Heavy Weapons

Heads often turned when, for the first time, they saw armoured personnel carriers/V-100's, and duce and a halves equipped with quad fifties manned by Air Force personnel. Low profile, unassuming and strategically located characterized our mission. We weren't the first line of defense but you knew we were there ready to react.

Quad fifties at the end of the runways, mobile pc's/V-100's equipped with 50 calibers or mini-guns roaming perimeter roads symbolized strength and commitment. Manned perimeter bunker personnel knew they could count on assistance from the big guns!

I served on the midnight shift and honestly I can't remember the names of the men with whom I served. If you served with me or know those who did and have a roster/list, please let me know.

I remember when we use to travel miles from TSN to test
fire the big guns. Our base firing range could not handle them.  We'd fire the single fifties, quad fifties, 90mm recoilless rifles, and grenade launchers. But , the one you'll always remember was the firing of the quad fifties...the noise, the heat from the barrels....and changing the barrels. It sure made you appreciate being on this side of the gun instead of looking down the barrel.

My most memorable moment occurred on a clear night at
or around 2 a.m. Our quad fifties was parked on the south end of the runway. Everything was still and quiet. Then suddenly the night sky lit up on the north end of the runway some 2 miles away! Seconds later the concussion of the blast reached us. We later learned that some sappers had slipped in to a ARVN ammo dump and blew it up with a satchel charge.