Kirk Davis on the Duds at FSB Fontaine

Kirk Davis left this recollection in June 2026, replying on Facebook to Norm McDonald under Michael Miller's post about the "Duds Hit Firebase" CAVALAIR article. Both men served in Range Platoon, D Co, 2/8 Cav, and both remember the incident at FSB Fontaine in early March 1971.

When we heard "incoming" everybody scrambled out of their little culvert halves and got on the berm line. The place was lit up like a Christmas tree with all the illumination rounds going off. My hooch was down towards the southern end of the base by the arty pits, and I saw a big cloud of smoke rising from the north end of the Firebase beyond the mess hall, but I don't know if the hit was from inside or outside the berm. I don't remember hearing an explosion either, just a somewhat loud "ha-whump" of something heavy hitting the ground.