I was an air/security policeman in Đà Nàng; January 1963 we were part of the 6222nd Air Base squadron, which changed to 23rd Air Base Group around June or July (?). I was an air/security policeman in Đà Nàng; January 1963 we were part of the 6222nd Air Base squadron, which changed to 23rd Air Base Group around June or July 1963.
China Beach w/fishing fleet on the horizon. We had to watch for sea snakes here,
they sometimes came in close to shore in groups for some reason. Also we
almost lost Smokey Thomason to the undertow - he was carried out about
200 yards until he calmed down and did the swim towards shore 10 feet and
get washed back out 5 feet for about 1/2 hour.
My favorite photo of all that I took - walking onto China beach.
Fishermen at China Beach. Vietnamese "drive in" at the base of Marble Mountain; we got cokes there. At that time (March 1963) gi's went there "at your own risk" dressed in civvies but took our weapons with us.
Me at China Beach with the ever present "you got cigalet?" kids.
Note on the back of photo says "downtown Đà Nàng" but I don't recognize it.
The Grand Hotel, across from the river downtown - we ate there a time or two
and did our share of the Ba Mui Ba thing.
Market in downtown Đà Nàng.
Note on this one says "Independence day on Doc Lop Street - 5 days before Diem was overthrown."
I think this is the ARVN I Corps HQ. The more I go thru this stuff I realize that it's been
40 years and it's getting a lot harder to "download" from the 60 year old "disk" in my head : )
Downtown Đà Nàng at river.
On the river in Đà Nàng - what a beautiful country they have in so many ways.
US Navy on the river. We saw very few sailors in those days.
The river downtown w/Monkey mountain in background.
Looking toward Monkey mountain from the barge crossing the river to get to Marble Mt./China Beach.
On the river in downtown Đà Nàng.
Looking out from an area that we called Spanish Beach - even more remote than China Beach was.
From the barge on the river again.
We thought these guys were RVN Rangers - white outfits, red berets, as I recall someone told us they were "home-guard" troops.; I don't
remember why we thought they were rangers. They really looked quite young, but it's hard to tell. Photo taken in the area of the Đà Nàng flight line.
Fishing village.
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