Tom Jaynes
1188 Combat photographer covers surprise attack on Navy Hospital.
Note: This picture was taken by one of the Seabees. He also took some good shots of the damage at the hospital. I took his film and went to the Naval Support Activity photo lab and had them to develop and print his film. NSA made 2 prints of each. I've never used this photo because it was so dark due to underexposure. But this morning I thought I would try Lucis Enhancement. I did, and here's the result. One more reason for purchasing the software. If you are interested: www.lucispro.com
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Sunday morning in Da-Nang - I stayed at Camp Tien Sha, as I always did when in the area. I was going to take the day off before notifying CCG (Combat Camera Group), Saigon, that I was free for another job. Today I wanted to hang out with some of my Seabee buddies at Camp Adenir. There were two youngsters there who could really pick and sing, country music, of course. If there was any of that going on, I could usually be found right in there with them.
The Seabees had come to build a Naval Hospital for the Da-nang area, and were nearing completion. The camp was right beside the hospital. I was scheduled to cover the dedication ceremony in about three weeks.
It was late morning when I arrived at Adenir. They were still serving Sunday brunch in the mess hall. I went over and got in line. All of a sudden, and out of nowhere came
the deafening sound of a powerful explosion. Then immediately another one went off. Then automatic gunfire rung out. We all hit the deck. The gunfire quickly dwindled off and stopped. I got up and eased outside.
I didn't see anybody, but I ran and jumped into the trench along the perimeter. I had my Nikon and was shooting away, operating on autopilot, as sometimes happened when I was thrown into the heart of a battle situation such as this having no warning.
Two Vietnamese lay dead just inside the hospital gate. Suicide bombers with satchel charges had rushed the gate and slung the bombs. They both had dealt a killing blow to the two new power generators, and destroyed one of the new Quonsets nearby. An attack in broad daylight. That was hardly ever done.
There had been two members of MCB9 on duty in separate bunkers at the hospital gate. One was killed by shrapnel from the explosion itself, and the other one took a round in his leg, and was lying on the ground when the explosions went off.
Well, so much for Sunday being a day of rest.
"Now I lay me down to sleep,
If I should die before I wake,
I pray Thee Lord my soul to take."
-end-
1188 Combat photographer covers surprise attack on Navy Hospital.
Note: This picture was taken by one of the Seabees. He also took some good shots of the damage at the hospital. I took his film and went to the Naval Support Activity photo lab and had them to develop and print his film. NSA made 2 prints of each. I've never used this photo because it was so dark due to underexposure. But this morning I thought I would try Lucis Enhancement. I did, and here's the result. One more reason for purchasing the software. If you are interested: www.lucispro.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday morning in Da-Nang - I stayed at Camp Tien Sha, as I always did when in the area. I was going to take the day off before notifying CCG (Combat Camera Group), Saigon, that I was free for another job. Today I wanted to hang out with some of my Seabee buddies at Camp Adenir. There were two youngsters there who could really pick and sing, country music, of course. If there was any of that going on, I could usually be found right in there with them.
The Seabees had come to build a Naval Hospital for the Da-nang area, and were nearing completion. The camp was right beside the hospital. I was scheduled to cover the dedication ceremony in about three weeks.
It was late morning when I arrived at Adenir. They were still serving Sunday brunch in the mess hall. I went over and got in line. All of a sudden, and out of nowhere came
the deafening sound of a powerful explosion. Then immediately another one went off. Then automatic gunfire rung out. We all hit the deck. The gunfire quickly dwindled off and stopped. I got up and eased outside.
I didn't see anybody, but I ran and jumped into the trench along the perimeter. I had my Nikon and was shooting away, operating on autopilot, as sometimes happened when I was thrown into the heart of a battle situation such as this having no warning.
Two Vietnamese lay dead just inside the hospital gate. Suicide bombers with satchel charges had rushed the gate and slung the bombs. They both had dealt a killing blow to the two new power generators, and destroyed one of the new Quonsets nearby. An attack in broad daylight. That was hardly ever done.
There had been two members of MCB9 on duty in separate bunkers at the hospital gate. One was killed by shrapnel from the explosion itself, and the other one took a round in his leg, and was lying on the ground when the explosions went off.
Well, so much for Sunday being a day of rest.
"Now I lay me down to sleep,
If I should die before I wake,
I pray Thee Lord my soul to take."
-end-