“My Favorite PX Memory in Vietnam” · The flying PX chopper (that is how we called it) came in...
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“My Favorite PX Memory in Vietnam” When I arrived in South Vietnam on December 1969, the least I could imagine was that I will have a flying PX service coming out there to the jungle risking their lives. After being assigned to an infantry unit of the 1ST Cavalry Division, I spend almost a year moving from Fire Base to Fire Base every one or two weeks. The flying PX chopper (that is how we called it) came in at least once a month during pay day, time permitting, to deliver beers ($2.40 for a case of 24), who could beat that. They also provided all the block ice we needed to cool them. You have to provide your own improvised cooler build from ammo boxes. Nothing better than enjoying a cold beer and leftovers from the Mess Hall (now call Dining Facility) with your fellow soldiers after a hard and hot working day. I also bought my first Polaroid instant camera and film. I bought a Sansui music system and an AKAI reel recorder thru a catalog order and it was shipped to my home in Puerto Rico. We could buy personal hygiene items like soap, shaving cream, razors, and small electronics. They have car salesmen available in case you want to buy a vehicle and ship it home. It was always a happy moment to see the PX chopper carrying goodies, arrive at the Fire Base. Sure made our war time gone a little bit easier for us. Thank You for the opportunity to participate and to reminisce those special moments. Ramon L. Alamo Hernandez, MSG, USA (Retired) ******** Wow! A contest for Vietnam Veterans! After seeing the Camp Enari Exchange picture, the memories came flooding back. I couldn’t believe it! I quickly got a magnifying glass to see if I could see myself in line. The Enari Exchange was my first introduction to the Exchange System. Up to that time I was always a trainee. Basic Training at Fort Ord, California; Advanced Infantry Training at Fort Polk,
Transcript of “My Favorite PX Memory in Vietnam” · The flying PX chopper (that is how we called it) came in...
“MyFavoritePXMemoryinVietnam”
WhenIarrivedinSouthVietnamonDecember1969,theleastIcouldimaginewasthatIwill
haveaflyingPXservicecomingouttheretothejungleriskingtheirlives.Afterbeingassignedto
aninfantryunitofthe1STCavalryDivision,IspendalmostayearmovingfromFireBasetoFire
Baseeveryoneortwoweeks.TheflyingPXchopper(thatishowwecalledit)cameinatleast
onceamonthduringpayday,timepermitting,todeliverbeers($2.40foracaseof24),who
couldbeatthat.Theyalsoprovidedalltheblockiceweneededtocoolthem.Youhaveto
provideyourownimprovisedcoolerbuildfromammoboxes.Nothingbetterthanenjoyinga
coldbeerandleftoversfromtheMessHall(nowcallDiningFacility)withyourfellowsoldiers
afterahardandhotworkingday.IalsoboughtmyfirstPolaroidinstantcameraandfilm.I
boughtaSansuimusicsystemandanAKAIreelrecorderthruacatalogorderanditwasshipped
tomyhomeinPuertoRico.Wecouldbuypersonalhygieneitemslikesoap,shavingcream,
razors,andsmallelectronics.Theyhavecarsalesmenavailableincaseyouwanttobuya
vehicleandshipithome.ItwasalwaysahappymomenttoseethePXchoppercarrying
goodies,arriveattheFireBase.Suremadeourwartimegonealittlebiteasierforus.Thank
Youfortheopportunitytoparticipateandtoreminiscethosespecialmoments.
RamonL.AlamoHernandez,MSG,USA(Retired)
********
Wow!AcontestforVietnamVeterans!AfterseeingtheCampEnariExchangepicture,the
memoriescamefloodingback.Icouldn’tbelieveit!IquicklygotamagnifyingglasstoseeifI
couldseemyselfinline.
TheEnariExchangewasmyfirstintroductiontotheExchangeSystem.UptothattimeIwas
alwaysatrainee.BasicTrainingatFortOrd,California;AdvancedInfantryTrainingatFortPolk,
Louisiana;PrimaryFlightTrainingatFortWolters,Texas;andAdvancedFlightTrainingatFort
Rucker,Alabama.Duringthosetimes,Iwasnotallowedtovisitpostfacilities.
IarrivedinVietnaminApril1969.Beinganewbie,Iwasnotaccustomedtothefineriesofthe
Army’sfacilities.Onadayoff,ararity,Iwenttovisittheexchangewithseveralbuddies.Itwas
likeafieldtrip.Iwasexcitedtodosomethingdifferentotherthanwagewar.Istoodinline,
justasthepictureindicatedinthecontest.Onceinside,Iwasoverwhelmed.Therewereso
manystatesidethingsIcouldbuy;clothes,stereogear,thingsforthehooch(Ieventuallywould
buyasmallrefrigerator),toiletries,andboozeattheclass6store.Ireturnedtomyhoochwith
socks,andabottleofscotch.Notanoverwhelmingshoppingspreebutonehastosetpriorities.
Iwouldeventuallybuyareeltoreeltapeplayerwith8trackplayer,two4foottallspeakersand
anamplifierthatwouldliterallylightuptheCompanyarea.
IhavebeenanavidExchangepatronsincethosetimessomanyyearsago.My99yearold
Motherhasanunbelievable“Hummel”collection,complimentsoftheExchangeinNuremberg,
Germany.ThePXandcommissaryhavebeenawayoflifesincemyfirstintroductionatCamp
Enari,Vietnam.
CW4DaleEHouse,USArmyReserve(Retired)
********
IwasstationedatasmallradarsiteinCaMauProvincein1967-1968duringtheTet
Offensive.Iworkedinsecurity,andwasalsothepaymasterformydetachment.Wheneverwe
hadadayoraweek-endoff,mybuddiesandIwouldflyintoSaigononahelicopteroronan
AustralianCaribou.IalsotraveledtoSaigonformydutiesaspaymaster.Militarypersonnel
werepaidinscript,theonlycurrencyacceptedin-country.
