“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),