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  #51  
Old 02-05-2009, 09:34 PM
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My aviation company must have had some slack rules.

Many of my pilots carried "unauthorized" sidearms, as did some of the other crewmembers. HighPowers were the most prevalent but, there were some Smith/Colt .357's carried also.
All aircrew, in my company, were given a choice of either the S&W Model 10 or a Colt 1911. Almost all chose the M10, including myself.
My Model 10 was never fired except to shoot-up the countryside.

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  #52  
Old 02-14-2009, 03:29 PM
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Sorry for reviving an older thread (I guess a week or so is okay, isn't it?).

This Paco dude has written some other stuff that is just flat unbelievable. I think whoever he is, he is full of something but that something does not equate with experience.

I was there. No swords, no body armor, and I never saw any SAAs. And no screaming NVAs or VCs ever came running into the camp like "SURPRISE!". They'd have to get by the sentry(ies), the claymores, the wire, the flares, etc.

I think he was trying to say he was at a Special Forces A-Team's camp. If so, there would have been ARVNs, Montanyards and/or Nungs to contend with. I simply can't imagine anyone simply waltzing in but, if they did, I would expect better armament than a sword.

Most handguns I saw there were the GI 45s and the 38 Smiths, but many brought their own in '65/early 66. One guy carried a Colt Cobra, others had various revolvers.

Never saw anyone with a privately purchased hand gun that wasn't a revolver or a Colt 45 of some type.

I had an issued 45 at one time, but was so hot for a 38 Smith since, in my misspent youth, I thought they were somehow "better."

Bob
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Old 02-14-2009, 06:05 PM
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I actually bought a 60mm mortar from the local RF/PF company for $30.00 MPC. We used to for local self-illumination at the firebase at Dalat. Had to sell it when we left because I couldn't take it to my next unit.
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Old 03-12-2009, 09:56 PM
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Alot of officers over there had Browning 9mm in their posession in the mid 60's
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Old 03-13-2009, 07:24 AM
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I wasn't there that early but I can say that by the time I got there I found a pretty large number of them awaiting destruction. Nearly all of them had seen better days and I guess I already wasn't much of a fan of the 9mm and especially didn't like the magazine disconnector so those guns didn't get much attention from me. Also, 9mm ammo wasn't readily available where I was since the US Military hadn't gotten the Metric Fever just yet.
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Old 03-14-2009, 06:14 AM
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I guess I'll try this again as my post yesterday got sent to never never land for bad word choices.

Even though Vietnam was a very unpopular war there seems to be a large segment of the Vietnam aged male adult population who now want to claim that they were in the war and were combat soldiers. This is a well documented fact and the estimate is that there are 5 times as many people claiming to have served in country in Vietnam as actually did serve in country.

We run into this all the time in the VFW when people try to join. They tell us all these stories of where they served, when they served, and even the battles they were in and then when you ask them for their DD 214 they either say they lost it or it doesn't show them having been in country because they were black ops people.

Anyway, Just remember that 4 out of 5 people claiming to be Vietnam Veterans are in fact not. Those of us who actually served in Vietnam resent these posers and can usually spot them after a few minutes of conversation.

It's actually a sad and alarming number when you think of it.
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Old 03-14-2009, 06:24 AM
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What a great read this thread is. Thank you all for your service.
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Old 03-14-2009, 07:32 AM
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Paco Kelly relates a story of revolvers in VietNam in this link:
http://www.leverguns.com/artic...special_handguns.htm
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Old 03-14-2009, 10:04 AM
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S.B. This guy is so full of BS that his eyes have to be very dark Brown!!!

I kind of like this particular comment: "<span class="ev_code_RED">I did two TDY tours in Southeast Asia...and had occasion to use the magnum several times. Once firing thru a boiler plated idiot with a sword that came screaming into our A-Camp one night. The 173 grain hard cast bullets...punched right thru the old iron plate, leaving some good sized holes exiting his body. Which amazed all the Vietnamese G.I.s when they gathered around to gawk at the dead V.C. I remember one youngster asking..."Gowd Lt. what you got in that gun...?</span>" and especially the later remark of: "<span class="ev_code_RED">....It was Eisenhower’s war in those late days of the 1950s...</span>"

This is just the kind of BS artist that fyimo was talking about. For him to have done even half of what he 'Claims" he'd have to be 150 Years old at least!!!
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Old 03-15-2009, 08:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by fyimo:
I guess I'll try this again as my post yesterday got sent to never never land for bad word choices.

