photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Tom Briggs | all galleries >> Galleries >> 1966 Vietnam > Car Bomb ...
previous | next
1966 tom briggs

Car Bomb ...

Vietnam

In April 1966, the Viet Cong staged an attack on this hotel (used by the US Army for housing) and set off a car bomb that did extensive damage and caused a number of casualties. Three Military Policemen attempted to intercept this attempt and were cut down with automatic weapons ... one of these three was First Lieutenant Chester Lee, a golfing partner of mine at Ft Leavenworth before he left for SE Asia. The other two MP's were Mulvaney and Brems (thanks to Bob Morisson, Company A, 716th MP BN)... see his comment below as a Guest.


other sizes: small medium large original auto
share
Anthony Wier 02-Jul-2018 05:43
Greetings, Does anyone know about a car or bike bombing in 1967 in front of the MP Hotel on Tran Hung Dao street in Cholon?
Larry 22-Apr-2018 19:03
I was one street over from the left of that photo in a hotel. First heard gun shots then explosion that blew me backwards. Not knowing what happened (the sound was deafening)my girlfriend Lan called a taxi that met me at the door.
Davis swallow 16-Feb-2018 19:53
I was a Navy radioman scheduled to begin work at MACV J-6 the morning of the explosion. I was at the Freeman BEQ on Huynh Nguyen Duoc, about a quarter mile away and was literally knocked out of my rack by the explosion. The whole building shook. My co-worker, Doug Soul, was supposed to wake me up to check in for work, but he forgot and got a cyclo. On the way, he heard shooting behind him (the VC sprayed the John Houston BEQ as they passed. Doug jumped out of the cyclo at the corner by the Victoria and ducked behind a small wall. He witnessed the deaths of the two MPs (a VC was waiting on the opposite corner to ambush any help.
Jim Hicks 10/65 - 10/66 08-Jul-2017 18:03
Lt. Lee was my CO, C Company. Mulvaney and I made Sp 4 on the same set of orders. Good troops all.
Rod Brennan 01-Feb-2017 00:25
Is this the attack on the Metropole ?
Herbert Frank 13-Apr-2016 23:52
I was a Lt in Vn with the 716 . Chet joined after we arrived. We were best buds. Michael was selected to join the Presidents Own in Arlington National Cemetary after his tour. RIP
Herbert Frank 13-Apr-2016 23:50
I was a Lt with the 716 in Vn. Chet Lee was my best friend there. I left in Jan and didn't find out e was killed until I was stateside. RIP Chet ,Michael and all others.
robert oversier 10-May-2015 00:45
I had a room at the Victoria. As luck would have it, I ran into a friend from stateside that night at the Rex hotel. We had a few too many and I didn't want to go back to my hotel after curfew, so my friend invited me to stay at his house where he lived with his Vietnamese wife. I heard the blast from miles away, and for some reason had a hunch it was my hotel. Went there in the morning, and saw my hunch was right. Ambassador Lodge was there inspecting the ruins when I got there. Thanks, my friend Skip....I owe you one!
Henry Billings 13-Jan-2015 22:10
I remember waking up to blast and saying, "They just blew up the Victoria." It was just a hunch but, I had heard that the VC were planning an April Fool's Day surprise.
Wayne Hughes 05-Jul-2014 17:30
This looks like the Victoria Hotel. If it is the front was opened up like a doll house. Some good MPs were lost in this attack. My viewpoint on MPs changed forever afterwards. This is a mighty sad reminder of my tour of duty in Saigon 48 years ago.
Binh 14-Jun-2012 09:16
Thank you very much Tom for sharing great picture. It is great learning
Long Bach Nguyen28-Nov-2011 16:19
great documentary of our historical past...very ironic with the destruction around the building the Esso man is still smiling v
Guest 15-Nov-2009 22:29
Just after the barricades were removed because the locals (VC) complained they insulted them. Lee, Mulvany, Brems. Thanks, Tom. Bob Morrison, A/716 MP 66-69
Guest 19-Jul-2008 19:35
Tom, thank you for allowing me to capture this image. It was the Victoria Hotel and I was just a few miles away when it happened. I remember the sound of the blast and the stillness that followed. Eerie memory. It is difficult to find quality photos of events I remembered there. Again, thanks. Stoney.
vanessas25-Jun-2008 20:51
unfortunate to see that the 'lessons of the past' are still in incubation and judgment is impaired from those sitting in their respective ivory towers. this must have been hell on earth for all people on both sides in this very unfortunate incident. (my conscience is telling me to shut up . so for once, i will)
Guest 28-Nov-2007 15:54
Very nice capture of a terrible and bizarre scene. It is strange to see all the destruction and the smiling Esso mascot looking on as if all were normal. Thanks for sharing the story behind this and all the other photos.
1moremile07-Aug-2007 22:31
Nice comments you have here, Tom. I think WE didn't want to leave Nam like we did.
That's what Bush learned.
You can delete this if you want.
I won't be offended.
cachia 05-Aug-2007 11:55
you are all fair people
Guest 03-Jun-2007 17:33
I remember those Esso gas stations. They are still around in Canada.
guest 30-May-2007 09:15
the same in Baghdad

;
tim t hoang08-May-2007 05:24
Vietnam 1966 and Iraq 2007. What does the Bush administration learn from the Vietnam war lesson?
Type your message and click Add Comment
It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest.
Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help private comment