174th Assault Helicopter Company

1966 - Vietnam - 1971

Dolphins and Sharks

"Life in the Bush"

Platoon Sergeant Wayne Brown, Infantryman
4th Bn., 3rd Infantry, 11th Light Infantry Bde.
December 1969 - November 1970

INTRODUCTION: Wayne Brown was drafted from his hometown in Shelton, Washington in early 1969. He arrived in Vietnam in December 1969 after being assigned to Fort Lewis, Washington for Basic Training, then to Fort Benning, Georgia for NCO training. He spent his year in Vietnam as an infantryman with 3rd Platoon, A Company, 4/3 Infantry, which was based out of Fire Support Base (FSB) San Juan Hill. The 4/3 received much, if not most, of their aviation support from the 174th AHC, and Wayne took many photos (35-mm slides) during his year in Vietnam.

Recently Wayne gave his slides to his daughter, Kathy. They've essentially remained unseen until now, except for family and friends. They are in excellent condition and Kathy had them scanned at a high resolution. He has many helicopter photos, and most of them are of 174th Dolphins and Sharks. Kathy contacted me (your webmaster) and we discussed publishing them on the 174th website. I have selected around 150 photos of the more than 250 photos Kathy sent me, and I have arranged them generally in an order that I hope gives a feeling for what our "passengers" often went through between the time we dropped them off in some God-forsaken Landing Zone (LZ) and left them there, alone... until we came back and picked them up some time later, to return them to San Juan Hill.

Most of my information for the order of the photos, and the captions for them, have come from Kathy as told to her by her dad. Most of the names of the other grunts in the photos have dimmed over time for Wayne, so often I'm unable to identify others in the photos besides Wayne. Captions for the helicopter photos I have generally provided, with input from Kathy.

The order of the photos is likely not chronological, but arranged to generally tell a visual story of what life was like for the grunts in the bush. Wayne has some great photos here and it's wonderful to see the helicopter photos from the grunt's perspective, something we don't get to see that often. Although a rather poor-quality image, at right is a recent photo of Kathy and her dad. All photos, if used elsewhere, should credit Wayne Brown as the photographer. If anyone can identify others in the photos or can offer corrections for mistakes I've made, please drop me a line. Use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Thanks. (Jim McDaniel, 174th AHC Webmaster)

A NOTE ON VIEWING THE PHOTOGRAPHS: All photos on this page below are large thumbnails. If you prefer an enlarged photo for more detail, click on the thumbnail and you will be taken to a full-sized enlargment of the same photo. Navigating the thumbnails and full-sized photos can be a bit confusing, so I offer the following... Captions are above each thumbnail photo (and ONLY above the thunmnails). When you click on a thumbnail, you are taken to a separate web page that includes the enlarged full-sized photo. From there, you have four options for proceeding:

* Recommended: After viewing a full-size photo, to go back to the thumbnail from where you entered, click on your browser's "back-arrow" or "back-button." You will not lose your place on the thumbnail page this way.

* To proceed directly to the next full-sized photo, without having to go back to the thumbmails page, click on "next" at the top-right. However, you will NOT see the captions for the additional photos, they are only visible on the thumbnails page.

* To go back to the previous full-sized photo, click on "prev" at the top-left.

* To go back to the TOP of the thumbnails page, click on word "Thumbnails" at the bottom of the page. If you are well down the page in your viewing, you will lose your place if you use this option.

"Life in the Bush"

Platoon Sergeant Wayne Brown, Infantryman4th Bn., 3rd Infantry, 11th Light Infantry Bde.December 1969 - November 1970

Map of the Southern Area of Operations (AO) of the Americal Division, Including the 4/3's AO and FSB San Juan Hill. Map courtesy of Les Hines.

Platoon Sergeant Wayne Brown, 21 years old, in the bush.

A closer look at San Juan Hill. There was only one small resupply helipad on the firebase, visible on the left hilltop.

This is part of Wayne's platoon on San Juan Hill, the third platoon, A Company, 4/3 Infantry.

A perimeter outpost position on San Juan Hill. The long wooden ammo crates around and in the corrigated metal cover are usually filled with sand to help absorb enemy rounds or shrapnal. The soldier on the left is sighting his M-16 rifle and the one on the right is holding an M-79 grenade launcher.

This photo is from a similar position to the one above. It shows a wetter and probably cooler day, looking down the same valley.

Troops working on a quad-50 cal. machine gun.

And away we go to Duc Pho.

105mm towed Howitzer during a fire mission on San Juan Hill. The name on the barrel looks like "BonbeLa." Interesting to note the soldier on the near side of the gun has on one boot and one sandal.

Large-caliber M30 107mm mortar on a fire mission. Note round being dropped into the tube (and the Christmas wreath on the door in the background).

Platoon Sergeant Wayne Brown in his luxury accommodations on FSB San Juan Hill.

Wayne, who appears to be outside the wire, working on some equipment.

Wayne and several others patrolling outside the wire on San Juan Hill

Wayne on the left with his "bring back" gun, his souvineer rifle that he was able to return home with. It is now in the possession of his daughter Kathy.

Another of Wayne and his souvineer NVA rifle, a CHICOM (Chinese Communist) Type 53 "Mosin Nagant" Carbine bolt action rifle. (The Russian equivalent is the M44 "SKS" carbine.)

Wayne has obviously just found out he's going for a helicopter ride (but he wasn't told the helicopters would drop him in the bush and leave him there for a few weeks).

Short-short final (note quartering tailwind). This photo is actually a bit out of order. This was taken later and the Dolphin is coming in to evacuate a sick little girl. A couple of the soldiers are bent over her, prior to lifting her into the helicopter.

Touchdown in the PZ!

Dolphins 680 and 543 loading in the PZ

Dolphin 680 loaded and on the go as the troops check their gear.

Dolphin 543 accelerating out of the PZ. Note the recently replaced pilot's door, more than likely replaced due to combat damage. Will have to fit in door-painting between missions.

Shark 137 with the 40mm turret-mounted grenade launcher overhead, covering the Dolphins in the PZ.

Shark gunship with the minigun system giving the troops a low altitude fly-by. Note both door gunners giving the troops a wave.

Wayne captured a great photo of Dolphin 410 accelerating on departure as a Shark gunship covers his departure from the far hillside.

Called an airspeed over altitude departure, Dolphin 410 remains low altitude as he accelerates, to be followed by a rapid climb to altitude after acheiving his target airspeed.

En route to the LZ. Pretty rugged terrain below.

En route. Since the Landing Zone (LZ) is to consist of small single-ship clearings, the flight did not maintain a tight formation but spread out en route to accommodate the single-ship approaches to the small LZs.

Wayne was flying in the back of Dolphin 215. Here they're banking for landing in the LZ. Can't quite make out the pilot's name on the back of his helmet.

Dropped in the LZ, Dolphins are now gone. Wow, what's all that QUIET?

All is still quiet. Time to recheck gear and get organized. Note aiming stake to the right and the U.S. flag in the background. To me (your webmaster) that seemed like advertising your location to the bad guys -- but what do I know?

Setting up camp in the bush. The 60mm mortar is up and ready, now to get individual tents and shelters up and livable.

Same scene as the photo above. Note the shelter made from a poncho instead of a tent. The writing inside the lining of the bush-hat says "Michigan," then below it "Sally-Mark".

FIRE MISSION, OVER! A mortar round is being dropped into the tube of this 60-mm mortar. Everyone has their ears covered. Note the camo tent in the background, as opposed to most of the tents and ponchos that are OD green.

Relaxing. Here an individual tent has been set up. Note the semi-circle of rocks that has been set up. It would appear to be set up as cover and concealment should they need to defend their position from VC/NVA attacking up the hill.

Setting up a poncho lean-to between the two dead trees in the background. Maintaining his gear in the foreground.

Finished lean-tos. The guy in the background apparently gave up attaching his between the two dead trees. In the foreground the soldier is holding a "Chieu Hoi" phamplet, an attempt to get the VC and NVA to give themselves up. If that didn't work, well... the other guy is holding a machete.

Typical bush accommodations. Note from the freshly turned red soil, the soldier to the left is apparently digging a trench.

