When Kim returned home to the world he had lots of things going on - here are a few pictures he has shared about his life after Cat Lai -

Click on image to view Kim dancing with his neice - now all grown up

Here are a few pictures taken at Cat Lai during May 1967-May 1968.

These photos were provided by Kim Barkhouse. Kim has changed his name - it is now Dave Nelson, but we all knew him as Kim, still call him that - so for me Kim it is - until he tells me differnt!

He was a member of 124th Trans Co stationed at Cat Lai.

Here are a few pictures taken at Cat Lai during May 1967-May 1968.

These photos were provided by Archie Gordon.

He was a member of 124th Trans Co stationed at Cat Lai.

The time frame will be from Thanksgiving ‘67 through mid summer ‘69. Some show results of fighting near Newport during the ‘68 Tet offensive. Modern maps have changed the names of everything I could use as reference points. If you recall passing over the Newport bridge and taking the first right on the road to Tan Son Nhut airbase you’ll know the neighborhood those scenes are from. I was taking someone to the airbase from Cat Lai at the end of the fighting. Had to wait a bit at an intersection as not all the action was quite over. As I was driving through in a jeep a tracer round passed between my nose and the windshield. I looked at my passenger and asked “Did you see that?” No he didn’t. He’d his eyes closed for the past twenty minutes.

Interesting trivia – Shortly after I arrived at the 124th the mail clerk –I can’t remember his name – tall slender guy with glasses and very blond hair – asked me who I knew from Howbert Ave in Roanoke, VA. I replied – “well, my mom and a few friends”. My home was in the 1100 block of Howbert. The mail clerk lived in the 900 block of the same street. He was a couple years older than me – you know how much of a difference that can make at that age – and we’d never met. We went to the same high school, had many of the same friends and yet had never met before Cat Lai and the 124th. Howbert Ave was only four blocks long.

Thanks Archie!

Here are a few pictures taken at Cat Lai during May 1967-May 1968.

These photos were provided by Kenneth Allen.

He was a member of 124th Trans Co stationed at Cat Lai.

These pictures bring back a lot of good memories for me, as I was there at the same time and know most of the people in the pictures!

Thanks Kenneth!

Here are a few pictures taken at Cat Lai during 1971.

These photos were provided by Steven Anderson.

He was a member of MACV stationed at Cat Lai.

Thanks Steve!

I was in the 117th arriving in country January 1966. We shifted to Cat Lai and I have some early snaps. I didn't take very many photos but kept these.

I volunteered for the night shift at Saigon port and stayed on it, working at Warehouse 13 for the duration. The last warehouse on the pier, too dark and too far for the brass to tour. People kept saying, 'hey, you want to shift to days now?' Don't have specific dates but you might recognise some of the scenery.

Best wishes...Mike

These photos were generously provided by Patsy Brown-Snipes.

Here is the content of an email Patsy shared with me:

"My husband, LTC Norman Brown, was Bn Cdr of the 11th Bn the last half of l967.

I have just returned from VN and visited Cat Lai.

The Bn area is now a Vietnamese Base. They would not let me in under any circumstance.

I took pictures through the gate and from a nearby ferry slip."

Thank you Patsy!

Hello all!

As I approach my 50th year since Cat Lai in looking at a Christmas letter I wrote in 1968 to my company I found this photo of myself and an absolute first class individual, Dale Litzelman, my First Sergeant. I have fond memories of my time at Cat Lai and all of the great people I served with who all added to the richness of my life. Thank you Jerry for maintaining an unforgettable connection to our personal histories and lives.

Best regards,

Dick Ciccone

Hello all!

I arrived Nov 14, 1970 and left a year later. Here is a picture of the Cat Lai gate.

Take care,

Russ

Jack served from January 1967 - January 1968. These pictures have a lot of familiar faces to me, as this is the time I was at Cat Lai.

If you knew Jack and would like to get in contact with him, just contact me and I will get you in touch with him. Thanks Jack for holding on to all these pictures and sharing with everyone.

