[05:01:05.24] Aerial footage showing lots of smoke. Aerial footage of 4 helicopters flying across the smoky area.

Transcription

1 Project Name: Vietnam War Stories Tape/File # WCNAM A28 Search & Destroy, China Beach Transcription Date: 9/4/09 Transcriber Name: Frank Leung Keywords: helicopter, soldier, surf, smoky, smoke, APC, tank, radio, jungle, field, POV, clearing, China Beach, picnic, supplies, play, playing, beer, lifeguard, woman, beach, water, football, relax, sail, gift shop, mess hall, barber, base HELICOPTERS [05:01:05.24] Aerial footage showing lots of smoke. Aerial footage of 4 helicopters flying across the smoky area. [05:01:37.15] Aerial footage of helicopters flying across smoky landscape. [05:02:07.25] Aerial footage showing outskirts of smoky area. [05:02:27.05] Helicopter flying across barren landscape. [05:02:43.07] Helicopter pilot with a pipe in his hand. [05:03:13.28] Helicopter pilot from behind. Aerial footage of forestry. [05:03:43.05] It is March 12th, 1968, with the 121st Signal Battalion. [05:03:46.14] A line of helicopters ready to take off. Spinning helicopter rotors. Helicopter preps for take-off. Soldiers board helicopter. [05:04:21.11] POV from helicopter lift off. [05:04:44.03] Helicopter flying. Soldiers sitting. [05:05:12.12] Helicopter flying. Helicopter follows trail of thick, white smoke.

2 SOLDIERS [05:05:36.23] Soldiers huddled together, surrounded by purple smoke. [05:05:54.03] Soldiers walking along with APCs. Soldier talks on radio. [05:06:28.11] Soldiers investigating jungle area. Soldiers walk through white field. Soldiers walk into village shacks. TANKS AND APCs [05:07:02.20] Soldiers walking on outskirts of village. APCs driving, soldiers are standing and spread out on field. Soldiers walk along with APCs. [05:07:38.24] Soldiers walking on sandy trails. Tank and APC driving. [05:08:14.05] Tank and APC driving on a dusty field. Soldiers walking with APC behind them. [05:08:41.20] 2 soldiers sit in a crater. Helicopter flies quickly above tree line with a trail of smoke emitted, 4 helicopters landing. LANDING HELICOPTERS [05:09:12.27] Soldiers jump off landed helicopter. [05:09:18.15] Soldiers scurry near a trail of flames. Numerous helicopters landing. Soldiers jump off helicopter. [05:09:37.15] 2 soldiers crouch with purple smoke in foreground. Soldiers crouching in grass. Soldier talks on radio. [05:10:01.12] 2 soldiers on radio, in background are running troops and many helicopters taking off. Helicopters kick up dust as they take off, 4 soldiers quickly run. Soldiers moving as helicopters take off.

3 THE FOREST [05:10:37.10] Soldiers talks on radio with radioman. [05:11:06.25] Soldier walks into forest. Soldiers walking in forest. [05:11:34.17] Soldier's feet walking. Soldiers walking in forest. [05:12:04.20] Soldiers walking through forest. Yellow smoke spreads through forest. [05:12:28.12] Soldiers walk through forest. Soldiers walk through thin branches and trees. [05:13:07.13] Soldiers' feet walking. Soldiers walk through thin branches and trees. [05:13:44.23] Soldiers walk through shadowy forest. [05:14:20.01] Soldiers walk through wooded area. [05:15:07.07] Soldiers duck under low branch. Soldiers stand in clearing. Soldiers walking through clearing. [05:15:44.19] Soldiers walk down little slope into forest. Soldiers walk through shallow water. POV of feet moving through shallow water. [05:16:44.21] Soldiers walking along trail. MORE LANDING HELICOPTERS [05:17:10.05] Helicopters land into smoked out clearing. Soldiers board helicopter. It takes off. [05:17:50.05] Same as previous shots, except different angles.

4 [05:18:27.09] Same as previous shots, except different angles. [05:18:48.20] Burned out clearing, few soldiers scattered across field. [05:19:12.26] Aerial footage of city. CHINA BEACH [05:19:43.21] Soldiers walk through area with picnic tables. Soldiers haul supplies into area from beach. [05:20:14.26] Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans. Soldiers play catch with baseball. [05:20:47.02] Soldiers swim and play catch with a football at a beach. 2 soldiers sailing. [05:21:36.18] Soldiers swim and ride boats. Soldiers stand on beach. Soldiers play catch with football. SIGNS AND SIGNPOSTS [05:22:31.17] Guard post entrance with signpost: "China Beach". [05:23:02.19] Red, white, and blue "Armory" sign with red, white, and blue fence in front. Helicopter flies overhead. Soldiers walk across sandy beach area. [05:23:31.25] Signpost: "China Beach Officers' Club and R&R Center". Sign telling soldiers they will be denied if they carry weapons. [05:23:58.28] Garbage can sign: "Use It". Row of houses. Signpost: "Office". [05:24:30.16] Helicopters fly overhead the office. Row of houses.

