Narrative:   Did you ever have to pull "motor stables by the numbers"?   This usually happens when the motorpool sergeant is pissed because we weren't doing the checks that we were required to do.   This picture is Sgt. Voight about March or April 1967 on the loud speaker telling us to "#1 open hood of vehicle, #2 check oil, #3 check water level" etc. etc. The jeep in the back ground says"Chaplin 44th NCR" across the hood just below the windows.

    The picture is Martinez doing his paper work in the cab and Faulk and someone else doing it by the numbers.   Voight would say "#so and so - Do this"   Faulk would do it and yell briskly to Martinez who would mark it down on the check list.   PL4 is next to them.   Martinez is in either PL1 or PL2.

    The next picture is the 2 1/2 tons with their hoods up getting checked.   There was only two maybe three guys to do the whole line.   Left to right truck #'s PL17 -PL18- PL19 -PL29 -last can't read because a guy is in the way.

⁵ Narative/Photo Credits:   Tom Petty, 697th

    Narrative:   Guys this is the famous PL2.   It went with the 2nd platoon to darn near every place we went.   It even beat me to Samae San.   I was the assigned driver for a long time.   One time, I filled out the log book in red ink (at Udorn).   It was the only pen we had.   When I got back to the motor pool and turned it in, the motorpool sgt. made me redo the whole thing because red ink was for air craft!

    I always had enough pens or pencils after that.   PL 1 is off to the left.   Sgt Marsh and someone else behind him.

    Words can not express the feelings this vehicle brings to mind.   All the places, experiences, things done with friends, the work done - with PL2.

    I remember when I first went to Samae San.   Loria, Koelecke, and I were walking to the motorpool and I saw PL2.   WOW!   ..was I thrilled and started telling Pete and Koelecke, excitedly, about the truck.   Koelecke said "ahh f#%&* a bunch of PL2's.."   To this day over, thirty years later, I still have not forgotten him saying that, or Loria laughing because I got so upset...

    The next picture is the 2 1/2 ton PL47 mobil machine shop, one of very few such units.   It had lathes and anything you needed to work metal.   The only other one I saw was at 538th motorpool in Samae San and it could have very well been this one.   It was a unique vehicle.   The sides would fold out and up and then the floor would slide out to make room inside.   Many stories to tell about this guy also.

    The girls in the EM club, which was right next to the motorpool, would clean the table clothes and hang them on the barbed wire around the motorpool to dry and air out.   It worked really well until (I would suspect) it came time to try and get them off!   <rofl>

⁵ Narative/Photo Credits:   Tom Petty, 697th

(From L to R)   Tom Heck, Stan Oviat, myself (Doyle Cain), and Steve Henderson.
Part of 3rd squad, 3rd platoon. Picture was taken at Camp Same San installing sewerlines.
"Now, I know what those (deep) ditches were used for .. kinda look gay to me ..."
- Company Clerk

   From: LINEMUP@aol.com 
     To: jsreco@csj.net 
   Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2001 7:15 AM
Subject: Blast From The Past!!!

Hello John,

    Thanks so much for the phone call last night, was best call I can ever remember recieving from anyone in years! I had a great time talking to you. Really got my brain going on thoughts of all the the guys in the 697th. Wow! half a lifetime ago guy!!! Does not seem so long ago to me. I dug out pictures after getting off the phone with you, had a funtime looking at them, had not done so in 4-5 years.

    Sending you a picture of ( from L to R) Tom Heck, Stan Oviat, Myself, and Steve Henderson. Part of 3rd squad, 3rd platoon. Picture was taken at Camp Same San installing sewerlines.

    I also have found pictures of Beson,Joe McKenzie,Potter ,Dykstra, Capt. Wagda, Sgt. Barnes and many others so far. This is great!!!

    I will stay in touch man, and again thanks for your hard work in locating everyone.     Doyle Cain

    Ok Frank let's cut the gay remarks!!!!   3rd. Platoon/3rd, Squad were close knit I think, but not THAT close.

    I have been going through what pictures I have, brings back memories for sure.

    Attaching a picture of 3rd Squad -

Back Row -   Bill Brown (Wisconsin),   Tom Heck (Kentucky),   Bill Tabler (California),
Steve Henderson (Ohio)   and Bill Cornelious (Indiana)
In Front -   Doyle Cain (Indiana)   and Stan Oviatt (Iowa).
Picture was taken at Camp Samae San Maybe   June 1969
Click here for a wider angle version of above picture.