OneofthehighlightsofourvisitstoSaigonwaswhenwepatronizedtheTanSonNhut
AirbaseExchange.Wewereabletopurchasesmallluxuriesnotavailableatourworksite.The
mostcoveteditemsweretoiletriesandelectronics.Theguysallpitchedinandrentedahouse
inSaigonwhichweallusedwhenwewereonleave,asafeandeconomicalarrangement.The
exchangewasinvaluableinsupplyinguswiththehouseholditemsweneededtomaintainour
lodgings.
Aspaymaster,onceamonthIpickedupandbroughtbackwagesfortheAirForcepersonnel
onoursite.Wheneverpossible,astopattheTanSonNhutExchangewasalsoontheagenda.
Theguysinmydetachmentwouldgivemeliststofillandthenlookforwardtomyreturn.The
TanSonNhutExchangewasourconnectiontohome.
BruceJ.Habowski,Msgt.(Retired)
*********
Ineverknewifhalfthestoriesweretruebut,myfoursistersandIwouldlistentoeverywordas
ifChestyPullerhimselfweretellingthem.Mydadwasararespeaker,sowhenhespokeofhis
timeinVietnamwehastogatheraround.Hedidn'tliketospeakofhistimethereandtothis
dayhehasadifficulttime.Inbetweencoughs...andlightinghisnextcigarettehewouldbegin.
Mostwereheroic,somewhatunbelievablestoriesofgrabbingknifebladeswithhisbarehands
andsewinghisfingersbackonhimselforcarryingtwowoundedmarinesunderhisarms3miles
intherainandmud....allwhileunderheavygunfire.
Eitherway,trueormadeup,weenjoyedthestories.
Oneeveninghewokeupfromoneofhisstandardeveningnapsandcalledusallover.He
turneddowntheStartrekepisodehewouldn'tletuschange,eventhoughhewassound
asleep,litupacigaretteandsearchhisbrainforhisstory.
"DidIevertellyouaboutthetimeIwasshotinthechest?"Youwouldthinkthatthisstory
wouldbeonethatwewouldhaveknownaboutyearsago,butno...wehadnotheardthisone.
HesaidthathewaslayingonthebeachinVietnamwhenhissunbathingtimewasinterrupted
byaVietnamesesoldierpointingarifleathischest.Hegrabbedtherifleandclenchedhischest
musclesjustasthesoldiershotit.Thebulletonlydentedhisskinbecausehischestmuscles
weresostrongthatmetalandgunpowdercouldnotpenetrate.Heproceededtoshowusthe
dentonhischest...mysistersandIlookedateachother,allofusknowingthatthedentwas
reallycausedbythecrossnecklacethathegotattheExchangeinVietnampressedbycrossed
armsashenapped.Weneversaidaword.
HM1JenniferHeiselman
**********
JustaftertheMoonLandingJuly20,1969IwrotemygirlTaraandaskedhertomarryme.Igot
thereplybackon22Aug1969.IwenttotheFreedomHillPXwhilethereIrealizedasmuchas
a19yeardoesthat...HeyIneedaring!Ihadayoungladysetdownwithmeandgooverbook
afterbookofengagementrings...asanE-4costwasarealissue,yetIwantedthebestIcould
afford.FinallyshegotmeadealwithTiffany'sthatwaswithinmysmallbudget.Wow..
sendingyourgalaringfromTiffany....Iwasreallyreallyexcited.Iorderedandabout5week's
lateritarrived......itwassobeautifulandwhenTaragotitbackin"theworld"itwasthetalkof
ourneighborhood.Theyoungladygotmeadealforlessthan$150IgothomeApril30,1970
whichwasmybirthday...nowthat'sabirthdaypresent.8dayslaterMay8th1970TaraandI
weremarriedandcelebratedour44thAnniversarythisyear.Shestillwearsthatringanditis
asbeautifulasthedayIgotit.IfnotforthePXIwouldnevergot"aclassyringforaclassygal".
HMC(FMF)ThomasR.Mooningham,USNRetired
**********
IarrivedinVNthesecondweekofFebruary1968toCoB,716MPBninSaigon.Thiswasjusta
weekorsoaftertheTetoffensivestarted.WhenIarrivedattheInternationalBOQ,Iwasnot
allowedtoleaveduetothefactIwasinexperienced,howeverIwasplacedonthealertforce.
ThismeantthatifanattackwasimminentatanyUSfacilitywewouldbedispatcedtodefend
it.Afteraboutthreedaysofbeingconfinedtoourquarters,Ibecameveryrestless.Iknewthere
wasaUSmilitarybusroutethatwenttotheCholonPX.IdecidedIwouldtakeachanceand
catchthebustothePX.IwasstillonthealertforceandconfinedtotheInternationalbutI
sneakedoutanywayandcaughtthebus.Iarrivedanddidmyshopping.Ionlyboughtafew
snacks,nothingimportantatall.WhenIgotbackIfoundeveryoneinabiguproar.TheUS
embassywasbeingthreatenedandthealertforcehadbeencalledout.NooneknewwhereI
was,IwasAWOL!OneMPtoldmetogetinhisjeep,hewasgoingtotheEmbassy.WhenI
arrivedI,ascasuallyasIcould,blendedinwiththeothermembersoftheforce.Whenthe
threatwasover,andwehadbeentransportedbacktotheInternational,Igotamessagethat
Capt.Chester,ourCOwantedmeonhisoffice"rightnow".Iimmediatelywent,buthewasnot
there.IwaitedawhileandhedidnotreturnsoIwentbacktomyroom.Henevercalledme
backtohisofficeandyoucanbetthefarm,Inevermentionedittohimeither.
JamesE.Taylor
******
ConnieSmithGonzalez
Ihaveenjoyedmilitaryexchangeprivilegesallmylifesinceeithermyfather,myself,ormy
husbandwastheservicemember.OnmywaytoVietnam,westoppedatYokotaAirBasein
Japantorefuel.ThesmallexchangethereiswhereIboughtmy35mmcamerawhichIstillown.
