How many of you got started in Vietnam? (Page 18): The PX buying power was great. But the pay was tiny. I seem to recall $120/month plus, if I remember correctly, $30/month hazardous...

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

The PX buying power was great. But the pay was tiny. I seem to recall $120/month plus, if I remember correctly, $30/month hazardous duty pay. It didn't go very far.

I was there as part of the Navy. I remember going back to Sasebo Japan where the exchange rate was about 360 yen to the dollar.

mrzip90230 Loc: Culver City, Ca. USA

I started at Ariz. St. Univ. but was a photographer in the USAF from 1968-72. I spent 1970 in Thailand with the 14th TRS of the 432 TRW (recon). In 1971 I was at TSN airbase Saigon in the 12th RITS. I took with me a Nikon TN and a Mamiya C33 twin lens. Before I went home I picked up a Nikon FTN, Mamiya C330 and a Mamiya RB67. I don't have any of these anymore as I moved on to the digital age.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I purchased a brand new Pentax 1000 with a few Takumar lenses, in 1971, while stationed with the Navy in Keflavik Iceland. Within 3-months, I gifted my father with the Pentax system, and purchased a Nikon F2 with six Nikkor lenses. A year later, I passed through Subic Bay Philippines, on my way to the USS America, stationed at Yankee Station, off of North Viet Nam. I am now on my sixth Nikon body.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

kibbles304 wrote:

My brother in law was at Bien Hoa as air police dog handler. Used to come over and visit him from Long Binh Post. Not sure what end of base he was on. I used to come in by the run ways where there seem to be a crash everytime from the Arvin pilots practicing landings and take offs! I remember the Air Force call plane crashes "uncontrolled flight to ground".

That's too funny. I never heard it put quite that was. I think we called it an unintentional landing.

woodsliv Loc: Tehachapi,CA

kibbles304 wrote:

My brother in law was at Bien Hoa as air police dog handler. Used to come over and visit him from Long Binh Post. Not sure what end of base he was on. I used to come in by the run ways where there seem to be a crash everytime from the Arvin pilots practicing landings and take offs! I remember the Air Force call plane crashes "uncontrolled flight to ground".

I remember in Udorn Thailand, the Thai pilots would come in to land in the T-28 type a/c and the practice bombs they had on board would fall off and skid down the runway.

Forrestloop Loc: Los Angeles

aquadiver wrote:

I'm just curious. I bought my first cameras in Vie... (show quote)

I took a Manolta 16, with me when we made the original landing in Chulai Viet-Nam, May 7th 1965 with the 4th Marines Delta Co. 1/4 3rd Marine Division. Even though I was a Grunt, I carried that little camera everywhere I went. I was 18 yrs old.

Forrestloop Loc: Los Angeles

Indiana wrote:

Purchased my first camera at the PX in Yokohama, Japan while on leave from an amphibious operation with the 1st battalion, 4th Marines in the South China Sea as a Navy Corpsman. The camera was a 35mm Kowa that I still have in my possession today. It took great pictures and causes me to pause and reflect on the great experiences we shared since 1963.

Ahhh you were very smart,you spent your money on a camera, I spent mine on WOMEN and BOOZE. I also went to Yokohama on R&R for 3 or 5 days, I was with Delta co 1/4 from May 7th 1965 to December 24th, 1965 and with Delta Co. 1/3 from December 24th until april 20, 1966. We may have crossed paths.

Violameister Loc: michigan

Does anybody remember what the exchange rate for Vietnamese currency (Dong) against the Dollar was in the mid 1960s?
I have a couple of receipts for items I purchased on the economy, and would like to figure out what the actual cost was. I cannot find the answer online.

kibbles304 Loc: Indiana

Far North wrote:

I mentioned a photo of me after going down in an OH-6A in Vietnam. I found the picture. It's old and the surface is scratched up. Don't recall who took the shot, but it is rather under exposed, unfortunately. Amazingly, I walked away from that one without a scratch after crashing into the jungle from 1400 feet in the air. And no, I really wasn't as happy as I appear to be, standing there next to the wreckage with a grin.

Man, glad you came thru safe. I was on the ground in VN but the choppers were so important. We called in cobra strikes several times. Thanks for your service.

krl48 Loc: NY, PA now SC

Violameister wrote:

Does anybody remember what the exchange rate for Vietnamese currency (Dong) against the Dollar was in the mid 1960s?
I have a couple of receipts for items I purchased on the economy, and would like to figure out what the actual cost was. I cannot find the answer online.

Here's a chart of the black market rates in Saigon for the years 1955 - 1975.

http://art-hanoi.com/library/rates/

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

kibbles304 wrote:

Man, glad you came thru safe. I was on the ground in VN but the choppers were so important. We called in cobra strikes several times. Thanks for your service.

And I thank you for yours.

kibbles304 Loc: Indiana

aquadiver wrote:

I'm just curious. I bought my first cameras in Vie... (show quote)

Hard to believe how this question has stirred so many to respond. Has been very interesting to read everyone's comments and photos. I jus found a couple of old shots that I wanted to post.

We were moving out to set up an ambush outside the perimeter of Long Binh Post.

(Download)

That is me with a Montagnard (mountain people) cross bow.

(Download)

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Your photos are chilling.

Do we know why we had this war?

woodsliv Loc: Tehachapi,CA

The 7ACCS C-130 crews had a standing order, it they were hit and went down and survived they had to get away from the a/c as fast as possible, as the order was if the Air command capusle in the back got captured by the North, they would have all the codes that commanded all air and ground strikes. The order was for our jets to destroy the C-130 beyond any possible use. The Command and air crew were considered despensible

woodsliv Loc: Tehachapi,CA

The 7ACCS C-130 crews had a standing order, it they were hit and went down and survived they had to get away from the a/c as fast as possible, as the order was if the Air command capusle in the back got captured by the North, they would have all the codes that commanded all air and ground strikes. The order was for our jets to destroy the C-130 beyond any possible use. The Command and air crew were considered despensible