Here are a few pictures, some taken at Cat Lai and Ton Son Nut

These photos were provided by Michael Frank.

He was a member of 377th Trns Air Force.

Thanks Michael!

"Gary Cortner and I are trying to locate all personnel assigned SPECIAL EXPRESS at Cat Lai Vietnam. This is boatmen and drivers plus air police assigned to us. Were you there?"

If you were and would like to contact Michael or Gary, send me an email and I will put you in touch with Michael.

Here are a early pictures of the Newport Area and it's construction; along with pictures of Cat Lai from early 1966.

These photos were provided by Terry Gibbs. Terry was able to get the pictures from the US Army Transportation Museum, Fort Eustis, VA.

Always wondered what things looked like prior arriving in Cat Lai in January 1967.

Thanks Terry!

Subject: Cat Lai - a Vietnam Vacation

Joined the 11th Trans in 1966 when we still in downtown Saigon. We were evicted to Long Binh so that our hotel could be used by the expanding staffers in the city. Operated the ASP Barge Discharge Site out of Long Binh as part of the 124th. Four berths, four commercial cranes and we were moving 1,000 tons of ammo per day. One night (3 AM)a barge almost sank. The flotation tank hatch had loosened on the way up river and was quietly sinking. One of my tent mats was the petrol company CO and we used his pony pumps to save the barge from sinking. Afterward, we brought in Navy divers to asses losses. Their assessment (the site had been used for ammo under the French) was do not disturb. They had walked underwater and all they walked on was old artillery shells that had been lost while offloading.

Later I became the Bn. Adjutant when we moved into Cat Lai. Recall a cow standing the the 1st floor end room (the French latrine, complete with circular hole). Working under Tom Hoy was great. The troops worked hard and we did the best to improve our lot. We inherited the above ground pool, complete with flying buttresses, from the French. I got a grant from the Saigon MWF for $10,000 and bought the machinery and chemicals to make it operational from LA.

We initially set up a small PX for cigarettes and basic needs. When the Great Beer Shortage arose (the vets condemned the FILO stock of good beer), Saigon was flooded with panther piss from all over SE Asia. When the Budweiser Boat finally arrived, Tom Hoy called for our PX account number. Within hours, three LCM’s were docking with several hundred cases of good American Beer. We never ran dry for American beer again.

The Saigon PX was being robbed between the port and the PX warehouse. When I approached them for a direct sale account (direct from the freighters), they agreed and suddenly we ran a high class stereo shop. TEAC 4010’s (then state of the art) were common in the tent area.) The S-4 complained about the power drain and Tom Hoy directed him to get another generator (walk in size, with a Korean maintenance man if I recall right.) The infantry loved providing external security at night for us. Eggs and cold Budweiser for breakfast; take a swim if interested. At Thanksgiving, I suggested we serve wine for everybody. Tom agree, as long as the bottles were wrapped in tinfoil and not obvious in a photograph.

Left In January 1967. As someone mentioned, everybody in the Battalion was either working above their grade level or doing the work of more than one man. Great memories of the 11th and the guys who made it.

Here is a note from Mike:

My first two months I was on the crew of the ST2111. I spent many nites in Cat Lai transferring barges from buoys to ships. In the morning, we will tow the barges down river to Codigdo.

While on the tug, I was very lucky. The ST2111 was a bad luck tug. It was hit a week before I was assigned and a month after I was transferred to the supply room at U.S. Harborcraft co at Camp Davies...

The first attack, a rocket into the wheelhouse, killed a WO and an enlisted man.

Mike

Hi all!

I don't know if you remember me but I was the guy from NYC (Bronx).

I also had a puppy named 'Cat'.

I also transported troops to Saigon and surrounding areas by LCM.

Check out my video below.
Download your own copy below!

Regards, Dom

Preview Dom's Video*

Click on image
to start preview

1.23 Mb download
* © "Holy Ground" Dominic Lombardi

This video was taken by and supplied by Dominic Lombardi Taken at Cat Lai in 1968.

Great job Dom!

