Bob Kraft
aka “Cheese”
June ‘68 – Jun ‘69
When I came to Alpha Co. in June ’68 I was assigned to 1st Platoon as a Rifleman, eventually I found out
that I was one of the very few who were "qualified" on the 90 mm Re-coiless, so that became my
“new best friend”. A short time later I became the 1st Platoon RTO for SSG Kenneth Kruse and
then Lt. Brad Burgraff... and then on to Company RTO for Capt. David Walsh.
My father once said, “Going to Vietnam will be the experience of your life…
if you make it through it, you’ll never forget”. He was right, looking back almost 35 years,
I know I’m truly one of the lucky one’s.
Cousin John Hartnagle (with GOERS) & Bob Kraft - Aug '68
Bill Lawbaugh - Aug 68
Bob Kraft with the 90 MM - Somehow I was one of the very few in the company who was qualified to shoot this thing.
Back then I wasn't sure how I got qualified, but now I can give it a pretty good guess. - Sep 68
Bob Kraft - Lt Burgraff's RTO in Jan '69
Bob Kraft - My defensive position was right under that barrel. Not bad until they had
a fire mission in the early morning hours with no warning. - Dec 68
Me & Larry Cross - We quickly found out that the flag made a good target for Charlie - Jan '69
Bob Kraft - Finally some real food - A Christmas arrival in Jan '69 Late but GREAT!!!
Bob Kraft and the dud mortar round that hit our CP bunker at LZ Charlie Brown - Mar 69
Bob Kraft going to the beach at LZ Charlie Brown. - Mar 69
Bob Kraft guarding the hootch - May 69
Bob Kraft in Qui Nhon heading back from the Hospital to Chu Lai - 19 Mar '69
Bob Kraft RTO as we wrapped up the mission. - Jan 69
Bob Kraft "Stirring the pot" … what an adventure!! May '69
Cpt Walsh - Break time. Apr '69
Cpt Walsh - Not sure what I was doing, but he caught me. Feb '69
Cpt Walsh met the Mayor of Sa Huynh (just outside LZ Charlie Brown) Mar '69
Cpt Walsh at a night defensive position - Jan 69
Cpt Walsh outside the CP Feb 69
Dick Kiene Feb 69
Dude Miller & Chuck Veatch - Feb 69
Dude Miller & Ken Smith in the CP - Feb 69
Sgt Hector Rivera - Jan 69
Jerry York - Celebrating Christmas - Dec 68
Ken Smith, Dude Miller, Bill Lawbaugh on sand bag detail. - Feb 69
Larry Cross - Break time - Apr 69
Larry Cross - Night position - Jan 69
Lt Brad Burgraff & the French Minister - Sep 68
Lt Brad Burgraff, Bob Kraft & UNK - Nov 68
Lt. Jack Kurtzman demonstrating hand to hand combat - Jan 69
Lt. William Ross, Arty FO on Charlie Brown - Feb 69
Lt Steve Meyering - Apr 69
Lt. William Ross, Arty FO Christmas - Dec 68
Lt. William Ross, UNK, Cpt David Walsh - Jan 69
Sgt Merle Hall (I think) - Nov 68
Paul LaFountain - Dec 68
Sgt Earl White (I think) and Bob Kraft on Charlie Brown - Feb 69
Sgt Hector Rivera, Bob Kraft, Larry Cross, Bill Lawbaugh (standing) Sgt Earl White (sitting) Sep 68
SSG Grover Lee - Dec 68
SSG Phan Van Tien & Verne Campbell - Jun 69
SSG Phan Van Tien on Charlie Brown - Feb 69
UNK & Bob Kraft -Sand bag detail… never knew we had that many bags - Feb 69
Jessie Vickers (sp?), Jan 69 - Looks like the same background as the one with Hector Rivera.
Unk, Paul LaFountain, Dickie, UNK - Sep 68
(L to R) Larry (Doc) Holliday, Dennis Anderson, Dick Kiene, either a fire mission or ordering
a pizza CP at Charlie Brown - Mar 69
Barge full of JP4 parked in front of our bunker at Charlie Brown - Feb 69
Bringinging in the water - Dec 68
VC coming out of his hole - Feb 69
Lost a UH1 - May 69
Another shot of that UH1 - May 69
Taking that lost UH1 home - May 69
Suspected VC supply location (BEFORE) - Feb 69
Suspected VC supply location (AFTER) - Feb 69
View from our bunker on Charlie Brown - Feb 69
Security on the beach at Charlie Brown - Feb 69
Nice looking beach, but loaded with tunnels, so many that we called in some heavy equipment - May 69
Combat Engineer Vehicle - dec 68
VC coming out of his hole (another picture of the same one) - Feb 69
C123 with outboard tanks at DucPho - Jul 68
Highway 1 - May 69
Vietnam Airways, besides the airplane all I remember is buying (from the locals) the
largest sardines I've ever seen for a buck a can… I know, focus on the important stuff. - Dec 68
Gary Galbreath, UNK and a bunch on break - Jan 1969
Robert Harris with the 81's, possibly at LZ Dragon - Feb 69
Chuck Veatch & Larry Cross - Remember the "wall paper - Fun, Travel, Adventure",
just don't recall where we were -Jan or Feb 69
Chuck Veatch, Dude Miller, Ken Smith, Captain Walsh on LZ Charlie Brown
"Gilligans Island" in the background - Feb 69
