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Christopher D. Ammons was born in Norfolk, Virginia on April 18, 1948, the son of Benjamin Troy Ammons and Ester Magna Randolph Ammons of Jackson, TN. The Ammons family has a long history of military service. Benjamin F. Ammons and Raiford T. Ammons served in the 1st Tennessee Heavy Artillery during the Civil War. Chris’ father joined the National Guard in 1928 and served in World War II as a Second Lieutenant in 30th Infantry Division.

Benjamin F. & Raiford T. Ammons circa 1862.

Benjamin T. Ammons remained in the army at the close of the war, taking his family to various locations around the world before settling in the Clarksville, Tennessee areas in 1958. Benjamin Troy Ammons retired from the army in 1961 having reached the rank of Colonel.

Benjamin F. & Raiford T. Ammons circa 1862.

Chris attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and Clarksville High School. As a senior in high school he decided he would join the army.

He graduated high school May 24th 1967.

Chris was sworn into the United States Army June 1st 1967, one week after his graduation. Chris Ammons, age 19, May 31, 1967 the

day before being sworn into the US Army.

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Ammons attended basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and infantry training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was trained in the use of the M14 rifle, the 81mm mortar, and the .45 pistol. He was told in training that he and the other recruits were guaranteed to go to Vietnam.

Photograph Chris took of his fellow recruits in their barracks after camouflage training, July 1967.

After basic and infantry training Chris received a 30-day leave. He returned home briefly before flying out to San Francisco. From there he flew to Guam and then Vietnam.

Official army photo of Ammons, 1967.

Chris (center) and his family the day he graduated basic training. August 4, 1967.

Chris arrived in Vietnam in November 1968 and took his CIC (Close Infantry Combat) training at Lai Khe in preparation for combat service.

Map of Vietnam from official US Army Stationary, circa 1969.

Though he was trained in the use of the 81mm mortar Ammons was to serve as an infantry rifleman during his first tour.

PFC Chris Ammons at Lai Khe, March 17, 1968.

Ammons was assigned as a replacement to the First Infantry Division (the “Big Red One”) in Company A, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry. He began his Service with the rank of Private First Class (E-3), receiving promotions to Specialist (SP/4) in March 1968. Chris Ammons with his M16, 1968.

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Soldiers resting in tents near an armored personnel carrier, 1968. Landing Zone, 1968.

Chris was a prolific photographer and took many photos during his time in Vietnam. All of the images in this presentation were taken by Chris during his two tours, 1967-1970.

Huey in flight taken from another helicopter, 1968.

Soldiers about to leave for patrol,1968.

Ammons was issued the M79 grenade launcher during his first tour; a weapon designed to provide instant pressure against an enemy, making him an invaluable member of his squad.

PFC Chris Ammons searching canal for Viet Cong Weapons in the Iron Triangle, January 5, 1968.

Ammons was promoted to Sergeant (E-5) in July of 1968. His base camp was at Lai Khe near Saigon, but the activities of his battalion took him near Quan Loi, Bu Dop, Di An, Song Be, the Iron Triangle, and finally Dong Tam in the Mekong Delta

PFC Chris Ammons searching canal for Viet Cong Weapons in the Iron Triangle, January 5, 1968.

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On March 13th 1968 Chris was wounded while on patrol. A Viet Cong soldier infiltrated the sunken road where Ammons and his squad had taken cover. The Viet Cong soldier fired a rocket propelled grenade that exploded behind Chris’ head.

Telegram sent to Chris’ family informing them of his injury, 1968.

For this combat injury he was awarded the Purple Heart

Ammons receiving his Purple heart, 1968.

Ammons’ first tour of duty ended in November 1968, and Chris returned to the United States. He was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina where he issued M14 rifles to trainees. He soon became bored with this assignment and requested to return to Vietnam. In July 1969 he again deployed to South East Asia for a second overseas tour. Chris Ammons (left) near Saigon with members of

3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry of the 1st Infantry Division, March 7, 1968.

Upon returning to Vietnam, Chris was assigned to the 194th Military Police Company (Later designated the 61st MP, Security Detachment) attached to the 1st Signal Brigade on Vung Chua Mountain near the coastal city of Qui Nhon.

55 Gallon drums painted with the unit designation “61st MP Det. Security” which was originally designated the 194th MP company.

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Qui Nhon by day, circa 1970 Qui Nhon by night, circa 1970

View from Vung Chua Mountain View of the Signals Base on Vung Chua Mountain

View from Vung Chua Mountain Helicopter lift-off on Vung Chua, circa 1970.

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81mm Mortar crew on Vung Chua, circa 1970. Tough South Korean soldiers riding an APC. Ammons knew them as “The Tiger Brigade,” circa 1970.

While stationed on Vung Chua Ammons worked the radio switchboard, manned concrete bunkers, assisted in the placement of anti-personnel sensors, and took part in patrols for Viet Cong activity around the Signals Base.

Ammons at the radio on Vung Chua, circa 1970.

Men in Ammons’ patrol squad on Vung Chua. Members left to right: Hammonds, Riggle, Doughty, Baisdew, 1st Lt. Zinn, Race, Clark, Chu, and Leech, circa 1970.

M60 in a Bunker on Vung Chua Mountain Bunker on Vung Chua Mountain

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Soldier with M79 on Vung Chua Mountain Bunker firing tracers on Vung Chua Mountain

Bunker on Vung Chua Mountain Going on patrol for enemy activity around the base on Vung Chua took place with great frequency.

A patrol squad receiving orders from the sergeant before leaving, circa 1970.

Men about to depart for patrol, circa 1970.

Though the installation on the mountain was far more secure than his locations during his first tour, the threat of enemy engagement was always present and while regulations were more relaxed the patrol squads were always ready for engagements.

Patrol near Vung Chua Mountain

The Civil Rights movement of the period was not confined to the United States, here an African-American soldier can be seen giving the “black-power” salute in the background. Chris is the soldier closest to the camera, circa 1970.

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A soldier in tall grass on patrol. The signals base can be seen in the background to the left, circa 1970.

Patrol near Vung Chua Mountain

Life on Vung Chua Mountain was slower than in Chris’ front-line first tour. Compared to the constant time spent in the jungles during his 1967-1968 tour, the second tour on Vung Chua was relatively quiet.

Ammons posing in a Vietnamese hat, circa 1970.

Soldier preparing to return home. He is taking a Montagnard bow as a souvenir, circa 1970.

Vietnamese civilians were always present around the mountain. Some worked on the base polishing boots or cleaning, others lived in nearby Qui Nhon and interacted with Chris and his fellow soldiers during their frequent visits to the city.

One of the many women who helped maintain the base on Vung Chua, circa 1970.

A Vietnamese man who cut the grass around the base, circa 1970.

A group of children near the wire outside Qui Nhon. The child on the left sold cokes to US soldiers out of the container he is carrying, circa 1970.

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Vietnamese children from Qui Nhon.

As May 1970 approached, Chris’ second and final tour in Vietnam was coming to a close. When a soldier approached the final days of his time in combat it was called “getting short.” In his last letter home he wrote, “I’m all right and just counting the days. Getting short!”

Chris Ammons on his last patrol in Vietnam, 1970.

Soldiers leaving Vietnam. Two or three formations would wait to see if their names were called to fly out of Cam Rhan Bay. Taken by Chris as he waited to see if his name would be called, 1970.

Chris left Vietnam in May 2nd 1970 and returned to Fort Lewis Washington. He returned to his home in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Christopher Ammons

December 2011. He is holding the camera with which he took many of the photographs during his tours in Vietnam.

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