!st MIBARS arrived in the RVN on December 23, 1965 from Ft. Bragg. The unit came by way of the Panama Canal on a ship according to "old timers" that I met when I reported in Oct 1966 as one of the first replacements at Det A in Bien Hoa. They had first been billeted in tents at Bien Hoa AFB but later were moved to the "Sawmill" on the other side of town from the AFB. The operations area when I arrived was located at the ARVN III Corps HQ Compound adjacent to the AFB. The Imagery Interpretation Section was located in three expandible vans to one side of the operations area and the Reproduction Section was in its van shelter sitting on the ground, with a wooden shack added on to store chemicals and supplies. Later, the condition of the shelter became worse as corrosion from photographic chemicals ate the floor out of the shelter. A new photo lab was built between the II Section and the old shelter next to the berm on the edge of the compound. The major processing equipment was removed from the shelter and used to furnish the new photo lab. Additionally, water tanks were obtained to help keep the processsing water cleaner. Messing was at II Field Forces COLA Mess when I first arrived at the unit, but later, we were authorized to mess at Train Compound, a MACV facility a few blocks from the III Corps Compound. Crews that worked at night could go to the AFB at midnight and mess at the 145th Aviation Mess Hall or at one of the Air Force Mess Halls. The Dispensary was at the Air Force Base as was the Post Office, PX, and Chapel. Work schedules most of the time I was assigned to Det A was six days a week, 12 hours on and 12 hours off. Someone always had to be at Operations 24 hrs a day. Priority missions could require a crew to come in on Sunday to work, but that didn't happen often. At the "Sawmill", we had an Orderly Room, Day Room, Club and Latrines on the first floor of the main building and barracks on the second floor. Separate from the main building was senior NCO and Officers Quarters and the Supply Room. Across the Compound was the Motor Pool Maintenace Building and generator shed. Towards the river was the back guard tower, and there was another guard bunker at the front gate. The front gate guard was always manned by a Vietnamese guard, the rear tower was only manned at night, again by a Vietnamese guard. It was the reponsibility of the Charge of Quarters to keep them awake and alert. This could prove challenging at times. Water was supplied to the Sawmill and the photo lab by our own 1000 gal water tanker truck. It was a full time job to keep water enough for showers, laundry, and latrines. Maids did the laundry, ironing, polishing of boots and making of beds. A group of 4 to 6 men would hire a maid and she was responsible for their laundry. In the first group photograph that I have of Det A. I count 32 men. I took the photograph from the back of a deuce and a half at the Sawmill. I'm sure that there were some people on duty at Operations. I wish I could remember the names of the people in the photo. I remember that everyone got a copy, courtesy of the Repro Section. This was taken sometime in 1967 I believe. The second unit photo that I have was taken in 1968, and there are 42 men in it, including myself. My buddy in the Repro section, Bill Otto took it this time, and everyone got a copy, if they wanted it. Again, I wish that I could remember some names, but it has been a long time, and it seems that I have a bad case of CRS now. I would like to know if other unit photos were taken in the period after I DEROS'ed in December of '68. I lost track of all of you after I left except I did see Stan Krick and his wife D'ette in 1969 while they were ETS and coming home from his last Army assignment in Washington, DC. We exchanged Christmas cards for a few years and then one year I got busy and forgot to write....lost the address..... 1st MIBARS left Vietnam for good on April 19, 1971. Back to Bragg, I imagine.