Buck General in Vietnam

[SF VET]

After my six months as a Mobil Advisory Team Leader up along he Cambodian boarder, IV Corps, or the Delta, I was up for another assignment, so since I was living on about ten bucks a month, saving for some schooling later, asked for another field assignment. So went way south deep in the Delta, along the edge of the U Minh Forest, as a captain on a District team. The Major there soon went on a leave, but had some illness, and due to the draw down, did not return. So, I was OIC of our two man team, I and a SFC. When the Vietnamese would go out on operations, I would tag along, and SFC Tom C would remain back at our compound, as my radio really. Late in my second six months, a new Major was assigned to my district, I being a Captain. I was pretty used to doing things my way, and he was pretty straight, so I didn't really like the new command structure. But I was soon to rotate back to Bragg, so we did not work very long together.

Here, were are out on an op, but as you can see, with all the kids standing around, there was no risk or hostile's in the vicinity. I am with the coconut, and my Buck General infront of me. I had a custom sheath for it.

All the best, and stay safe. SF VET

 

[sureshotbob]

Thank you for your service.

 

[Sistema1927]

Dad took a similar Buck knife to Vietnam, as well as a Case XX folder. The Case, being CV, rusted up pretty bad, but the stainless Buck didn't.

To this day, he won't have anything to do with Case knives, even though I have tried to explain numerous times that it was the composition of the steel (CV vs. Stainless) that made the difference, and not the manufacturer.

He will remain a loyal Buck Knife fan until death, and hasn't owned any other brand since his return from VN in 1970.

 

[SF VET]

better pic of Buck in Sheath.

 

[Retired W4]

Greetings, Thieu Ta. Looks like all is calm at that moment. My time in IV Corps was in the Northern part supporting what was left if the 9th ID and ARVN's. Later for 5th GP HQ and some MACV folks. Nice color photo.

 

[tsillik]

thanks for everybodys service there,spent "69" there myself. terry

 

[Donn]

Ah, the ubiquitous kids. When I was on convoy escort, we never knew where we were going till we were at the gate, and the commander filled us in. When we got to the rally point and the grunts were getting off the trucks, the kids were already there, selling Cokes, candy, and cigarettes. Nothing ever happened, but I always figured if the kids knew where we were going, so did Mr. Charles.

 

[Stevens]

Green coconuts! the best for drinking, and they have the great "jelly" inside. It looks like that is what is being scooped out with the knife in the foreground. Nice Buck Knife too, thanks for your service!
Steve W

 

[Loyaljeeper]

I have never seen the fascination in Case knives. Some of them are pretty, and they do kind of make me reminisce of times long gone, but I have never handled one I didn’t see some imperfection. After nearly losing a finger or two several times of the years I have no use for a non-locking blade. Give me Buck any day over a Case.

Thanks for leaving the Army in great shape for me. I never carried a Buck in Afghanistan but I so wished I would have. I carried a few different knives in theater. One was an extremely cheap large S&W that was extremely sharp and lightweight. No doubt it is the best knife under $6 I ever bought. It may be the second best knife under $20 I ever bought.

As a five-jump-chump, AIRBORNE, I used to laugh at a lot of the “Back at Bragg” guys. So much that I got a LT doing it to mock the platoon daddy in a parrot voice. Just imagine a parrot saying, “Arr, Back at Bragg, Back at Bragg”.

 

[Drm50]

My Vietnam knife was a 3blade Stockman. I didn’t need belt knife, had Kbar. Only knife in supply was the tread plate GI folders. Had my dad send me the Stockman which I still have. I was on FB Dragon when mail caught up and package with knife had 2 Gouda cheese that had spoiled in the heat. As much as that knife was cleaned to this day you can still get a whiff of rotten cheese from 50 yrs ago.

 

[Retired W4]

Ah, the ubiquitous kids. When I was on convoy escort, we never knew where we were going till we were at the gate, and the commander filled us in. When we got to the rally point and the grunts were getting off the trucks, the kids were already there, selling Cokes, candy, and cigarettes. Nothing ever happened, but I always figured if the kids knew where we were going, so did Mr. Charles.

The kids always got to me. Amazing how they could get through the rolls of wire to sell you a warm coke. I got these out of my album. This guy wasn't selling. He was hustling C-rat cigarette from us. The other group photo is of his current home. An orphanage. We were using the road next to it as a wait around assault strip. I took more pictures that day, but I think these two say it all.

On a lighter note, notice no cockpit doors on the Huey. They only added weight and did not stop AK rounds, or anything else for that matter.

 

[Alpo]

I thought this thread was going to be about a brigadier general.

 

[Retired W4]

I thought this thread was going to be about a brigadier general.

Is that like a Buck Sargent?

 

[Alpo]

That was my thoughts. You have a buck private, which is the lowest private rank. You have a buck sergeant, which is the lowest Sergeant rank. seem like a buck General would be the lowest General rank.

 

[canoeguy]

This thread got me so interested in the Buck "General" I did a little searching to reveal they are still made today, in several models, some with black handles, Cocobolo handles, brass pommels, etc. I showed my Wife Buck's offerings of the General, and the OP's pic of his in Vietnam. She said "That's nice, dear", showing little outward interest....

Today she surprised me with a personalized Buck General, special ordered from Buck with my Navy rank and dates of service engraved on the blade! What a Wife!

She does know I'm fond of the brass pommel and Cocobolo handles, so that wasn't a hard choice for her to make for a surprise....

 

[crsides]

I too click on the thread to see what a Buck General was. I was in the Army 69-71 but never heard of a Buck General. thanks to you guys who served Nam. I had to go to Italy for 2yrs. Gained 60 pounds.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Again, I have to comment on some differences between SF units and most of us grunts. On my way to Vietnam the first time (airborne infantryman, pathfinder) I thought it would be a good idea to have a good knife. I purchased the best Gerber had to offer, and it cost me dearly at the time. At Fort Lewis, Washington while being processed for shipping over all of our gear was closely searched and anything much beyond a Boy Scout pocket knife was confiscated before we were herded onto the airplanes.

For most of us enlisted personnel the simple possession of a non-issued weapon was considered a serious offense. I knew officers and warrant officer pilots with personal sidearms, but that was subject to commander's permission. I saw SF teams with all sorts of weapons. For the most part the rest of us had to make do with what the Army provided.

No offense to the OP is intended. I'm just trying to clarify the fact that most of us were very tightly controlled about what we were allowed to have. Yes, we picked up a lot of stuff here and there, and many of us had our toys and treasures, but command supervision was pretty strict in the line outfits.

EDIT: We were also closely searched before we got on the planes to come home. No weapons of any kind without written orders. No photographs of combat casualties. No pornography. No liquor. No drugs (pee test required during out-processing). Yes, I have heard a lot of stories, but I call BS on just about every one of them.

Best regards.

 

[STCM(SW)]

"Today she surprised me with a personalized Buck General, special ordered from Buck with my Navy rank and dates of service engraved on the blade!"

I can't read it, so what was the dates and rank?

 

[CH4]

Green coconuts! the best for drinking, and they have the great "jelly" inside. It looks like that is what is being scooped out with the knife in the foreground. Nice Buck Knife too, thanks for your service!
Steve W

Green coconuts are great! We have at least one a day.

 

[canoeguy]

STCM,

She had it engraved with my last name, rank "ADCS", and dates, "!979-2001". I was a Jet Mechanic (AD) Senior Chief (CS), I worked on F-4 Phantoms, I was an Aircrewman for five years (P-3 Orion Flight Engineer), and finished up my last twelve years working on F-14's. Retired in 2001.....