The Move to Lai Khe

A July 1971 sapper attack at Lai Khe led to the reunion of D Troop, 3/17th with A Troop, 3/17th for the first time in a long time. We were providing security at a number of firebases (Judy, Evelyn, Nance) near Xuan Loc when we were ordered to move to Lai Khe. Scuttlebutt was that some birds had been blown up on the field, and that we were to provide security for a unit of the 3/17th.

The Accuracy of Scuttlebutt
Four helicopters were destroyed on the ground by sappers at Lai Khe
From the Dan Sutherland Collection and the A Troop-Silver Spurs website

Delta Troop on the road to Lai Khe.
(Editor's Note: Although not identifiable, your editor
is probably the TC of the 3/4-ton truck in the lead)
From the Jerry Smith Collection

We passed Phu Loi, our rear area, on our way to Lai Khe. The CO directed us to stop at Phu Loi to take care of any business we may have with the clerks and such. When we reached the main gate of Phu Loi, we were prohibited from sending more than one jeep at a time onto the base, per the base commander.

Delta Troop Waits at the Gates of Phu Loi.
The recoil from the .50-cal. machinegun on the gun jeep, if fired
perpendicular to the direction of travel, would walk the jeep off the road.
From the Jerry Smith Collection

The reason we were, in effect, banned en masse from Phu Loi is that we were socially challenged on large bases. Truth be told, we were not really housebroken. There was substantial animosity between the troopers of D Troop and people at our home bases. Fights were not uncommon when D Troopers spent much time in rear areas. Even at Lai Khe, we ruffled the feathers of our squadron colleagues immediately. The first night on base, a Delta Trooper tried to get a beer in the A Troop Officers Club. He was not well received. Subsequently, we built our own club in one of the hooches and excluded all but D Troopers (E-1 through O-3).

We eventually cleared Phu Loi post and took the convoy on to Lai Khe.

Delta Troop On Convoy to Lai Khe.
"But you said 'left at the dead water buffalo', Lieutenant . . . Sir."
From the Jerry Smith Collection

We were thrilled with the accommodations we found at Lai Khe for our troopers. Walls (made of wood), beds (made of iron), latrines (made of wood AND iron), showers, mess halls - God, had we died and gone to heaven as a whole troop? The job was even better. We had big 1st Infantry Division bunkers, already built, for our nighttime entertainment, and we took a lot of helicopter rides, training the Thais how to do combat insertions, during the day. We liked it at Lai Khe.

Establishing security at Lai Khe proved to be a simple issue. On the first night we manned the bunkers, the procession of young ladies from Lai Khe village coming through the wire was substantial. They even made housecalls to the bunkers, expecting, I think, a different set of troopers. We disabused them of the idea that they were welcome on the base anymore, and after only a few nights, we no longer had to worry that someone caught strolling the flightline might be just a short-time girl. That made our night job much easier.

Delta Troop Taking Care of Business, Alpha Troop Taking Pictures.
The trooper at the extreme left is Sgt. David Lowe
From the Jerry Smith Collection

With things put in order, A Troop's snakes were ready to put the hurt on Chuck.

Alpha Troop Taking Care of Business, Delta Troop Taking Pictures.
An A Troop Snake.
From the Jerry Smith Collection

--Bill Nevius