DRINKING FROM THE DREADED SKULL
By Tamale 15
Flying Officer Peter Condon
I was an Australian Tamale FAC ( Tamale
15) in Dong Tam from May
to July 1969 and I recall visiting a Cavalry bar located in a bunker
near the chopper revetments at Dong Tam with another FAC, USAF�Captain
Joseph Connor. We were both Bird Dog pilots.
I recall the bunker was mostly underground and constructed of thick wooden beams.
After descending the entrance stairs I think the bar was located to the right.
And at the right end of the bar was an ugly skull covered in red candle greese. It looked horrible.
I was then told about the test (initiation) to be undertaken to earn a yellow Cavaly scarf - I had to drink a beer from the skull.
I recall the bunker was mostly underground and constructed of thick wooden beams.
After descending the entrance stairs I think the bar was located to the right.
And at the right end of the bar was an ugly skull covered in red candle greese. It looked horrible.
I was then told about the test (initiation) to be undertaken to earn a yellow Cavaly scarf - I had to drink a beer from the skull.
As I was sober when I arrived at the
bar I said there was no way
in the world that I was going to drink from the ugly skull so we can
all forget about the scarf.
I was then told the story about how the skull was found a few months earlier in about March.
I do not recall who invited us to the bar or who was entertaining us but slowly our morals began to slide.
Funny thing about beer or whatever else we were fed.
I was then told the story about how the skull was found a few months earlier in about March.
I do not recall who invited us to the bar or who was entertaining us but slowly our morals began to slide.
Funny thing about beer or whatever else we were fed.
After many beers and much fun I did
earn myself a coveted yellow
Cavalry scarf by drinking from the skull before retiring to the FAC
hootch for the night (very late). Our hootch was down south of the
airfield past the BX and near the Navy area.
No incoming mortar or rocket fire would have hit or hurt us during the jeep ride home.
We were ready to take on the world.
No incoming mortar or rocket fire would have hit or hurt us during the jeep ride home.
We were ready to take on the world.
I lost my prized yellow scarf
soon after leaving Dong Tam and
I attempted to get another scarf later when I was flying OV-10s out of
Di An but failed to finish chewing the hot Jalapeno pepper initiation.
I was wondering what I have to do to get another one, but please don't make me drink from that old skull again.
Maybe the pepper but please, not the skull.
Webmaster Note: A new Scarf is on it's way to Austrtailia. Pictures to follow.
Peter sent these photos that he took while in Dong Tam between 5 May and July 15 1969.
Me in the FAC hootch bar with Playboy centrefold.
ALO USAF Major Ramon Medina on right with Cavalry LOACH pilot in the FAC hootch bar.
Photo of airstrike showing bomb detonation spreading the WP.
About to board the OH-6 at Dong Tam for the flight to FSB Moore for morning briefing.
Cobra Gunship preflight at Dong Tam.
Cobra cockpit.
More Information about Austrailian FACs in Vietnam can be found at this website:
http://www.fac-assoc.org/book/P6_008sample_story_oct01.html
I was wondering what I have to do to get another one, but please don't make me drink from that old skull again.
Maybe the pepper but please, not the skull.
Webmaster Note: A new Scarf is on it's way to Austrtailia. Pictures to follow.
Peter sent these photos that he took while in Dong Tam between 5 May and July 15 1969.
Me in the FAC hootch bar with Playboy centrefold.
ALO USAF Major Ramon Medina on right with Cavalry LOACH pilot in the FAC hootch bar.
Photo of airstrike showing bomb detonation spreading the WP.
About to board the OH-6 at Dong Tam for the flight to FSB Moore for morning briefing.
Cobra Gunship preflight at Dong Tam.
Cobra cockpit.
More Information about Austrailian FACs in Vietnam can be found at this website:
http://www.fac-assoc.org/book/P6_008sample_story_oct01.html