The following images were taken by Jim Hardy when he joined Alpha and Charlie Companies of the 2-3rd Infantry for a week on an operation in the jungles and rubber plantations outside of FSB Blackhorse and Xuan Loc in the latter part of October, 1969.  The following images and captions will form a short narrative of Hardy's time with the unit.  

 "Images bring back a lot of memories. I don't have names for many of the faces.  The photographs show the men who are still suspended in those moments, maybe forever, powerless to do anything else than try and hope."  Jim Hardy

Jim Hardy's ride out to the field to link up with Alpha and Charlie Companies operating in and near the rubber plantation.  Note the railroad tie in front of the driver to hopefully deflect any bullets or shrapnel.  Note also the GI web belt tacked on to hang smoke and frag grenades in case of enemy contact.

Jeeps from 2-3rd Infantry's "Rat Patrol."  This concept, named from the popular 1960's era television show, utilized heavily armed Jeeps with 2-3 men and M-60's that sped up and down the maze of trails and roads of the rubber plantations in Long Khanh Province, hoping to catch the NVA/VC off guard.

Lieutenant in charge of the of "Rat Patrol" detail calling in sit-rep after reaching Alpha Company somewhere in the rubber plantation.  Note that flak jackets are either worn or seen in close proximity to the rat patrol personnel as they were usually worn and extras put under the seats in case of mines and booby-traps that may be encountered.

Alpha Company preparing to move out and cover their expected zone of responsibility in the battalion's tactical area of operations.  Note that the men are beginning to get settled in to their gear, with the usual shrugging of shoulders and twisting/turning of the body so as to better settle the 60+ pounds of equipment that were often carried on patrol.

Alpha moves out on their azimuth in company column formation. Both sides of the road are covered with the officers and NCO's in the middle.  Tactical formations would depend upon the type of terrain being operated in.  In the deep jungle, the "line" formation was the usual, with one man following behind the other in something that resembled "a long green snake meandering through the bush."

Mark Muehe, right, and Teddy Weeks, center, preparing his rucksack for another day's "hump."  Muehe, who is the subject on the previous page, was killed in action on December 5th, 1969.

Down time.  Jim Hardy, left, and two Alpha Company members taking five and eating a meal of cold C-Rations.  C-Rations usually came in cases of 12 meals that differed in variety, taste, and choice.  Beans and Franks were usually preferred over Ham and Lima-Beans, or in grunt lingo, Ham and "Mother****ers."

"Smoke 'em if you got 'em."  Taking a break while the command group has a radio check, checks the time and map coordinates.  Note the smoke grenades and hand-held flares that are attached to the RTO's radio.  Also notice that there is no standard way of wearing ones uniform or equipment while in the field.  Many of the soldiers have chosen not to wear their jungle jackets and instead wear the OD green t-shirt.

Artillerymen who are most likely from Alpha Battery, 2-40th Artillery.  With the 2nd Battalion, 40th Artillery, the 199th LIB had its own organic artillery support and each of the battalions four batteries support each of the Brigade's four infantry battalions.  During its time with the 199th, the 2-40th Artillery would fire over one million rounds in support of the Brigade and span the with of Vietnam from Cambodia to the South China Sea.  Below, these same artillerymen are busy firing an H&I (Harassment and Interdiction) mission.

The typical load for the infantryman while on an operation, as shown by PFC Santolucito,  was heavy and cumbersome.  Ammunition and water were the most important, in addition to a three to five day supply of C-Rations, flares, M60 ammunition, a claymore mine, grenades, an e-tool, bayonet, machete, first aid components, cleaning rods/tools for the M16 and extra socks.  Underwear, which rotted and chafed easily, was usually not worn and personal items, if any, were kept to a minimum.

Note that there is no uniformity in how these infantryman wear or attach their equipment to the issue lightweight rucksack.  When in the field, it was up to the individual soldier to wear his uniform and equipment how he saw fit.

Medical gear being inventoried by Doc Bass while with Charlie Company.

Image of a M79 grenadier with C/2-3.  The M79 grenade launcher was a highly effective and respected weapon, firing a 40mm grenade round in either high explosive, flechette, or buckshot.  The M79 could fire these rounds further than a soldier could toss a fragmentation grenade and not quite as far as a 60mm mortar.

An-Loc train station, which was in the vicinity of Tan Lap.  Used as a patrol base by the 2-3rd Infantry, the railroad line and depot had not been used in years and would have been nearly impossible to guard and keep open.

Elements of A/2-3 on patrol in the vicinity of the An Loc railroad station. 

ACAV's from the 11th Armored Cavalry en-route to join the 2-3rd Infantry for the operation.

CO's from the 11th Cavalry and 2-3rd Infantry discussing the plan of action after linking up.  Joint operations between both units were common in the latter part of 1969 while the vicinity of FSB Blackhorse and Xuan Loc.  This is where Jim Hardy's time with the 199th ended upon hopping aboard an inbound slick and traveling to his next assignment with elements of the 82nd Airborne.