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Perfect for a supply shack on a fire base. I remember the little PX we had at CSC Scania, which was nothing more than a tractor trailer, but it had just enough pogie bait and stuff to keep us sane while out there.
The big PX’s at Long Binh, you couldn’t get in unless you had a haircut, clean fatigues and all your patches and rank pins or patches. The guys in landclearing would have us go get their stuff so they could clean up after being out for 30 to 90 days! Lifer bulls**t. They thought it was stateside! Wayne
I remember the “Uniform Patrol” during a couple of visits to the Long Binh PX. NCO’s seemed to allow a little more leeway to those of us obviously from field units. They did hold the line on no weapons inside (our unit policy required us to carry our M16’s any time we left our base), so one guy had to wait at the door with our weapons while the others went into thePX. Rolled up sleeves were another non negotiable point, go figure. Always thought this would make an interesting diorama, three “Willie & Joe” types in an M151 pulling up to a starched, pressed, and spit shined PX uniform monitor. Maybe someday.
Maybe a 3/4 with the squad just in from the bush. Wayne
Yeah, lots of possible scenarios, our excuse to go into Long Binh usually involved tagging along with commo guy picking up some 77’s or (can I say this years later? KY38’s). So a few radios in back of vehicle would be part of scene. Same group driving up to the gate at Tan Son Nhut Airbase (where there was big “THIS IS A SALUTING BASE” sign) would be another scene. I freely admit these ideas are lifted from Bill Mauldin cartoons, different war, same story.
I have heard a lot of similar stories about not being allowed into the PX unless if you were wearing a patched shirt, uniform was pressed, and boots at least brush shined.
My diorama “Standdown Shenanigans” depicts one of those MPs that hassled Grunts at the PX for uniform violations and what the Grunts thought about it. A photo of the PX at Bearcat was used for the background.
I received the kit this discussion is about in the mail several weeks ago. Really not all that great for a store, but as a supply conex it works better. The figure is in a decent pose, but he is a bit on the small side compared to other 1/35 scale figures. Something unique with the Gecko figures is the way the vibram soles are separate from the boot.
Ha! Great one! I should have figured you’d have covered this subject already. 
I only got to go to Long Binh and Tan Son Nhut a few times. I seem to recall the “uniform patrol” at LB were senior NCO’s (I bet they really looked forward to that duty), not MP’s, but that may have changed. As I mentioned, they seemed pretty decent about things if you were obviously from up country and you didn’t look like a total rag bag. The gate guys at TSN (MP’s or AP’s, don’t recall) did give our jeep a real going over, but seemed more concerned that our weapons were cleared and that we had no grenades rolling around on the floor. Anyway, nice diorama, made me chuckle.
@SFCJJC
At Camp Bearcat, MPs were the enforcers of uniform policies at the PX when my dad was stationed there in 1967. Because of how bad it would sometimes be for the Grunts, my dad used to keep a couple of spare patched shirts near his desk so whenever someone came back to basecamp to take care of a pay issue, he would loan one out so they could go to the PX before they had to head back out. They were appreciative of that and they always returned his shirts. I an sure the MPs must have been puzzled by how many O’Leary’s there were at Bearcat. As far as I know, my dad was the only one.
Your Dad sounds like a really good guy.
Now why do I have the urge to build this in a Post-Apocalyptic setting, replace the sitting guy with one in “Stalker” gear wearing a respirator and having a shotgun across his knees, replace the stock on the shelves with scaled-down kit boxes, paint racks and the like, and add a large sign saying “MODEL & HOBBY SUPPLIES”?
Cheers,
M
@SFCJJC ,
For the most part he was. He is the one who got me interested in modeling and supported my efforts by buying me models and bringing me to shows. He was involved in Boy Scouts by being an Assistant Scoutmaster. He taught me a strong “Duty First” type of work ethic and to respect those who have other MOS’s as it takes everyone to win the fight.
