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here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 11:33 am
by howiebearse
while these are not all sks photos they are from the Vietnam war and several sources. One post is a field full of captured weapons after the US left . I would love to be there to get these and restore them

thousands of magazines are seen as well as WW2 guns that were supplied to the French and the Vietnamese. Some German guns supplied by Russia no doubt. It will take several posts to get them all here hope it will be something to discuss and ok with the admin as slightly of topic.
Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 11:37 am
by howiebearse
continuation of this set
Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 11:41 am
by howiebearse
here is a couple i took in 1965 in Vietnam of the First Cavs collection of captured guns look at the sks on the right side of the display with bayonet extended it is a East German one of two we captured at the time . The guns I captured were stolen in the rear while they were tagged and waiting to go home with me
Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 11:55 am
by desdem12
Just look at all those rusting guns and parts.

Man that is terrible that yours got stole.

Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:36 pm
by dou44
that was a waste of some fine guns .
Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:49 pm
by SA1911a1
If I had a few hours, I could probably find something in one of those piles I would be willing to clean up............
I think I saw one of the T-53s I bought in one of the photos, now I know why it was in such bad shape.
Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:53 pm
by martin08
Thank you for those pics, Howie.
Though I'm sure that as a Veteran, the sheer numbers of firearms came as no surprise to you. But for myself, who has not seen service and action, pictures like these help put a perspective on the Vietnam War.
Again, thanks for the pics. But more, thank you for your service and my freedom.
Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 1:21 pm
by Noble Sniper
Projects I will never get my hands on :(
Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 1:34 pm
by Junk Yard Dog
These pics are old and what you see has long since been scrapped Craig, I noted what looked like a pile of Enfields with the brass buttplates scraped off them already. The war went on for a long time, first the French, then us, I saw some Tommy Guns, and M3's in the mix, but no Garands and carbines. They probably held on to them to sell to Communist rebels in South America and Africa, along with the M16's. The Pics are fine Howie, I can move them to the historic photo's forum if you like.
Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 6:33 pm
by Drago
Incredible! Man, just give me 30 seconds in those piles to grab as much as I can and I'd be happy for life! I wonder how much of that got destroyed?
Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:13 pm
by Rongo
Wow.

Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 7:54 pm
by MN Fan
Wow, what an eye opener. Unbelievable.
Thank you for the photos...and thank you for your service.
Simply incredible Howie
Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:35 pm
by Woodbeef
Just think how many times that has been repeated over the years,and now with the UN pushing for more destruction it will continue.
Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 9:53 pm
by Bareassmeagain
Thanks howie. The pictures are amazing ! I wish that there be a forum where all the Men here that served could tell their story or experiances in battle or just something we would have no idea of what went on over seas. Man i dont know about others but I sure would read them. The Pictures here are a story in itself. Thanks and thank you for your services.
Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 8:53 am
by Simo
dou44 wrote:that was a waste of some fine guns .
And enough money to erase that era's debt. oh wait back then everyone owed us

Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 12:48 pm
by howiebearse
Junk Yard Dog wrote:These pics are old and what you see has long since been scrapped Craig, I noted what looked like a pile of Enfields with the brass buttplates scraped off them already. The war went on for a long time, first the French, then us, I saw some Tommy Guns, and M3's in the mix, but no Garands and carbines. They probably held on to them to sell to Communist rebels in South America and Africa, along with the M16's. The Pics are fine Howie, I can move them to the historic photo's forum if you like.
I had hoped it would be ok to post them Its an eye opener and only a drop in the bucket of what was left there a careful look shows allot of different things there. I hope the guys look them over and see the amount that was gathered there in just one place
Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 8:11 pm
by Junk Yard Dog
We left a lot of things in Vietnam, life being number one on the list. The US equipped the entire ARVN with everything from uniforms to helicopters, and had been since the 50's. Add in all the crap the French left behind, and the Japanese during the war, plus stuff left behind by all the other nations that fought in the war with us, Australia, Britain, the South Koreans to name some. Someplace years back I saw pics of the stuff the NVA didn't destroy, aircraft, tanks, and huge numbers of firearms they had stacked away. Lots of US rifles M1 Garands to M16's, we will probably never see any of it back here, but there is nothing to stop them from selling it in other country's, or giving it away as aid.
Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:39 am
by howiebearse
you are correct and South America has had allot of the guns show up there from Vietnam. The Chinese were flying C130 Aircraft that all they did was paint out the US markings and add red stars they also had allot of M37 and M151 jeeps. I had hoped allot of guys would see these pics and reflect on them. Just a drop in the bucket of what was left there. I will add a few more pics on reply.
Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 1:11 pm
by SA1911a1
When you think of how small that war was compared to WWII, could you imagine the stacks of German and Italian weapons?
Re: here are some pics for you to ponder
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 11:57 am
by Jolly Green Chopper
I took some pictures of a helicopter salvage and gun storage area in Thailand on the dock waiting to be dumped in the bay in 1969. All the pictures that showed the dumping were confiscated by command and destroyed.Along with $$$$$$ of ammo and gear. They got real paranoid about bad press when things started to go sour and by 1971 no one was allowed near a re-cycle area with a camera. Those pictures had to have been taken before 1968 maybe in the Camranh Bay AFB area I saw a lot of all kinds of Great MILSUPS stuff like that. On and On as far a you could see. JGC