The Vietnamese People Continue their Traditional Way of Life
Phuoc Vinh firebase (Camp Gorvad) was next to the Village of Phuoc Vinh. Of course, that’s how it got its name.
When I arrived in Phuoc Vinh in March of 1970, we were allowed to go down to the village and hit the bars. My first time was with a couple of fellow Blues, and I got totally wasted on a Vietnamese beer called “33”. I remember holding a bottle of “33” up to a light, and you could see all kinds of stuff floating around in the bottle. That was my first and last encounter with “33”.
About a month later the village was off limits to GIs because of the violence…
Many of the Village People worked at our Phuoc Vinh firebase next to their village.
Oxen pulling a wooden cart was a familiar sight.
One of the few cars I saw in Vietnam.
Photo courtesy of Ron Kidder
Ron was with the 720th Military Police attached to The 1st Infantry’s M.P. Company stationed in Phouc Vinh during Operation Junction City in 1967.
Photo courtesy of Ron Kidder
Looking down towards the market from the main gate
Photo courtesy of Ron Kidder
Holding cell at 1st M.P. Quarters
Photo courtesy of Ron Kidder
Main gate
Photo courtesy of Ron Kidder
M.P.’s from the 720th M.P. Battalion TDY during Junction City
Photo courtesy of Ron Kidder
Market Place
Photo courtesy of Ron Kidder
The Hero Bar which sat just outside the main gate
Photo courtesy of Ron Kidder
This young lady worked at the Venus Bar
Photo courtesy of Ron Kidder
My Vietnam Experience 