Returning to Qui Nhon - 1971 - Federal Electric Corporation (FEC)

By early 1971 the situation in Vietnam became sonice derringer and a Colt Commander. FEC told us the
unstable that I was more afraid of being robbed andArmy and local authorities would protect us. Bunk!I
killed by one of our Vietnamese Allies than I was thewas a telephone cable splicer working on the exact
communists. I returned to Vietnam after beingsame telephone cable I worked on as a Soldier. On
discharged from the U.S. Army. I took a job with thethis contract we had to use the same crap trucks
Federal Electric Corporation (FEC). This company hadand the same crap telephone equipment the Army
a contract with the U.S. Army to assumeused. Matter of fact the Army just transferred their
responsibility for the military telephone system inequipment to FEC. I thought we'd be given
Vietnam and later Thailand. Basically I returned tocommercial equipment to keep this telephone system
Vietnam for fun and adventure; not the money. Thisoperational. I got to work on this old system for a
company was one cheap Charlie outfit. Anyway I amwhopping $2.85 an hour for 56 hours a week. By the
back in Qui Nhon in early 1971 and I could really senseway, overtime was paid straight time. Your 40%
that something was different in this coastalyearly bonus was paid on a 40 hour week. Some
city.American was withdrawing from Vietnam. Thepeople in company management actually expected us
more U.S. military personnel that left Qui Nhon theto work like galley slaves and get this system ready
more dangerous the city became. There wereto turn over to the Vietnamese Army.After 18
hoodlums just about everywhere. They were calledmonths in Qui Nhon I was assigned to the company
the cowboys by the Americans. Besides just out andengineering department in Saigon. I actually got paid
out robbing you these punks would rip off youralmost a fair wage in this position. For any of you old
watch, camera, and anything else you might beFEC or GHO hands who might be reading this I will tell
carrying. One of their favorite tricks was to jerk youryou what I know about some of our employees in
watch off of your arm and run off or hop on acompany. Over the past ten years I have been in
Honda 50. . My boss lost his Rolex this way. As longcontact with Marvin Curtis, Dick Posey, and Fred
as you were inside military facilities you were safeWheat. The following are deceased, Gerry Cronan, Al
but once on the outside you had better watch yourKee, Mike Brown, Bob Canlett, and Bob Frase. Gerry
surroundings.As civilian contractors we were notand Al are in the VA cemetery in Las Vegas. Mike
allowed to have weapons. Be assured many of usBrown is interred in the VA cemetery in Riverside;
acquired weapons. In Qui Nhon departing GIs wouldCA. Bob Canlett is buried in Petaluma, CA. I would like
often give me weapons. I never asked where theyto know what happened to Jim Harrison (James C.
got them from. At one time in my villa in Qui Nhon IHarrison, originally from Indianapolis).Dr. Mike Copper
had 4 or 5, M16's, 1 AK 47, 1 Thompson machineretired from the U.S. Army in 1994. Dr. Copper has a
gun, an Army 45, and a case of grenades. When IMaster's Degree in Data Communications and a Ph.D.
was transferred to Saigon in '72 I had to leave thein Computer Information Systems. Dr. Copper
weapons behind but once down south I picked up acurrently lives in Delray Beach, Florida.