Oakland, California - January 5, 1967. 9th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade troopers loadin' up for a fine three week cruise to South Viet Nam.  Our 9th Division Band was there to celebrate.

Pope's sleeping quarters - Clockwise from left: Idoluis Casares (WIA), Ron Schworer (KIA), Ray Layman (WIA), Mario Lopez, Jimmie Salazar (WIA), Bill Reynolds (WIA).

Here we are closing in on Vung Tau Harbor and it was hotter than hell! All of us are wondering what experiences lie ahead...

Fred Kenney & Steve Moede with Willie McTear behind & Wilson Burleson at left.

Bill R. sportin' an M-60 Machine Gun - we all liked posing with an M-60, but no one really wanted to carry it, or the ammo around on patrols.

I'm enjoying an excellent patrol near Camp Bearcat and delighted to be alive after one month in country.

Tom White thinkin' he likes the Delta as it reminds him so much of Florida.

2nd Platoon on patrol in the rice paddies of the Mekong Delta - Curtis Irvin really enjoying the fine scenery!  There's Tom White behind him.

Bill R. and his tired 2nd Platoon buddies takin' a break in the Mekong Delta.

These 2nd platoon troopers are not dead, just "dead tired" after 3 days and two nights in the bush searching for the Viet Cong. That's Jimmie Salazar at the left.

Typical little hooch out in the boonies; these were usually homes to rice paddy farming families.  It was always such a thrill poking your head in there to inspect for Viet Cong.

Charlie Nelson and Frank Modde.

Here's my good buddy resourceful soldier, Tom Hogle from Syracuse, New York.

2nd Platoon troopers headed into the bush out of Dong Tam in the early hours for another exciting search for Viet Cong.

Hey, don't jump to any conclusions - it's hot! Larry Walter, Bill Reynolds & Bob Ehlert tryin' to cool off during another stinkin' hot patrol.

Ronnie Reynolds gettin' a little shade - I still remember how stinkin' hot it was right after a monsoon rain.  Back at Fort Riley we teased Ronnie that he was so backward, being from Arkansas, that when he put his Army boots on, he would walk backward just to see his footprints. Yeah, Ronnie really appreciated that!