Embedded Files
11/11/2014
Combat Photography
shooting with Kodak 35mm rounds
Robert Witowski took this iconic and award winning photo during the Tet Offensive Jan 31,1968 at the Tan Son Nhut air base home of the U.S. Command HQ in Saigon. I shot it from the screen of the power point presentation in Saratoga last week, but then obtained the original scans and ran through my digital darkroom.
To me he may have captured the essence of the entire 10 year war in 1/200 of a second at f-stop 4. North Vietnam lost this battle but won the war as the tide turned and support for the war ebbed. For some of these soldiers it may have been the beginning and the end of combat figuratively, and for some literally. National Security Advisor Kissinger met with North Vietnam for secret peace talks a few months later.
To the left of this picture 4 soldiers lost their lives defending the west gate from O-51 bunker. Had the VC been successful at penetrating and ultimately taking over the Commander General Westmoreland's headquarters there the course of the war would have been greatly altered.
This is just one of many iconic images of this war, but they all beg the question," Is there really an imminent threat to our vital interests and therefore worth the effort?" Always an appropriate question to evaluate.
How do you get a good action shot. You go in front of the firing line. By digging around I was able to find this reverse angle where it appears to be just moments before the shooting flared up. I am guessing Witowski is in front of the ARVN tank with camera on tripod. Appears to be a second tank on right side pointing in opposite direction. In left picture the black Tech Sgt Philip Moon (5 stripes) and Senior Airman Marc Berger (3 stripes) are also visible in the top picture first two on right.
Famed war photographer of WW2 Robert Capa is quoted to say, "If your photographs aren't good enough, you aren't close enough."
There is a danger in getting too close, however. Witowski died in 2012 from complications of cancer due to confirmed exposure to Agent Orange . The VA reluctantly but eventually allowed some disability compensation for this. Ten million gallons of the hazardous herbicide chemical Dioxin TCDD transported in orange painted barrels was used extensively to defoliate trees in order to view enemy activity. A chemical my agency and I had been involved in regulating from Monsanto, DOW, and Occidental Chemical firms in Niagara Falls. The location of this spraying operation by Fairchild C-123 spray bird planes was not documented in Bob's photo but a common target was the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos.
I'm far from a war hawk, but you gots to admire the awesome power of this 6 barrel "minigun". There's nothing mini about them. All of Bob's photographs had numerous scratches and quality inconsistencies that I touched up. This one was in high contrast so my rendition brings out the details I saw. These civil war based Gatling guns were originally powered by GE motors (later Dillon) to produce between 3000 rounds per minute. Imagine being on the receiving end of 50 thirty caliber bullets a second (from just one gun). Dramatic video gives you a little feeling of the power and the AC-47 Spooky Puff the Magic Dragon gunship had 3 or more of these units mounted. Military video is a little more historical.
[ It wasn't until I got to the end of my "investigation" that I realized that Bob had passed away just 2 months after my wife did. His cremains were interred at the Saratoga National Cemetery where my wife and her church choir had sung at each Veterans Day Memorial service. The pragmatist would say coincidence. The psychic would say spirit guide or guardian angel. ]
IMAGE DETAILS
Dept of Defense After action report Second After Action Report
who: Tech Sgt Philip H. Moon (Rt. to Lt.) and Senior Airman Marc Joel Berger minutes prior Moon deceased 2013 377th Security Police Squad Tan Son Nhut Air Base 377th Org SPS Base Police
O-51 bunker only survivor Coggins Coggins Silver Star 30 years late Guard Tower 4 bunker memorial Fischer KIA TSN Memorial page
what: 650 Viet Cong enemy KIA, 51 US and friendy KIA in worst TSN attack of the war. 2,500 enemy forces overall attacked the base with 350 fighters KIA from the 271st Regiment of the 9th Viet Cong Division and 269th F Battalion VC at the west gate
why: part of VC and NVA Tet Offensive to take over air base and destroy the US military commander MACV HQ of General Westmoreland
where: O-51 bunker US manned defensive western perimeter position just east of Highway One where 4 security guards died in battle, also called E-6 E37 Echo Sector used by the French before they were driven out of Vietnam, the Guard Tower 4 (Tango 4) manned by 2 US security guards radioed the battle action, and T-4 tower manned by 2 US SPS. TSNA The K-1 to K-35 seem to be K9 sentry dog kennel buildings that may appear in the background of the top picture?
when: Jan 31, 1968 attack began 0320 hours. After the picture was taken these US assault line Security Police withdrew at 0635 east 50 meters leaving Witowski stranded to help rescue wounded with the ARVN tank crew. By 0729 cavalry from 25th Infantry Division moved to seal the breached fence line. More air support and artillery was employed to quell the invaders.
how: Enemy viscous surprise attack ultimately repelled by US friendlies.
VC and NVA heavy ground fire at east perimeter POL petroleum, then mortar rockets and hand grenade from VC staged in a Vinatexco Factory outside west perimeter, few arrived in taxi and grenade blasted through the fence just outside the O-51 gate. The 377th Security Police Squad held off the attack until the Security Alert Teams, Reserve Security Alert Teams, Quick Reaction Teams (13 man Security Police Reserve Units made up of off-duty personnel) and U.S. Army augmentation forces to themselves Security Police Squadron from Task Force 35. (Total U.S. Holding forces of approximately 155 personnel.) Joint Defense Operations Center sent in C Troop, 3 Squad, 4th Cavalry, and 25th Infantry, three Regular Vietnam Army tanks, VN Airfare, US and VN tanks, combat helicopters, Spooky assault C47 airships. ARVN 52nd Regional Force Batallion and 69th US Signal Batallion
GENERAL OVERVIEW
ARMED SERVICES PHOTOGRAPHERS
2012 Military Photographer of Year look for: Moments. Emotions. Beauty. Tragedy. Life.
USAF Combat Camera 600th HQ TSN video
Army (video) 221st SEAPC
Tunnel Rat ***Charlie Haughey releases photos 45 years later***
Soldiers Vietnam Photo Galleries
MAINSTREAM JOURNALISM
FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER
who: US Air Force Airman first class Robert Witowski (obit Agent Orange)
what: Bronze Star V for Heroism rescuing 2 members of ARVN tank crew just after taking the top picture. After 0635 when the US assault line Security Police withdrew east 50 meters leaving Witowski stranded with the ARVN tank crew. At 0515 ARVN Commander Major Chieu wounded and evacuated.
why: graduated NY High School of Art and Design and enlisted
where: assigned to 600th USAF Photo Squad at Da Nang and Ton San Nhut and other Detachments in VN
when: 1966-1968
how: likely with Nikon F SLR 35mm shoot Kodachrome and higer speed 200 ASA Ektachrome slides. Lenses 28 mm, 35mm, 50mm, 135mm tele. Maybe Speed Grafic 4x5 and printed format. Develop on base darkroom E-3 E-6 processing. Given freedom to go and shoot anywhere in Vietnam. Shot from the air, at Khe Sahn near DMZ. Countryside. Montagnards tribes of Central Highlands. They were used by the Special Forces. Not sure if he got the mountain highlands Hmong people of Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino fame?
Vietnam War 50th Commemoration
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