D Company Stand-Down at the Bien Hoa VIP Center, Spring 1970
A three-day stand-down at the Bien Hoa VIP Center
In the spring of 1970, between operations in War Zone C, D Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry was rotated out of the field for a three-day stand-down at the 1st Cavalry Division's VIP Center in Bien Hoa. Two photographs in CAVALAIR (8 April 1970) record it: D Company and E Company men stepping off a C-130 at Bien Hoa airport, and D Company men in the VIP Center pool.
Line companies cycled through the center periodically for rest and relaxation -- a swimming pool, miniature golf, ball courts, movies, traveling floor shows, and clubs -- a sharp contrast to the bamboo and bunkers of the Dog's Head a few days earlier.
From the clipping (verbatim captions)
"That C-130 may not be the 'Freedom Bird' but it's the next best thing. 1st Air Cavalrymen from Delta and Echo Companies 2nd Bn, 8th Cav disembark at Bien Hoa airport for a three-day stand down at the Cav's VIP Center."
"Plenty of room for everyone in the 1st Cav's VIP Center pool and the water's always warm. Members of Alpha Company, 1st Bn, 12th Cav and Delta Company, 2nd Bn, 8th Cav get in the swim of things during the three day stand down."
Both captions, CAVALAIR (1st Air Cavalry Division weekly), Vol. 4 No. 14, 8 April 1970.
