Journeys with my Gun

(22) The Comforts Of Home

Photo - A moment of solitude away from operations amongst my new partly comfortable digs.
                      
Someone has to do it - I was absolutely amazed during the very early days of the American Brigade's establishment at the Bien Hoa airbase at the Americans ability to make their area just like home.
Air portable buildings festooned the area and were furnished quickly with all mod cons.
These guys knew how to go to war !

Remember us meerkats just over the way in our third class ghetto, nothing changed for us apart from acquiring our very ancient and mouldy tents after a long wait.

Further away, a much more comfortable war was had by a multitude of American and some Australian 'city slicker soldiers' who resided permanently in leafy Saigon and Cholon suburbs and the condominiums of French Saigon, just a short walk to the Rex and the Caravelle.
Servants available $15 per month, so all set for a French- Vietnamese lifestyle. It got worse. Horreur !

Again you are not required to believe all this however, for those who have chosen to read on - read on !

What Did You Do In The War Daddy ?

In 1968, 550,000 Americans in rear echelons supported 45,000 in the combat zones.
Combat Soldiers and those others in harms way were an absolute rarity in both American and Australian forces throughout the war.
If you were 'unfortunately' a member of the American support troops in rear echelons or Saigon or some other places in Vietnam with an American 'City' then you would be required to endure the following;

*Fully self contained air portable pre cast living quarters * air conditioning * beds* linen *tv * radio * movie theatres* swimming pools* golf courses * BBQ * education facilities *libraries* American Red Cross * Donut Dollies (somewhat like Salvation Army) *church services * photography lessons * painting *lapidary * leatherwork and table tennis tournaments.

But Wait.. There's More
Songfests* model building * Officers mess*enlisted clubs* out of country R&R ( Australia, Japan, U.S. or Thailand)
*px shops * 22 USO clubs* snack bars * gift shops * overseas telephones* hot showers * barber shops * photo labs* Texas style BBQ and newspapers.
Just a little more..
Slot machines, Mother Goose Potato Snax, record players, TV, live bands and real live girls.
Club managers, that's right Club managers were corrupt, each of them no more corrupt than the competition as a squeal caused by 'rip off' equality would attract the Military Police.
It is fact that U.S. service clubs totalled more than one thousand in number. ( rear echelon heaven)

Of course most of these 'soldiers' supported men in the field, most of that being essential and that must be recognised. Many 'support' personnel who returned to Vietnam for a second or third tour of duty knew what they were able to do to enrich themselves and live the good life - so they gladly lined up.

*  Do you really have to go back to the war darling ...