Delta Troop Mounted Camps

Delta Troop made camp by circling its gun jeeps, and digging fighting positions on the perimeter large enough for several men. The men made sleeping arrangements well inside the perimeter, often digging rectangular holes large enough to hold a cot and deep enough to keep the sleeping G.I. below ground level. Overhead cover was usually nothing more than a tent or poncho.

Since we had no hope of hiding our position with all the vehicles, Delta Troop aggressively reconned during the day and ambushed at night. One-third to one-half the men were usually outside the perimeter, on foot, to observe, listen, and ambush. The mortars gave a 6000-meter ring of quickly available indirect fire support, and the 106-mm recoilless rifle gave heavy direct fire support for the camp.

These photos were taken in late 1970 and early 1971.

Home Sweet Home

Third Platoon's Camp Near Xuan Loc. Delta Troop's vehicles had advantages
and disadvantages. We could carry weight - heavy weapons, ammunition,
barbecue grills - that the infantry had to leave behind. But we were not
particularly stealthy when we were mounted. As a result, we established
camps that resembled a Wal-Mart parking lot.
From the Jerry Smith Collection

Third Platoon's Camp Near Xuan Loc
I have no idea where the Army put all the tents that an army
is supposed to have. We almost always used ponchos.
From the Jerry Smith Collection

First and Second Platoon's Camp Near Xuan Loc
Bill Nevius at the mortar pit, near the center of the camp.
Nevius Photo

Rick Dormeyer in the troop camp north of Tay Ninh. We covered the supply
line between Tay Ninh and the Cambodian border during the 1971 Cambodian
invasion. We located this camp 3000 meters north of the base of Nui Ba Dinh
(left rear). We had a platoon of tracks from the 1/5th Mech., 25th I.D. with
us (right rear). We had an easy time setting up camp because the combat
engineers we worked with brought a backhoe to our camp and dug perimeter
fighting positions for us.
From the Rick Dormeyer Collection

Bluetiger 1970-71 Home Page	"By Way of Introduction"	"Dispatches from APO SF 96289 - 1970"	"Dispatches from APO SF 96289 - 1971"	"Rogue's Gallery"	"Air Mobile"
"Delta Troop's Rides"	"Camps"	"Fire Bases"	"Anatomy of a Fire Base"	"The Move to Lai Khe"	"Working at Lai Khe"
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