A group non-military passengers walking across the tarmac in front of a C-123. Nha Trang 1972. One thing stands out to me ... obesity was not an issue with this particular group.

 How many workers does it take to harvest rice. At least nine according to this 1972 Vietnam photo. Often some of the remote airbases we landed at had adjacent farmland right next to runway.

 Loading up what may be some ARVN and civilian refugees at Nha Trang ... can't recall destination. Old smoke belching, oil-leaking C-123 taxiing past. In background may be a commercial DC-6.

 A couple of C-130 crew members enjoying burgers, dogs and beans at an impromptu post flight cookout outside barracks ... I think this may be at NKP Thailand right on the Mekong River across from Laos. Surprised the early 70's clothes don't include tie-dyes. Beer was flowing plentifully.

 1973 photo of Viet Cong and NVA POW's in purple prisoner garb getting out of transport truck and walking to rear cargo loading ramp of our C-130. Purpose was to release prisoners as part of newly signed "peace" treaty. This was at the notorious South Vietnam POW camp at Con Son Island off southern tip of Vietnam. Our destination was a remote dirt airfield near Hue just south of the DMZ. After landing the prisoners were released and quickly disappeared into thick jungle with no fanfare ... that after stripping themselves of the purple POW suits, head wraps and sandals leaving them in a pile on the dirt airstrip.

 Going home 1973. Pictured our some of our C-130 squadron pilots waiting in military air terminal to go back to USA after a year and a half of flying missions in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. This was the first time since we arrived that we were not dressed in our flight suits. Lots of memories to reflect upon for a lifetime.

 Large array of Piasecki Army CH-21 Shawnee "Flying Bananas" which could carry22 fully outfitted troops. Got this photo from a friend dated around 1963-4 and may be in Nha Trang but unsure. It was powered by one radial engine and had tandem, 3-bladed, counter rotating blades, The upper angle of the fuselage was for increased clearance for the large rear blades. These aircraft were slow and had vulnerable control cables and fuel lines that made them susceptible to ground fire. They were largely replaced by Huey H-1s in 1965 time frame.

  I think this is a Marine Sikorshy UH-34 heavy lift chopper with radial engines ... subsequent heavy lift choppers were turbo-shaft driven. Troop capacity was 16 and it had added forward facing cargo doors in the lower nose section. It's two radial engines were located in the external pods which allowed more cargo space in the fuselage. This aircraft appeared in the early days of USA involvement of Vietnam War (photo perhaps around 1963). Photo gotten from a friend and location may be Nha Trang but I'm not sure.

 Pictured is DeHavilland Army U-6A utility aircraft in the early days of USA involvement of Vietnam War (photo perhaps around 1963). Photo gotten from a friend and location may be Nha Trang but I'm not sure.