Phu Loc 6

Most of my tour of duty in Vietnam was spent between An Hoa and Phu Loc 6. (Pictured) Phu Loc 6 was a little outpost that protected a Ferry Crossing across the river. The bridge that was once there had been bombed and the only way to get supplies across the river was by ferry.

My job was to keep a teletype link up between the base and An Hoa. I also maintained the generator that supplied electricity to the base.

Behind me in the picture is a group of detainee's being taken for questioning. To the left of the photo there is the "water buffalo" i.e. water tank where fresh water was stored. For the most part my time there was uneventful. I left Phu Loc 6 on March 16 to return to An Hoa. On March 19th the base was overrun by Viet Cong. During the night long battle 5 Americans were killed and about 75 Viet Cong. During the fighting a young Navy Corpsman from McMinnville, TN gave his life helping the wounded and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. http://www.virtualwall.org/dr/RayDR01a.htm

I have thought often how life might be different for me if I had been there on that night.

lcr