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Photos From Joe Sidon
My name is Joe Sidon. I was first with the 567th Transportation Company and later reassigned to the 368th Transportation Company, 71st Transportation Battalion from July 1968 to August 1969.
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When I reported to the company area, the First Sargent said I could work at the port or go on permanent guard duty. I chose the port. At this time in Newport's history, all the stevedore work was being done by contract
labor. When I arrived at the port, I was a cargo checker for the first few days at DD4. Soon I was assigned to arrange trucking and coordinate the shipment of supplies off the pier and out of the warehouses. As our number
of GIs kept getting less and less over the next thirteen months, I continued to do the shipping with the additional responsibility of supervising the offloading of the ships, overseeing the cargocheckers and working with the
contractors.
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Back At Camelot
Enjoying The Evening After A Hard Day's Work At Newport
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Left Photo - Care Package From Home Party - Center Front - Lynn Heckart - L To R Back Row Sgt Hall - Bobby Pate - Don't Remember The Guy Sitting On The Bed - Center Photo - L To R - Bobby Pate - Joe Sidon - Al Crowe
Wayne Monius - Lt Joe Davis - Don't Remember The Other GI
At some point in time, the 368th took over DD2 and the 567th left. (Webmaster Comment: In May of 1969, the 567th was relocated to Camp Davies. In December 1969, the 567th returned to Long Binh and was assigned to
the 79th Maintenance Battalion.) I was reassigned to the 368th and continued to work the same jobs at DD2 until being discharged in late August 1969. The guys I got to know at the 368th were also great guys. I wish I
could remember the first sargent from the 567th. He was an ultimate soldier. I was up for Sgt E-5 and had to go before the promotion board at 4th TC HQ. He called me in and told me, since I had not been to
transportation school, I would not do well with many of the questions asked. He schooled me every night for a couple of weeks on all the stevedore and terminal terms and made sure I was up on current events so I would
do well. I did get the promotion.
Left 2 Photos - Joe Sidon - Christmas 1968 - Right 2 Photos - SP4 Hurta - In The White Shirt - We called him "Norton" from the Jackie Gleason show because he liked to imitate him. SP4 Giamarino - In The Green Shirt
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Left Photo - The guy in the middle with the cigarette looking back is SSgt King. The guy looking back at the right is Wayne Monius. Again I'm sorry not to remember the others' names. - Center Photo - L To R - Joe Sidon,
Al Crowe, Willie Williams - Right Photo - L To R - Willie Williams - Al Crowe
Bobby Pate Don't Remember Either Of These Guys' Names
Joe Davis
Left Photo - L To R - Joe Sidon - Wayne Monius - Giamarino - Willie Williams - Center Photo - L To R - Don't Remember His Name - Joe Sidon
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Joe Sidon - First Ship Platoon Sign
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Joe Sidon Hurta - AKA Norton
This looks like the 65-foot observation tower located at the perimeter of Camelot. - Right Photos - 561st & 372nd Company Areas.
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Left Photo - Looking Down At One Corner Of Newport From One Of The Cargo Ships - This is a great view of the three administration buildings (center), the three consolidated maintenance buildings (just above the
administration buildings) and the mess hall (to the left of the administration buildings). Right Photo - Mess Hall And Headquarters Buildings At Camelot
Lt. Joe Davis And The Port Jeep With Pink Seat Covers
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The Arrival Of The Transcolorado At Newport Terminal
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Left Photo - The arrival of the Transcolorado was a big event at DD2. We had visiting brass, military press, and civilian press. This was supposed to be the largest freighter at the time that had gear heavy enough to unload
tanks and heavy lift cargo without the need of the BD. From memory, I think the Transcolorado had a sister ship called the Transcolumbia. Right Photo - Standing In Front Of The Transcolorado - The second person from
the left is Al Crowe. I think the fourth person from the right is Lt. Halstead.
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Hunter Victory Ship At Newport Five Hueys Flying Across The River
Looking Across The River From One Of The Cargo Ships At Newport
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Left Photo - DD2 Documentation Office - In 1975, after the United States pulled out, I saw on the national news the NVA coming up the pier and shooting at this building. The same scene has been on documentaries of the
Vietnam War on the History Channel. - Right Photo - The Wesleyan Victory Ship At Newport
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Heavy Lift Floating Crane Looks Like Vietnamese Civilians
Another Look At Newport Civilian Workers Having Some Chow
Christmas 1968 At Newport Terminal
The Santa Claus Special
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The Santa Claus Special Being Unloaded From The Hunter Victory Ship
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The conexes were full of Christmas gifts and mail sent from home to the troops. We again had a lot of visiting Army brass, MP's, Army press, and civilian press to observe the event. We had to set up the very first lifts for
pictures. We also had to hold up the signs that were on some of the containers for photos by the press. Special convoys of military trucks were awaiting the shipment. I am not sure where it went when it left. All the 567th
people working DD2 that day had to wear white armbands so the press and dignitaries knew who the port workers were. We also had to wear our best fatigues, be in full uniform, and wear a 71st Battalion pin.
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Two Photos Above - The Santa Claus Special Convoy Getting Ready To Pick Up Its Cargo Of Christmas Gifts And Mail
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L To R - Joe Davis - Willie Williams - Joe Sidon - Wearing Our White Armbands - Notice The Santa Claus Face On The S&P Trailer
The Brass Watching The Unloading Of The Santa Claus Special
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Left Photo - Hunter Victory Ship Crew Watching The Unloading Of The Santa Claus Special - Right Photo - L To R - Joe Sidon - Willie Williams - (Webmaster Comment: From the photo below, it looks like you guys just kept on
going all the way back to Camelot - LOL.)
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Water Treatment Plant In Thu Duc
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Many of the photos above are individuals that were great people to be associated with as both friends and co-workers. I only wish I could remember all their names with accuracy. I am also sure that there are misspelled
last names and missing or inaccurate first names. Corrections and additions are welcome. I also remember many more names that are not in any of the pictures. That does not mean I had any less appreciation in knowing
them, or working with them. Hope you have enjoyed looking at the photos. Any comments or corrections, please E-mail me. E-Mail Joe Sidon
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I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye - 1968
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Joe Sidon - About Six Months In Country
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Joe Again - Our Chapel In The Background
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Heavy Duty After Work Party
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Right Photo - Joe Davis and Jack Thornhaur
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Back To Work At Newport Terminal
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Left Photo - The second person to the left is Lt. Norman Freeze who was the CO at the 567th at the time. The others to the right look to be 4th TC and 71st brass. - Right Photo - L to R - Lt. Mount From Port Operations,
Willie Williams And Joe Sidon
Wayne Monius Checking Cargo
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PBR Going Up The River At Newport
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Another Huey Flying Over The Port
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Looks Like a CH-47 Carrying Some Cargo
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Loading Trucks At Newport
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L To R - Joe Sidon - Joe Davis - Willie Williams
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Joe Sidon And Willie Williams With One Of The Signs We Took Back To The Company Area
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On The Road - Below are a few photos I took along the road from Saigon to Long Binh.
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