Onceatmydutystation,the95thEvacuationHospitalinDaNang,Iusedthatcamerato
documentthememoriesofmyyearinVietnam.Onourcompoundwehadasmallone-roomPX
whichwasouronlyplacetoshopfornecessitiesandrationeditemslikecigarettesandalcohol.
MyfavoritepurchasewastheRitzcrackerswhichcameintins.Afterthecrackerswereeaten,I
usedthetinsforstorage.Thisone-roomexchangeholdsspecialmemoriesforme.
Aftersix-monthsinVietnam,IwasgrantedsevendaysofR&RinHawaiiwhereFt.DeRusseyhad
asmallPXwhichsuppliedessentialsforastayinWaikiki.
ThebestPXbenefitwasthePACEX(PacificExchange)catalogue.Aservicememberstationedin
VietnamcouldorderfromthiscatalogueandwasIevertheirbestcustomer!IorderedNoritake
china,aSonyreel-to-reeltapedeck,aSonystereo,Seikowatches,aYamahaguitar,andmany
otheritemsformyselfandmyfamily.
Themerchandisewasdeliveredtomyparents'homeintheStates.WhenIreturnedhome,I
hadaheadstartonfurnishinganapartment.
Nowmorethan42yearslater,IamstillenjoyingmanyoftheitemsPACEXaffordedme.More
importantly,thememoriesofmyPXexperienceswhilestationedinVietnamhelptosoften
someofthenotsopleasantmemoriesofatimeofwar.Thankyoufortheopportunity!
*******
LaurenNicoleHammaker
MyfavoriteexchangestoryisaboutthefirsttimeIevervisitedanexchangeandanArmybase.I
wasayounggirl,just13yearsold.Kay’solderbrotherRonwasaSergeantondeployment.
IsuggestedtoKay’smomthatwesendtheyoungSgt.acarepackage.Shesaidthat’sagreat
idea,let’sgovisitanexchangewe’llbeabletogeteverythingforagreatpriceanditwillhave
patrioticitemstoliftRon’sspirits.
WhenweenteredthePXKay&Ithoughtwowthisplaceisgreat.Anexchangeemployee
greeteduswithawarmsmileandsaidHelloassoonaswecrossedthethreshold.Theexchange
hadbrightnessaboutitandeverythingwassoclearlylabeled.Iquicklyrealizedtheexchanged
offeredgreathighendproducts.Westartedwithsomethingsformorallikecologneandnice
menswear’s.Thegentlemanworkinginthatsectionoftheexchangewasdressedprofessionally
andwasveryknowledgeableaboutthingsthathethoughtayoungmanlikeRonwouldliketo
haveondeployment.WeendedupbuyingaNauticaoutfit,ChromeAzzarrocologne,anda
couplegadgets.
WeracedtotheothersideoftheexchangetofindallofAmerica’sfavoritesnacks,the
Exchangehadthemall.Wealsoboughtbottleddrinkingwater,asthatwasoneofRon’s
complaints;hemissedthewayAmericanwatertasted.WeboughtRonacardthatathoughtful
exchangeemployeehelpeduschoose,theemployeeshusbandwasdeployed.Herguidance
helpedpicktheperfectcardsinceshewasinasimilarsituation.
Almost10yearslaterIserveintheArmyandIstilllovetoshopattheExchange.
********
MyFavoriteExchangeMemoryinVietnamEssayContest:
IarrivedfromthefieldviahelicoptertopickupmedicalsuppliesandconductaPXrun.Istarted
toenterthePX,atDiAn,whentwoMPsstoppedme.TheytoldmeIhadtohavepolishedboots
toenter.Ithoughtitwasajokebutitwasnot.Mybootswerejustwornleatherwithnoblack
polishanywhere.OneMPsawmyCMB(CombatMedicalBadge)andsaid,“Docwhatisso
importantaboutyougettingintothePXevenwithoutpolishedboots?”ItoldhimofthePXrun
forthefieldguys.Hetoldmegoaheadandsaidheunderstood.
IwasrunningshortontimelookingforitemsonmyPXrunlistwhenPXstaffnoticedIwasina
hurry.ItoldthemwhyIwasinahurryandtheysaidgiveusthelistandtheyfoundallofthe
itemsonit.Iwasabletomakethechopperridebacktothefieldwiththemedicalsuppliesand
PXitems.
WhenIarrivedbacktothefieldIgavealltheitemstothesoldiersonthelist.Iwaswalkingback
tomytrackvehiclewhenIsawseveralofthesoldierssmilingandlaughing.Abigsmilecameto
myfacewhenIsawoneofthesoldiershadtakenshavingcreamfromthePXrunandwrote
MerryXmasonthesideofoneoftheAPCs(ArmoredPersonnelCarriers).Christmaswasstilla
weekawaybutthankstothePXanditsstaffitwasaChristmasallofusinthefieldwouldnot
soonforget.
GustafC.Bernt,
*******
ByFrederickC.Bosarge,COL(Ret),USA
“D’jahearme?”ChicagoJimmy,myradiooperator,whinedaboutthefishstewincessantlyand
nowhedisplayedthetailofaMekongRivermudperchontheendofatwig.“Andthatchicken
messisworse,Cap’n,Ifoundarooster’scombinityesterday!”
Itwas1966andIwasa25year-oldU.S.ArmyCaptainadvisingSouthVietnameseinfantryinthe
bowelsoftheMekongRiverDelta.Justme,myradiooperatorJimmyandahandfuloflocals
whosometimestookpityonusduringopsandsharedfood.
“Bequiet,Jimmy.Here’ssomeJuicyFruittochew.Nobody’smakingyoueatthatslop.”Ifa
PXexistedweknewnothingofit.
“Listen,Cap’n,Ihearachopper!”“Clamup,Jimmy.”Butwelistened.Andsoonthedistinctive
“heartbeat”ofadescendingHueystirredupthedust.Jimmydroppedhisfish.Thechopper
waslanding!