* © "Holy Ground" Dominic Lombardi

Here are pictures provided by Paul:

Paul Mattern served in Cat Lai May 1968 - December 1969.

Here is a note from Paul:

I arrived in Vietnam in May 1968, landing at Bien Hoa. I was sent over to Long Bien for a couple of days while Saigon was being attacked When we got the all clear, I was taken into Saigon where I processed in at the 4th TC Headquarters before shipping out to Cat Lai. Again I was held up in Saigon for a few more days while Cat Lai was again attacked. After the all clear was given, I was taken up by a PBR boat along with one of my AIT grads and another soldier which worked on my shift in Cat Lai.

After arriving at Cat Lai, I was attached to the 124th Trans. Co. where I was assigned as a cook in the Consolidated Mess Hall. I stayed in Cat Lai until Dec.1969 where I finished 2 tours of duty (the 2nd tour was volunteer). I was planning to spend 2 years at Cat Lai to receive the 5 month early out. Unfortunatally, my 3rd tour was rejected (claiming the 124th was being pulled out of Vietnam) sent me back stateside and reported to Ft. Belvoir, Va. where I finished my remaining time in the service.

If anyone who was stationed at Cat Lai with either the 124th Trans. Co., 1099th Trans. Co., Headquarters Co., etc during the 1968 - 1969 period and wants to get in touch with me, my email address is suffernboy1947@iclound.com. It would be great hearing from them.

Here are a couple pictures provided by Frenchie:

Jacques 'Frenchie' Montaufray served in Cat Lai 1969-1970.

Here is a note from Frenchie:

I was there with the 1099th TC I'm 69-70.

I do remember it being less tents more barracks and HQ in the background of a lot of pictures had a new roof and paint job.

In 1970 we finally got showers. Still cold but at least we could clean up a little.

Being on the boats I was rarely at base camp and was always glad to be on the rivers even though they were more dangerous, but we had no bullshit on the rivers and MIckey Mouse was nota round.

Here are some pictures provided by James:

In Jan. 1969 when we were hit by NVA. I was a gunner on a 50 cal. This was the fist time I was able to see Puff in action. These were some of the items captured.

James Owens served in Cat Lai from 10/68-08/69.

Here is a note from James:

I got to Cat Lai early October 1968. I was assigned to the 1099th for a very short time and then to 11th.TC. My MOS was 76Y, Supply but when I got to Cat Lai, they had sent two Supply Clerks and they only needed one. The Supply SGT. flipped a coin and I lost. I never did work in Supply but made SGT E-5 before I left Nam. I got out of the Army in May, 1970.

I left Cat Lai at the end of August 1969. They were starting the early out and since I had more than eight months in country, I got an early out. I was in Bien Hoa one day and found out I was to go home the next day. It did take me three days to get out of country. I landed in California on Labor Day 1969.

Preview Steve's Super8 Video from around Cat Lai-1966*

Click on image
to start/download video

Hello all!

You may know some of the people. These were from late 1966 to late 1967. There were no tents behind HQ when we arrived.

Take care,

Steve

Martin Ravine served in Cat Lai from 8/68-8/69.

Here is a note from Martin:

