US Army Transportation Corps - A Year In Viet Nam
My military career actually begin while I was a student at the University of Houston when I decided to work on getting my commission as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army by joining ROTC. From that point I received my commission as an officer in the Corps of Engineers. Not being an "engineer," but more of a transportation man, I petitioned the Army to change my Branch assignment.
I was re-assigned to the Transportation Corps.
My orders were for me to report to Fort Eustis, home of the Transportation Corps, in April 1966. I also received orders that I was to attend Aircraft Maintenance Officers course upon completion of Transportation Officers Basic Course (TOBC-9).
I believed that Transportation Corps could use my college education, training and six (6) months of employment with the New York Central Railroad to better advantage if the Army assigned me to a rail transportation position. Doing some research I located a railroad detachment, attached to the 714th Transportation Battalion Railway Operating, Steam & Diesel Electric (TBROS&DE) for training. The detachment was just being formed and needed a commander.
At the same time a classmate in TOBC wanted to be an Aircraft Maintenance Officer but had not been assigned to AMOC.
With that information in hand my fellow officer and I went to Post Headquarters to request that I have my orders changed to be assigned as commander of the rail detachment and that my fellow student be assigned to the aircraft maintenance class.
I was re-assigned to the 525th Rail Detachment and my fellow student to the Aircraft Maintenance Officer's Course.
After that it was a lot of training and then it was time for our next assignment.
The 525th, along with its equipment, including a jeep and trailer, and personnel, was bound for SE Asia. In December 1966 we received orders that we were to sail to Viet Nam on the troopship General William O. Darby.
We sailed from Oakland, CA on December 27, 1966 and 23-days later arrived in Vung Tau, Republic of Viet Nam.
The images in this Gallery reflect some of my military life starting with ROTC Summer Camp at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, then at Fort Eustis before going to Viet Nam and finally returning to Fort Eustis after my Viet Nam tour.
The largest segment of images show some of the "civilian" side of my life in Viet Nam. There are also scenes of my R and R trip to Hawaii where my wife joined me from the USA. As well, there are also some scenes from a 7-day leave to Japan.
My work photos while I was in Viet Nam will be found in the "I've Been Working On The Railroad" Folder , US Army & Viet Nam Gallery."
If, while perusing the Gallery you find mistakes or needed information, please let me know.
Please keep in mind that 1967 was a fairly long time ago. The great Baton Rouge flood of 2016 destroyed, damaged, or at the very least, totally messed up and got out of sequence the majority of my collection of 70,000+ slides. Finding them, then sorting, repairing or throwing them away if badly damaged and unsalvageable has been/is a major undertaking. Also, I lost my "diaries" where I had written my notes and experiences while in Viet Nam. As a result, I ask your patience if images aren't where they're supposed to be or caption information is inaccurate or information is missing.
One additional note. There are four (4) images showing me being interviewed and photographed during the filming of the Vietnamese Railroad's operation by the US Army Signal Corps. These 4-images were researched and discovered by a person located in Viet Nam whom I have been lucky enough to come in contact with. I thank him for thinking of me and taking the time and interest to discover the photos.
Thank you and enjoy........
Read MoreI was re-assigned to the Transportation Corps.
My orders were for me to report to Fort Eustis, home of the Transportation Corps, in April 1966. I also received orders that I was to attend Aircraft Maintenance Officers course upon completion of Transportation Officers Basic Course (TOBC-9).
I believed that Transportation Corps could use my college education, training and six (6) months of employment with the New York Central Railroad to better advantage if the Army assigned me to a rail transportation position. Doing some research I located a railroad detachment, attached to the 714th Transportation Battalion Railway Operating, Steam & Diesel Electric (TBROS&DE) for training. The detachment was just being formed and needed a commander.
At the same time a classmate in TOBC wanted to be an Aircraft Maintenance Officer but had not been assigned to AMOC.
With that information in hand my fellow officer and I went to Post Headquarters to request that I have my orders changed to be assigned as commander of the rail detachment and that my fellow student be assigned to the aircraft maintenance class.
I was re-assigned to the 525th Rail Detachment and my fellow student to the Aircraft Maintenance Officer's Course.
After that it was a lot of training and then it was time for our next assignment.
The 525th, along with its equipment, including a jeep and trailer, and personnel, was bound for SE Asia. In December 1966 we received orders that we were to sail to Viet Nam on the troopship General William O. Darby.
We sailed from Oakland, CA on December 27, 1966 and 23-days later arrived in Vung Tau, Republic of Viet Nam.
The images in this Gallery reflect some of my military life starting with ROTC Summer Camp at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, then at Fort Eustis before going to Viet Nam and finally returning to Fort Eustis after my Viet Nam tour.
The largest segment of images show some of the "civilian" side of my life in Viet Nam. There are also scenes of my R and R trip to Hawaii where my wife joined me from the USA. As well, there are also some scenes from a 7-day leave to Japan.
My work photos while I was in Viet Nam will be found in the "I've Been Working On The Railroad" Folder , US Army & Viet Nam Gallery."
If, while perusing the Gallery you find mistakes or needed information, please let me know.
Please keep in mind that 1967 was a fairly long time ago. The great Baton Rouge flood of 2016 destroyed, damaged, or at the very least, totally messed up and got out of sequence the majority of my collection of 70,000+ slides. Finding them, then sorting, repairing or throwing them away if badly damaged and unsalvageable has been/is a major undertaking. Also, I lost my "diaries" where I had written my notes and experiences while in Viet Nam. As a result, I ask your patience if images aren't where they're supposed to be or caption information is inaccurate or information is missing.
One additional note. There are four (4) images showing me being interviewed and photographed during the filming of the Vietnamese Railroad's operation by the US Army Signal Corps. These 4-images were researched and discovered by a person located in Viet Nam whom I have been lucky enough to come in contact with. I thank him for thinking of me and taking the time and interest to discover the photos.
Thank you and enjoy........
