S&W In VietNam ?
- Thread starter marine1970
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Only thing I ever had was a 1911 as PO or JOOD.
A little interesting thing was the Navy asked Edo Corp. to come up with a mine that could not be swept back then. After we mined haiphong harbor & the NV, ChiComs & Ruskies could not sweep them & a deal was made in Paris they asked Edo to come up with a way to do that.
The engineers told them "But you wanted a mine that could not be removed".
My Senior Chief who worked for Edo put in 16-18 hours a day till they figured how to do it.
Always wonder how many ships were sunk till they gave up….
A little interesting thing was the Navy asked Edo Corp. to come up with a mine that could not be swept back then. After we mined haiphong harbor & the NV, ChiComs & Ruskies could not sweep them & a deal was made in Paris they asked Edo to come up with a way to do that.
The engineers told them "But you wanted a mine that could not be removed".
My Senior Chief who worked for Edo put in 16-18 hours a day till they figured how to do it.
Always wonder how many ships were sunk till they gave up….
dcopper
Member
My fellow Viet Nam Vets
WELCOME HOME BROTHERS!!!!!!
WELCOME HOME BROTHERS!!!!!!
THE PILGRIM
Member
amazingflapjack
US Veteran
I'm a double digit midget. I'm a one hand man. I'm infanticible, which is LONG for SHORT!!! And then there were the "Snoopy" pins.
When did the Air Force swap pilot M-10s for M-15s? My brother flew F-100 in early to mid 1960s and was issued a new (or new looking) M-10. He liked it pretty well, and went to the BX & bought one like it for his own. Still has that one. I never thought about the possibility that might have changed before the Beretta autos were brought in.
About the time I received orders for RVN in 1968 I found a nice "Highway Patrolman" in a Denison, Texas gunshop. It had been a PD weapon and it looked as though a Dremel tool or some such was used to grind off the department stamp before it was traded in. That was the only problem with it, and such could obviously be fixed with a re-blue. I applied to the credit union for a loan to cover part of the purchase price and the next thing I knew I was standing before my squadron CO. Seems in the blank for the reason for the loan I wrote it was to purchase a "superior service sidearm" and someone figured since I was headed to RVN I must want to sneak it in country. Actually, that thought hadn't occurred to me yet... until getting there and seeing the condition of the fairly new M-15s in the armory!
About the time I received orders for RVN in 1968 I found a nice "Highway Patrolman" in a Denison, Texas gunshop. It had been a PD weapon and it looked as though a Dremel tool or some such was used to grind off the department stamp before it was traded in. That was the only problem with it, and such could obviously be fixed with a re-blue. I applied to the credit union for a loan to cover part of the purchase price and the next thing I knew I was standing before my squadron CO. Seems in the blank for the reason for the loan I wrote it was to purchase a "superior service sidearm" and someone figured since I was headed to RVN I must want to sneak it in country. Actually, that thought hadn't occurred to me yet... until getting there and seeing the condition of the fairly new M-15s in the armory!
hueytaxi
Member
Perimeter patrol following engine failure 1/2 mile from LZ English.
jimmib
US Veteran
we were issued a S&W 38 when I flew as an air crewman in 1964-66 in the Navy in Nam...best guess is a model 15....wish I still had it
hueytaxi
Member
ky wonder
US Veteran
I saved this from the forum a few years back. Don't know the history.
173rd airborn, tunnel rat, small SKYSOLDIER CLEARING A TUNNEL,
I WAS GLAD I WAS A BIG FRAMED TALL GUY, these guys had kahones of steel to go in these tunnels
the 173rd airborne was one of the first if not the first unit in Vietnam, serving from late 1964/early1965 until late 1972
I was with them in country during 70/71 and back again in 72 when we rotated back to the states and the unit was deactivated and two battalions of the 503rd were rolled into the 101st, as there last airborne battalion
I stayed at ft. Campbell until my ETS, was one of the NCO's that was on the 101st airborne divisions Expert infantry badge testing cadre as well as an instructor in the airmobile school
on my first tour as a pfc , General Abrams MACV commander was using the 173rd as a rapid response unit in support as needed since the 173rd was recouping from a heavy battle losses before I arrived
and I got in on a small part of the Cambodian action, where a cav hunter killer team had found rock island east, and the subsequent action to clear the stock piles that were found in the area
I have a 20 gauge b model fox that was found in that stock pile ,that had everything from muzzle loaders to artillery pieces and trucks,
the little fox was broken down put in my back pack and humped out
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CH47gunner
US Veteran
Previous post reminds me -
We flew thru-out the Cambodia Incursion including the setting up of the first firebases Snuffy & Moe. When we first were flying, moving troops & Arty, in the areas around Moe & Snuffy looked like a golf course. A week later it looked like the surface of the moon.
