New V-100

[M813rc]

I heard from my boy for the first time in a month yesterday. They have been out and about on ops. He sent a bunch of pictures. Since they deserve a venue of their own, I will probably start a separate thread for them, but here are a few.

Everything I post from him is cleared as OpSec non-sensitive, but may have had some details or battle damage edited out by me. Sorry, but never let it be said the Hajii got any intel from me!

Cheers


1- My boy and what he described as "a local dog" in their camp (Yes, he knows it's a goat...)
2- The M870 axle he broke off hauling a heavy engineer vehicle cross country
3- His new trailer, M870A2E1. He says it is much better
4- Typical load
5- Hauling MRAPs
6- Their 70-vehicle convoy
7- Yes, that is a road they are following
8- He says "Rush hour on the interstate"
9- He says "A village of people who need new set of pants about now"

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[Danger Ranger]

Thank you for posting those. They are a great way to see into the action there. We wish your boy well.

 

[Barneyszoo]

Hi V100 guys, I met a guy at the Brothers junk yard last week he lives close to me I'd like to check out your V100. please PM me. Thanks

 

[jeffhuey1n]

I heard from my boy for the first time in a month yesterday. They have been out and about on ops. He sent a bunch of pictures. Since they deserve a venue of their own, I will probably start a separate thread for them, but here are a few.

Everything I post from him is cleared as OpSec non-sensitive, but may have had some details or battle damage edited out by me. Sorry, but never let it be said the Hajii got any intel from me!

Cheers


1- My boy and what he described as "a local dog" in their camp (Yes, he knows it's a goat...)
2- The M870 axle he broke off hauling a heavy engineer vehicle cross country
3- His new trailer, M870A2E1. He says it is much better
4- Typical load
5- Hauling MRAPs
6- Their 70-vehicle convoy
7- Yes, that is a road they are following
8- He says "Rush hour on the interstate"
9- He says "A village of people who need new set of pants about now"

.

I will never say another bad word about 29 stumps. can't tell and don't remember...if you can say....what branch of the service is he in?

 

[baseballump]

Rory Great pictures Ask him if he has to pay for the axle. It looks like they drive on nice paved road ways.
Glad to hear he is trying to stay safe. As always tell him we have him in our prayers. Louie

 

[M813rc]

Thanks Louie. No on paying for the axle, not his fault, the higher ups apparently expect them to break stuff driving heavy equipment across that terrain. And being a Lance Corporal, he just goes where they point!

He talked of driving that rig, loaded, across streams, down 3' vertical drops, through gullies and washes, through "moon dust" that comes up mid-wheel on the tractor. You can see in the pictures the quality of what passes for roads in his AO.
He also told of doing "combat offloads" of the armoured engineer bulldozerss off his trailer. They drive in with no chains, the dozer does a track pivot on the deck and drives off the side, then goes and takes care of business. That is pretty rough on his trailer too!

Jeff, I have to say that The Stumps and Ft Irwin look pleasant compared to that rat-hole country he is in. My boy is a Marine (second generation) with 1st CEB.

Cheers

 

[baseballump]

Rory One more thing they are calling goats dogs?? I think the boys have been away from home to long. Time to bring them home Who know what they will start calling cows or horses. Before long they will be naming there trucks.

 

[M813rc]

Saturday I had five veterans of the 630th MP Co., who did convoy escort with V100s in Vietnam, down for a visit. Louie, aka Baseballump, arranged the visit, and these guys came from all over the country to be here.

The heat got a bit rough (106*), but other than that I think everyone had a good time. I learned more about V100 operations in one afternoon than in the rest of my adult life!

The V got thoroughly climbed upon, and everyone who wanted to drive it got to. The driving came to a halt though, when the V threw its alternator belt, which flailed around enough to catch the rear wiring harness and rip that out in chunks! What a mess...
We drove it back into its shed just fine, but it was a static display after that.
In the cool of a morning soon, I will climb in there and sort that out.

The guys came bearing gifts, with Marine T-shirts and boonie hats for me and my boys, a 630th MP shirt and cap for me, an album of V pictures (which I will share) and other goodies.

Thanks to the generosity of David Doyle, I was able to send them off with a copy of his V00 Walkaround book each. I had chatted with David at the convention in Huntsville, and mentioned that these guys were coming down. He handed me copies of his book and asked me to give them as gifts. They were well received. Good on you, David!

It was great to meet these guys, and to see Vann again. All are welcome back anytime, though I hope to have better facilities for entertaining next time. My future shop is still piles of assorted steel on the ground at the moment.

Thanks Louie for setting it up, I hope y'all had a good time. I'm looking forward to the next visit.

Cheers

Pic 1- Ken, Bruce, Louie, Vann, Mike
Pic 2- Ken, Mike, Bruce
Pic 3- Vann backing a V100 up for the first time in 40 years!
Pic 4- Louie, Ken, Vann
Pic 5- Son Patrick, Vann, Louie

 

[Rickv100]

Rory,

Looks like a good time and many thanks for the effort.

