The view looking west from Con Thien today. Hard to believe that it was once a "Hell On Earth" for American soldiers. Here they were mercilessly pounded by North Vietnamese big guns from just across the "Demilitarized Zone". They had to hold their ground here; and were not allowed to cross the "DMZ" to go after the enemy who was shooting at them.
It's a peaceful place today, but it wasn't always. This is a view looking more toward the north in the direction of the old "DMZ".
Looking back out toward Laos and the direction of the old Ho Chi Minh Trail (Communist supply route)
A famous stare
These are images from the covers of Life and Time magazines, October 1967. U.S. Marines are pictured under fire from North Vietnamese shelling across the "DMZ". These men did their best to take cover in bunkers, between sandbags and in trenches.
Here's what remains of one of those trenches today. How many lives did this one save?
