In December of 1970 Charlie Company 2/12 was inserted into a commando vault east of Xuan Loc. A commando vault is an LZ created by dropping a 15,000 bomb attached to a parachute with a probe extending 15 feet from the fuse. The bomb exploded just above the jungle floor and created and instant LZ. Charlie company followed the detonation by minutes and chased the suprised and fleeing NVA for the next several days, making intermitent contact, taking and delivering casualties. Charlie Company was followed within a few days by Bravo Company, who fanned out from the commando vault and conducted a more thorough search and seize operation. While patrolling the area around the vault Bravo Company discovered a major bunker complex which the NVA had fled rather quickly. Barely hidden in hollow trees and quickly dug shallow holes were ammo cans filled with the personal effects of NVA soldiers. The following pictures were taken during that mission. They are arranged in the general order of the mission, from departure at Huskey to return and the usual serving of cake by Battalion Commander LTC Salluci. In most cases I have not put captions under the pictures because they need no explanation. Where I know names of the people in the pictures I have included them.
One of the wonderful side affects of the commando vault was a very sweet bivouac. The bomb not only cleared all the growth, it killed every insect within several hundred yards. The absence of insects was surreal and lasted for several days.
One of the wonderful side affects of the commando vault was a very sweet bivouac. The bomb not only cleared all the growth, it killed every insect within several hundred yards. The absence of insects was surreal and lasted for several days.