Yep! It's a trench. Not sure if it's for defense or disposal of waste materials. Doing the digging is Richard "Dick" Blowers. He was the point man that was shot in both legs the same time Wayne was injured. Wayne was right behind Dick.

This is Lieutenant Gene Phillipson and they are celebrating his birthday. His "cake" consists of some sort of C-rations mystery meat with a BUNCH of candles (matches) stuck in the top of the meat. Now THAT's a birthday cake!

And here the Lieutenant is trying to blow out all those matches before the whole thing explodes. Sadly, Lieutenant Phillipson was murdered after he returned Stateside.

Wayne, thinking about how much fun camping is!

Wayne taking a break beside a rubber tree. (That underbrush sure looks pretty think behind them.)

Two of the (South Vietnamese) Kit Carson Scouts assisting the Americans. Their names were "Dau" and "Bon." The one on the left is holding an M-79 grenade launcher.

Vietnamese "tractors" (water buffaloes) in the distance. Note there are children tending to the water buffaloes.

When the kids saw the American soldiers, they left the water buffaloes and came over to see the GIs.

They were very friendly. Here they are with Wayne. Note at least three of the kids in this photo are smoking cigarettes.

One of the kids has a sore foot. Most of them are bare-footed, with flip-flops being the footgear of choice, when worn. Note the scar/scab on knee of the kid to the right.

Here the unit medic is doctoring the young boy's sore foot as the others look on.

Now with a doctored foot (second from left) the kids are now curious about what else is going on.

Most were boys, but there were a few girls also.

The 3rd platoon traded candy with the kids for information on VC/NVA in the area. The kids provided intelligence on locations, guns, ammo, and the like.

South Vietnamese Kit Carson scouts.

This photo and several following show a number of VC/NVA hootches that the kids helped the GI's find.

This shows a hootch covering an underground bunker and tunnel that is part of a VC/NVA POW/training camp. The complex also included a bamboo Prisoner of War (POW) cage used to hold captured Americans.

VC/NVA "classrooms."

Taking a break and giving some thought to what they've just discovered.

Another view of the POW cage. Note the barbed wire on the opened door.

POW cage

This is the same hootch shown earlier at the POW/traning camp with the bunker/tunnel entrance. Wayne is on the left in this photo.

One of the Kit Carson scouts at the door wearing a VC hat found at the site.

The entire POW/training site was burned to the ground!

Aftermath of the destruction of the POW/training camp.

These are water buffaloes in the local area that had been killed. Note there is one young calf on the left side that appears to be the only one to have survived.

Hootches burning at night.

This photo is a bit out of order, but is another photo of the POW/training camp hootches as they were being set on fire.

Here Captain Haugen, the A company commander (with the black watch band and bandage on his right arm), is talking with the troops and planning the next moves. Note the dog handler on the right.

Here the dog handler is taking his dog down to the creek for a drink.

GOOD DOG!

Here the RTO (Radio/Telephone Operator) gives a Dustoff helicopter a "thanks" as he leaves with a wounded soldier on board. The Dustoff's red cross in blocked from view by the RTO. (Note the Dustoff has no door gunner mount for an M-60.)

The RTO (in the above photo), and one other, taking a break.

This is "Iron Mountain." War is hell on trees.

Dolphin 445 ("Suzie") balancing on the heals of the skids as water and C-rations are handed down to the troops.

Dolphin 186 unloading at a hover.

Dolphin 671 at a hover, looking for a satisfactory spot to unload their supplies.

He slides over closer to the downed tree and is able to offload the supplies next to the treetrunk and the pile of rocks. Dolphin 671 ("Rampage") took five hits and crashed during Lam Son 719

Dolphin resupply bird hovering down to deliver his goods.

Unable to land because of the terrain, here a cache of captured weapons is being loaded onto a Dolphin at a hover. Note the empty boxes of earlier resupply that's already been opened and distributed.

Dolphin 430 departing with a vertical lift-off with some passengers on board.

Platoon Sergeant Wayne Brown, Infantryman
4th Bn., 3rd Infantry, 11th Light Infantry Bde.
December 1969 - November 1970