I believe we all have cornerstones to our collection – This pair is up there in mine!

In May of 1975 – Operation Frequent wind was underway – The USS Cook was assigned to assist in support capacity to the South Vietnamese Navy – The Cook’s assignment was to escort the ship commanded by the Chief of Naval Operations - Admiral Chang Tan Cang to Subic Bay in the Philippines - Upon coming aboard the Cook - Admiral Cang presented both of his pistols to the ship’s Commander in his appreciation (It is my personal belief the Admiral’s sidearms had to be given up)

A Smith & Wesson Model 48 and a Browning Hi-Power –

I had the S&W lettered – A colorful history it has (I had asked about the stocks here several years back)

It is engraved in Thai - Bangkok 253854 -

The Admiral had signed the inside of the S&W stock -

There are copies of the Cook's captains log -

A photo of the Admiral and Cook's Jerry McMurry along with the original negative - What size negative is it?

Signed copies of Frank Snepp's book - Decent Interval - Talked about the fall of Saigon and the saving of the SVN fleet -


We have big pictures for my old eyes!

I hope you'll enjoy these as I have!

Luong / Saigon1965 -


Both guns – Holstered




Both guns -




Hi-Power –




S&W –







On ship -




Negative –




S&W letter -




K –




Grip name –




Captain’s log –










Hi power sign –




Decent interval –

Wow! Those were difficult times and you have quite piece of it's history. Thanks for sharing with the forum.

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

Holy smokes.

That is cool beyond words.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Way cool!!!!!

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Great history.

Great firearms, and accessories. Wonderful history and provenance to go with them. Thank you very much for sharing.

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Proverbs 21:2

Fascinating! Would not expect the 22 magnum, and i see it has a pinned in red ramp sight instead of the patridge the letter mentions. Seems like maybe the admiral knew what he wanted. Admiral Cang sure had taste in revolvers, for sure.

It’s a 4x5 color negative, most likely exposed with a “press camera,” like a Speed Graphic or similar. A bit surprising it was still in use in 1988.

Great story and guns. Thanks for the pics.

(Edit) Correction... I see the photo was most likely made in 1975, which of course makes more sense. Senility must have temporarily overtaken me.

amazing stuff - thanks for posting!

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Merle, retired
western PA

The proof marks (if that is what they are) on that S&W 48 look like Egyptian hieroglyphics.

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Only a cold warrior

Glad you Gents enjoy this!



It was indeed - As I was on one of those ships sailing around Con Son island then on to Subic bay - And here today collecting arms!


So is the stocks - Changed to these beautiful ones -


Thanks! That is cool indeed!


It is in "Thai" sir -

That was a great story . Thank You .

Thank you for sharing the pictures, and the story that goes with them!

What a great pair!

Thanks for enjoying Gents!


What's on the butt of the Browning? Proof marks?

Great story! Was the Commander let handed?

Outstanding! Bravo Zulu as we say in the Navy!!!!

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Come and take it!!

The holster for the hi-power is interesting. It looks like it was hand made. Is there any information available on either holster?

Thank you for sharing that story!
Very interesting.

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USS Hepburn FF-1055

Thank you Gents!


Both holsters are right handed -


Both holsters are theater made - With regrets no additional info -

The black holster I've seen numerous times in different configurations -

Most often seen on GI's hip low slung a-la-cowboy style -

Yes, but the handwriting in the log looks like the writer was left handed.

Ah! That I don't know sir -


April 30th, 1975 -

I remember the day well -

We were getting on the "Tien Phong" at Saigon harbor -

Last minute dad decided the fight is over - He looked at his 6 kids and wife and was humbled -

I am glad as I/we are all here today -

Thanks Dad!

A 22 magnum revolver would indicate he had some accurate, longish-range shooting in mind. Either that, or it was all he could get his hands on.

Looks like a copy of the chest holster that many aircrewmen wore, right down to the "lift the dot" fastener.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

What a great story, thanks for sharing it and the pictures!

