Photos of Vietnam: Frank Hiser

Frank Hiser was a Chief Warrant Officer in the Red Platoon, in 1965-66, where he served with distinction as an Aircraft Commander in his Huey Gunship, that he named the “Pink Panther.” His call sign was “Thirsty Red Alpha.”

Ed Woodard and Capt. Jim Kidd in TuyHoa
Ed Woodard and Joe Waters checking out the cache.
The necessities of camp life, the bunker and the club.
The necessities of camp life, the bunker and the club.
“Thirsty Red Alpha” Frank Hiser
Ya never know when it might come in handy.
Ops at the “Turkey Farm” in Pleiku.
Jerry Grimm
Monk HoChiMinh and brother Cavalier Monk?
Gene “LeRoy” Smith watching the Yoyo man.
Instant firebase in the Crow’s foot.
Blues rounding up the usual suspects.
“Can you dig it?” Mike Bogdue and Frank Hiser
Shooting at us with our own stuff.
Frank Wolff and children, unk in the back.
Peaceful scene. Water wheel, fish traps, dugout canoe, and spider hole.
Setting up a hangar in Tuy Hoa.
Highway 19 cuts through the fertile crescent.
Red Team on the prowl
PleiMe Special Forces Camp. The start of it all.
PleiDjereng Special Forces Camp north of DucCo.
Troop Area, AnKhe 66
AnKhe Troop area 1966
Troop Area, AnKhe 66
Waterfall in Happy Valley
The Monkey Temple in QuiNghon
A shower at last! Jerry Golden, unk, John Yorke, unk
Catholic Church destroyed by the Viet Cong.
Near the border in the IaDrang. ChuPong AO
ChuPong Massif as seen from Plei Me.
Under the spreading Breadfruuit Tree, Mike Bogdue, and unk in back.
Building the Mahogany Hootch…
Joe-Waters_with the Parrot, “getting the bird!”
Mahogany Hootch finished!
Monk Ho Chi Minh and buddy.
Ho Chi Minh with a friend
Frank Hiser, Lt Nate Farberman and HoChiMInh (Cavalier Monks ancesster)
Frank Hiser, “Thirsty Red Alpha” 1966
Frank Hiser with an M16 weapons system. Also note helmet logo to match aircraft nose next photo.
Frank Hiser with his "Pink Panther" gunship
Frank Hiser
Frank Hiser, and Jerry Grimm. April 1966
Waters and Woodard trying to stay dry.
Joe Waters and Gary B. Hayes
An Khe Troop area
Montagnard Mamasan and her child
Village Chief standing tall in his French uniform coat. Gotta wonder how he came to own it.
A village BBQ inspired by a water buffalo wandering too close at night.
Montagnard Village
Monsoon campout near the Michelin Plantation, Ban Me Thout
Last Light flight
A tidy little farm house
Dick Meehan, KIA Aug 8, 1966
Impromptu Yard Sale.
“Happy House” hooch built for newly weds.
General Westmoreland commends the leadership of Charlie Troop after the Ia Drang campaign.