When the 60 days were up, we then had to move all our stuff out and move all the captured equipment out also.
I guess all the mucky mucks had us figured out by then - ALL, and I do mean ALL, the caches were sling-loaded beneath the aircraft. None of it was allowed to be loaded internally. The powers that be had decided that anything that was loaded internally was free game to the aircrews (too true).
We had dropped off a load of wooden rifle crates and had set down and were idling next to the fenced-off area for a quick check. An MP jeep w/trailer pulled out of the compound and turned sharply left on to the dirt road. As he made the turn, a wooden rifle crate fell off the trailer without the MP's noticing. My FE ran over, grabbed the crate & quickly tossed it into the aircraft and then raised the ramp. As he raised the ramp, an MP's head appeared over it and was yelling/gesturing for us to hold-up. The FE advised the pilots to do a quick get-away which we did.
We split a case of brand new SKS's for our trouble that day.
We flew thru-out the Cambodia Incursion including the setting up of the first firebases Snuffy & Moe. When we first were flying, moving troops & Arty, in the areas around Moe & Snuffy looked like a golf course. A week later it looked like the surface of the moon.
When the 60 days were up, we then had to move all our stuff out and move all the captured equipment out also.
I guess all the mucky mucks had us figured out by then - ALL, and I do mean ALL, the caches were sling-loaded beneath the aircraft. None of it was allowed to be loaded internally. The powers that be had decided that anything that was loaded internally was free game to the aircrews (too true).
We had dropped off a load of wooden rifle crates and had set down and were idling next to the fenced-off area for a quick check. An MP jeep w/trailer pulled out of the compound and turned sharply left on to the dirt road. As he made the turn, a wooden rifle crate fell off the trailer without the MP's noticing. My FE ran over, grabbed the crate & quickly tossed it into the aircraft and then raised the ramp. As he raised the ramp, an MP's head appeared over it and was yelling/gesturing for us to hold-up. The FE advised the pilots to do a quick get-away which we did.
We split a case of brand new SKS's for our trouble that day.
USN pistolas in 'Nam
Question for the Vietnam Vets. For aircrews; I know the USAF had Mod 15's & some M56's, the Army generally issued the Mod 10. So what did the USN/USMC issue?
I've read that they were still using the "trusty rusty" Victory's from WW2. The pic of the 3 USMC generals looks like a Victory in his holster. Also, what revolver were they using after Vietnam? I see that the SV-2 naval aircrew vests had 'revolver' holsters & ammo loops in them well into the 90's.
Question for the Vietnam Vets. For aircrews; I know the USAF had Mod 15's & some M56's, the Army generally issued the Mod 10. So what did the USN/USMC issue?
I've read that they were still using the "trusty rusty" Victory's from WW2. The pic of the 3 USMC generals looks like a Victory in his holster. Also, what revolver were they using after Vietnam? I see that the SV-2 naval aircrew vests had 'revolver' holsters & ammo loops in them well into the 90's.
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I can't believe it's been almost 5 years since I posted that first picture of USAF pilot Captain Clint Queen. It's time to bring this thread for some more pictures.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
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Professor Frink
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Interesting, in the last picture of Madam Nhu, the woman to the left in the sombrero-ish hat is holding the box the S&W came in. Neat.
vonn
US Veteran
Just read this complete thread , makes you think. Sometimes it was just yesterday,sometimes a lifetime ago. Don't remember any handguns but 1911's in the 101st in 67-68. We were issued brand new M16A1's at Ft.Cambell before we left for VN took it from the crate myself,and it never let me down but all the black was gone when I turned in .
Looks like the ?? Has been answered. The USMC & USN still had their Vic's in service in Vietnam. Makes sense, those guns were only in their 20's. Just like so many of the brave men that carried them.
I like how in WW2, Korea & Nam many aircrews used their shoulder holsters as makeshift waist rigs.
I like how in WW2, Korea & Nam many aircrews used their shoulder holsters as makeshift waist rigs.
Although never deployed to Vietnam, I was in the U.S. Army Military Police from 1974 to 1979. Male line MPs we were of course issued the 1911 from various manufacturers. Female line MPs were issued S&W Model 10 4 inch light barrel revolvers. I guess the Army figured women couldn't handle the 1911. (They never saw my MP ex-wife shoot one!)
