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WE STARTED OFF IN A LOUI, A SMALL TOWN IN THE A SHAU. STANDING FROM THE SO-CALLED HOTEL, I TOOK A FEW PICTURES OF THE MOUNTAINS. YOU CAN SEE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE SLASH AND BURN FARMING THEY DO ON THE MOUNTAIN SIDES.
ON OUR DRIVE OUT TO THE SITE, I TOOK A PICTURE OF THIS MOUNTAIN SIDE SHOWING WHERE APPARENTLY A BOMB HIT IT.
WE BEGAN OUR JOURNEY OUT TO THE SITE WHICH WAS A GOOD TWO MILE WALK FROM THE NEAREST ROAD OR VILLAGE. THE TERRAIN WAS VERY DEEPLY VEGATATED WITH TALL , SHARP GRASS. THE WORKERS WE HAD WITH US HAD TO MAKE THIS TRAIL FOR US.
ON THE WAY OUT TO THE SITE. ON THE
WAY I STOP TO POSE WITH A VIETNAMESE TRACTOR (WATER BUFFALO).
I TOOK A SNAPSHOT OF THIS LITTLE HUT. PEOPLE STILL LIVE IN THESE THINGS HERE.
A GOOD SHOT OF THE VALLEY WHERE THE SITE IS LOCATED.
TWO SHOTS HERE SHOWING HOW VEGATATED THE SITE WAS BEFORE WE BEGAN CLEARING IT.
THE BOTTOM OF THE SITE, SHOWING HOW WE CLEARED IT
STANDING ABOVE THE SITE YOU CAN SEE THE ROTOR CLEARLY HERE JUST BEYOND IT, OUR SAFETY ROPES, YOU CAN SEE HOW STEEP THIS SITE WAS IN THIS PHOTO.
A SHOT OF THE EXCAVATION PROCESS, SHOWING HOW WE SIFTED THROUGH EVERY BUCKET OF DIRT WE FILLED . AGAIN YOU CAN SEE THE ROTOR SHAFT FROM THE CH-46 HERE.
ME STANDING ON THE SITE. VERY HOT THAT DAY.
VARIOUS TEAM MEMBERS ON THE SITE
THIS HILL WAS SO STEEP WE HAD TO DIG A STAIRCASE INTO THE SIDE OF IT. ON THE TOP RIGHT OF THE HILL YOU CAN SEE THE ROTOR ASSEMBLY COMING OUT OF THE GROUND.
STANDING ON THE SITE LOOKING DOWN, WE KEPT OUR SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT UNDER THIS HOMEMADE CANOPY. TO THE LEFT OF IT IS THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE VALLEY FLOOR. THIS WAS THE AREA WHERE THE SEAT WAS FOUND.
A CURIOUS LOCAL WHO HAD NEVER SEEN A CAMERA. (HA, HA)
WALKING BACK THROUGH THE VALLEY, I SOMETIMES WONDERED JUST HOW YOU GUYS COULD SURVIVE THIS TERRAIN DAY AFTER DAY
FAR FROM THE SITE WE BEGAN OUR JOURNEY HOME. THIS IS THE NEAREST VILLAGE WHERE I STOPPED TO POSE WITH THE LOCAL KIDS