Even though Vietnam was a very unpopular war there seems to be a large segment of the Vietnam aged male adult population who now want to claim that they were in the war and were combat soldiers. This is a well documented fact and the estimate is that there are 5 times as many people claiming to have served in country in Vietnam as actually did serve in country.

We run into this all the time in the VFW when people try to join. They tell us all these stories of where they served, when they served, and even the battles they were in and then when you ask them for their DD 214 they either say they lost it or it doesn't show them having been in country because they were black ops people.

Anyway, Just remember that 4 out of 5 people claiming to be Vietnam Veterans are in fact not. Those of us who actually served in Vietnam resent these posers and can usually spot them after a few minutes of conversation.

It's actually a sad and alarming number when you think of it.
Reminds me of the scene early in Trading Places when Eddie Murphy is scamming as a legless Viet Nam vet panhandler. The cops, who are Viet Nam vets, ask him what unit he served in and his answer is one of the funniest parts of the movie.
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Old 03-15-2009, 08:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by KKG:
S.B. This guy is so full of BS that his eyes have to be very dark Brown!!!

I kind of like this particular comment: "<span class="ev_code_RED">I did two TDY tours in Southeast Asia...and had occasion to use the magnum several times. Once firing thru a boiler plated idiot with a sword that came screaming into our A-Camp one night. The 173 grain hard cast bullets...punched right thru the old iron plate, leaving some good sized holes exiting his body. Which amazed all the Vietnamese G.I.s when they gathered around to gawk at the dead V.C. I remember one youngster asking..."Gowd Lt. what you got in that gun...?</span>" and especially the later remark of: "<span class="ev_code_RED">....It was Eisenhower’s war in those late days of the 1950s...</span>"

This is just the kind of BS artist that fyimo was talking about. For him to have done even half of what he 'Claims" he'd have to be 150 Years old at least!!!
And he runs a gun forum on the internet?!?
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Old 03-16-2009, 01:08 PM
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Originally posted by perpster: And he runs a gun forum on the internet?!?
All that takes is Dollar$$$.
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Old 03-16-2009, 01:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally posted by Texas Star:
Quote:
Originally posted by ArchAngelCD:
The .357 Magnum didn't go away after the Vietnam war. The S&W Stainless .357 Magnum is still part of the standard weapons supplied to the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams.
I believe they have used both M-66 and M-686 examples. Does anyone know for sure?
You are correct. Navy BUDS and what was to be/become the SEALs units had 66 and 686 as standard issue.
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Old 03-17-2009, 03:57 PM
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Quote:
Posted 05 February 2009 10:33 PM Hide Post
quote:
"may I see your DD 314 please??"


It's DD 214.
You are absolutely correct. Very bad timing for a typo. Apologies to the forum.

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Old 06-23-2020, 03:32 PM
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Family member was with 1st MAW in the early 60's. Carried a Colt .357 that he bought in Japan. I asked about ammo and he said he would get it when he would go to Japan. Said that as long as he wasn't waving it around or doing anything stupid with it, it wasn't a problem. He did volunteer the fact that he liked the .357 because people shot with it tended to go right down and stay down (he was an excellent shot).
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Old 06-23-2020, 05:26 PM
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This is an old thread but not one I have noticed in the past.

I was with a Combat Engineers Jungle Clearing company size unit in Nam. We uncovered untold numbers of tunnels and tunnel complexes in our operations with D-7 doziers with mostly rome plow kits and some with bull blades.

Back in those days, over 50 years ago, I did not have the love I do now with firearms. Then, they were simply a crucial piece of equipment to support us getting the job done.

I do know we would frequently hit upon huge caches of weapons, ammo, food and etc. I think in the uncovered weapons, there was just about every type of firearms known to man. My memory fails me as to whether there were any .357 Magnums, but I am confident there had to of been.

The VC and NVA must of gotten a lot of the weapons from the forces they engaged along with what was supplied by North Vietnam.

Our unit worked with supported the 4th Infantry Division, MACV, and the 173rd (twice) during my tour. Attached is a short video from the 173rd showing our unit in support of the 173rd who provided our primary security. You will see the doziers in the video.


