Earle Macedo, 3/82 B Battery 196th LIB
Earle was the Gun chief for Gun #5 and served on LZ Center from March 1969 to October 1969 using the new M102, which replaced the older 105's
When Earle first arrived on LZ Center, he was assigned to Gun #3, which was physically next to where Gun #2 was when my father was on LZ Center. Earle also served time on LZ Prep and LZ East.
The following photos were all provided by Earle during the time he served on LZ Center.
click on the thumbnails to enlarge the photo
- Left Photo - Bill Hensel in glasses from Chicago, and the others are unknown. This was taken on the bunker line at LZ Center
- Middle Photo - Earle Macedo waiting for instructions from the FDC during a fire mission. Earle was the gun chief for Gun #5
- Right Photo - Unknown carrying water from the large containers brought in by the Chinooks
- Left Photo - Unknown next to Gun #2 near mess tent
- Middle Photo - Chinook that was hooking up a gun to be moved
- Right Photo - Cleaning Gun #5, which was a daily chore every morning
- Left Photo - Gun #5 crew with second from left Earl McKee, third from left Bill Hensel, and dog Lifer
- Middle Photo - Unknown filling sandbags
- Right Photo - Filling water cans from blivits, which made the water taste like rubber
- Left Photo - Outhouse
- Middle Photo - Unknown on Gun #3
- Right Photo - NVA prisoner
- Left Photo - Looking east from Gun #2
- Middle Photo - Downed helicopter crash site, which was carrying the AP photographer Oliver Noonan. He and the entire crew were lost
- Right Photo - Unknown known as "Cookie" washing pots and pans
- Left Photo - Earle's gun hooked up and leaving LZ Center for LZ Prep
- Middle Photo - Water or fuel being delivered to LZ Center
- Right Photo - More morning cleaning on Gun #2 with unknown whose nickname was "Cotton"
- Left Photo - Unknown conducting the routine morning cleaning on Gun #5
- Middle Photo - Earle at Gun #5 waiting for the FDC with bunker behind him. Note how he is wearing his helmet
- Right Photo - Entrance to FDC (Fire Direction Control) on LZ Center
- Left Photo - Playing catch. Jeff George with his back turned to us and the gun chief for Gun #2
- Middle Photo - Fusing ammo, Gun #3, Charles Chapman is in the bunker handing rounds to Sam Strong
- Right Photo - Fusing ammo, Gun #3, Jeff George facing camera and Jim Fuqua with camera
- Left Photo - Gun #3, Sam Strong in the foreground, and Jeff George in the background
- Middle Photo - Gun #3, Jeff George, Brad Gort, and Jim Strube. Jim Strube was KIA on LZ East
- Right Photo - Gun #3 gun chief, Dave Galliher
- Left Photo - Gun #5 and ammo
- Middle Photo - Earle humping ammo
- Right Photo - Gun #3, Dave Galliher and Earle
- Left Photo - Valley fog from Gun #3
- Middle Photo - View of the battery from the ammo dump
- Right Photo - Cobra gunship on the chopper pad, situated between the ammo dump and infantry area on top of the hill
- Left Photo - Cobra gunship on the chopper pad, situated between the ammo dump and infantry area on top of the hill
- Middle Photo - Cobra gunship on the chopper pad, situated between the ammo dump and infantry area on top of the hill
- Right Photo - Cobra gunship on the chopper pad, situated between the ammo dump and infantry area on top of the hill
- Left Photo - Cobra gunship, Jim Fuqua talking to Gun #2 gun chief, and Ross Johnson. Unknown with bandage
- Middle Photo - Ammo dump
- Right Photo - Hooking up Gun #5
- Left Photo - Sam Strong and Earle
- Middle Photo - Earle in the Gun #5 hooch, enjoying some treats from home. Note the package this came in behind him
- Right Photo - Gun #3 firing with Gun #2 in the background. Foreground is David Galliher, Unknown and Jeff George
- Left Photo - Gun #5 from the ammo bunker
- Middle Photo - Earle next to Gun #3
- Right Photo - Sam Strong with Lifer
- Left Photo - Bill Hensel, who was a member of the Gun #5 crew
- Middle Photo - Charles Chapman and Earle, Gun #3
- Right Photo - Earle and Sgt. Brayboy (unsure of spelling) in front of the Gun #5 hooch
- Left photo - Earle eating again in the Gun #5 hooch
- Middle Photo - Taking incoming, Gun #3
- Right Photo - Infantry bunker line in front of Gun #3
- Left Photo - Gun #3 with Unknown gun chief on the wall
- Middle Photo - Earle in the Gun #3 hooch
- Right Photo - Gun #5. Placing tar like substance to control dust and mud, but was not effective