Itseemedamiragebutindeedtherestoodanactual,now-totally-landedPXhelicopter--laden
withcansofwarmGrapette,boxesofMandMs,cornedbeefhash,andsodacrackers.A.lot.
Of.Stuff.They’dbegood,thosecrackers,maybeevenwiththatfishstew!Andwow,clean
underwear!Andtoothpaste!
JimmypromptlymadehimselfnauseousonanenormousMandMpattylumpedtogetherby
theheat.“Betterthanthefishstew,Jim?”Iasked.ButJimmywasalreadybusy,smearingcold
cornedbeefontocrackers.
WewonderedhowthePXguyslocatedus.Butthensometimeswealsowonderedwhatwe
weredoinginavillageintheMekongDelta–seeminglyforgotteninthemistsofanunpopular
war,oftenhungryandtired,andfrequentlyfeelingfrustrated.
Tothisday,Idon’teatMandMs.
*****
FrankH.Sherman
MyfavoritememoryoftheVietNamExchangeisacartoon.DuringmysecondtourIwas
stationedwiththe101stAirborneDivisionatCampEagle.DuringmytourCocaColacameup
withanewsoftdrinkcalledFreshca.Theexchangehadtwopalletsofthestuff.Wellthefirst
personstotheexchangeafteritarrivedwereabletopurchaseacaseathalfpriceasa
promotion.Whenitwastriedduetothefactwehadnoiceandlittlerefrigerationittasted
horrible.Sooninordertogetridofittheygaveyouacaseofitfreewhenyoupurchasedacase
ofCoke.Wellthatdidn’tworksoitendedupthatyouhadtotakeacaseofFreshcafreeifyou
purchasedacaseofCoke.Outsidetheexchangewerelargetrashcansandtheywerefilled
withcasesofFreshcafreetothefewpersonsonthebasewhodidinfactlikethedrink.The
exchangedidprovidemanyfineservices.Duringmyfirsttourin1965IpurchasedaRolex
Watchfor$100.00Istillwearittoday.
1SGFrankSherman,Retired
*****
ItwasKadenaABOkinawa1968,I’llneverforgetthedayIstoodoutandlearnedaboutthe
kindnessofothers.IsawadifferentwayoflifelivingontheAirForceBasethanwhatIsawon
TV.Growingup,myfathertaughtmemanythings,butwhatIlearnedthemostfromhimwas
toalwaysberespectfulandtobeateamplayer.
IrememberwhenmyfatherhadtoleaveustogoofftoVietnamonatour;that’swhen
everythingchangedforme.ItwasanightinAprilwhenmymotherwokemysiblingsandIup
afterhearingafranticpoundingatourdoor.Ofcourse,weallwereassumingtheworstformy
father–wethoughtsomeonehadcometotellusthatourDadisafallensoldier.Thatnightit
wasourneighbortellingusthatDr.MartinLutherKingJr.wasassassinated.Thiswasthefirst
timeIeversawmymothercryassheheldusalltightly.
Asthedayswentby,weneededtopickupsomeessentialattheBX/PXandIcouldn’tbelieve
allthepeoplelookingatusandtellingmymothersorryaboutDr.MartinLutherKingJr.Ididn’t
understandwhatwasgoingon,butallthetoughtimesshewentthroughathome,shefound
comfortattheBaseExchange.TothisdayeverytimeIgotheBX,Ithinkofmymotherand
fatherandsmile.IdobelievetheMilitarybasesaroundtheworldhaveaplacewhereyoucan
notonlyshop,buthavethecomfortoffriendship-SMSGTT.E.WilliamsandFannieWilliams,
USAFKorea,Vietnam.
Son,MelvinG.Williams
****
Asasoldierwiththe173rdAirborneBrigadeworkinginandaroundQuiNhonasanintelligence
courierIwasfortunatetohavehadtheopportunitytovisitthelocalPX/BXfrequently.
Ialwayshadmyrationcardhandyforthepurchaseofqualityitemssuchascameras,watches,
stereosandelectronicswithmyincountrymoneycalledMilitaryPaymentCertificates(MPC).
USprintedGreenBacksaswecalledthemthenwerenotallowedincountrybyUSmilitary
personnel.
OnoneofmyvisitstothePX/BXIhadparkedmyM151Jeepandwaswalkingaroundthe
cornerofabuildingasanothersoldierpassedmebygoingintheoppositedirection.Aswe
passedwestaredindisbeliefandturnedaroundwalkingbackwardsstillnotbelievingthatwe
hadstumbledacrosseachother.
Itwasmybestbuddy,MikefromFt.McClellan,AL.Westoodtherestarringinamazementand
thenrantoeachotherhuggingandlaughingwithsuchamazementthatwehadfoundeach
otheragaininsuchafaroffland.
FromthatdayforwardwhileservingintheRepublicofVietnamwewereabletogettogether
periodicallytovisitevenitmeantsittingonaguardtowerwhilehewasondutycoveringhis
perimeter.
MikeandIarestillfriendsandbrothersofafarofflandofwarashelivesinGeorgiaandIin
NorthCarolinabutwealwaysenjoyedthemusicweplayedonourstereosystemswe
purchasedatthePX/BX..
BySFCJohnW.Collins,Jr.(USARetired
********
MYFAVORITEPXMEMORYINVIETNAM
InNovember1965IwasattachedtotheArmywiththe502ndBattalionofthe101stAirborne,
asanAirForcepersoncarryingaradioforCharlieCompany.Eachdaywepatrolled,watching
fortheVietCong.OneofthethingsIbroughtwithmewasentertainment!Ihadboughtalittle
SanyoradioatthePXwhilegettingreadytoshipnorthfromSaigon.Eightdollarsforthatlittle
Sanyoradiowasagoodprice;butitgotmeintoBIGtrouble!Ituckeditupunderneathmy
helmetandtapeditwithducttape!We’dpatrolthroughthericepattiesandvegetation,and
everyonewouldlistentotheArmedForcesRadioNetwork.They’dplayBeethoven,Mozartand
someothermusicthatputustosleep!ItwasNovemberorDecemberwhenthisAFRN
program,“DawnBusters,”withaguynamedCronauer,cameon.Wewerereturningfrom
Dalat,toourcampnearPhanRang,aroundsixinthemorning.Ihadmylittleradioturnedupa
bit.Notgettinggoodreception,Iturnedthevolumeknobuplouder!Mymistake!TheDJ,
Cronauer,holleredintohismicrophone,“GoodMorningVietnam.”Weallheardhisvoice
echoingthroughthejungleinourhelmets!Then,thejunglelitupwithtracersandbullets!
