Photo's by James Ondulick

See no evil speak no evil hear no evil

After tank school at Aberdeen Proving Ground , Maryland I ended up at Ft Hood, Texas, with the 1st Armored Div. "Old Ironsides", we put a show on with competition between the different tank companys, we baught this 57 Buick and an older Chevy, we set the throttle, and tied the steering wheels so they went around in large circles and our M-60 tanks made passes trying to hit one of the cars, not an easy task aiming for a moving target, one of my tanks hit the Buick and I took this Polaroid snapshot. summer of 1966

We left our base camp,Blackhorse, in December, 67, and didn't return until, April 68,,,,,,first,, bath we had in 4 months,,,,we were with the "Big Red One",,,,,,1st Infantry, Div, I took this photo near An loc or Lia ka in early 68

Australian tank that broke down out side Blackhorse, the crew stayed with us for about 3 week's waiting on parts, after we towed it in with our M-88,,,,,,,,those boys could sure drink beer, forefront is "fuzzy" Laxton from Patterson , Missouri we called " Fuzzy," the old man, he was 28 at the time, most of us were 19 or 20,,,,,,, best mechanic I ever met, any problems we had, getting something running, we went to "Lax

Batt and Preacher, Capt. Barber, "Sky Pilot"

Unk Ondulick working on a jeep. Photo below left to right is Beeman, from Maryland, Wop, Sutton, Unk Ondulick , Jim Craig, and Holland

Working on a M113 armored personnel carrier engine.

Montagnards gave me her as a puppy, "Princess"

Dec. 6 ,67 Convoy from Xuan Loc to Lai Khe

French tank found outside Black Horse named 2-HQ-007

M109 self propelled howitzer, Blackhorse base camp " Di Di Mau"

Changing an engine on a M113A1 armored personnel carrier Christmas Eve, 1967 near Lai Khe.

M-88 Track Armor Recovery Vehicle

     The M-88 series ARV is the second generation armor recovery vehicle deployed by U.S. Army, it replaced the M-74ARV which was modified from M-4A3 chassis, production of the M-88 ran from 1960 to 1964 with 1,075 M-88 produced. M-88 is developed from the M-48A2MBT chassis, with a great degree of logistic commonality between the M-88 ARV and M-48 series MBT. It is capable of recovering the M-48/M-60 series MBT. During the Vietnam War U.S.Army had deployed numerous M_48A3 into the battlefield hence the M-88 ARVS were also deployed to service these battle tanks.

       The hull of the M-88 is of cast armor and rolled armor welded together, the suspension is similar to that used on the M-48MBT, but

Power plant of the M-88used AVST-1790-6made by TELEDYNE CONTINENTAL MOTORS coupled with XT-1400 transmission, maximum engine output is 690 bhp, power to weight ratio is 13.7 bhp./ton, maximum road speed is 42 km/hr, and cruising range of the M-88 is approximately 360 km. The M-88 has a crew of 4 main equipments include a hydraulically operated blade in front of the vehicle, and an A-type boom pivoted at the front of the hull. Maximum lift capacity with blade in use is 22.7 tons. There are two winches in the lower part of the hull. Maximum towing capacity of the M-88 is 41 tons. There is also a 12.7mm machine gun for air defense.

        Of the 1,075 M-88 originally produced, 878 had been improved to the M-88A1 standard and are currently serving in the U.S.Army and Marine Corps. Exports were also made to countries deploying M-88/M-60 series MBT