VIETNAM WAR ARMY BASE
An overview of the Army base in Vietnam, near the town of Can Tho, will be presented. The information and photographs portrayed on this website are from one soldier, who was at this Army base during the 1970-1971 time period.
MAIN BUILDINGS USED BY SOLDIERS
- Mess Hall was where the meals were served.
- Barracks was where the soldiers lived. The barracks were called hooches.
- PX, an acronym for Post Exchange, was where the soldiers could purchase a variety of items, similar to a small general store.
- Hospital was for treating illnesses and injuries.
A PRIMARY MORALE BOOSTER
One of the main morale boosters on the base was the mail truck. Soldiers anxiously awaited receiving a letter or "care" package from back home in the states.
REVETMENTS
Chinooks were very large helicopters. The barrier surrounding the helicopters was called a revetment. The revetments were where the Chinook (CH-47 C) helicopters were "parked and stored" for the night. The purpose of the revetments was to protect the helicopters from gunfire and attacks.
BARRACKS
The place where the soldiers lived on the base was called the barracks. The barracks were very basic structures, with the outside being plain and simple. These buildings were designed not for luxury but instead for servicing basic sleeping and resting needs. There were no bathrooms inside of the buildings. Showers and bathroom facilities were located elsewhere on the base.
INSIDE THE BARRACKS
In the barracks, there were two floors, and there was about 50 soldiers per floor. The furniture in the barracks basically consisted of bunk beds and sometimes a "make-shift" desk. Many times the soldiers would buy a small used refrigerator from another soldier who was going home. The refrigerators were basically an essential item over there. Soldiers used the refrigerators to keep soda pops and/or beer cold. Such drink items could be purchased at the PX, whenever the supplies shipments were in.
Definitions Used in the Vietnam War Era