Slideshow: Goodbye Camp Evans ............. Hello Phouc Vinh

When I arrived in Camp Evans it was raining heavily. When I left Camp Evans, it was still raining frequently. Our walk-in theater (right) was the ultimate in modernity. About a 6x16 screen painted white. I helped fill the ammo boxes full of dirt, stacked and nailed them for a protective wall. We were still in tents but were proud of what we had built in between hours of repairing all kinds of equipment. Orders came from above and we moved south with our entire First Cavalry Division.

Our new home: Phouc Vinh. Where are the tents? Do I see real buildings? Looks like they may even have a courthouse. We will see after the next batch of slides are ready. In the meantime, enjoy the sixth segment of my Vietnam slide show. The trees at right are a rubber plantation.

1985 THS Graduates

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May 29, 1985

Did I make this picture, or was somebody else behind the camera. The students were standing under the tall trees of Million Pines, the Fowler Home. After 12 years of practice we had developed a style of the graduates standing in rows with the camera overhead to see the faces. I wonder why the rows were short and so many. Possibly to keep the shade away from the faces. Nevertheless, there was the squinting into the sun, a few dark spots and bright spots. Breeze was blowing. Negative was the best exposure, but the others are printable, too. Only one honor graduate, Ronald Baker. I can't believe this was 25 years ago (2010 now). From your facebook photos, you look just as young as you were then.

Others that week: Band concert, Kindergarten graduates, Al Garner - Coast Guard, and yet another accident at GA 29 & GA 46.

1980 THS Graduation Class

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May 28, 1980

There were 57 graduates. Nobody rounded up the tall ladder, so the stands were used for the birds-eye view, causing the students to squint into the morning sun. There were some sudden breezes. For those students whose tassels were in their faces, be advised that there are two different negatives to choose from.

Others that week: Large group of kids on courthouse steps, TES students, Barron Gillis tennis, Kindergarten graduation, piano recital, band concert, group on the floor of TPS gym, TPS field day, honor graduates, flags downtown for Memorial Day, little twirlers.

1975 THS Graduating Class

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May 28, 1975

There were 66 graduates, and you're welcome to count them. That year Mrs. John P. Smith had arranged for a tall ladder for a birds-eye viewpoint and for the students to face the end zone instead of the morning sun, so they wouldn't be squinting, and for the faces to show more form. (Bet you didn't know what pains we were taking.) I don't remember the upside down Panther sign in the background (cropped out in the blog view).

Others that week: State track championship, a family, Beta officers, Coach Berry, TES students, TES sign, three honor grads, VOT employees and employers, UCWC pageant winners, little twirlers, kindergarten individual photos and group photo, sports awards.

HOW GREEN

WAS MY

BP!

Slideshow: Vietnam - First Cav - Preparation to Move South

Like Noah, we gathered up everybody, packed the wagons, and headed to the ark. Actually some of the C-130's that would transport all of our equipment from Camp Evans to Phouc Vinh. The entire First Cavalry Division, 20,000 strong, moved from I Corps to III Corps. Most of our people went down on troop ships.  I was airlifted as part of the advance detachment. This batch of slides was probably shot in September or early October 1968. The only thing I can remember to date it is that the World Series was playing on the radio at one of my stops. Seems that I went through batallion HQ south of Hue, Da Nang, possibly An Khe and Binh Hoa. 

Click on the slideshow to stop and look at larger images.

1985 Gillis Shot by Gainer

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May 22, 1985

The lifeless body of Johnnie Lee Gillis, Sr., age 42, was removed from the ditch on GA 227 across from the Jim Day residence. J. D. Gainer, Jr., turned himself in after Gillis was shot twice in the head. Sheriff Wayne Hooks said that the shooting happened as a result of a dispute over a girlfriend.

Others that week: 4-H shooting classes, Mulberry Bush opened under new ownership, new batting cage, class party for subscription sellers, sports awards, and an unusual cucumber.