Specialist Phil Boucher and another soldier waiting at the Communications Center in the back of a "Deuce and a Half" truck for a scheduled trip through Bien Hoa City.
Bien Hoa Army Base, considered a rear area, was heavily defended and did not authorize weapons on the base.
The only exceptions were during drills or alerts, for officers who commonly carried 45s, or issued for parameter guard duty.
The Communications Center was different in that it was off the US Army Base in a South Vietnamese Army jurisdiction adjacent to the air base.
The Commcenter had an armory of it's own and weapons were required for daily business in Bien Hoa city, courier, or for longer trips in the area. - 1970