Rick

 

[baseballump]

Rory HI!!! First things first How is you son doing? Now Thanks for the fun on Sat. to a man we had a great time. Ken said what he got to do was on his buck list. And, Vann is so in pressed all he did was talk about your V till we left his house. Mike is doing well as the heat got to him As for my self I want a V ( so one of my girls go me a model of a V the problem with this is its a 1/35 model and it has a ton of parts) It was Great the sound the ride. I told Ken when we go to Ft. Riley I am the first one in the drivers seat of the M-1117. I don't know How to Say THANK YOU. For your time and effort Trust me I will be back if any way possible. I will be sending you a CD in the next few days of my pictures Again Thanks And thanks to everyone who was there And, the cookies were eaten before we made it back to the interstate. LOUIE

 

[baseballump]

Rory Again Thanks and Thanks to David Doyle. I can't tell everyone how Great it was to be down there with you. Guys Rory has done a great job of bring back an old great lady. A V was our car when you were the driver. And thats what most of the guys wanted to do. As I watched I remembered how hard these could be to drive. The shift pattern had a mind of its own, and 4 wheel drive could be a bear. Also, checking out what was on either side could be a problem. But, it was so great.

 

[M813rc]

Louie, seeing the reaction from you guys made all the effort that went into fixing the V up more than worthwhile. Sorry the driving got cut short by the %^$# belt coming off.
I'm so glad y'all had a good time, and glad that Mike is okay. It was a brutally hot day! That's why I was pushing water on you.

Son Patrick was honoured to meet you all, and really enjoyed listening to your stories. He will be a veteran himself in the near future.

Panda is very pleased that y'all enjoyed the cookies, she stayed up late the night before baking them.

I told older son Davey in Afghan about your gifts for him, he sends his thanks! He hopes to meet y'all one day.

Cheers

 

[baseballump]

Rory Guys let me tell you we had 5 old Vietnam Vets. at Rory 3 of us drove V s in Nam. And Rorys V is great. It is the most funny we have had away from home in years.
Panda took care of us with cold rags, water and the best cookies ever. Thank You very much
Patrick took some great pictures and was fun to see a very nice young man, and could he get up and down on the V. On the way back Mike said Patrick reminded him of what it was like to be young again.
Rory what can I say we had the best time ever. If you ever need anything call one of us and we will do our best to help. Also, keep in mind Sept. if you can make it .
And, wish Danny could have been there, BUT HE Is a Marine. And, we just want to tell him THANKS FOR HIS SERVICE Be Safe
Rory again a great time was had by all THANKS and See Y'all again some day.

 

[baseballump]

Rory don't know if you have one but the book you gave us about the Vs Look on page 70 it shows the bracket that holds the Alt. I am not saying that they didn't change them to what you have But the one in the picture is the one I remember. Louie

 

[M813rc]

Thanks Louie. I do have the book and will take a peek. Gotta figure out why the V has thrown that belt twice in two weeks, hopefully it is just because the alternator has gotten out of alignment.

I have passed on your kind words, they were greeted with happy smiles.

Cheers

PS- for those wondering about the cookie-baking panda, Panda is my g/f's nickname (Amanda = Panda). I can't explain why she picked me (it was her idea ) but I am not nearly fool enough to question it! She is a great girl and takes better care of me than I deserve.

.

 

[jimk]

Sorry about your arm, Panda. If you need another I think I have a box of 'em somewhere.

 

[M813rc]

Jim, it does sorta look like her arm is off..
She thought that was funny and says "Hi Jim!".

Having now figured out how my scanner works, here are some of the pictures the guys shared with me. They come out rather low resolution when loaded onto SS, the originals are much clearer.

Cheers

Pic 1- Louie (Baseballump), Lenny and Ken
Pic 2- Mike, as Platoon Sgt
Pic 3- Vann, in center with sunglasses
Pic 4- 630th Emblem on reunion shirt
Pic 5- Bench dedicated at Ft Leonard Wood

 

[M813rc]

And now, the V's. There are loads more, which will be shared in time.

The usual legal caveats apply, all pictures are copyright by their owners, who gave permission to share them here, and can only be used for personal reasons, etc, under penalty of various vicious and cruel punishments.

Cheers

Pic 1- Ken's V100, The Hulk
Pic 2- The Hulk, another V and an M151A1
Pic 3- Vann's V100, Daredevil, with no less than 3 'extra' M60s
Pic 4- Zig Zag
Pic 5- V with .50 mounted on front lip of turret
Pic 6- Santa in a V!

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[baseballump]

Hi Rory First thing first Hows Danny doing? And ever one else in the Family. Just so you know I sent you a CD today of the pictures I took at your place. Realy Patrick took most of them. Looks like its going to be warn in Tx. this week. So you all take care Louie

 

[M813rc]

He is well. Talked to him a bit this morning (his evening, they are 7.5 hours ahead of us). They have been doing heavy maintenance on the vehicles in preparation for a long deployment off the FOB.
We may not have any electronic contact for the rest of his tour until they come back to the main base. I'm not pleased with that, but grateful for the communication I have had. Back in our day it was just the odd letter to and from home, long silence in between. I didn't know then what that must have been like for my parents.
I'll look forward to the CD

Cheers