The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Desert Storm - The Ground War - Dec. 30th, 2002

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/desert_sabre.htm ^

[Light Speed]

Artist bump for Jen and the 388TH....

Libertas Vel Mors......Liberty or Death

1 of 3 prints done in honor of the 388th during Desert Storm

[SAMWolf]

I was an Engineer and then later a mortarman.

[SAMWolf]

Viper's Venom"

[Jen]

That'll teach you to hang out with sick kids.

Well... he had been sick but I thought he was not contagious any longer. I'm so crazy about my little darling nephew that having him here for two days was worth two nights of puking. ;-) hehehehe

Just look at this beautiful baby... I sure hope he doesn't become a dentist!

[Jen]

That's one I haven't seen. The 16th TFS didn't exist when I was assigned to the 388th. There were some great paintings that were made into lithographs that featured the 388th that I have stored away. I'd post them, but they're too big to scan. I wonder if they're on the web somewhere... Will have to search.

[SAMWolf]

He's a cutie! He get to the "pretend the drill is a machine gun" stage yet?

[SAMWolf]

388th FW F-16A dropping 'iron' bombs

[Light Speed]

Phuoc Vinh...
Way cool Sam... 3rd Corps Zone

III Corps Fighting The Wandering Warriors of the 101st Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade finally returned home to stay on October 2, 1968. Rain fell in a soft drizzle as a C-130 aircraft settled to the airstrip at Hue-Phu Bai and the Screaming Eagle band struck up "Rendezvous with Destiny." Command elements of the brigade headquarters and their direct artillery support battalion, the 2nd Bn., 319th Arty., moved toward Major General Melvin Zais, the division commanding general, halted, and the tall, slender colonel leading the formation saluted and said, "Sir, the 3rd Brigade reports for duty." With this message, Col. Joseph B. Conmy Jr., commanding officer of the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division reunited his brigade with the Division from which it had been separated since February. As the new base camp was under construction, the maneuver battalions moved out to begin familiarizing themselves with their new AO (area of operations). It was all old hat to the wanderers, who had seen action in all four tactical zones. Such names as Bien Hoa, Phuoc Vinh, Song Be, Dak To, Dak Pek, Cu Chi, and Dau Tieng are all familiar. Each has seen elements of, if not the entire brigade, fighting on its terrain. When the Warriors arrived at Bien Hoa Air Base in December, 1967, under the command of Col. Lawrence Mowery, the first move was made to Phuoc Vinh. In-country training began and quickly turned into full scale combat against the Viet Cong located in the edge of War Zone D and south of Phuoc Vinh. The young Paratroopers gained confidence and battle savvy.; they became Warriors who were to wander and fight throughout Vietnam. As the first sounds of gunfire of the Tet Offensive broke over the sprawling Bien Hoa complex, the 2nd Bn., 506th Abn. Inf. was loaded on helicopters to be set down to the rear of the 101st Division headquarters. Fifty meters beyond the headquarters, the first enemy contact was made and 36 hours of persistent fighting began which resulted in over 150 enemy deaths. The title "Warriors" was earned.

action near Phouc Vinh during Tet

[Jen]

He get to the "pretend the drill is a machine gun" stage yet?

No machine guns so far... but baby Bryce is a firm believer in the 2nd Amendment! Hubby was hiding around the corner and jumping out and saying "boo" and Bryce responded by shouting "BANG! BANG!"! hahahahaha

[SAMWolf]

I got there in 1969. The 1st Cav was based there then, I remember Cu Chi, Lai Khe and Song Be. The 557th was based in Phouc Vinh, but we rotated Platoons in and out to other FSB's and Basecamps in the area.

[SAMWolf]

LOL! Boys will always be boys no matter how hard the libs try to change them.

[Jen]

HAHAHAHA! Thanks for telling that great 'war story'. I'm glad you preserved the honor of the Air Force and opted for option 'B'! ;-)

All my good stories involve doing 'hand-to-hand combat' with the stinkin' news media - which was almost as dangerous a foe as the Iraqis!

[Jen]

Wooooooooooooooooo! Now that's a beautiful airplane!

[Light Speed]

Was there a large ARVN presence at Phuoc Vinh in 69?

[Jen]

Hi Victoria! Did you have a good Christmas?

[SAMWolf]

Yeah there was. They also provided the security for the Song Be bridge nearby.

[Jen]

In my job as a public affairs officer in the Air Force, I (unfortunately) had many dealings with the stupid, liberal news media. I didn't get to see many of General Schwarzkopf's news briefings , but there was a great parody on Saturday Night Live that some of my buddies taped which I saw when I got home. I can imagine Schwarzkopf handled the media much like SecDef Rumsfeld does now. I love it! hahahaha

[MistyCA]

Missed your question earlier Jen. Sorry. Banjo-Kazooie is another game. Kazooie is a bird and Banjo is a bear. They are like one character that flips over into the other. It's just a fun game like Mario. :) The little guy in Mario is Yoshi. He hatches out of an egg and mario can ride him around as long as he feeds him fruit.

[MistyCA]

Super graphic, Victoria! How are you doing?

[MistyCA]

Hi, good to see you here. Stormin Norman! What a guy! :)