Page 17
Photos From Alfred "Al" Krabbenhoeft
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The Guarding of Newport Terminal
By
Sgt. Alfred "Al" E. Krabbenhoeft II
Newport Guard From 12-67 to 9-68
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Photo Courtsey of U.S. Army Photography
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I arrived in Vietnam and was assigned to the 551st Transportation Company, 71st Transportation Battalion. Initally assigned to work at Newport Terminal on DD4, working the dock area and the banding area until
around the first of December, I experienced a week or so working sandbag detail at Camp Camelot sometime in the middle of that period. For some unknown reason, first Sargent Jones of the 551st had a great dislike
for me as I arrived in country with the rank of SP/4. About mid-December 1967, a good friend of mine, SP/4 Fred Parker, also from the 551st, and I were volunteered for guard duty at Newport. Having worked the docks
for about a month and a half, I didn't even know a security guard unit existed. Upon arrival for guard duty, it didn't take long to realize how unpopular this assignment would be. Living conditions consisted of two old
dirty tents to provide shelter and a place to rest when not on duty. No showers or relief stations existed. Meals were at the old mess hall down by the Saigon River near the Newport Bridge, and the food was really
terrible. Guard duty consisted of manning eight guard towers situated along the perimeter of Newport, with most of the towers located near the rear of Newport.
Left To Right - SP/4 Morawa - SP/4 Schaub - Sgt. Krabbenhoeft - Aboard One Of The APC's At Newport
Good View Of The Newport Bridge In The Background
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Newport Security Guards First Living Quarters - Things Were Pretty Bad Here
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Guards Moved Into The Old Carpenters Building - This Was An Upgrade From Tents
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Guard Tower Eight At Newport
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The guard unit usually consisted of 40-48 men rotating shifts 24 hours a day. Before TET, we only manned every other guard tower during the daylight hours and, depending on the length of shift, you would occasionally
have enough time off to catch a convoy back to Camelot to freshen up and possibly have a night of down time enjoying the casual life at Camelot and Long Bien.
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Guards Headed For Camelot On Bearcat Road
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Guards Parked In Front Of 71st Headquarters At Camelot
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Searchlight Jeep Parked Outside Guard Building At Newport
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View From Guard Tower Rear Perimeter Behind Sea Land
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As weeks passed on around Christmas 1967 with individuals leaving for whatever reason, I found myself assigned as corporal of the guard, assigning guard posts, shifts and walking the perimeter at night checking guard towers. As guards,
everyone carried M-14 rifles and the guard towers were supplied with a few cases of ammo. About the first of January 1968, the guard unit received two 50 Cal. machine guns. The question was, what are these for and where do we put them. What
we didn't know at the time was that this was the Brass at Newport's first preparation for a possible attack.
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Guards Working On The 50 Cal
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About a week later, the guard unit received six armored personnel carriers to support the defense of Newport. The sight of the APC's excited most of the guard personnel as we perceived action approaching. After
weeks of experiencing battles and firefights close to Newport, everyone was now fired up over our addition of six APC's and the attention they brought.
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Left Photo - Laying Sections Of Portable Landing Strip For APC Parking Outside Guard Quarters - Robert Banbury is the GI With His Shirt Off
- Right Photo - Guards Schaub, Burton and Tipton Washing APC On The Docks
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With only a few men in our unit who knew anything at all about APC's, a great learning experience was just ahead. The addition of the armored personnel carriers really changed the attitude of many of the guards. With
the need for additional personnel to man the APC's and adding additional support to every guard tower, companies of the 71st supplied us with additional men every night through TET.
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Newport Guards Servicing APC's Next To Old Guard House - Sea Land
Building In Background
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Sgt. Krabbenhoeft - Note All The Barrels Stacked In The Background - Lots Of Agent Orange
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Outside The Guard Quarters With The 71st Trans. Bn. Consolidated
Maintenance Buildings In The Background
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As the days of TET passed, we moved our guards into the old carpenters building that was located near the entrance of Newport. What a change, but it needed many repairs and additions. The guys from the guard unit
really pitched in and turned the place into respectable living conditions. Adding a weapons cleaning shelter, shower, john and portable landing strips to park the APC's on, the place was starting to shape up. A month or
so later, we added a day room with fridge and bar, NCO sleeping quarters and a patio with a huge cargo parachute for shade. A fresh coat of paint and the next thing, guards were wanting to stay on guard.