I am a Californian, but I actually joined the Army in Denver, Colorado June 1967. I took basic training at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, and AIT at Ft. Dix, New Jersey. I took two AIT schools (Radio Operator School & Cook School). Stayed at Ft. Dix after AIT, permanent duty at a basic training unit. June 1968, received orders for Vietnam, arrived in the country August 31, 1968, Long Binh Depot, and from their strait to Cat-Lai. Would have arrived in the Country on the 30th, but we had to turn around and go back to Clark airbase do to Long Binh was being attacked by motor and rocket fire. I had a few different duties while at Cat-Lai. First 41/2 months I ran ration runs into Saigon and back on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and on Tuesdays, and Thursdays I went back to Saigon for condiments, all for the mess hall. During some of those condiment runs, we ( my driver and I ), took detours to To-Do street for some little fun before returning to Cat-Lai before dusk. During some of those runs, we received some sniper fire towards our way, the shots could have been met for us or the ARVN trucks that was using the same road, we don't know, but our truck got hit a few times, talk about close encounters. The next 31/2 months I worked as office clerk with the 124th. And the last 4 months worked at the tower on the radio, working 12 hours on and 12 hours off some times 14 hours and rotating shifts at times. Some of those hours that I had off, I was able to take trips with the 1099th. I was just one of few who was able to leave the Cat-Lai area, taking trips to Long Binh, Tan Son Nhut ( where the larger Px was ), Saigon (To-Do street). I remember Saturday night movies at the EM club, and sometimes swimming at the pool next to Battalion HQ. I was promoted to Specialist 4 the second month I was there. I can't remember if it was the first or second week of August that we were attacked by motor and rocket fire, and one of the Victory Ships that was being unloaded was hit by a rocket round, luckily that ship was just finished about a few hours before the attack. We also had a lot of rounds that it our compound. Well, to tell you, I was getting to short for this, so I was able to leave the country and back to the world 6 days early.

Martin

Monty Yantz served in Cat Lai from 67/68.

I lived across the river from Cat Lai, in Nhon trach District. Was the MACV District Senior Advisor during the last half of 66. Always passed through Cat Lai on our way to and from Bien Hoa.

There was an ammo handling unit base located in Nhon Trach. Tanh Thuy Ha comes to mind. An ARVN unit was co-located there also. They had a water treatment unit with them and were the source for our potable water. Since we were a small, isolated, 5-man advisory team, we relied on them for scrounging whatever rations they could spare. Since we ran ambushes and other combat operations with our Vietnamese troops, we collected and traded VC flags and other war trophies for food and ammunition. We were considered to be expendable, but we loved what we were doing, loved our Vietnamese troopers and loved the Vietnamese people. Even though we lived on the edge, life was meaningful. We all lost a lot of weight, but life was good.

The pictures are of a sunken freighter in the Song Nha Be. They were taken while crossing the river on the ferry.

Take care,

Honolulu Dick

Looking for and trying to find...

............

Did you know Eldon Ellis?

Did you know or do you remember Eldon Ellis while in Cat Lai? Eldon served from January 1968 - January 1969. If you knew Eldon while in Cat Lai, please contact me. My email address is azitiz@comcast.net

...........

Please Help Me find...

First of all, I would like to introduce you about myself. My name is Van Nguyen, I am recently living with my husband and two wonderful children, Chris and Valerie in Nothern Virginia for almost 20 years.

My father is American and served in Vietnam in 66-68. From what I have been told, he was stationed in Cat Lai at the time I was born, July, 1967. After 1968, we lost contact with him until the day I left Vietnam. I came to the States in 1991 and have been searching for him for years.

My father was with US troops at Cat Lai. Also, based on what I have known, he was called "Phao", which was probably a Vietnamese adaptation of his name on his uniform. I am sending you an old photo of my mom (This photo from her ID from 1969).

In 1968, (Tet Offensive), all of the documents were detroyed in the fire and we lost all of my father's information. According to my mom and her siblings, he was a big man, and the name on his uniform had about 4 or 5 letters: PHAL, PHAUL OR PHAOL. The backyard of his parents' house were full of orange trees, so I thought his hometown might be in Florida or California (not sure). When he met my mom, she lived with my grandmother, and her house was close to Thi Nghe bridge and the zoo across from it. The day I was born, my father was there and named me Linda. Based on what I have heard, he went back and forth between the U.S and Vietnam every 3 months or so. (Pretty much like an officer, not sure).

When my father left Vietnam, he took a couple of my birth certificates and a lot of my toddler photos with him. He also gave me an American name, "Linda".

My full name on the birth certificate is: Nguyen Thi Bich Van / DOB: July 01, 1967 / Place of birth: Saigon, in a small private hospital named MINH TAM

My hope is that I would like to know how is my father doing right now, if he either survived or died in the Vietnam war. Please help me to find him if you have any information. Thank you very much. Van Nguyen