I am standing
in front of the Đà Nàng Growl Pad sign (handsome,
ain't I). LTC Arthur G. Phillips Jr. had a construction crew build
the sign. The night before the photo, I had popped a
hand flare that had a triple charge, which sprained
my wrist.
Perimeter Road, S/E: K-9 Guard Post at entrance to kennels.
You can see the Growl Pad sign, center top, a water tank,
and kennels offices.
K-9 Guardmount. I am in the front row, third from left.
I'm looking at my watch, so I guess I had an important appointment
to keep.
K-9 Handlers collect their Sentry Dogs
from the Kennels. Access is via the outside, and not the
center walk.
K-9 were often posted in this truck,
or an open bed truck. Both could tow a trailer that
carried several "caged" Sentry Dogs.
Photo inside the truck bed. Bullet
and shrapnel holes are still visible from the night
TSgt Jensen was KIA during his taking cover and engaging sappers with only his .38 revolver.
A1C Don Jones is pictured setting on a bench in the truck.
Perimeter
Perimeter
Road, East area.
Perimeter
Road, North and N/E, along the Marshland area.
A1C Al
Watts patrols the Marshland perimeter road, on the left,
with
A2C Don Poss, center, and A2C Gary Eberbach on the right across the
road.
Perimeter
Road, N/West.
Lee Miller patrols with Shep.
Perimeter
Road, West: K-9 are posted along the only active
runway during 1965. A second runway
is being constructed along the area the handlers are walking.
Later, the Handlers will be picked up near
dawn. Flares are seen floating on the horizon and
over Đà Nàng's S/E area.
Blackie and I are posted
in the Ammo Dump. Spookiest post I ever worked.
Used more pop-flares than a C-47. We were called Air
Police then. On May 6, 1966, I had one heck of a
firefight around one of the ammo bunkers one night
when some sappers tried to penetrate the post. Blackie
alerted--I didn't see a thing it was so dark--and
then they started firing. I went through about three
magazines in a heart beat. And it was over. The Strike
Team was there in about 20 minutes but I made them
stay out until I could get Blackie back. The Strike
Team found blood trails and some expended AK47 shells
Perimeter Road, West: Entrance to
the Ammo Dump is eerie at dusk, and pucker-factor
nine as the black of night falls.
Perimeter Road, S/West. K-9 fighting post along the runway.
When raining it could quickly fill with water. When dry, it filled with things
that go bump in the night.
Đà Nàng City (foreground), N/E of the Air Base, aglow with
city lights. Đà Nàng Air Base (Rocket City) is awash
in flare light. Freedom Hill 327, above and center, can
be seen with perimeter lights snaking up the hill. The
Marshland can be seen, center right, with flare light
reflecting.
