Discuss - Che Guevara's Jungle Fighters

[gardenville]

That was interesting, however. Before going to
Vietnam in 1967 I went to the US Jungle Warfare School
in Panama, The Canal Zone.

When I got there I was issued a US Army Jungle
Hammock. I along with all the others at the school in
Panama used the Army Jungle Hammock's while out in the
Panama jungle training. I still have that hammock and
in 1968 when my year in VN was over I was assigned to
Ft Bragg, NC and the JKF Center for Special Warfare.
I was issued another Jungle Hammock which I also still
have.

In VN most all the viet cong (the bad guys) used a
hammock and wrapped all their gear and food in it and
carried it over their shoulders as a pack. You could
tell where they "hung out at night" from the trees and
sometimes their blood, they were not very (LNT). I
picked up three of their hammocks from dead VC and
still have two of them. One of them was made out of
some type light silk or nylon and very light weight.
I have used that one for backpacking and you might say
was the idea for my first silk hammock. That hammock
rolls up about the size of a large apple and uses 550
cord - 4 ply.

The US Army did not use a hammock in VN as it would be
to dangerous. The hammock provides no protection from
attack as you are above ground level and have no
protection from gun fire or mortars. We always tried
to dig a hole that would put us below the level of the
ground around you. We killed many of the enemy as
they slept in their hammocks at night with our
artillery and air strikes.

Does the book say anything about how Che and his merry
band was run down like a pack of wild dogs and killed
by a small group of US trained "Guerrilla Fighters"?
The true account of that seldom gets covered as it
really happened.

[Mule]

Welcome home, Gardenville. I to am a VN Vet, USMC, Mike Co, 3/1 67-68. Mule

[Take-a-knee]

Gardenville, thanks for your service my brother, you are the man. As for Che and the SF trained Bolivian Rangers, quite a few old timers from 7th SF claimed to have been "on the scene", probably a lot of Yentema Club BS but a few probably were.

[gardenville]

To skskinner,
We had a lot of Marines in the area were I was and my unit supported a small Marine unit in a local village for a couple of months. They were on the end of a very long supply line and I treated them as if they were part of my unit. We were after all- all Americans. When we were pulled out the young E5 in charge of the Marines gave me a K-Bar as a thank you gift. He told me that the K-Bar was the only thing he had that might mean something to me. I still have that Big knife on the mantel of my fire place.

To Take-a-knee,

Thanks, I was only one out of many.

Some folks would like to think none of us are left around anymore. It seems that we are everywhere.

We all have our good stories. When it comes to "war stories" I don't believe anything I say, and only about half of what I hear. But I do love a good story around a fire at night and I can tell a few goods back. Remember though what I said two sentences back.

[Mule]

To skskinner,
We had a lot of Marines in the area were I was and my unit supported a small Marine unit in a local village for a couple of months. They were on the end of a very long supply line and I treated them as if they were part of my unit. We were after all- all Americans. When we were pulled out the young E5 in charge of the Marines gave me a K-Bar as a thank you gift. He told me that the K-Bar was the only thing he had that might mean something to me. I still have that Big knife on the mantel of my fire place.

To Take-a-knee,

Thanks, I was only one out of many.

Some folks would like to think none of us are left around anymore. It seems that we are everywhere.

We all have our good stories. When it comes to "war stories" I don't believe anything I say, and only about half of what I hear. But I do love a good story around a fire at night and I can tell a few goods back. Remember though what I said two sentences back.

Gardenville, That's interesting, my unit did not support the Army unit, rather, they supported us with food. I remember somewhere between the Rockpile (LZ Studd) and Khe San, I think it was the Big Red 1, saw how hungry we were on the hill. They were in the valley next to the river/creek. Both our units were hit numerous times every day for a month or two. Really depressing time. The Army unit had literally skids of that freeze dried food in gallon cans in a big horseshoe configuration. We had only one C and day and when the Army found that out they opened their food to us completely. We had Salsbury Steak, Shrimp, and some other things I don't remember. Just add water, heat and eat. I used to make my way down there every other day. May I use you as the one to whom I say, "Thanks you," Thanks BR1.
This is not the place for this, I know, but thanks anyway. Steve

[Greg Dunlap]

Air Force Da Nang K-9 handler here, TET 68-TET 69. We had the Marines from the 1st MP's on the perimiter of Da Nang and we patrolled the area between their bunkers and the perimiter fence every night. Every one of them was welcome at our mess and parties. We would always want to go eat at their chow halls because they served hamburgers and steak there, while we got stew at ours all the time.

Ya get a chance, check out the web site we maintain at http://366thspsk-9.com/

Welcome Home Brothers!!

Vietnam Security Police Life Member 361
K-9 Blackie 129X

[dpage]

Semper-Fi !!!

[Mule]

Thanks for the responses. Now that we are home, Life is Good, hugh? I don't know why, though I seldom have a negative experience with memories any more, I find myself thinking my time in Nam was no more than a week ago. I was initially assigned to 3/1 HQ Co, until 3/1 got assigned to Special Landing Force on the Valley Forge. We made landings in hot spots and ran operations in I Corps. At our first big battle, I and my squad were assigned to Mike Company. Mike Company is what I called my home. Here as a link if you get time to see some stuff about our Company.
Semper Fi
http://www.3onevet.com/mikecohistory.htm

[neo]

i was about 14 when the war in vietnam ended,i was in the us navy 1978 to 1982,i was 19 when i went in,i was on the uss tarawa lha-1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Tarawa_%28LHA-1%29

we carried a thousand sailors and 2000 marines,we also carrie av-8 harrier
jets and landing boats and choppers.i even have ships name tattooed over my heart.GOOD bless all my brothers and sisters in arms,past,present and future. neo