Posted on 07/18/2021 10:03:50 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
Trying to recall the name of the plastic tubes of freshwater we occasionally received while in the bush.
We had a very good C.O. who tried to get us a hot meal when possible. With the food, we received plastic tubes of water that were DROPPED on or near to our location. IIRC They were about 8 inches in diameter and maybe 5 feet long? Usually orange or yellow, sometimes O.D. green and white?
My son, USMC Infantry 3x sandbox, was unfamiliar with them.
Not all that many of my group around.
Thank you.
Sorry can’t help ya. These grunts were appreciated about as much as the signature gathering folks for today’s recall. At least they had a captain who cared about his troops and wasn’t out for himself.
The water in Vietnam was very putrid and unhealthy. They did not call it the “Brown Water Navy” for nothing. C-rats at the time had tablets to sterilize the water and it had to be boiled as well.
What kind of canteen was used in the Vietnam War?
Original Vietnam Era US Army Military Issue 1Qt. Plastic Canteen 1964 Dated Only 1 left! US post Vietnam War plastic canteen. R&D 1976 Original Vietnam Era US Army Military Issue 1Qt. Plastic Canteen 1966 Dated USGI VIETNAM ERA CANTEEN SET, BELT, SHOVEL CARRIER.
Vietnam Canteen for sale | eBay
www.ebay.com/b/Vietnam-Canteen/36065/bn_7023380489
I just poked around the net and came up with nothing
—”The water in Vietnam was very putrid and unhealthy.”
We drank whatever water we could find where we found it,you could not carry enough, no time for fires! Removing the detonator and burning a frag was used in the LZ for warm water.
The water may have been the source of the worms?
Every so often we were de-wormed! Everyone had to take a drink of liquid worm medicine.
You’ve finally found a question that will stump FReepers.
—”What kind of canteen was used “
Thanks
These were soft plastic tubes that were airdropped full of ??? 5 gallons of water each and survive the drop from altitude.
We got our water in 8” powder casings.
If the engineers weren’t paying attention, or if they wanted to get even for some imagined/perceived insult from the grunts, the chlorine would be so strong it’d make your eyes tear up.
You got anything Chainmail?
—’poked around the net and came up with nothing”
Thanks!
I have been poking around and asking for a while and found nothing!!!
—”You’ve finally found a question that will stump FReepers.”
I hope not!
I have gotten a bug about this...
Maybe your CO was innovative and new his troops needed more freshwater than they could carry? One of the things that helped US Grant be successful was ensuring quality food and open supply lines. He learned this during the Mexican war.
Occasionally we'd (3 Troop sized units) get chopper (Chinook aka Shithook) dropped 500 gallon reusable bladder of clean fresh water to drink and eat our C rations with but other than that we lived on beer and soda water as the water was generally so unfit to drink and sometimes to even bathe in. Montezuma's revenge if you get the hint.
Lug-a-lugs?
http://webdoc.sub.gwdg.de/ebook/p/2005/CMH_2/www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/vietnam/tactical/chapter5.htm
https://vietnam.unsw.adfa.edu.au/keeping-the-troops-in-the-field-part-2-water-resupply/
Thank you for spelling the country name “Viet Nam” as it once was.
USMC grunt, III Corps, 1968-69
Never saw or heard of anything like this.
Never had water delivered to us in the bush.
Paddy water & pills. Impossible to “boil water for 20 minutes”. A quarter sized ball of C-4 would boil water for coffee or cocoa, though.
Hot chow flown out to us twice. C-rats the rest of the time while on an Op. Firebase chow was cooked and served on a tin (stainless steel) tray.
—”the chlorine would be so strong it’d make your eyes tear up.”
In the rainy season, the water was plentiful and OK.
In the dry season, the water was often muddy and we had occasional heat casualties.
I never dropped out but did see stars a few times.
The water at the LZ was OK but always cold in a shower.
jerry cans? I think 20 liters. They weren’t dropped...Hueys set them down.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.