Establishing CuChi Basecamp 1966
Jack Kempster - see also Cu Chi Peanut Patch & Woody Gardner Video & Cu Chi 1966 LRRPs
CPT Jack Kempster arrived in Saigon via commercial carrier from CONUS with 4 or 5 others of the Centaur Advanced Party. He was one of the first officers on the ground for D-Troop in March 1966. He therefore took some responsibility for organizing facilities for D-Troop arriving via ship from Hawaii.
He saw that other units were sleeping on the flooring in their tents and, after conferring with supply SGT Rocky Graziano, learned that there were cots to be had in Saigon.
They drove a 3/4 ton truck to the Saigon Supply Depot. Along the way, the SGT explained the requisition number format. When they arrived at the depot, he confidently gave the supply soldier there a completely fabricated number, thereby tricking him into giving them 144 cots (3300 lbs).
The 3/4 Ton Truck was so overloaded that the front wheels of the 3/4 ton truck were bouncing off the ground at each bump on their return trip to Cu-Chi. Consequently, D-troop never slept on the ground!
Materials: Most field cots utilized solid wood frames (hardwood such as ash or hickory) with steel bracket hinges. Aluminum-framed models were also in service, known for being lighter but structurally comparable.
Dimensions: Standard issue cots measured approximately to inches long by toinches wide, and stood about inches off the ground.
Setup: Because older canvas shrinks over time, assembly often requires some muscle to force the final spreader bars into the slots at either end of the cot
OH-23 #808 was first aicrraft to arrive. it was a D model. The next 8 were D models but were soon modified to OH-23G Models such that parts had to be ordered by aircraft serial number. Most don't remember the FM antennas on the OH23 tail boom (Right side of pic Cooper TP1), They were all set up for the Observation role. Lots of radios. Initally had M2 Skid Guns.
The Centaur Advanced Party -1966
Who were they? How did they get there? Who was in charge? Who organized the Band to play for the arriving troops? powellcentaur@gmail.com