Beinganairmaninthe101stAirbornewasnotagoodthingtobethen!Mylieutenant,grabbed
me,pulledmedowntotheground!Hehaddefinitelyheardmyradioandreallygotupsetwith
me.Hetoldmeto“…turnthatthingoff…”withexpletives“…andtoneverturnitbackon
again!”Ittookabouttenminutesforallthebulletstostopflying!SoI’llneverforgetthatlittle
radioIgotatthePXinCholon,Saigon!
WilliamC.Kelch,MSgt(Ret/USAF
*******
MarcialSantiago
At19yearsofageIwasdraftedintotheUSArmy.AfterbasictrainingandAITIwassentto
Vietnam.IwasassignedtoHQ196thLIB,stationedonLZBaldy,halfwaybetweenChulaiand
Danang.Aboutonceevery60daysIgottogotoChulaitodosomeshoppingatthePXthere.I
enjoythisverymuch.Iwouldcatchamedivacchoppergoingtohehospitalandagaincoming
totheLZ.ThePXwasprettylargeandhadalotofmerchandize.Ihadtoshopfortheguysinmy
squadandformyselfsoIhadtolimitmyshopping.Iusedtobuywatchesandjewelryformy
familybackhome.ThisIusedtomailoutrightfromthePX.Saltinecrackersandcannedvienna
sausagewereastandardstapleinmydiet.IneverwentonR&R,sothiswastheclosestIcame
toRestandRecoup.Ialmostboughtacaronce,butthenchangedmymindandtookbackmy
deposit.IneededthemoneytogetmarriedassoonasIgotbacktotheworld.Igotluckyin
Dec1968.ItwasmyturntogotothePXandIgottoseeTheBobHopeChristmasshow.Istill
havethepictureoftheGoldDiggerssignedbyeachoneofthem.Vietnamwasveryhardonme.
Ilost25poundsandcamehomewithPTSDand7.10/PPTdioxinpoisoningfromAgentOrange.
IremembershoppingatthePXasoneofthebestrewardsoftheVietnamwar.
*******
ThomasJohnBednar
IservedasaFieldArtilleryman“GunBunny”inVietnam1970–1971inthe1stBn39thField
Artillery,VCorps.ImovedwiththeFieldArtilleryunitsbetweenFireBaseNancy(locatedsouth
ofQuangTri),FireBaseSally(locatednorthofPhuBai)situatedsouthofDongHaalongRoute1
aswellasMaiLoc,FireBasesVandergriftandFullerlocatedwestofDongHaalongRoute9.We
supportedthe101st,elementsofthe1stCavalryDivision,MechanizedunitsaswellastheArmy
oftheRepublicofVietnam.
IrememberseveraltimesduringroadmovementseitherfollowingormeetingmobilePXtrucks
alongRoutes1and9.SometimestheMobilePXwouldcometotheFireBases.Ianticipatedand
alwayslookedforwardtotheMobilePXbecauseithadavailablemagazines,candy,sundries
whichprovidedcomfortandbroughtabitofrelieftothelongdaysinVietNam.
MyfavoritePXmemoryinVietNamisthetimewhenIpurchaseditemsfromaMobilePX
employee,anoldermanprobablyinhisearly50s.I’mwayolderthanthatnow.Hetoldmehe
wasaKoreanWarandWWIIVeteran.IaskedhimwhyhewasworkingontheMobilePXtrucks
inVietNam.Hedidn’tsayanything,hiseyesbecamemoist,heshedafewtearsandafterafew
momentsheturnedtohelpthenextguyinline.
Reflecting,after44years,IthinknowIunderstandwhybebecamesoemotionalseeinga
nineteenyearoldboyservinginawarinafarawayland,farfromhome.Thosefewseconds
remainwithmetothisday.
****
InDecemberof1972,IwasshoppingforChristmaspresentsatthePX/BXatTanSonNhutAB,
Vietnam.Asayoungserviceman,Ididn’tmakemuchmoneysoItriedtobethrifty.Ihad
collectedsomepresentstosendhomeforChristmasandapproachedthecheckout.Thelady
whoservedmewasverypoliteandgreetedmewithabigsmileasIpulleditemsfrommycart.
IknewIwascloseonmoneybutfeltIhadenough.Whenthetotalpoppedup,IknewIwas
shortonmoney.Whentheladycheckedthetotalsforme,oneitemwasmorethanIthought.I
apologizedtoherandtoldIwouldhavetoreturnit.Thatkindladyofferedtopaythe
difference.AtthatpointanAfricanAmericanUSArmySergeantMajorwhowasbehindme
steppedupclosetousandinaveryquietvoicetoldthecheckoutladyhewouldpaythe
difference.Ilookedathimandsaid“SergeantMajor,youdon’thavetodothat”.Withasmile
hetoldmehewantedto,thatIshouldconsideritaChristmaspresent.Ipolitelythankedthem
bothandtoldhimhewashelpingmakeChristmasspecialformyfamilybackhome.Thelady
behindthecounterwasallmistyeyedandI’lladmitIwasprettyemotional.Tothisdaythe
generosityandkindnessIwasshownthatdaypriortoChristmasbytheclerkandtheSergeant
Majorremainsavividmemory.Amanwhodidn’tknowthestrangerinfrontofhiminvolved
himselfinakindandunobtrusiveway,helpingmaketheholidayseasonabrighterbecauseof
hisactofkindness.Now,43yearslater,thememoryfrom1971remainsveryspecial.
