Magerdgr
Have gun, will travel
- Location
- My secret underground lair
Little bit of a shameless plug here, but I'm super exited about the addition of this awesome Vietnam gun truck to our non-profits collection and have it be available here in Utah. Up until now there haven't been any gun trucks here for the the public to see and to share the story of the brave young men who built and crewed them in Vietnam. Here is a little bit of the history of the Proud American, and a few pics of her. I'll add a link to the full press release and our website as well. Her official unveiling will be during our military outpost event at the Freedom Festival, but we are working on a welcome party of sorts for when she arrives. I'll update with that info when I have it.
History of Proud American
On February 20, 1971 the remaining crew of the recently destroyed Satan’s Lil’ Angel were asked to build a new security support vehicle (aka gun truck) by the commander of the 523rd Transportation Company; Captain Donald Voightritter (Captain V). Within 20 days SP4 Robert Thorne (driver) and Calvin Bennet (first gunner) with help from the 523rd motor pool built a new truck using the remnants of the Lil’ Angel and filled out the crew by adding SP4 “Mac” McDonald (second gunner) and SP5 Nelson Allen as NCO in charge . This new truck was outfitted with a steel plate gun box and cab and was armed with an M60 along with two .50 caliber M2HB machine guns and was named The Proud American.
March 12, 1971 the Proud American went into active service providing security for a convoy leaving Vandergrift Combat Base even though previous convoys that day had received fire. The crew of Proud American knew that they were responsible for protecting the convoy and that they would be taking live fire on this trip. On board Proud American were the crew, the convoy commander 1Lt James Baird, Captain V and several men from the 523rd.
Shortly after leaving Vandergrift FSB Proud American was the first vehicle to be targeted by an ambush. A B-40 rocket propelled grenade hit the truck between the gun box and driver side door mortally wounding Thorne the driver, but not before he drove the truck into an embankment saving the lives of everyone else on the truck but avoiding the steep ravine on the other side. Baird who was on the radio at the time of the attack was badly injured eventually losing his arm, and McDonald received wounds to his face. Callahan got Baird on a stretcher and 1Lt Ralph Fuller from the Daughter of Darkness gun truck called in a Medivac, using his gun truck to transport Baird to a better location, Baird was air lifted back to Vandergrift.
After the battle SP4 Robert W. Thorne was removed from the truck and was taken to Vandergrift on the gun truck Black Widow. Thorne was from Denver, Colorado and will always be 20 years old.
Freedom Vehicles Association will continue to tell the story of Robert Thorne and all who served defending freedom in Vietnam and all other 20th century conflicts.
Below are pics of the Proud American now, and the original before and after the fateful ambush in VN.
http://www.freedomvehicles.org/proud-american/
History of Proud American
On February 20, 1971 the remaining crew of the recently destroyed Satan’s Lil’ Angel were asked to build a new security support vehicle (aka gun truck) by the commander of the 523rd Transportation Company; Captain Donald Voightritter (Captain V). Within 20 days SP4 Robert Thorne (driver) and Calvin Bennet (first gunner) with help from the 523rd motor pool built a new truck using the remnants of the Lil’ Angel and filled out the crew by adding SP4 “Mac” McDonald (second gunner) and SP5 Nelson Allen as NCO in charge . This new truck was outfitted with a steel plate gun box and cab and was armed with an M60 along with two .50 caliber M2HB machine guns and was named The Proud American.
March 12, 1971 the Proud American went into active service providing security for a convoy leaving Vandergrift Combat Base even though previous convoys that day had received fire. The crew of Proud American knew that they were responsible for protecting the convoy and that they would be taking live fire on this trip. On board Proud American were the crew, the convoy commander 1Lt James Baird, Captain V and several men from the 523rd.
Shortly after leaving Vandergrift FSB Proud American was the first vehicle to be targeted by an ambush. A B-40 rocket propelled grenade hit the truck between the gun box and driver side door mortally wounding Thorne the driver, but not before he drove the truck into an embankment saving the lives of everyone else on the truck but avoiding the steep ravine on the other side. Baird who was on the radio at the time of the attack was badly injured eventually losing his arm, and McDonald received wounds to his face. Callahan got Baird on a stretcher and 1Lt Ralph Fuller from the Daughter of Darkness gun truck called in a Medivac, using his gun truck to transport Baird to a better location, Baird was air lifted back to Vandergrift.
After the battle SP4 Robert W. Thorne was removed from the truck and was taken to Vandergrift on the gun truck Black Widow. Thorne was from Denver, Colorado and will always be 20 years old.
Freedom Vehicles Association will continue to tell the story of Robert Thorne and all who served defending freedom in Vietnam and all other 20th century conflicts.
Below are pics of the Proud American now, and the original before and after the fateful ambush in VN.
http://www.freedomvehicles.org/proud-american/
