Every once in a while, I get a surprise in my email. The following message was received from Ron Huegel and, although I haven't asked his permission, I don't think he would mind if I shared this with you. I am very grateful to Ron for sharing this information and these photos.
Ron Huegel Vietnam Photos
My name is Ron Huegel and I served with 1st Force Recon in Viet Nam. For several weeks during May and June of 1970 I had the pleasure of being a guest at A-109. I was part of a two-man radio relay that was set up to reach the Force Recon teams that were too far to communicate with our camp near Marble Mountain.
Ron Huegel at Thuong Duc 1970
South .50
The second picture shows the "South .50" bunker after it was hit by the 122mm rocket.
Another Marine, Cpl Philip "Flip" Clark. and I manned this position. This bunker provided a grandstand view of the
mortar position (the "Tennis Courts") that fired on the camp almost every night. Those who were there at the time will recall
that the camp also took 122mm rocket fire almost every day, six rockets at a time,three times a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
The rockets usually were fired at us from west of the camp, but on 3 June a salvo was fired from the east. The result was one direct hit
on the Force Recon bunker while Flip and I were still inside.
I now work for Military Historical Tours and I have been back to Thuong Duc three times... the last time being June (2001).
Picture shows me standing on the floor of that same bunker (all that's left), with part of the Tennis Courts in the background.
The picture (at left) is Gary's picture from 1967. Notice the ridge line profile at the top of both pictures. It's Thuong Duc, all right!!
