U.S. Army 319th Artillery attached to 101st Airborne Division strengthens defenses of Fire Support Base Ripcord to combat North Vietnam forces in the A Shau Valley, South Vietnam, during the Vietnam War. Opening scene shows Captain David F. Rich, Commander of Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 319th Artillery, conversing with Lieutenant Brennan, in very windy conditions atop the Fire Support Base. The carriage of a 105mm towed howitzer is seen in the foreground, with two shells set on it. View of howitzers and shells stacked atop the Base. The wind whipping aross the Base. African American soldier working on a howitzer. Another fighting the wind, as he carries canisters of propellant charges. He tosses them behind the sandbagged artillery position. Other soldiers join in moving gunpowder canisters. Closeup of two soldiers as the wind blows the hat off one.
U.S. Fire Support Base Ripcord in the A Shau Valley, South Vietnam, under siege by North Vietnam Army forces during the Vietnam War. Several 105mm towed howitzers are positioned atop the base, with barrels at high elevations. Camera focuses on Gunners loading and firing one. The wind is blowing very hard, complicating their activity and causing the cameraman trouble too, as it buffets his camera. The camera views several guns operating in the battery. The Battery then level their guns to fire point blank at their targets. (They also increase their powder charge to 7, the maximum.) the resultant recoil strikes and injures SP/4 Bowing of a gun crew, who falls and is seen lying at the back of his gun. The crew calls for help and carries him to the ground. Cameraman stops filming briefly.. Next, a soldier is seen leaning over SP/4 Bowing, rendering aid.
Vietnamese marine sits on box on dock area. Messenger hands marine a message. American advisor chat with two Vietnamese soldiers. Vietnamese sailor talks on a microphone. Pre-assault brief by Vietnam Navy (VNN) Commander to Republic of Vietnam (RVN) marine captain, United States Marine Corps (USMC) Captain and United States Navy (USN) Lieutenant. VNN Armored troop carriers (ATCs) underway in river. American and Vietnamese officers talk. Stern view of ATC underway. Vietnamese AT's underway in river in columns. Vietnamese sailor talks on a radio. RVN marine points to riverbank. VNN medic with red cross on his sleeves. (Vietnam War period).
Vietnam Navy (VNN) sailors sit on armored troop carrier (ATC's) turret wave during Vietnam War. Bow ramp of ATC lowered at the riverbank. Republic of Vietnam (RVN) marines board ATC at riverbank. Assault craft underway in spread formation. Assault boat underway, fires at the river bank with machine guns. Flamethrowers fired from assault boat at enemy positions on the river bank. RVN marines disembark from ATC into jungle. RVN marines fire M-16 rifles. Radioman on the phone. Heavy jungle in the background.
463rd Airlift Operations in support of humanitarian and combat operations in South East Asia. C-130 Hercules parked on the ground at Dak To in Vietnam. Propeller and wings on the aircraft. The aircraft taxis on dirt road. ARVN (Army of Republic of Vietnam) troops come out from C-130 aircraft. Vietnamese children watch the troops. C-130 Hercules lands and taxis on runway. (Vietnam War period).
View of Camp Holloway, Pleiku in Vietnam, where numerous helicopters of the First Aviation Brigade are seen parked. One rises up from near a revetment, passing the camera and casting a shadow on the ground. View from end of pierced steel plank runway marked "5" in white paint. UH-1 helicopters lined up along both sides of the runway, with their rotors neatly aligned. Closeup of some of them. View from control tower overlooking the field, showing revetments in foreground and parked aircraft and buildings on other side of the runway. Mountains in the background. View from control tower deck, of a UH-1 flying low along the length of the runway. View in different direction from control tower. Closeup of aircrews of 1st Aviation Brigade standing in front of a UH-1, with its door open. They are being briefed by an officer with an elaborate logo painted on the back of his jacket which contains the 1st Aviation Brigade insignia, as part of it. Next, the flight crews gather together to discuss their instructions and mark information on their aerial charts. Some are crouched down on marsden matting. Groups of crew members in discussions. Two brown dogs (obviously mascots) approach one group of crewmen and are welcomed.