I remember the Water Buffalo in Nam very well. Lil kids would lead them with twine. Take them to the river and use them as a dock diving off their backs. Very docile except to us Americans. They wanted to kill us. We always were told we didn't smell right. Thank god for that. I'd hate to smell like those people. We had to kill a few that were charging us. Papason got fifty dollars for the dead critter. I think back then a farmer made about three hundered a year. The buffalo was his tractor and largest expense.
A buddy of mine, Duck, a Huey crew chief, door gunner got in trouble for something. As punishment, he was transferred to convoy duty, tail end Charlie. Don't remember why (attitude?) but he blasted a water buffalo with his Ma deuce. The farmer tracked down the base, complained. Duck got Article 15ed, busted in rank, and had to pay for the water buffalo and 2 more generations of lost buffalo. He became a junkie for a week, turned himself in and was BC discharged soon after. Viet Nam was a Satanic curse on the combat guys that had to go there. I went to Kansas and Iceland, '69-'73, not bad assignments.
For a Christmas card photo we tried to put a guy dressed in a Santa suit on a “docile” water buffalo. Saw him coming and went fuckin’ nutz and charged at him! Wish I had a phone with a camera back then!
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Good times were had by all
ReplyDeleteJD
I remember the Water Buffalo in Nam very well. Lil kids would lead them with twine. Take them to the river and use them as a dock diving off their backs. Very docile except to us Americans. They wanted to kill us. We always were told we didn't smell right. Thank god for that. I'd hate to smell like those people. We had to kill a few that were charging us. Papason got fifty dollars for the dead critter. I think back then a farmer made about three hundered a year. The buffalo was his tractor and largest expense.
ReplyDeleteA buddy of mine, Duck, a Huey crew chief, door gunner got in trouble for something. As punishment, he was transferred to convoy duty, tail end Charlie. Don't remember why (attitude?) but he blasted a water buffalo with his Ma deuce.
DeleteThe farmer tracked down the base, complained. Duck got Article 15ed, busted in rank, and had to pay for the water buffalo and 2 more generations of lost buffalo.
He became a junkie for a week, turned himself in and was BC discharged soon after.
Viet Nam was a Satanic curse on the combat guys that had to go there. I went to Kansas and Iceland, '69-'73, not bad assignments.
Thats funny. Music is appropriate for that video
ReplyDeleteThailand. A dwarf buffalo. Said to be $30-50k.
ReplyDeleteI once heard that one can stampede those water buffs if one "buzzes" them low enough. Probably just a rumor though. regards, Alemaster
ReplyDeleteFor a Christmas card photo we tried to put a guy dressed in a Santa suit on a “docile” water buffalo. Saw him coming and went fuckin’ nutz and charged at him! Wish I had a phone with a camera back then!
ReplyDelete