LarryW.Stegall
*****
ThisisbeingwrittenbyaspouseregardingmyfavoritememoryfromthePxExchangein
Vietnam.MyboyfriendattheofdeploymentwaspartofCo.B4Bn39thInfantry9thInfantry
DivisiondestinationtheMekongDeltaregionofVietnam.WehaddatedinourSeniorYearof
HighSchoolandcontinueddatingaftergraduationthruthesummerintothefalltillIwentto
NursingSchoolandhetotheArmy.Wekeptintouchoffandonduringthistimeandgotback
togetherbeforeheleftforVietnam-heleftwithaSaintChristopherMedalIgavehimaround
hisneck.WewrotesteadilyandbecameengagedwhilehewasstillinVietnam.My
EngagementringandWeddingBandcamefromtheVietnamRegionalExchangeDongTam
Vietnam9thInfantryBaseCamp.Ihavekeptthepackagingwithalltheportsofentrytothe
UnitedStatesalongwiththeguaranteeandregistrationonmyrings.Mydadputthe
engagementringonmyfingerMay28,1969andRogerputtheWeddingBandonmyfinger
May9,1970.HewasstillwarringtheSaintChristopherMedalwithagrenadepinholdingit
togetherwhenhecamehome.
Wehavebeenmarried44years.WestillusetheExchangeaspartofourlives.
Thankyoufortakingthetimetoreadthis.
MaryA.Hubbell
*******
Iwasoneof1500enlistedAirForcewomenwhoservedin-countryVietnam.WhenIreceived
ordersforTanSonNhutAirBase,oneofthethingsincludedinmywelcomepackagewasalist
of"female"productsIwouldhavetohavemailedtomefromhomeandhopethepackages
madeit.AfterarrivingatTanSonNhut,Ivisitedtheexchangeandwasreallythrilledtowalk
downtheislesandseesomeofthefamiliarproductnamesfromhome.Eventhoughwewere
inaminority,theexchangeworkedhardtomeetourneedsandrequestsforbothnecessities
andafew"luxury"items.Theyevenhadabeautyshopforus.Insucharemoteplace,itwas
suchaluxurytohaveaplacetogoforpampering.
DonnaR.Spaller,MSgt,USAF,Retired
*****
IwasinVietnamfrommarch1968untilMarch1969.Iwasassignedtothe40thOrdnance
CompanyoutfromDaNangVietnamonthe1stMarineDivisionCompound.Ihavetwo(2)
favoritePXMemorieswhileinVietnam.MyfirstexperiencewasaftertheTETOffensivewas
overandwegotonaDuceandaHalf(21/2tontruck)andwenttotheFreedomHillPX.While
wewerewaitinginthelonglineforhamburgers/cheeseburgersInoticedthatoneofmyhome
boyswasinthelineaheadofme.Itwasajovialmoment!Wehugged,orderedourburgersand
talkedaboutgoingbackhomewhenourtourwasoverandwentbacktoourunits.Wenever
sawoneanotheragainuntilwewerebackhome.MysecondPXMemorywasDecemberof
1968whenIwentbacktotheFreedomHillPXtotheBobHopeChristmasShowwhichwas
televisedatalaterdatebacktotheworld.Iwrotemyparentsandmygirlfriend(WhoI
marriedwhenIreturnedhome)tolookformeinthecrowdonFreedomHillonDecember1968
duringtheshow.
CW5(Ret)DavidWells
*******
April1970,SocTrang,Vietnam–IremembergoingintothePXonpostshortlyafterarrivingin-
countrytobuyabottleofMateuswineformeandthesquadtoenjoy,forsomeunknown
reasondrinkingMateuswasthethingtodo,itprobablyhadsomethingtodowithits
inexpensivepriceatthetime.Anyway,Iapproachedthecashierwithmybottleofwine,hewas
aVietnamesemanwhodoubledastheassistantPXmanagersinceourPXwassosmall.He
lookedatmybluepaperrationcardandsawthattheareaonitthatauthorizedthepurchaseof
beer,wineandliquorhadbeen“X’d”outwhichindicatedthatitwasNOTVALID;thishadbeen
doneatCamRahnBaywhereIfirstarrivedin-countryandbeenin-processed;seeIwasonly
nineteenyearsoldandthedrinkingageintheDoDwastwenty-onethereforeIwasunableto
purchaseanyformofalcohol,aruletheUSArmyMilitaryPoliceandrationcontrolatthein-
processingstationstronglyenforced,atleastonusnewbees.Thecashierlookatme,lookedat
therationcardandbackatmeandsaid“youcomehereVietnamtohelpus,fightforus,you
buywine,nosweat”.Hewentontoringupthepurchaseandpunchmyrationcard.Attached
arephotosofthatrationcard,themassiveamountsofpunchesontheleftandrightofthecard
arefortobaccoandalcohol.Photosaren’tthebestthelittleKodakBrowniecamerawasallI
had.
WayneF.Rich
*****
“MyFavoritePXMemoryinVietnam”
Oneofthephotosinthecontestannouncementreallygotmyattention.Itwastheoneofthe
QuiNhonExchange.Ilivedandworkedatthe58thFieldDepotwhichwasa10to15minute
walkfromthePX.IcertainlyremembertheparkinglotbecauseIpulledguarddutythereonany
numberofnightswhileIwasstationedinthearea.Inthebackgroundyoucanseethebaseof
VungChuaMountain,themostnotablenearbylandmark.
Ialsorememberbuyingmyfirst35mmcamerathere.ItwasaPetriFTwitha50mm1.8lensfor
$88.00.Ilikeditalotanddevelopedaninterestinphotographywithit.LateronIboughta
35mmandthen135mmlensesforit.Ialsospecialorderedseveralaccessoriesforitfromthe
CustomerServicecounter.Iremembergettingabellowsforextremeclose-upsbutInolonger
recallwhattheotherswere.
