Did anyone order a snake? by Dave Berry

Dave Berry | all galleries >> Galleries >> Vietnam War '67 - '68 > Did anyone order a snake?

Did anyone order a snake?

A python "adopted" by 2nd Platoon and kept in our perimeter at Loc Ninh. Named Lurch, after the butler in the Addams Family TV show. He escaped when shrapnel from a VC mortar attack damaged the artillery ammo crate that he was kept in. For the next few days nobody jumped into a bunker without looking carefully first.

Photo courtesy of Steve Fortenberry, 2nd Platoon Leader.

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Bud Officer		17-Dec-2013 17:12
Bud Officer He's big for sure. Seen his brother in Dau Tieng. I was in Bravo, 2/12, 25th out of Dau Tieng. We fought the Nov 67 battle against the 9th NVA Div. It was nasty. A regiment of human wave right up Bravo's throat, some breaking through for hand to hand. Body count next morning was over a hundred to our immediate front. Is there anyone out there from my unit? I wouldn't mind hearing from you. God bless my brothers! Some of us made it home. I live in Oregon.

April Snow		10-Nov-2013 18:15
Does anyone have any pictures of Elbert Fay Snow he was my father in law and fought in Vietnam in 67 if so please message me and send them he was a SGT

Dave Berry		29-Aug-2013 20:44
Different snake, but I'm sure that Lurch was far from being the only one of his species to run afoul of American soldiers. We used to see huge skins stretched out to dry when we passed through some of the villages, especially Montagnard villages.

Col (ret) John Lesko		29-Aug-2013 20:29
The guy holding the head of the snake was Corporal Jim Lewis, my recon sgt. We just assaulted the LZ and ran into the elephant grass when I heard a blood curdling scream. The snake went right after a few of the guys from C, 1/28th Inf. "louie" shot it with his 45. Right after that we were attacked by "VC Hornets". Those bastards were worse than the snake. Louie became a Lieutenant in the Indianapolis Fire Dept and subsequently passed away from the ravages of cancer about 8 years ago at 57. He was like my little brother.

"hill" schenk		31-Dec-2012 00:39
DAVE, I served in VietNam in a COM. Unit with the 25th Inf. Div. out of CuChi Jul. 69-70. Just came across your Postings, etc. and Photo's....."THANKS." I saw the photo of the SNAKE and could just smile! ! ! I can just imagine the sort of FUN the fellas had with it !!! Heck, we just took in a wayward pooch !!! Been searching for a Boot Camp Buddy I SAW on the back of a Deuce and a Half on the Base Camp at CuChi in maybe August of 69......Pray he made it back HOME. ANYONE Out There Knowing a "TOMMY WALLS" from Georgia I believe, PLEASE let him know "HILL SCHENK" (Central Penna.) asks to get in touch.... hilldi@verizon.net (I have NEVER forgotten the RedCross Message he received in Boot.....ie.."Congratulations Daddy....What are you gonna do now?" Tommy Was (and I Pray Still IS) a One In A Million Type Guy !!! ) :-) GOD BLESS YOU DAVE AND GOD BLESS ALL THE REST OF YOU....OUR BROTHERS WHO SHARED TIME IN THE MUD AND STENCH THAT WAS VIET NAM !!! (MAY WE PAUSE NOW.....AS I KNOW MOST OF US DO EACH DAY......MANY TIMES SOME DAYS.....THINKING ABOUT THOSE WE JUST COULDN'T HELP THAT ONE TIME !!! Thanks Again Dave................"hill schenk" (Hilary Joseph Schenk) 106 Union Avenue, Altoona, Penna. 16602

Joe Karczynski		10-Apr-2012 21:44
That is a great clear picture of Lurch. Funny story Dean Beard (2nd Plt. Bravo Co.) told me about finding him.

Jim Piedmont		13-Nov-2011 04:30
Looks like the same one that went over feet one after noon" I never seen the likes of it how that thing as long as it was came in right between us in a tree line over my feet & made it's way up in to what wasn't any more then what we would call twig branches & disappear right in front of our eye's: we did what any respectable brave trooper would do" beat feet away from there & find the rest of the company:" snakes & bugs of every kind that even to day are unknown about today: Roman Plows

Guest		07-May-2009 14:12
Good Lord, as if the VC were not bad enough!

John McCoy		31-Oct-2008 00:36
Lurch had a football-sized bulge about a foot and a half from his head. I suspect he had eaten a nice meal sometime just prior to becoming a POW of Bravo Company. I do not think he needed any of the rats that were placed in his box, as he probably needed a day or two to digest the meal he had. When he got away, I hoped he would find a V.C. to eat, as there were plenty of them on the other side of the concertina wire, trying every night to get in to us. Doc wasn't kidding about us looking before we jumped into a bunker!

Dave Berry		07-Dec-2007 07:31
There were rats running around all over the place. The guys caught some of them and put them in the crate with him. As far as I know, he didn't actually eat them in the short amount of time he was in captivity. I don't know anything about their habits and didn't make a strong effort to become more snake-friendly.

Karen Moen		07-Dec-2007 07:22
This reminds me how wildlife is often caught in the middle of human combat. What did you feed this python? I used to keep snakes but they were very good escape artists so I can relate to that. It was nice that you didn't kill this beauty the way most people react. Thanks for all your work on this gallery. My father went to Laos as an unarmed advisor in the early sixties when the French were still there. Voted.

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