Bien Hoa in a
C-130 was not set for comfort, but the flight was short and after landing, it was off to find an area for our compound.
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Some Of The Last Tents At Camelot
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Nelson Ouelette And Jarvis Rau Mark French And Jarvis Rau
We settled into the compound area of a fuel supply battalion, 64th Quartermaster. We then focused on getting organized and setting up and expanding the future compound. In that time, around September of 1966, the
battalion mission was to support Newport and I was assigned duties at the port.
Tom LeMoine On Left - Don't Remember The Other Guy's Name - It's obvious what they are saying with their hands.
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The activity then was mostly barge off-loading from the deep draft vessels north of Saigon and truck loading for distribution to the units. I worked the night shift at Newport, monitoring reports of tonnage from Tu Duc and
Newport by radio and teletype. Reports were passed on between Tu Duc, Newport and Saigon at regular points and I was able to see the port grow.
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One Of HQ Drivers On Left And Tom LeMoine On Right
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Our guys put in long hours and the fact of a long ride to the compound made the days tough. The port grew with the construction of the concrete wharves and the support of the companies added to the battalion. I made
E-5 and extended my tour in August and received a 30-day leave stateside. I returned to Newport and was assigned day shift at Newport. I was able to attend the Bob Hope Christmas show and was there a month later for
Tet 68. A few weeks later I returned to the states for 30 days. I continued in the army for an additional 18 months and was discharged in September 1969. Anyway, that's my story and I am sticking to it. Your responses
are welcome. John D. Brown
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One Of The HQ Jeeps And Driver Mama San Lin
Above And Below - Some Photos Of The Entertainers Who Performed At Camp Camelot
It was always nice to take in a show before work if you were on the night shift, or after work if you were on the day shift.
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In Front Of Battalion Headquarters
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Another Great Show Comes To An End
Bob Hope 1967 Christmas Show At Long Bien Post
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Looks Like Some Of The VIPs Are Coming In
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Left Photo - Looking Past The Wire At Bear Cat Road - AKA Charlie Road - The bicycles probably belong to Vietnamese workers on Camelot. - Center Photo - Perimeter Bunker On Camelot - Right Photo - Sunset Over Camelot
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Not Exactly Where On LBP I Took These Two Photos
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Early Arrivals For The Show - Pull Up A Sand Bag And Have A Seat
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Highway 1-A - The Road To Newport and Saigon
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Looking Out The Rear Of Our Truck - Just Crossed The Dong Nai River Bridge - You Can Still See The Corner Of LBP
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The Dong Nai River Barge Site
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Two Young Vietnamese Girls Riding Their Bikes Up Bear Cat Road
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Looks like the little guy has everyhing under control.
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Pheasant Village Housing On 1-A
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Fruit Stand On 1-A - It was tasty.
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The Resting Soldier Near The ARVN National Cemetery
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Temple On 1-A Approaching The Dong Nai Bridge
Some of The Locals On 1-A
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Looks like the ARVNs are lined up for a big mission - January 1968.
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Along 1-A To Newport
Two Ladies Walking, Maybe Going To Work - Don't remember where I took this photo. Does anyone recognize the place?
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Water Purification Facility In Thu Duc On 1-A - February 1968
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Quite A Mixture Of Vehicles Here
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Arriving At Newport Terminal
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Looking Down At Newport From The Bridge
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71st Command Operations Center And Part Of The Staging Area
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Looks Like A big Day At Newport - September 1967
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General Westmoreland Circling Around Newport - September 1967 PBRs Running Up The Saigon River Past Newport
Continuing Down 1-A To Saigon
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Local Service - Need Oil?
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Some Damage In The Saigon Area After TET 1968
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Leaving Saigon - Taking a right at this intersection will bring you to Newport Terminal and back to Long Binh and Bien Hoa.
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Military Headquarters? Australian Embassy?
Saigon Wharf - Recreational Watercraft
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I took this photo because of the sign.
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Street Near Entrance To 4th Trans Military Statue
Taxi Stand Saigon Movie House
Bondi Beach & Round-Eyed Women
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Sydney Opera House - Still Under Construction Harbor Bridge - Sydney - First Design Of This Type
A Quiet Moment By The Ocean Before Returning To Vietnam Going Home - My Last View Of Vietnam
Hope you have enjoyed looking at my photos. Please feel free to email with any comments. Thank You.
E-Mail John D. Brown
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Who'll Stop The Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival - January 1970
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Some Damage In The Saigon Area After TET 1968
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Modern Dress - Nice Shoes
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San Francisco Bar - Tu Do Street
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Surfer - Manly Beach North Of Sydney
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Bondi Beach Lifeguard Rescue Boat
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Sydney Skyline And Harbor Ferries
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So what does this bent stick do?
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