Montagnard cross bow and bush ax

[DSell]

As a former helicopter gunship pilot in Vietnam 1970-71 I was forced to make a precautionary landing from hostile gun fire in a remote Montagnard compound in the mountains SW of Bam Me Thout. Thank God they were friendly as I had no choice. Immediately, we gave all our c-rations to the dozens of ragged looking children who gathered out of curiousity. After about one hour we were able to get the ship flyable. Just before departing some elders brought out a cross bow and arrows along with two bamboo handle bush axes. About four feet long with a protruding sharp as a razor, blade out of the head. The head was formed as a cobra snake. They gave me the bow and I traded peaster for the ax's. Through broken english they called the tools "Can Do Sticks". The cross bow needs to be epoxied back in place. Also it has boar hair on it. The bow also has many x designs all over the stock. Hopefully someone on the forum has seen the exact bow and axes and can comment on them. Also, I have a photo of my co-pilot handing out the rations. The children look so very ragged yet so happy. One is wearing a US Army fatigue shirt, ten times bigger than he is. I discreetly looked for a name tag but there was none. A member on the forum will be posting the pictures as I have not learned how as of yet.
Regards,
Don

[603dasc]

Nice story; can't wait to see the photos and crossbow!

[Bob Chatt]

Here are Don's photos

[Jeff V]

Great story! Too bad about the broken bow but I am sure that could be repaired. Thanks for sharing!

[dragnet]

Very interesting items Don't,cheers for posting

[gregM]

Very cool.
My uncle served with the 5th SF and brought home a Yard crossbow.
I was only about 11 years old at the time but I remember he and my stepdad
trying to shoot a target they had set up in the back yard.

[603dasc]

thanks for posting - very nice.

[DSell]

Very cool.
My uncle served with the 5th SF and brought home a Yard crossbow.
I was only about 11 years old at the time but I remember he and my stepdad
trying to shoot a target they had set up in the back yard.

Interesting. I flew gunship support for the C-75th Charlie Rangers which was part of the 5th Special Forces at Phan Thiet.

[gregM]

Interesting. I flew gunship support for the C-75th Charlie Rangers which was part of the 5th Special Forces at Phan Thiet.

I don't know which area my uncle was operating in. He was over there in 65-68.
I have not had any contact with that side of the family sense the 70's. My father was a air traffic controller
at the airbase at NKP Thailand. He also went out on a couple missions in a AC-130 gun ship.