- Collection:
- Veterans History Project: Oral History Interviews
- Title:
- Oral history interview of Carl H. "Skip" Bell III, part 2 of 2
- Creator:
- Lilly, John Osborne, Jr., 1944-
Bell, Skip, III (Carl H.), 1945- - Publisher:
- Atlanta, Ga. : Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center
- Date of Original:
- 2021-07-08
- Subject:
- Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
UH-1 (Helicopter)
United States. Army. Air Cavalry Regiment, 17th
United States. Army. Infantry Division, 1st - People:
- Philips, Burton Keeney, 1944-1969
- Location:
- Cambodia, Mekong River Delta
Vietnam, Cà Mau, 9.17682, 105.15242
Vietnam, Cần Thơ, 10.0375517, 105.7809605
Vietnam, Mekong River Delta - Medium:
- oral histories (literary works)
- Type:
- Moving Image
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- In part two of this two-part interview, Skip Bell recalls four significant incidents in his two tours of duty in Vietnam. He describes in detail an enemy bomb that blew a tank off his unit's newly installed AVLB (armored vehicle launched bridge), sending the bridge into the air and seriously wounding a young soldier who had asked to ride on the tank. He also describes in detail how his friend, Lieutenant Burt Philips, was killed when the Viet Cong detonated a Chinese-made Claymore mine during Philips' patrol. He comments on the way the enemy quickly and effectively adapted to meet the challenge of new American combat tactics. He describes an incident during his second tour, flying helicopters, when a thunderstorm rendered his aircraft nearly unresponsive and drove them off course. He explains how they managed to return safely. Finally, he recalls an incident when he was tasked with flying an American senior advisor and a Vietnamese province chief into a newly re-captured village only to discover that the Viet Cong had taken it again. He explains how they were able to extract the team and displays a photograph of a Viet Cong flag from the village that he was given later. He reflects on his military service, soldiers, war in general, and the Vietnam War specifically.
armored vehicle launched bridge (AVLB); RPG; reconnaissance in force; body count; Việt Cộng; Loach; Claymore mines; "Dead Man Zone"; auto rotation; Charlie Troop, 3rd of the 17th Cavalry; "Crusaders"; "Light Horse"; 18th Corps Aviation Company; "Green Delta"; 1st Aviation Brigade; Cambodian 23rd Infantry Brigade; O'Connor, Donald; Province Support Mission; mine sweeping; "rat patrols"
Skip Bell served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and Desert Shield. - Metadata URL:
- http://album.atlantahistorycenter.com/cdm/ref/collection/VHPohr/id/845
- Additional Rights Information:
- This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.
- Extent:
- 46:07
- Original Collection:
- Veterans History Project oral history recordings
Veterans History Project collection, MSS 1010, Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center - Holding Institution:
- Atlanta History Center
- Rights: