Firebirds Bar & Lounge

The Firebirds maintained a very different flight schedule from the Rattler ‘slick’ crews. The slicks operated daily from the Chu Lai base camp and returned every night for aircraft maintenance and the following day’s mission assignments.

The Firebirds were remotely located at LZ Baldy approximately 40 miles north of Chu Lai and operated on a 3-2 crew and aircraft rotation schedule. Three days at Baldy, with two days on ‘standby’ at Chu Lai. With two days away from Baldy, and unable to leave the Chu Lai base – the Firebirds needed a daytime hangout before the Club opened in the evening.

Eight Firebird pilots lived in a large rectangular hootch located in the center of the Company area. The eastside of the hootch was parallel to the central company walkway and open to the South China Sea breezes. A perfect place to construct a relaxation area for off-duty activities.

A door opening was knocked out of the main house to accommodate an opening into the party room. The foundation was surveyed and outlined for a large room located in the sandy area between the hootch and the Firebirds bunker. The necessary construction lumber – 2x4s, plywood sheets, tin roofing – and tools were provided from the local Navy Construction Battalion (Seabee’s) by bartering hard liquor for material (the Navy enlisted men were restricted from purchasing hard liquor). Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, Bacardi plus the Firebirds work crew with its deuce and a half truck was all that was required for the project. No Planning & Zoning approval was obtained – the Firebirds do what the Firebirds want to do.

The work progressed in phases over several days – neither the C.O. nor the X.O. had any comment or tried to stop the construction. The foundation layout, flooring, side walls, window openings, roof, drop down weather doors, and of course – the Bar! The party room opened for Firebirds R&R-&R – Rest & Relaxation and Recovery!

The bar was well stocked, a large round table in the middle of the room, a reel-to-reel tape deck, stereo receiver, large Sansui speakers, and a liar’s chair complimented the surroundings. The plywood walls were burnished inside for that rustic ‘Nam look and a large fluorescent desk light hung upside down in the middle of the room.

Afternoon sea breezes cooled the room while the off-duty Birds wrote letters, drank beer, or just enjoyed being away from Baldy. During the monsoon season, the drop-down plywood door windows deflected the rain.

The party room was battle tested and combat proven night after night. The Doors, the Iron Butterfly, and other era rock ‘n rollers would blare inside and outside during late evening entertainment. The ‘Birds were always home and always having fun.

Thanks to the fastidious Firebirds hootch maid Tu, the previous evening’s debris and litter was always cleaned and gone before the morning wake up call. Broken bottles, crushed cans, and shattered drinking glasses were quickly swept away by Tu after she cried for ten minutes while surveying the damage. Tu was the best – honest and never a thief. Lucky to have her.

The Firebirds party room became a legend, and no one entered unless invited by a Firebird. Many tried, many died – not exactly, but one could expect to be forcibly tossed outside into the sand.

The construction masterminds placed the east wall atop the Firebirds bunker providing an easy window rollout in the event of rocket and mortar attacks. As the bunker was seldom used, the residents rats had to be disarmed before entry.

The Red Firebird ‘Birdhead’ hung over the large sea breeze window and a dog tag was fastened to it when one’s tour of duty was completed. A congratulatory toast was offered each evening to those lucky ‘Birds flying home on the Freedom Bird.

(c) Copyright – 2023 Vic Bandini