The Infantry loved us but hated supporting us since we stayed and lived in the boonies. The Infantry was used to going out for a few days and then back to the rear for days prior their next visit to the jungle. Living with us was a hardcore pain for them.
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Old 06-23-2020, 05:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Texas Star View Post
I believe they have used both M-66 and M-686 examples. Does anyone know for sure?
I worked at Naval Special Warfare Group Two in Little Creek, VA 1986-88. By that time the M66 had been phased out and the M686 was usual. The revolvers were considered more likely to work after a salt water swim insertion than an M9. IIRC this was due to concern that lubricant might have been washed out of the guns while swimming.

One of my buddies did a trainng op in Norway, and one of the Vikings commandos was seriously enamored of his M686. When he got home the Norwegian officer sent him the money to purchase one commercially, and my buddy was amazed at the hassle of sending the gun overseas, but he got it done. Gotta keep our allies happy.
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Old 06-23-2020, 05:55 PM
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My uncle was a pilot in the Air Force. He came "home" just before the deployed to Okinawa, where he was based to bomb Vietnam. I was about ten years old and I went with him to the local hardware store where he bought an S&W Model 15 that he was going to carry while flying.

He said that it was good duty. Got up in the morning, flew to Vietnam, dropped bombs and was home by dinner time. Only issue was he had to keep from being shot down.
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Old 06-23-2020, 06:15 PM
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One of the loach pilots in my unit carried a Colt Trooper that his father sent him. Parents, especially those who were combat vets, routinely ignored regulations and mailed guns, ammo, booze, etc. to their kids. This highly decorated pilot was eventually shot through both legs. I understand that, thanks to his buddies, the Colt got shipped inside his cast along with him when he went stateside.
Since this thread has been given new life, I'll correct my statement. Last year, at a 50th year reunion, I talked to the loach pilot with the .357 Mag. Turns out that it was a 4" Python and he never got it back. He did get back the most important thing, himself!
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Old 06-23-2020, 06:31 PM
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I was in Viet Nam in 1965/1966, 1970/1971, and 1972/1973. Most of the stories I hear about special ops, bringing guns back to the U.S., armored VC or NVA, or carry of unissued guns are pure B.S.

I was aware of one non issue gun during my time in Viet Nam. A VC got through our wire and placed a satchel charge by a Quonset Hut barracks one evening. The EOD guy saw him and threw the satchel charge in the bay. He chased the VC through the wire and killed him with his handgun. I was transferred out soon after that. When I left, they were trying to decide whether to award him the silver star for valor or court-martial him for using a .357 magnum with hollow points.
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Old 06-23-2020, 06:53 PM
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I was in country 66-67 and the only revolver I ever saw was worn on a chest holster by a CWO flying me in a helo from Tuy Hoa to Pleiku. I can't recall the make, nor at the time it did not matter. That's the only one I ever saw.
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Old 06-23-2020, 07:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fyimo View Post
I guess I'll try this again as my post yesterday got sent to never never land for bad word choices.

Even though Vietnam was a very unpopular war there seems to be a large segment of the Vietnam aged male adult population who now want to claim that they were in the war and were combat soldiers. This is a well documented fact and the estimate is that there are 5 times as many people claiming to have served in country in Vietnam as actually did serve in country.

We run into this all the time in the VFW when people try to join. They tell us all these stories of where they served, when they served, and even the battles they were in and then when you ask them for their DD 214 they either say they lost it or it doesn't show them having been in country because they were black ops people.

Anyway, Just remember that 4 out of 5 people claiming to be Vietnam Veterans are in fact not. Those of us who actually served in Vietnam resent these posers and can usually spot them after a few minutes of conversation.

It's actually a sad and alarming number when you think of it.
Fairly often someone, usually a younger person, will say something to me on the order of, "So you were in Vietnam, right?" Just because of my age and I do wear an old USAF ball cap around.

If was of a mind to, I could make up all kind of wild stories about imaginary Vietnam exploits in response to those inquiries. But what I do is explain that I was one of the luckiest guys around in those days (68-72) when I was in. I got a free all expenses paid trip to West Berlin courtesy of Uncle Sam, while some of the boys I grew up with went to Vietnam and did not come back.

