The
village of Andien is about a mile west of Ben Cat, in the area known as the
Iron Triangle. Company C, 1/16th Mechanized Infantry spent much of the time
in late 1968 and 1969 in a pacification program to help the village.
The
village was featured in a cover article in Life Magazine in 1969. The photo
essay by Life Magazine photographer Larry Burrows told the story of Tron,
a 12 year old girl from Andien, who was fitted with an artifical leg. Tron
had been wounded by a US helicopter as she gathered vegetables in a free-fire
zone. Larry
Burrows work was featured in the book "Larry Burrows - Compassionate
Photographer", by the Editors of Life, Time-Life Books, New York, published
in 1972. Library of Congress catalog card number 72-88529. Larry Burrows was
killed on February 10, 1971 while riding in a helicopter covering the invasion
of Laos.
Children
of Andien on their way to school in Ben Cat. The village of Andien is in the
background.
Entering
Andien from the west, the Iron Triangle, throwing candy to the children in
the village.
Leaving
the east entrance of Andien, going towards Ben Cat.
Small
shops on the main street of Andien
Late
evening - Andien as seen from Ben Cat.
Patrolling
in the rice fields near Andien. This was a fairly secure area, and Viet Cong
weren't seen during the day in this wide open space. But Viet Cong lived in
the village of Andien, as we found out one night when we surrounding the village
(called a cordon as search).
Bull
riding, Vietnamese style.
Harvesting
rice in the fields, removing the rice from the stalk, then cleaning the rice.
The
great chase to get some candy. We gave away the candy and some other items
that came in care packages we received. We kept the shaving cream, razors,
toothpaste, etc., that came in the packages.
You
find American memorabilia in strange places.
Lunch
of rice and fermented fish.
Bargaining
for anything that was for sale.
Teaching
the kids how to do pushups.
Entering
Ben Cat from Andien. There is a horse drawn wagon on the left. Not many horses
were seen in this part of Vietnam
