I got to Bien Hoa on 10/31/64. After checking in I sacked out and was awakened by many booms. The loud speaker came to life and we were informed we were under attack.
I went to Air Police headquarters for assignment and was put in charge of 20 USAF personnel along a perimeter fence. It was a long night, but we had no issues thankfully.
I did have one Sgt. who was given an AR15, and he asked me how to load it, as he never saw one before. I told him to just sit tight and if necessary I would teach him how to load it, if and when the time came to use it.

Another Airman was given an M2 carbine and he too did not know how to operate it.

Dad qualified "Small Arms Expert" I think it was called, using the Smith & Wesson revolver, and an original M-16. He didn't remember model number, for the S&W.
Before deploying, he had my grandpa, who owned a sporting goods/hardware store, order a BHP. He wanted more capacity and thump, than 6 shots of 130 grain FMJ. The Browning was stolen, from the Q, at Clark. He ended up carrying, and never using the Smith and Wesson nor the Colt.
Internet sleuthing suggests that the events of 2am 11/1/64 may have been an inside job, in that the perimeter had been breached, before the attack, which was launched from inside the base.
Crazy war! Terrifying night!!! My deepest respect to all that served.

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George

My dad carried a Smith model 36 personal weapon in his pocket thru in both 67 and then 69. His first tour was in 65 and he carried the 1911 he had used in WW2 and Korea. When I graduated the police academy in 1980 he gave it to me for an off duty weapon. I used it as such till I retired in 2012. Still carry is some today

I had an uncle who was a CMS in the USAF, aircraft maintenance and recovery who carried a short barrel S&W with him during his tour, 1965 I think. As I remember it was his personal weapon and he brought it back with him. I was in my second year of college at the time,

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Jeff

Here's my tribute Aircrew pistol-belt that I built. The USGI 10-5 dates to 1969, the M41 ball is headstamped 67.

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The GI pistol belt allowed us to rotate the holster between our legs in the cockpit. Not much protection. It was mostly phycological. Pen gun flares would be fastened to the flack jacket.