Da Nang
During the Vietnam War, the city was home to a major air base that was used by both the South Vietnamese and United States air forces. The base was considered one of the world's busiest airports during the war, reaching an average of 2,595 air traffic operations daily, more than any airport in the world at that time. The final U.S. ground combat operations in Vietnam ceased on 13 August 1972, when a residual force of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade stood down in Đà Nẵng. B Battery 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment fired the final U.S. artillery round and the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment finished their final patrols. This residual force was known as "Operation Gimlet".
Many times, off duty troops could not sleep for one reason or another, and would go over to Command Security Control (CSC), check out the ton-and-a-half truck, and run coffee around to the troops on post. Sometimes, the Flight on-duty would assign someone to do this, but usually someone off-duty would just "volunteer." I had performed that duty just two nights before the attack -- Terry “volunteered” that night.
On the fateful night, SSgt Jensen was running coffee. He was armed only with a .38 caliber revolver, and a basic load of ammunition.
Up to that point, we were still state-siding it as far as weapons and ammunition were concerned. In those days, the Air Police were thought of as little more than internal point-security guards for critical resources. We were neither trained, nor equipped to fight an actual ground engagement against a determined enemy. Only a few troops wore steel helmets -- flack jackets were not an issued item. We were authorized only basic load of ammunition for the M-16 rifles (three 20 rd. magazines). We were neither issued nor authorized grenades nor M-60 machine guns. We carried nothing that wasn't carried at a CONUS base.
Only two posts were located at the south end of the base. One was a checkpoint (not an access control point) located on the west edge of the taxiway across from, and approximately 50 yards North of the first C-130 revetment. The second was a position located at the juncture of the taxiway, and the active runway, near the runway-overrun area.
Many times, off duty troops could not sleep for one reason or another, and would go over to Command Security Control (CSC), check out the ton-and-a-half truck, and run coffee around to the troops on post. Sometimes, the Flight on-duty would assign someone to do this, but usually someone off-duty would just "volunteer." I had performed that duty just two nights before the attack -- Terry “volunteered” that night.
On the fateful night, SSgt Jensen was running coffee. He was armed only with a .38 caliber revolver, and a basic load of ammunition.
Up to that point, we were still state-siding it as far as weapons and ammunition were concerned. In those days, the Air Police were thought of as little more than internal point-security guards for critical resources. We were neither trained, nor equipped to fight an actual ground engagement against a determined enemy. Only a few troops wore steel helmets -- flack jackets were not an issued item. We were authorized only basic load of ammunition for the M-16 rifles (three 20 rd. magazines). We were neither issued nor authorized grenades nor M-60 machine guns. We carried nothing that wasn't carried at a CONUS base.
Only two posts were located at the south end of the base. One was a checkpoint (not an access control point) located on the west edge of the taxiway across from, and approximately 50 yards North of the first C-130 revetment. The second was a position located at the juncture of the taxiway, and the active runway, near the runway-overrun area.