More critters

"I did not have my camera this day… darn. We were the 2nd Squadron Construction detail 1966-67 for Blackhorse, based at our lumber yard near the vehicle maintenance yard. Our 'carpenters' were demolishing a pallet floor of the HQ Troop, 2nd Squadron CO' s personal tent, when a hammer was snatched from a trooper’s hand as it swung beneath the floor. The trooper yelled and ran to the lumber yard for assistance. We [the yard crew] responded with some 2 by's and pried up the entire tent floor... Out came a KING cobra... It raised up and looked us eye to eye. Its head was 5' off the ground, so there was 10' on the ground! We started throwing 2by's at it, our only 'weapons'. Eventually we pinned it down with lumber and arriving troopers shot it. The arriving troopers then cut off its head. About then, the Regimental historian arrived and took official photos. We [the yard crew] just went back to work and the CO got a new, solid tent floor. Some wags suggested that we should have left the snake under the old floor!" – Dale Newcomb, G Troop.


"While point track one day, we knocked over a small tree. I could hear my gunners screaming at me and when I looked, they were pointing at the deck. I looked down and through one of the periscope holes in the side armor I saw a Mister No Shoulders coming through. He was not a happy camper. It was about 10-12 inches long, gray and his has all puffed up.

"I figured if you want it, Sucker, you can have it, and backed out of the TC hatch. The snake dropped inside the track about the time I was telling my driver to come on up to the top of the track.

"We did finally get rid of him, not sure if they killed him or just evicted him from the track." – Jack Morrison, A Troop and Air Cav Troop

Stories from 11th Armored Cavalry's Veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia web site.