Thatwashardlytheendofmyphotographicinterests.LateronIbecameafairlyadvanced
photographerbutIneverturnedprofessional.Iboughtprofessionalequipmentandtook
coursestoincreasemyskills.I'vehadanumberofphotospublishedinmagazines(Ioncewona
weeklycontestinaBritishphotographymagazine),booksandonline.Ialsolearnedtodevelop
andprintblackandwhitefilmanddevelopandmountcolorslidefilm.
MylifetimehobbystartedattheQuiNhonExchangein1968.Iwasjust18backthen.I'm65
nowandI'vesoldmostofmyheavyprofessionalgeartomakemycamerabaglighterand
easiertocarry.ThesedaysIuselighterandolderequipmentthatstillmakesniceimages.Ialso
continuetouseslidefilmforcertainsubjects.
JoeRichards,MSgt,USAF(Retired
*********
ThePXcomestoLZDolly
IwasatfiresupportbaseDolly,A.k.a.LZDolly.TheBattalionheadquartersandsupport
elementswereatthatforwardlocation.WewerelocatedontheNorthendofarazorback
ridgeofhill284.DauTiengwasthirteenkilometersSSW,andweweretwenty-fivekilometers
fromNuiBaDen,theBlackVirginMountain.Therewerenoroadsinorout.
Onehotspringdayin1969wewerealertedthattheBaseExchangewasgoingtoflyasmall
contingentofitsstoretoourlocation.Isolatedaswewere,wewereofcourseexcitedtosee
whatkindofgoodiesweregoingtobebroughtout.ThePXwouldarriveearly,alongwiththe
regularre-supplybirdsthatdidthatonadailybasis.ThemainBaseExchangewaslocatedin
TayNinhWest.
AtaroundteninthemorningthePXbirdarrives.ACH47Chinookfullofcorrugatedcardboard
boxeslanded.Several“mules”M274¼tonplatformsweredispatchedtocarrythewaresto
thetopandcenteroftheLZ.Assoonasthebirdwasoffloadeditleft.
Oncetheboxeswereuponthehill,theywerelinedupandopenforbusiness.Themenwere
linedupononeendoftheboxesandlookedattheitemsandwalkedtowherethecashwas
beingcollectedattheotherend.Theboxescontained:cannedfoods,snacks,chips,magazines,
smallelectronics,andafewpiecesofjewelry.Attheendoftheday,aHueyreturnedtocarrya
fewboxesofitemsthathadnotsold.ItwasagooddayforanoutdoorPXsale,andagoodday
forus.
CW3PedroC.GarzaRetiredUSArmy,1/5Cav,1stAirCavalryDivision
*******
MyFavoritePXMemoryinVietnam
AstheVietnamWarwaswindingdownfrom1969to1973,myfamilyandIlivedoverseason
GuamandTaiwan.WhilewelivedonGuam,myfather,aNavypilotwithVAP-61,flewtheA-3
inphotographicmissionsoverVietnam.WelivedonRadioBarrigada,Guam,andtherewasa
smallexchangerightonthebase.Irememberridingmybikedownthehilltospendmyweekly
allowanceattheexchange.
From1971to1973,welivedonTaiwan,wheremyfatherwasstationedwiththeMilitaryAir
AdvisoryGroup(MAAG)Taipei,Taiwan.WelivedoffbaseinahousingareacalledOKVillage,in
atowncalledTienMou.Tome,theExchangerepresentedapartofhome,especiallybecause
inTaiwanwedidn’tspeakthelocallanguageandshoppingonthelocaleconomywasvery
foreign(andsometimesalittlescary).
Asafourteen-year-oldgirl,Iwasatthatawkwardstageandlackedacertainconfidence.Itwas
duringthistimeIappliedandwasacceptedfortheNavyExchangeTeenBoard.Mrs.Kathleen
Duffy,theHeadquartersSupportActivityNavyExchange,TaiwanPublicRelationsDirector,was
theTeenBoardAdvisor.
The18-memberTeenBoardworkedintheNavyExchangefromSeptember1972toMay1973
forthegrandsumof$1.00perhour.TheExchangealsoprovidedmodelingandmakeupclinics,
andwedidstillmodelinginthestoreandparticipatedinaspringfashionshow.Thisexperience
helpedtoraisemyconfidence,taughtmeaboutsales,andgavemeafeelingofnormalcyasthe
wararounduswasending.
CherylL.Spohnholtz
*****
ThreeemotionscometomindwhenIreflectonmyexperienceswiththePXinVietnam:
surprise,joy,andsorrow.Iwillelaborateonallthree.
Surprise:WhenIwenttogetmyfirsthaircutatthePXbarbershop,Iexpectedanormal
haircut.Itappearedtobegoingthatwayuntilthebarberwasjustaboutfinished.He
proceededtogivemeaseriesofkarate-likechopsonmyneckandback.Ithoughthewas
attackingmeandreachedformypistol.Therestofthepatronsjustcalmlysatthereand
watched.Itturnsoutthatthe“massage”wastheacceptedprocedure.Nevertheless,Iwas
totallysurprised,andwealllaughedaboutitlateron.
Joy:Allofthehelicopterpilotswantedbigexpensivewatches,andthePXonlygotinafewata
time.Whenashipmentarrived,thewordquicklyspreadsoIwaselatedwhenIfinallygotmy
bigwatch.
Sorrow:OnedayIwanderedintoourPXandwentbacktothemagazinerack.Isawayoung
Captainhelicopterpilotlookingatamagazineandrealizedhewasafraternitybrotherfrom
collegethatIhadnotseensincegraduation.Iharassedhimaboutreadingmagazineswithout
purchasingthem,andhewasashappyasIwastorenewacquaintances.Twoweekslaterthis
youngCaptainwaskilledinaction.ThemeetinginthePXwasthelasttimeIeversawhim.