I know some folks who served there, in fact eat breakfast with a group of vets/gun nuts each week. Those who did serve over there never seem to make a big deal of it. But I respect each and every one of them.

I don't know why the posers do what they do. But it is a real shame because it cheapens the memory of those who did serve in Vietnam IMHO.

For all of you who did serve in Vietnam, or the younger folks who served in Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere, I thank you.
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Old 06-23-2020, 07:11 PM
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I very rarely talk about VN other than to call it a vacation in Paradise in SE Asia. But I see I had to open my mouth in 2009 after reading what that Paco Baloneyspouter said.

Is that guy still around, writing in the rags?

Bob
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Old 06-23-2020, 08:02 PM
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Well, I consider myself fortunate to be able to read this thread. I'm 60 next month and have never served in our military. My late father never spoke of his service in the Pacific Theater of WWII until very late in his life. He got me started on my S&W hobby when he bought a K22 in '48. I'm looking at it right now. Thank you veterans
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Old 06-23-2020, 08:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rayb View Post
...there were 3 other people besides myself who were not "special operators" involved with clandestine and secret missions during my tour there.
Make that four, I was an pretty ordinary 11E40 staff sergeant tank commander and sometimes acting platoon sergeant.
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Old 06-23-2020, 09:07 PM
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There is some discussion above of posers claiming time in Nam. I am sure there are some. Another interesting discussion could get into the tooth to tale of our forces in Nam. The story I have always heard is a vast majority of our forces were never involved in combat operations. The number frequently tossed about is 75% were in rear support to the 25% seeing time in the field.
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Old 06-23-2020, 09:21 PM
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I was in Thailand.
My Buddy Don was in Nam 3 times.
He carried a 1911.
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Old 06-23-2020, 09:29 PM
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0331’s did have an issue 45!
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Old 06-23-2020, 09:41 PM
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I was lucky enough to be born a couple of years late to have gone there. Living in the same area all my life I know the people who went to VN and the ones that served in the reserves here at home. My brother in law served 2 tours in the army there but was not fighting in the jungle he was working on a base. He told me the base did get attacked one night and it scared the hell out of him but that was about it for his war stories. I still have 1k percent respect for his service over there and thank him for his service often.
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Old 06-23-2020, 09:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmort666 View Post
...
I'm always tickled by people with JUST enough knowledge to prove themselves liars about a particular subject. ...

One day he started running his mouth about how AK47s and their "500 round magazines" should be banned. I took especially great pleasure in holding him up as a liar.
Sounds like he was one of those "that guy", and I'm surprised that he wasn't taken down and humiliated many times before and after you did. I marvel that people like that can hold an audience, but they do somehow.
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Old 06-23-2020, 11:06 PM
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Quote:
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In, "Flight of the Intruder", author Stephen Coonts, a former Naval aviator (A-6 pilot) armed his main character with a Combat Magnum. Jake Grafton had that gun in several books. The other guy who was shot down with him had a .45 auto.

I think this reflected what the writer saw on his carrier, and used himself. You can probably ask him, via his site.

While in the USAF, I saw several Naval aviators in our dining hall, as they flew through our base. They had what looked to be Victory models or M-10's. All had shoulder holsters.

I know that some units had S&W 9 mm autos, the M-39.

Officers could often buy what they wanted, as could some Special Forces types. I'd be amazed if some didn't wear .357's. An officer in my unit owned a K-38, which he wore on patrol in lieu of the issued Combat Masterpiece. He thought he shot the longer barrelled gun better.

I put two tours in SEA in Marine Intruder Squadrons. Our aircrews were issued .38 Special S&W M10's with a 4" barrel that they carried in shoulder holsters. However, not all used their issue pieces. Some carried .357's and some opted for M1911's.
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Old 06-23-2020, 11:41 PM
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Originally Posted by rayb View Post
I am continually amazed by the number of special operations folks who served in RVN. If my informal internet survey is any indication, there were 3 other people besides myself who were not "special operators" involved with clandestine and secret missions during my tour there. Since everything was secret, nothing must have happened while I was there......
all records having been written in disappearing ink.

