The Mighty Ninth

Strive To Reach The Summit


Most viewed - Joe Cook
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JCook14.jpgThe FDC Tent150 viewsSp4 James McBrayer, Jr. inside; Battery Commander Capt Frederick C. Rice outside holding tent pole.
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JCook22a.jpg"Base Camp" - Jan 1966; FDC Trailer brought over from Hawaii150 viewsCenter & Right: PFC Richard A. Williams & Sp4 Larry L. Black. They are shaving facing the FDC. We had been in-country from two to four days at this point. The FDC for "B" Battery was a 3/4-ton truck with generator. The FDC was known as the "Pink Kitty"; it was pink inside. It was made of plywood and brought over from Hawaii. See next photos for the progression of our FDC housing.
Our "wash area" is located where my right foot is.
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JCook-133.JPGWaiting150 viewsSitting here waiting on a Chinook...but ready for a fire mission. Head phones are nearby.
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JCook29.JPGFDC Tent - Field Version - May 1966149 viewsAfter the "Pink Kitty", after the GP-small above-ground tent, after the submerged CONEX containers, this is what my FDC looked like out in the "boonies". Our FDC was arranged in a horseshoe trench; we could maneuver around the firing charts. The Operation was "Paul Revere"; the location is south of Duc Co".
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JCook36.JPGFresh Haircut147 viewsPhoto taken at Bien Ho, a lake near our base camp at Pleiku. This is the lake where we did laundry alongside the Vietnamese.
Sgt Joe Cook poses with two Vietnamese children. The boy next to Joe spoke English; his name is "Co" and he is wearing Joe's hat (backwards, naturally). The boy in the white shirt is Con Tin. Picture taken before our 'B" Battery ever went to the field to stay. Date, approximately January 1966. Joe is sporting a new haircut from a Vietnamese barber.
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JCook46.JPGFeb 1966146 views"B" Battery at Pleiku
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JCook16.jpgNeat Sign145 viewsAnyone recall seeing this sign? One of the better signs indicating our headquarters.
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JCook-126.JPGR-292's145 viewsRadio antennas grouped around battery area. One of our better bunker jobs. Walking away to the left is a red-headed Lieutenant. (Most likely Lt Chris Herrick).
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Cook.JPGFt Sill Reunion - 2/9th Brother Redlegs attending145 viewsJoe Cook attends our historic reunion, May-June, 2013
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JCook12.jpgTriple-Dipple144 viewsHere is a CH-47 lifting a water buffalo and three (not two) brass casing Packs. We had a miscommunication -- and the pilot thought he had two casing Packs. So he dragged the bottom pack through our Battery and we lucky no damage to us or to him.
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JCook30.JPGBase Piece - May 1966144 viewsJoe notes to family back home: "These guys are members of the Base Piece Section; we do most of the firing. On all adjustment missions, we fire the BP. It is set over Battery Center. 10,000 rounds shot in Vietnam. This round (foreground) was shot at a suspected VC campsite. The whole battery fired it".
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JCook45.JPGFeb 1966143 viewsThis is the base camp area. Take note of the mountain "contour" in the center background. It helps to identify the location of this original "Base Camp".
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