Myemotionalexperiencesnotwithstanding,thePXinVietnamwaslikeasmalltouchofhome.
Itwasaplacewhereonecouldescapethetrialsandtribulationsofwarandrelaxamong
familiarthings.IhavefondmemoriesofgoingtothePXinVietnamandwillcherishthem
forever.
MichaelBrokovich
*****
MybestmemoriesofthePXwhenIwasinVietnam.Iwastrainedasahelicoptermechanicat
Ft.RuckerAla.IwassenttoVietnaminJan67andarrivedatBienHoaandwassenttoCanRanh
Bay.IwasassignedtoanEngineering(87EBC)outfitwithnohelicoptersandnoneedformy
skills.OnthefirstdayinthisunittheSGMinquiredtomyjobdesire.IrespondedthatIwas
interestedinbeingacrewchiefonachopper.Sincehecouldnotfulfillthatrequesthesaidthat
hehadadifferentneedformyskills.Thenextdaywe(DaveColvin)wereassignedtoworkin
thePX.ThereasonbeingthatthePXwasnewandeveryunithadtosupplyanindividualto
workinthePX.SowetookoffinthedirectiongiventofindthePX.Itwasprobablyaboutamile
pluswalk.OnthewaythereDaveandItalkedaboutwhatwethoughtweweregoingtodo.We
bothagreed,thatstockingshelveswithitemswasalittleboringandthatworkinginthestock
roomfitourskillsbetter.SowhenwearrivedatthePSitwasjustabigmetalbarnlike
structure.WhenwewentinsidetherewasonlyonemilitarypersonaStaffSergeantandabout
30plusVietnameseworkingtherestockingshelvesandworkinginthestockroom.Mostofthe
Vietnameseworkingtherewereyoungandspokesomeenglishtoverygoodenglish.Itwaslike
walkingintoacandystore.MostoftheVietnamesewereyounggirls.Wewereinitiallyassigned
toworkwithSunshineandJanebehindacountersellingelectronicsandlateroncamerasand
thenwatchesbutalwaysworkingwithVietnamespersonnel.Ispentthreegreatmonthsthere.
EventuallyreassignedtoanAviationunitinBienHoa.Butthose3monthsallowedmetogetto
knowtheVietnameseandwhatagreatpeopletheywere.AlsothePXthereofferedeverything
theGIneededandthensome.Itallowedustogetthingsthatremindedusofatouchofhome.
Theonlybadthingwastherationcards.ButthePXoverlookedthebayandprovideda
picturesqueviewandwasaniceandpleasantplacetowork.Willneverforgetthatexperience.
RichardBenner
*****
Irealizethatthepurposeofthecontestwastocapturememoriesofthosewhowereservedby
AAFESduringtheVietnamWar.AsayoungLt.intheAirForce,Iwasassignedtothe6005th
SupportSq.OL6H,whichinnon-AirForceterms,meantPXofficeratPleikuAirBase,Republic
ofVietnam.IranthestoreatPleikufornearlysixmonths—butmyfondestmemorywastwoor
threedaysafterChristmaswhenIwasatCampSchmidt,theArmypostatwhichouraccounting
andmainofficeswerelocated.SomehowtheRedCrosslocatedmeandIgotthetelephonecall
whichannouncedthearrivalofJamesMichaelCraig,bornDecember27,1968.Asyoucan
imagine,Iwalkedonairforseveraldays.
GeorgeH.Craig,Lt.Col.,UFAFRes(retired)
******
IarrivedatTanSonNhutAB,Saigon,RepublicofVietNamFebruary8,1962.Myfirst
introductiontotheDiningHalldepressedme.Notbecauseofthefood,butbecauseIwasnota
CoffeeorTeadrinker.IpreferredmilkwhichIsoondiscoveredwasofthepowderedvarietyand
notverywellmixed.Itriedit,but,itjustwasn'tthesameaswhatIwasusedtodrinking.
BackStateside,IhadenjoyedmixingNestleQuick(orQuik)powderedchocolatemixwithmy
Milk.IwonderedifIhadsomeavailabletomixwiththePowderedMilk,woulditmakeitmore
Palatabletomytaste.IsoonvisitedtheBaseExchangeanddiscoveredthatthelocalfacilitydid
notcarryit.IaskedtheExchangeStoreManagertoordermesome,andthenwrotemywife,
usingthe“FREEMail”stampingprivilege,andaskedhertobuy,packageandshipmeacarton
ofchocolatemix.Shedid,andIreceivedmyfirstpackagefromherwithinthenextmonth.The
BaseExchangeManagerhadalsoprocuredsomeofthemixanditarrivedataboutthesame
time.Iwasin“HogHeaven”foralongtime.ThepowderedMilktastedgreatwiththeChocolate
Mix,andIfinishedoutthatyearveryhappywiththeBaseExchangeandmywife.
WhenIstartedmysecondtourofdutyinMay1969,atBienHoaAB,RVNIencounteredthe
samepowderedmilkandnoChocolateMixattheBaseExchange.Mywifehadforeseensucha
disasterandpackedsomemixinmyduffelbag.IcontactedtheBaseExchangeManagerandhe
orderedsomeforme.ItsoonarrivedandIwasagainHappy!Madetwolongtours,seemmuch
shorter.
ELBERTE.(SONNY)CLAYTON,CMSgt,USAF,Retired
****
IwasstationedatTSNatSaigon1962-1963andlivinginTentVillage.Mytenthadthenormal
HouseGirl"thatdidthelaundrybutIwasgettingverylowonundershorts,sowenttotheBX,
noshorts,wenttotheClothingSalesstoreinSaigon,noshortsofanykind.Intheprocessof
changingbusestogetbacktoTSNsawastreetvendor,sittingonthesidewalk,andguesswhat?
HewassellingJockyshorts!!Alsohadtobuy4diffeentrazorswhilethere,theBXwouldrun
outofmytypebladesohadtobuyadifferentone.
RaymondI.Gubser,MSGT,USAF(RET),
