James R. Wood’s Photos – Fire Support Base Hill 4-11

James R. Wood's Photos

1LT James R. Wood served as a platoon leader January 1970 to September 1970. He was later assigned to HHC where he spent the remainder of his tour as the Executive Officer

Here are Bob Yawn, Bobby Foreman, and 1LT James R. Wood next to a 500 1b. bomb that was a dud. The bomb was found near Highway 1 and the village of Tu Nghia. This picture was taken just before they exploded it in place. Notice the fuse cord being held by Bob Yawn.

The card game of “Spades” was the most favorite pastime of GIs anywhere in Vietnam, especially for the grunts. If a rest break was longer than fifteen minutes, then there was enough time to play a game of “Spades,” as shown here by Perry, Love, Foreman, Pyritz, Riley, and Nhe, the Kit Carson Scout (KCS).

Here is a shot of FSB Hill 4-11 taken from a chopper on the southwest side of FSB Hill 4-11. The west gate to FSB Hill 4-11 is on the left. The view to the northeast shows a long stretch of the Song Tra Khuc River as it makes its way to the Quang Ngai City area.

During a patrol, the 3rd Platoon detained an old farmer or “papa san” so Nhe, the KCS, could interrogate him before he was released

While on a patrol, the 3rd Platoon also found an RPG-7, rocket propelled grenade launcher, that was fully loaded and ready to go. Fortunately, it had been hit by a bullet and was not operational. Mike Dore and Bobby Foreman are shown here inspecting the weapon, which was a favorite of the NVA/VC. Photograph by James R. Wood Here is an AK-47 that was captured on a patrol also. LT Tyra, Steve, LT Steve Baron, and John Alves pose with 1LT James R. Wood for this shot. LT Tyra was the artillery forward observer from D Battery and was attached to Charlie Company.

After searching an area where a suspected POW camp was suppose to be located, the 3rd Platoon waits for a Chinook helicopter to transport them back to FSB Hill 4-11.

Here is a picture of the 3rd Herd (platoon) taken during March 1970. First row from left to right: Tounton, Berrett, James R. Wood, Ussery, SGT Kurz, Jugo, Nhe, Perry, and SSG Nigro. Second row from left to right: Leeway, Yawn, Red, Williams, Doc, McDuffy, and Dal Hermer. Third row from left to right: Love, Speedy, Raymond, Okula, Fernandez, and Teaque.

On one of their patrols in the field, a disabled “huey slick” stayed overnight with 3rd Platoon at one of their night laggers. The next day a CH-47 Chinook helicopter lifted the disabled bird out of the field.

Upon returning to FSB Hill 4-11, the grunts were usually treated to beer and sodas, or Class VI rations. Here is SP4 Berret, radio-telephone operator (RTO) for the 3rd Platoon, sorting out the beer and sodas for his platoon.

This picture of SP4 Nieves was taken near the Weapons Platoon’s area on FSB Hill 4-11. On the right is an aiming stake and the 81mm mortar pit. In the top center of the picture is the “ammo dump” for the 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry. Prior to returning to the field for another mission, everyone would stop by the ammo dump first to reload with ammunition.

Here is 1LT James R. Wood at the 3rd Platoon’s Command Post (CP) bunker on FSB Hill 4-11. The CP bunker had guard positions on top with sleeping positions below. Sometimes a 90mm recoiless rifle was placed on top of the bunker.

Here is a closeup shot of 1LT James R. Wood at his CP bunker on FSB Hill 4-11. From this vantage point and looking through the guard position, notice the RPG wire on the perimeter of the firebase.

This is a picture of “Doc” Salaski, left, and SSG Nigro, right, at the 3rd Platoon’s CP bunker sorting out cigarettes and other necessities from an “SP” pack. In addition to cigarettes, “SP” packs contained candy, chewing gum, soap, razors, shaving cream, needle and thread kits, and a lot of other miscellaneous stuff the grunts didn’t have access to while on “The Hill” and out in the field.

Here is a closeup shot of “Doc” Salaski, the medic from HHC attached to the 3rd Platoon of Charlie Company.

This is “Doc” Salaski again, but this time he’s crossing a bamboo foot bridge. A hairy experience, especially with a steel-pot on your head, a rucksack on your back, and an M-16 in one hand.

While out in the field but not in the jungles, the men from the 3rd Platoon would setup a “field hooch” to get out of the hot sun. It made playing a game of “Spades” a lot easier.

Here is a closeup of SP4 Berrett, RTO for the 3rd Platoon, taking a break while on patrol in March 1970.

This is a shot of Hill 716 from one of the 3rd Platoon’s night lagger positions out in the field.

The 3rd Platoon found these fishermen, or “Papa Sans,” in their “San Pans” while on patrol near the “Horseshoe” along the Song Tra Khuc River. They stopped the fishermen to check their identification papers.

Occasionally, Charlie Company worked out in the field with E Troop, 1st Cavalry. In this scene along the sandy banks of the Song Tra Khuc River, the 3rd Platoon is with a Sheridan tank, called the “Rice Paddy Daddy,” from E Troop.

Back in Duc Pho or LZ Bronco, here are Gerry Bolas, CPT Morgan, and Watson in the rear area for Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) for the 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry.

Here is another shot of Hill 716, which was in the Area of Operations (AO) for the 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry.

This is a shot from the east end of the “Battalion Street” for the 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry at LZ Bronco. The orderly rooms for each company are on the right side. The HHC orderly room, not shown, is at the other end of the street.

Here is a closeup of the orderly room for Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry at LZ Bronco.

While working as Executive Officer (XO) for HHC, this picture of 1LT James R. Wood and a “Papa San,” who worked for the company, was taken in front of the Supply Room for HHC.

While on a patrol, the 3rd Platoon came across this stream with rocks that were carved beautifully from the running water. There was a pool at the base of the rock formation where the guys sometimes had the opportunity to bath and cool off during a patrol.

This picture of a Catholic Church was taken somewhere between Dong Ha and Da Nang during March 1971.

This picture, taken in August 1970, shows Al Best, or “Fat Al,” who was the Supply SGT for Charlie Company.

James R. Wood's Photos

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