Military Police Investigations (M.P.I.) were made up of all military personnel. They were issued both S&W Model 10's and Colt Detective Specials with 2 inch barrels.
Army Criminal Investigations Division (C.I.D.) made up of military and civilian personnel, were also issued S&W and Colt 2 inch revolvers.
Military Police Investigations (M.P.I.) were made up of all military personnel. They were issued both S&W Model 10's and Colt Detective Specials with 2 inch barrels.
Army Criminal Investigations Division (C.I.D.) made up of military and civilian personnel, were also issued S&W and Colt 2 inch revolvers.
Kilroy was here
Member
Wow, I'm really late to this thread. I found this thread via a Google image search. Really great info and pictures here. Thanks to all who served in Vietnam.
I did find this picture, attached below. I thought it was fitting for the thread and did not see it posted before. This young fellow has a Smith in a cross draw set up with ammo loops.
I did find this picture, attached below. I thought it was fitting for the thread and did not see it posted before. This young fellow has a Smith in a cross draw set up with ammo loops.
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semperfi71 posted at the top of the page:
"Only one V.C. got into the compound. He went into a building nearby the embassy and a civilian CIA/Spook or Army officer in civvies crawled into a window (I have seen video of this) with a M1911A1 .45. He hunted the VC alone in the building and killed him as he walked up a flight of stairs. The American was at the top of the stairs and shot the VC. He was not even looking up when he started to climb the stairs."
Saw a documentary on TET which mentioned this event. As told in that program, the "Spook" borrowed the 1911A1 from a soldier, then after killing the VC, declined to return it.
Anybody familiar with this ...
"Only one V.C. got into the compound. He went into a building nearby the embassy and a civilian CIA/Spook or Army officer in civvies crawled into a window (I have seen video of this) with a M1911A1 .45. He hunted the VC alone in the building and killed him as he walked up a flight of stairs. The American was at the top of the stairs and shot the VC. He was not even looking up when he started to climb the stairs."
Saw a documentary on TET which mentioned this event. As told in that program, the "Spook" borrowed the 1911A1 from a soldier, then after killing the VC, declined to return it.
Anybody familiar with this ...
Captain O
US Veteran
M-10's, M15's and 1911-A1's galore. 130-grain Ball ammo for the .38 Special (not worth a damn) and stock 230-grain Ball for the .45's.
I heard a story about an Ensign that was on a foot patrol that confronted a cobra with an H&R break-top revolver in .38 S&W. the young Officer shot the snake in it's flared "hood" six times, absorbing every round with little apparent effect. A Chief Petty Officer promptly drew his Model 19 and fired a 125-grain SJHP directly into the serpents head, blowing it apart! The next day, the Officer sold the H&R.
I heard a story about an Ensign that was on a foot patrol that confronted a cobra with an H&R break-top revolver in .38 S&W. the young Officer shot the snake in it's flared "hood" six times, absorbing every round with little apparent effect. A Chief Petty Officer promptly drew his Model 19 and fired a 125-grain SJHP directly into the serpents head, blowing it apart! The next day, the Officer sold the H&R.
Captain O
US Veteran
Amen, brother! Thank you for telling the truth. Even when the NVRA and VC threw everything the had at us (including the kitchen sink) they couldn't defeat the SVRA wheil we were there to support them.
Bless you, my brother.
johnyakima
Member
For Semperfi17: There was a compound, called the Nordum Compound, adjacent to the Embassy. My office was in it. On the wall was a large picture of Ho Chi Minh on the wall
with a greeting to the guys in that office. I have always wondered what
the VC though if he saw the picture.
with a greeting to the guys in that office. I have always wondered what
the VC though if he saw the picture.
Captain O
US Veteran
Remember: General Nguyen Ngoc Loan had a 2" barreled S&W Model 38 (nickel-plated) Bodyguard he used to good effect. It was seen by most of the world when he executed a VC General. It made for a full-page spread in Life magazine.
I prayed for the General when I first read the article. It brought the war home.
I prayed for the General when I first read the article. It brought the war home.
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raylan007
Member
Model 15 ?
Not to be contrary but I thought the USAF pilots carried the 2" barrel model 15. I know the 4" M15 was a standard issue for this era. If someone could confirm this I would appreciate it as I am a huge fan of both barrel configurations. Thanks for sharing your photo.
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