Sgt Grit,
Regarding the question submitted by LCpl Wilson of the 1960-61 chopper photo, I know that it's been identified by your knowledgeable readers so no need to go there.
However, I wanted to share some photos as they may bring back so memories and/or commentary from the troops. When I was a brand new Redleg with India Battery, 11th Marines, I had the displeasure of pulling mess duty at 29 Palms. While my buds were off firing the 4.2's and I was taking a break my scullery duties, I saw one of the type fly overhead and I started snapping pics of it as it was landing. Just as it touched down, for what I thought was a normal landing, it nosed over and landed on it's side with lots of dust and blades flying everywhere. The crew walked away. I know nothing else; I was not authorized to be where I was…
I'm also sending some photos of mess duty in the desert. We were the "Advance Party" sent to actually set up the mess area. The personnel were drawn from the various units within 3rd Battalion and the only names that I recall were Evans (white skivvie shirt leaning on the 6X), Hall (peeling potatoes sitting on the fender), and "Tiny", the 210-220 lb. cook who would guide us. He's the one under the shelter half, the only shade that we had at the time.
I'm the guy on top of the water buffalo and also the one with the smiling face while trying to clean a pot while (name unknown) was whizzing in the background. As you can see, we "improvised" our own field piece from materials at hand.
Jerry Sington
PFC forever
Platoon 119, MCRD-SD – 1957
I-3-11, I-3-1, HQ-1st Mar Div