I know exactly where I was for Operations Frequent Wind and Eagle Pull. I was stationed with Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1) on detachment to NAS Cubi Point, RP. Every command at Cubi had to provide personnel to assist with the refugees. I was on the pier at Grande Island checking all the Mike Boats as they ferried over from Naval Station Subic Bay. They wouldn’t issue firearms to an Airdale (wise move), so for protection I was issued a US Marine in full battle gear, sidearm and a shotgun, I got the radio. I could talk all day about the personal belongs the refugees had, let’s just say there was loads of cash, drugs, gold bars and coins, you name it, they probably brought it with them. But then they knew they weren’t going back.

Great memories, thanks for stirring them up!

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Danny
SWCA #3370 - SWHF #672

I can guarantee that it is Thai writing. I know because I read, write, and speak Thai. I lived and worked in Thailand for 16 years and also passed the Thai Government proficiency test.I hope that will satisfy that.

Great pictures and history. Glad you and your family made it out. This date has significance.

In 1974, in the aftermath of Watergate, Democrats were elected in a landslide and the new Congress violated America’s promise by cutting off funding for South Vietnam’s self-defense. Then when the Communists attacked South Vietnam in massive force, Congress refused to honor America’s pledge to come to their aid. The left’s view seems to be North Vietnam’s conquest had the happy result of reunification. Senator J. William Fulbright, who provided the forum for that spectacular liar John Kerry, said about the fall of Saigon that he was “. . . no more depressed than I would be about Arkansas losing a football game to Texas.”

Trivializing the human cost of Communist victory, the Left ignores tens of thousands of executions, the million or so sent to brutal re-education camps, the panicked populace fleeing in rickety overpacked boats and dying by the tens of thousands. They neglect North Vietnam’s obscene practice of bulldozing South Vietnamese graves, and the influx of North Vietnamese to take over the best farms, businesses, homes and jobs in South Vietnam. And they sweep under the rug America’s shame, the betrayal of our ally, never mind the genocide by Communists as they murdered two million in Cambodia next door.

The legacy of these disastrous decisions haunts US policy today, heartening our enemies while making our friends nervous.

1. Every jihadi has learned Ho Chi Minh's lesson: To defeat the United States it is not necessary to beat their military on the battlefield, merely to outlast their feckless politicians.

2. The world has learned what an American promise to an ally is really worth.

Attached Images

30Apr1975.jpg (16.3 KB, 153 views)

What a post! Thanks so much for the informative glimpse of the past.

Jerry

Great guns, story, and photos. And that HP is a beautiful 1969 "T" series (manufactured 1964 to ca. 1971 ) to boot .

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John

Thank you for sharing this piece of history. What beautiful T Series Browning P35 in original condition. I don't know S&W values well, but that T Series would bring a very good price with its provenance. Congratulations on your pieces of history.

I've a '68 T series Hi Power. No man should go to his grave without grabbing a handfull of an older HP. One of the best fitting mitt-filling accurate handguns ever made.

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Retired trap shooter

Thanks for the post, very interesting indeed.

Its interesting to note that at the end of WWII a Japanese Air Force General was only persuaded to stay on in China to train the new post war Chinese Air Force after he was bribed with a John Inglis High Power Pistol. It was the most sought after pistol in both the European and Asian fronts in WWII by all sides in the fight. My Father carried the FN in a shoulder holster while fighting in Patton's 3rd Army and swore by the gun. He also brought it home with him.

Post Script. I was able after years of looking to acquire my own late 1940's FN High Power complete with military holster and two matching mags several years ago. Its my most prized pistol.

Merle,
Thank you for telling that part of history. Having been born in '64, I saw the fall of Saigon on TV as a child. Later, as an 11C (81 mm mortar) paratrooper, I served with more senior men who had "been there." That period in history has always fascinated me but I had never heard about the saving of the SVN. And, what very excellent handguns from an important figure, to boot!
Kind regards

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Veteran Paratrooper, '86-'90

The story of the plans and specs. of the FN Hi-Power being sent (smuggled) to Canada and the John Inglis Company is intriguing in itself. HP fans should Google The Inglis HP and read it.

