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Tom Briggs | all galleries >> Galleries >> 1966 Vietnam > The Sandbag Club
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26-NOV-2009

The Sandbag Club

... an exclusive membership, as you might imagine ... and some more mysteriously acquired PSP flooring ... obviously open for New Year's Eve festivities if necessary ...

HP HP Scanjet G4050

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keith Hittson 20-Jun-2021 19:40
When I arrived at Pershing Field in July of 1966 this Bunker had already been built and the sign "The Sand Bag Club" had been placed over the entry. I never knew who had made the sign, but if you look at it you can tell that the soldier was quite artistic. At the bottom of the sign below the word Bag is written "Come Alone, Get Stoned". I have a photo of myself standing in front of the entry. The walls were several layers of sand bags thick and the ceiling appears to be about 3 layers of sand bags thick. The PSP flooring that Col. Briggs refers to, that mysteriously appeared, was also used as the ceiling to support the layers of sand bags that were the roof. While I as at Pershing Field my fellow solders did not go to the bunkers to get stoned or drink beer, they went there to pray. I have personally said the Lord's Prayer over and over again while setting in another bunker that was located near the Mess Hall at Pershing Field. I do not recall how many bunkers we had at Pershing Field, but there were at least three and maybe more. So what does a soldier do besides pray while setting in a cramped bunker? Each soldier has their own way of dealing with fear, but they might reflect on their 21 years of life and wonder whether their mom, dad, or girl friend can sense that they are about to die. When the dawn appears and the prayers have been answered the time spent at the Sand Bag Club is a memory that remains forever.
Bernie Kichula 16-Apr-2016 12:51
where was the club ? I have been Member since 1966 an still paying my dues . I have
a picture of me drinking a beer. Bernie Kichula AKA Bushy
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