Guys On Guard Duty During Rainy Season
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Guards On Back Perimeter Of Newport Also During The
Rainy Season
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SP/4 Fred Parker Of St. Louis, MO Standing Next To
Guard Tower At Newport
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Sgt. Krabbenhoeft Standing On The APC Parking Area With Weapons
Cleaning Shelter On Right And Shower On Left
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SP/4 Dave Cook And SP/4 Richard Morawa Outside Guard Quarters With
Documentation Shack And Maintenance Buildings In Background
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Guard Quarters Final Upgrade With Building Painted - Day Room - Bar
And Arms Room Added - Large Patio With Parachute For Shade Great
Improvement
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New APC's Lined Up For Long Bien - Some Guards Drove
Them And Road Shotgun
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Newport Guards Headed Down Highway #1 For Long Bien And
Camp Camelot
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Newport Guards With Sgt. Perez In Center - Working On Overheated APC On Highway #1 Near A Small
Village - Guard Robert Banbury On Top Far Right With His Hand On The Shoulder Of Another Guard
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One More Of The Overheated APC's On Highway #1A - Keeping
A Close
Eye On The Village
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Guards SP/4 Fred Parker - PFC Burton - PFC Tipton In Our Weapons
Cleaning Shelter
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Moe The Dog - SP/4 Dave Cook On Right And
PFC Gawlick On The Left
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We Didn't Have A Shower Yet - But This Worked - Robert
Banbury is the man taking a bath.
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Sp/4 Warren Schaub Next To The Original Tents
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PFC Jerry Lyons Another Newport Guard
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Sgt. Al Krabbenhoeft With The Rewards Of A Night Raid On A Pallet Of Beer
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Cleaning Girls for Guard Quarters
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Our Pets In Front Of The Guard Quarters
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SP/4 Warren Schaub With His Trusty Old M-3 Grease Gun
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Our M60's Next To Our Bunks In Guard House
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Below Are A Few Photos Taken During Our Off Time Between Guard Shifts
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Another Beer Break - Is That Larry Clark On Left
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More Of The Guards Off Duty In The Day Room Bar
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Robert Banbury, Far Right, Playing Catch With One Of The Other Guards
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Taking another Beer Break In Our Day Room Bar
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One Of The Guards - Can't Quite Read His Name Tag
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A Little Poker Game Going On In Guard Quarters - Looks Like The Guy In The White T-shirt Is Winning
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Sgt. Al Krabbenhoeft In Middle - Can Anyone Identify The Other Two guys
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In the photo on the left with the GI with glasses on and looking at the camera is Sgt. Chris Williams. If anyone remembers him, could you please contact me. Al Furtado
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Couple Of My Lockers At Newport - Including Short Time Calendar - Hope The Wife And Kids Aren't Looking Now
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The many personnel I met during my tour at Newport and faces in photos are familiar, but names have been lost over the years. Individuals viewing the photos I took during my tour are welcome to respond with any
helpful information. The men I remember the most are: SP/4 Warren Schaub of St. Paul, MN, SP/4 Richard Morawa of Garden City, MI, SP/4 David Cook of Michigan (deceased shortly after his discharge), Sgt. Perez, Lt.
John Dye of LaPorte, IN, SP/4 Fred Parker of St. Louis, MO (one of the most likeable individuals I've ever met, and at the time a huge Johnny Cash fan), PFC Jerry Lyon, what a character, PFC Burton, who maintained
our APC's, and the many great guys who shared personal memories and added fun and laughter to the daily life around the Newport Army Terminal, the Newport Security Guards home away from Camp Camelot.
Memories of my life at Newport will live on forever. Thanks to Al Furtado of the 154th Transportation Company. His website inspired me to share my views of TET, write a little history on the Newport Guard Unit, and
spend endless hours sorting slides that I thought no one would be interested in. Thanks Al, although I've never met you and I'm sure we crossed paths in Vietnam, I look forward to the day we will meet.
Update Photos
We Finally Got Together After Leaving Vietnam 37 Years Ago.
2005 Long Binh Reunion
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Eve Of Destruction - Barry McGuire - 1965
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Below are some photos and info sent to me from Alfred Krabbenhoeft. Alfred was with the 551st Transportation Company, 71st Trans. Bn., from Oct 67 to Sept 68. For the majority of his tour, he was a security
guard at Newport Terminal. For his actions during the battle at the Newport Bridge, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device for heroism in connection with military operations against a
hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam. Thanks to Alfred and the other guards and MP's at the front gate, the terminal wasn't overrun by the VC and many lives were saved. The guarding of Newport Terminal is
relatively untold until now.