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John

I had a holster just like the one for S&W, made for 1911. In Anke. Locals made them up. I gave it to a forum member couple years back who was starting collection of Vietnam War items.

Perhaps I missed it. Who has these historic sidearms now? How were they procured? As an old, Viet Nam veteran I feel sad about how we treated our allies.

GREAT collection. I've got a '66 T series HP that has less than 100 rounds down range since purchase and a '68 T series that goes to the range a LOT. It loves sub sonic 147 gr. Also have a 48-3 with the same smooth rosewood stocks.

BTW, The negative is shown in a reversed position. The notches are loaded into the film carrier either TOP RIGHT or BOTTOM LEFT. I've shot THOUSANDS of 4x5 sheet films and if shot in the position as shown you end up with an under exposed negative. If you have a color lab near you they should be able to make prints from the negative.

Class III

Thank you all so much for enjoying my thread -



We were at sea for 7-8 days I can't recall ( I as 10 years old!) -

But here is my April 30th, 1975 thread on "Frequent Wind" -


April 30th, 1975 -

Hi Dan! Hope you've been well -

Here's the holster you gave me! It is treasured!






I have them sir -

A seller knows I collect all things Vietnam and had contacted me when this pair was consigned to him -


Thank you for the wonderful info -

I noticed that the serial number on the barrel of the HP is different than the serial number on the frame. I wonder what the story is about that.

Thanks for this thread. Brought back some memories when I saw the Hi-Power. I was the war trophy authenticator for my fighter wing at Phan Rang AB in 1970-71.


US forces rotating back to CONUS from Phan Rang had to bring any non-issued weapons they had acquired in country to me for a certification so they could ship their weapons home with them. I saw many Hi-Powers that year. The Browning and SKS's were by far the most frequent weapons I saw.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

Prophetic observation.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

As a Vietnam Vet (70-71) and of a differing opinion of that posted above I will bring up the fact that as someone who has been warned about items that are considered taboo and even done time in detention: I will bring up that it seems as if the political view is supported by the Moderators it gets by without so much as a by your leave...Should it just happen to rub someone the wrong way BANG...Detention or the threat.
Fair is fair...

You Sir are spot on. Kerry is still there and we still have the feckless politicians who care more for their position than for the lives of our military or our allies or America's honor.

A bit more on the negative. Class III is correct about the positioning of the notches relative to the emulsion side of the sheet of film. I would observe that this is what we call a "copy neg" meaning that it was produced by a camera in a copying setup wherein they took a picture of a print, transparency or even another color negative. The shaded areas on the negative around the actual image are what shows it was a copy.

The other indication of it being a copy is the resolution shown in the print. If it had been shot on a 4x5 camera such as the Speed Graphic, it would have far greater clarity. This process is somewhat akin to making Xerox copies of Xerox copies - for every generation you move away from the original, image quality degrades somewhat.

All that said, the photo and negative are still absolute treasures, especially as part of this collection of history. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

Gotta love a 2 gun, swashbuckling Admiral. Wonder if WE have any of those these days ?

The swashbucklers are there in all the services, but they're biding their time given the nature of the current presidency and the political generals and admirals on top.

General George Marshall's brother, General S.L.A. Marshall told me that it was the same before WWII. But Omar Bradley had created a list of warrior Colonels. After we got involved, every general in the Army except for MacArthur, Ike, and Patton was sidelined and replaced by newly-minted Brigadier Generals. One hopes someone in each of the services is doing the same today.

Interestingly, "Slam" also said he and Bradley attended the film "Patton" together and said George Scott's portrayal was perfect ... they felt they were "there" again.

The T series High Power was one of the best production High Powers ever made. It was made of all forging with no castings being used. Trigger pulls after the magazine safety often ran 3lbs or even lighter. Accuracy was outstanding. It was back in the days when you could actually buy a quality made handgun and they were very affordable. I paid $104.00 for mine with two free boxes of ammo and it was brand new in 1968. It was during the "golden age" of gun collecting.