Looking for Vietnam era pics of V100's with 504th

[wgtactical]

Was able to make contact with a veteran named Patrick that arrived in country the same year at the BS&T V100 arrived, and was assigned to the same 504th Company C. There were four V100s there and all had nose art. He remembered Don Tillman and the Blood Sweat and Tears V100. Patrick (from west Texas) was on "The Texan" where Don Tillman was on "Super V"
I gave each of them the other's contact information and they look forward to catching up...Don said it's been almost 55 years since they've talked. More to come

 

[wgtactical]

Just received a collection of slides from late '60s to early '70s from the Major Harold Itchkawich, USMC estate in response to posts I have made looking for Vietnam era war photos that may have captured an image of the V100 we are restoring. Of course this V100 was not assigned to the USMC but that doesn't rule out the possibility that it might be seen somewhere in the background. Will be an interesting search regardless. Now to find a slide projector...(which I haven't seen for many years)

 

[wgtactical]

Clicking through the slides that were sent to me from USMC Major Harold Itchkawich's estate in California, I came across this photo taken sometime in the late '60s. In a earlier phone conversation with the gentleman that was a friend of Harold's, I'm told he was 5'-7" and a man that made things happen...lots of things. Anyway I have seen photos of Harold for sale on the internet but nothing as early as this one, which came directly from his private collection. Harold's friend advised me to share the pictures as I see fit.

 

[wgtactical]

Patrick Spinks (aka "Spunky") in the turret and Charles Hannigan in the driver's seat. 504th C aboard "The Texan"
This was one of four V100s in the C company and I am told there were four V100s in their company, each had nose art. I have spoke with two veterans of the 504th C company and they remember their own V100 quite well, "Super V" being Don Tillman's V100 and "The Texan" was Pat's. "Blood Sweat and Tears" and "The Hulk" were the other two. The photo I had posted earlier showing "The Texan" was taken immediately after the artwork was painted. That orange color was the same that was revealed when the front of the BS&T V100 was sanded. Evidently the color selection was a bit limited.

 

[jeffhuey1n]

Have you looked through James Lyle’s books?

 

[wgtactical]

Have you looked through James Lyle’s books?

No I haven't, are these images available online or only in books?

 

[jeffhuey1n]

No I haven't, are these images available online or only in books?

The books are available on line. They are not digital to the best of my knowledge. I’ll try and remember what I did with my copies. If I can find them, I’ll see if your truck is in there.

 

[wgtactical]

We found a picture of Don Tillman (red shirt) from around the time he lost his engraved Zippo. That lighter would remain lost for 52 years.

 

[wgtactical]

I think we may have finally cracked the case on the Blood Sweat and Tears V100. I have been in contact with a couple 504th C Company vets and they've been contacting old army buddies they've not talked to in nearly 55 years. As a result, nobody so far can place the BS&T V100 in their memories. However a vet named Patrick Spinks has really been putting time in trying to find information and he said the 504th C Company had 4 V100s and each had nose art. Pat's was "The Texan" Don Tillman's (guy with the Zippo) was "Super V" and they remember vaguely one called "The Hulk" but nothing more. Pat spoke with an old army buddy named Noel Troxclair and he sent him a couple of pictures. One of the pictures shows two soldiers with Super V and I was able to zoom in and see vehicle number "C55" and the registration number on the side "1304269" and those numbers seemed familiar. Turns out those are the same numbers on BS&T and apparently it was Super V first, which would explain how Don Tillman's zippo ended up in a vehicle he didn't remember...because it wasn't BS&T when he lost his lighter in it.
The V100 arrived mid to late '69 and the photos were taken late '70 to early '71 and sometime after that (when the crews rotated out and went home, it became BS&T and the Ma Deuce was added to the turret.

Finally getting this mystery solved.

 

[HoveringHMMWV]

Great thread!

 

[M813rc]

Unknown if this is the right The Hulk, but here is a picture of one from my files -




Cheers