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War Stories

The Sawed Off M2 Carbine

by Tim Fegette - comments Glen Gouge

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m2 carbine This story happened a couple days after the Squadron had an illegal weapons search.

The LOH Pilot that day was Glen Gouge. We were diverted by a radio call from LTC McGowan to stop a Jeep that had stolen two barrels from a dead tank (50cal barrels). The Jeep was driven by a White Mouse (Saigon policeman). With him was a VC. They we going 70 mph on a sand road. LTC said not to shoot them just get the barrels. I told Glen to pull in front and fly sideways. I knew it would fly 70 sideways. We slowed down until they stopped. I got out with my M2 and the cop said “no bic”.

Then all of a sudden LTC McGowan, in another aircraft, had landed and was was standing by me. He started talking in Vietnamese! He talked and the barrels were quickly put in his Huey.

He asked me if did this to this weapon. I said yes sir. He aimed it as if was going to squeeze off a burst. He didn’t. He said it fits good in the loach doesn’t it? Yes sir. He then said he never saw it. He loved the scouts but not more than he loved all his troopers.

Before he died I was in Jackson MS and called him. He came to motel and we had a good visit. I mentioned the illegal weapons search and he replied-“wasn’t that a croc?” I really liked him.

 

Glen Gouge: I remember that incident, I didn't know about the unauthorized weapons stuff. Best I remember is we were doing some highway recon looking for signs that maybe mines had been placed when we got the call from LTC McGowan to find that jeep. We found it and got them to stop, Tim and the observer got out and covered the jeep and we had a Cobra overhead, that's when LTC Mac showed up, and yes, he spoke very good Vietnamese. Got the barrels and went back to the original mission,