5 SURFING [05:25:03.12] Soldiers surfing. [05:26:06.23] Lifeguard standing on post. Soldiers surfing. [05:27:35.18] Beach resort area. Soldiers surfing. [05:28:07.20] Soldier walks across beach with surfboard. Soldiers surfing. [05:29:28.13] Soldiers surfing. Soldier runs across beach. More surfing. [05:30:00.17] Cables rolled up around red apparatus. Vietnamese woman writing. Man and woman walking. House with red apparatus in front. [05:30:33.13] Signpost: "Daily Users", "Cold Beer & Soda There". Soldiers swimming. White-stringed thing rolls on beach. BEER [05:31:02.22] Pabst Blue Ribbon can on beach. Soldiers dig up starfish. [05:31:34.19] Soldiers running in fog. Soldiers drink beer. [05:32:12.04] Soldiers walk in water. 2 soldiers relax on bench. [05:32:45.22] Soldiers relax on beach. Soldier's clothes and boots on beach. Signpost: "Cold Beer & Soda". THE STORE [05:33:19.13] Soldier walks into building. Canned goods and food. Vietnamese woman takes inventory. Vietnamese woman at cash register with soldiers.

6 SAILING AND BOATS [05:34:11.08] Boat moving. Soldiers set up a sail. [05:34:43.06] Soldiers on the sail. [05:35:15.01] Soldiers sailing. 2 soldiers walking onto beach with sail in background. Boats sit next to a compound. [05:35:46.04] Blue and red canoes. Blue boat. [05:36:12.29] Surfboards line the wall and are on a table, Vietnamese man works on surfboard. [05:36:42.11] 2 canoes are held in place on the beach. Ocean tide. [05:37:15.25] Soldier lies on blanket. 2 soldiers walk on beach. Soldiers surfing. [05:37:51.26] Soldiers surfing. [05:38:25.17] Soldier walks into ocean with surfboard. Man takes picture on beach. Lifeguard post. [05:38:54.22] Medical building. Round lifeguard tube: "USS China Beach Reception". GIFT SHOP [05:39:17.09] Soldier walks into building. Soldier pays Vietnamese woman in gift shop. Porcelain dolls. East Asian artwork. [05:40:04.01] Vietnamese woman smiling. "Authorized Concessionaire" shack, man walks into building.

7 MESSHALL [05:40:32.07] Vietnamese woman checks soldier into mess hall. The busy mess hall. [05:40:59.01] Vietnamese woman working at the check-in desk. BARBER SHOP [05:41:44.13] Little building with canvas overhead. Sign: "Exchange Barber Shop; Concessionaire Operated; Open Daily". Vietnamese barber cuts hair. Styles of haircuts and haircut prices. [05:42:22.09] Barber continues cutting hair. The beach. Sign: "Welcome to the Surfrider Inn". [05:42:53.21] Sign: "R&R Personnel Only; Entertainment Nightly", sign: "No Swimming Trousers or Shower Shoes Allowed in Club". The base, 2 soldiers walking. Picnic/Relaxation area. [05:43:33.08] Soldiers walking on the beach. Soldiers drinking beer. [05:44:03.02] Soldiers talking and drinking beer. Soldiers in picnic area. [05:44:29.18] The base. SOLDIERS PLAYING IN/NEAR THE WATER [05:45:12.17] An entertainment room. Soldiers surfing. [05:46:52.05] Soldiers surfing. [05:47:14.19] Soldiers play football. Soldiers relax on the beach. Soldiers play football and horse around. One more snap. [05:47:59.09] Soldiers relax on beach. Soldiers play football. Large symbol constructed in sand. Catch is played with a football.

8 SOLDIERS ARRIVE TO RESORT [05:48:36.27] Soldiers in fatigues arrive off a truck. Soldiers ride a truck onto the beach. [05:49:02.26] Chinook helicopter flies over resort. Soldiers in fatigues stand with their weapons. MORE PLAYING [05:49:23.26] Soldiers running into water. Lifeguard climbs up to post. The beach. Soldiers play catch with a football. [05:50:22.20] Soldiers in the water. Soldiers playing football. Soldiers sun tanning. [05:50:51.18] Soldier throws football while others stand. 2 soldiers toss a football. 2 soldiers walk into the water. Soldiers running on beach into the water, they horse around. [05:51:38.06] Soldiers run and dive into water. Soldiers playing in the water. Soldier applies suntan lotion. Soldiers stand or relax near the water.