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War Wagon is the name of my 1970 M35A2. When I bought it, I named it War Wagon, just because. I can’t recall when I decided to go out and do a full sized replica/tribute. Whenever that was, since then I’ve slowly built the truck to look like a later version of what I thought War Wagon would look like. The fact that the 359th had a truck with that name, just made it that much more interesting. In the end, no, that’s not right, through the course of this journey the men who drove those gun trucks, as well as all Vietnam Vets, should be honored for their sacrifices.This is an appendix to Papa Bears fine detailed post on Gun Trucks. Some of the trucks in PBs post you'll see here.
My mind says I’m still in my 20’s. My back says “one more lift like that and yer goin to the hospital!”Working alone when you actually are not young enough for this kind of #$%$ anymore. A lot of us now been there and are trying to do that.
Great project - live work.
Vtdeucedriver did a thread on Gun truck Brutus. It is good that both in real live and in this forum the history and value of these trucks and the men who served is being remembered again and again, lest we forget.
Thanks Papa Bear! I was hoping to see Eve Of Destruction with her Quad 50's She was with Co. D 815th Engineers I was with the 815th Co. A at Camp Dillard we had a few gun trucks worked on a lot in out motor pool. I was 18 going on 19 and fell in love with them! I ran the 2- 125KW Generators that kept the lights on for Dillard. I remember celebrating th 4th of July and "EVE" Firing off a bunch of rounds thru her 4-50 cals and the rounds making loope in the air. She was having the barrels changed out. The Gun Trucks with the Mini's on them were writing in the air they were so bas ass! I stayed at Dillard till the 815th Engineers stood down and we turned the base over to the Arvin's. I flew out with my 1st Sargent and met up with the convoy after I turned my 2-generators over to the ARVIN's. I wanted to leave Nam in style and asked the Gun Truck team if I could ride with them. They said yes what a trip of a lifetime I had. Certain stuff I won't go into but Mang Yang Pass with the switch backs was scary. I was manning a 50 cal on the drivers side. Can't remember the name of the gun truck!!! My memory has failed me some over the years. QL-19 was a long ride into Pleique to DeMobe out of Nam. It was like this was my last ride before the States and what a memory! I miss all the guys from Nam some were like a Father to me. Glad someone got a lot of pictures of them. I have a lot of pictures but not of the Gun trucks. I was also assigned with a Armored Cav Unit and 1/92 Artilery and 20th Engineers till they stood down and I was assigned with the 815th engineers. At Firebase/LZ Blackhawk we had 2-8" Howisters, 2 175mm, 2 155 mm Howisters and crap load ot Tanks, APC's, Twin 40mm Dusters and all our Engineer Equipment. I have a couple Pictures I can post once I resize them. There of LZ Blackhawk I slept between the 2 - 175mm Guns and close to the 8" Guns. The second picture is a USO Show they flew some Korean Band in for us and we had them play in a Gun Pit. It ended fast cause 4 Claymores went off at once and they flew them out in a hurry. We never figured how they went off but the last Guard th that night did not pull the primers out of them. Boy the stories we can tell it was a different war for us then what they do now! Mark 71-72 Vietnam US ArmyThis is meant to be an appendix to Papa Bears fine detailed post on Gun Trucks. Some of the trucks in PBs post you'll see here, along with the men that served.
Jeff,Hmmm, I’ve done quite a bit of work on War Wagon. I’ve tried to incorporate a lot of detail that I’ve found in many sources. War Wagon, as I built her, has single layer armor, three .50 ‘s (replica), Vic 1, and much more. I’ve actually been working on her for about 10 years. Changing armor as I could afford it, getting accurate (read available) components; it’s been a labor of love. In addition, since I’m the only one doings the work, anything I do has to be within my physical capabilities. For example, doing a brake job takes me at least a week. Do some work, stop, take meds, do not cry in front of the other trucks, they may think I’m a softie. And piece by piece she gets ever closer to an authentic replica/tribute gun truck that would honor the service of the gun truckers. I’ve got some pictures (see below). I’ve got some sheets of PSP and my next big project will be installing them as a second layer of armor. Between that and putting on some armor on the doors and armor up the windshield, I hope I’m doing right by you.
Thank you!Jeff,
I don't get on here much but I really like the new format now and how things are set up so you may see me more often now. So I just wanted to say great job on the GT!!!
Welcome home! Those pictures are amazing! Catching the instant the cannon was fired, holy smokes! The tanks are M48A3’s?On Camp Dillard we had some commercial trucks for the Rock Crusher Pit and they had great tires on them. I remember our Motor Pool putting some on the Steer Tires and the CO getting upset about it. We told him hey they steer better with them on and we did not take them off. See in Nam if you held your ground on some stuff you got away with it. I road out on a gun truck for my last trip I wanted to go in style!! 18 year old Combat Engineer manning a 50 cal what a trip to remember! Just glad the guy let me do it I loved the Gun Trucks!! Loved Armor and the 175mm and 8" Howisters on Fire Base Black hawk with 1st Cav! Being assigned with them and the 1/92 Artillery was a dream come true for a kid!
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