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Old 06-24-2020, 12:11 AM
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The story I got when I bought my 6" Python is it was carried by a Navy LT in Nam.
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Old 06-24-2020, 05:10 AM
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Originally Posted by REDTAIL View Post
Alot of officers over there had Browning 9mm in their posession in the mid 60's
We had a shortage on M1911A1’s in the first outfit I was assigned to in the ROK and I knew a 1LT that carried his own Browning High Power.
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Old 06-24-2020, 08:39 AM
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As a fighter pilot I was issued a short barreled Model 19.
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Old 06-24-2020, 10:32 AM
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As a fighter pilot I was issued a short barreled Model 19.
That there is funny. I don't care who you are!
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Old 06-25-2020, 01:22 PM
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Great thread Gentlemen. Thanks for your service and thanks for sharing your stories, it's much appreciated.
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Old 06-25-2020, 02:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by handejector View Post
I was there 69-70. I had learned to reload as a teenager, and had bought and shot a variety of guns before the Army days, so I knew guns.
I moved around a lot during my tour. I was around both Marine and Army units, ARVN's, and ROK's. I flew a lot, on both Marine and Army choppers of all kinds, and AF C-130's, C-123's, and Caribou's, so you might say I saw a lot of flight crews. I never recall seeing a 357.
45's and 38's is all I recall.
This is the first MENTION of body armor I have ever heard related to the VC or NVA troops. I don't believe that any of them ever wore any.

I suppose it would have been possible to find anything there, since it had been a busy area for decades.
My CO handed me a 1911A1 one day, saying I "might need it to protect him". No paper, no receipt. He also handed me a Mod 37 Ithaca Trench gun and lots of 00 for the same reason. Again, no paper, no receipt. I liked it- one of the old ones that fired as you pumped it if you held the trigger. I loaned it to one of my men, and he let it get confiscated by an MP one sad day. The MP made no charges, and did not even take his name, so he was just flat swiping my Ithaca! We went looking for him, but could not find him.....
I was on a hill that was a sister to MacV & their Arvin counterparts in 1/44 Dusters. The MacV Captain had a Python. You did want to shoot against him for money. Not that he was such a good shot, our 1911s sucked for accuracy. I ended up going to 4/60 Dusters out of Plieku. Got shook down by MPs at Na Trang. I had a unauthorized Thompson in my duffle bag. MPs pulled same game on me. No charges or hassle they just wanted my gun. Both the 1/44 in MR 1 and 4/60 in MR 2 did not care what extra you had but you better be carrying issue weapon too. I saw everything from 22 Derringers to 44mgs. Most all this stuff was Warrant officers, chopper pilots. My Thompson came from pilot rotating out he wanted Chicom pistol to take home so we swapped.
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Old 06-25-2020, 03:14 PM
18robert 18robert is offline
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i was air force,an e-1, in 1964. voluntered for nam and went. at that time we were consided advisors and did admin process at clark. very little admin in nam. i was air frieght. sent to bien hoa, ( mortor central ) to det 5 8th aieial port. got off the plane, go right to the armory, issued ar15, asked if i was going to be flying, what the heck, siad sure. was issued a .38 special revolverr. later i found a smith model 19 in nickel with half a box of .357, bought it $ 5o bucks. hoarded the ,357 ammo,never found more,shot a lot of .38spec. i'll tell you in those days bien hoa was not a bunch of remf's. i flew a lot with the first air commando,as a loadmaster, no remfs there either.
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Old 06-25-2020, 06:00 PM
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I was stationed at Phu-Cat in '68-'69. the only handgun I knew about was a SSgt in Civil Engineers had a Ruger 357 magnum he brought with him. He also had a CB with boots and would talk to his wife in California when the atmosphere was right.
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Old 06-25-2020, 07:17 PM
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As a Navy Corpsman assigned to a Marine rifle squad in ‘66 I carried an old 1911. Although I don’t recall seeing any personal weapons we heard you had to be at least an E-5 to request permission.
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Old 06-25-2020, 11:01 PM
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Dunno about Vietnam but in WW2 Col. Edson, 1st Raider Battalion, used a S&W .357 on Guadalcanal.
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Old 06-25-2020, 11:24 PM
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I was a stoned hippie during the 1970's. I grew up just outside of Great Lakes Naval Base. Mom was a waitress at the officers club.
I worked for an office supply company. One day I delivered a filing cabinet to an office on the base. I couldn't believe my eyes when the guy in the office was this guy I'd seen in pictures. Even then I felt humbled.
That's my war story.
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