David Rasco's Photos - 3/39th
Vinh Kim - Patrol Base Donald - FSB Moore from Jan – Aug 69
Here's a note from David:
I served with Delta and
Echo Companies, 3rd /39th from December of 1968 until August of 1969. In April
of 69, I joined E Company and built the Recon/Sniper Platoon for LTC. John D
Smythe, Battalion Commander of the 3/39. The photographs that you will be
viewing were taken between April and August 1969.
Recon worked out of FSB Moore, doing road security on Hwy 4 (lots of action
around the Rice Mill), Snoopy's Nose, and anywhere else that could be dreamed up
(even a short time in the Plain of Reeds). We worked in 2 and 4 man teams, with
the full platoon, with Navy Seals, MACV advisors and their Provincial Recon
Units (PRUs) and a Flashy Jeep when doing road security. We did Stay Behinds, we
did those insane Orbit and Inserts at altitude, waiting for a LOH chopper on the
deck to draw fire or see some one running away, at which time they inserted us
to find out what was up! As I said, if the Brass could dream up something
unusual, it came with our name on it.
During the time I spent in the hospital (anything to get out of the field!) in
Japan, I met one of the many very crazy chopper pilots that supported the 9th,
and became good friends (they are suckers for free beer). As a result of that
friendship, I was able to hook up with my friend (WO David Newkirk), check out a
chopper that needed "a maintenance flight" and fly around the south,
taking tourist pictures. We did this on several occasions. I was even invited to
fly door gunner one evening to pick up of a group of LRRPS (being stupid went
with my job description!). So you will see a number of photographs taken from
the air… giving you a different perspective.
I hope that these photos bring back good memories of the great men that we had
the honor to serve with, the many South Vietnamese that deserved to be free, and
reminds all of us, that we did a tough job, and did it with honor and pride!
David Rasco
Rasco's Bushwhackers!
Dong Tam
The Recon/Sniper Platoon, E Co. 3rd/39th
Choppers
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| LOH Scout ship landing outside of the birm at FSB Moore. | Part of an Air Assault. Two Hueys loaded with my team, about 5 miles west of FSB Moore. | Cobra Gunship, close-up. I had waved my camera out the door, and he moved up beside us. The front seater was taking our pic at the same time. |
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| Chinook, moving a water trailer. Leaving FSB Moore. | Flying crane with 105 gun platform |
This is a “Flashy Jeep”.
It had a mounted Xenon Searchlight w/infrared lens, which enabled my snipers to
accurately operate at night. In fact, it
would cast shadows at 600+ meters on a moonless night. Sgt Moore (driver) is the
Jeep commander.
