Until I get my proverbial act together and write some more stories about the 8th, here are some photos documenting that distant time and place. These first four are from CWO Fred Bell, with more from others on the way.

I don't remember who gave me this, but I didn't take it (the credit is wrong and will be removed), but I always liked the story it told. Back in the early 1960s there was something different about race relations -- drunk or sober -- than exists today. The Army was, and is, a brotherhood forged by many processes, and was much more (but not entirely) a colorblind meritocracy even then. One of those processes is getting shot at, another is being bored, and another is socializing with your peer group late at night, telling stories and sharing memories.

Oops, sorry about that! The fiberglass tail cones were sometimes damaged during landing when a pilot misjudged the angle of the aircraft and the cone contacted the ground. When that happened, the tradition was that the crew chief -- who had to replace the cone -- was given a case of beer by the offending pilot. That's Walter Emmerling on the right, anticipating all those cool, refreshing, brews. I am not certain, but the pilot with the chagrined expression might be Capt. Spence, a very nice officer.

Capt. Willcox (right) and CWO Farmer join others to inspect the battle damage to the aircraft in which CWO Holloway was killed. That's SP5 Hiawatha A. Oakes, I believe, on the left. The aircraft had been very accurately engaged and the fuel cell was hit several times, but the helicopter flew all the way back to Tuy Hoa and the waiting medics.