M151

The Truck, Utility, 1/4-Ton, 4×4, M151 (M151) was the successor to the Korean War M38 and M38A1 jeep Light Utility Vehicles. Commonly referred to as a "jeep" or "quarter-ton", it was produced from 1959 through 1982 and served in the Vietnam War. The M151 had a monocoque design making it roomier than previous jeep designs, and incorporated an independent suspension with coil springs. It has since been replaced by the larger AM General HMMWV in most utility roles in frontline use. With some M151A2 units still in U.S. military service in 1999, the M151 series achieved a longer run of service than that of the WW2 MB/GPW, M38, and M38A1 series combined.

My un-favorite VN memory in a M151 was when we were driving a very familiar trip back to our 6/71st HHB unit on beach sand dune ruts w/curves… in a very slow motion we rolled the thing over in the sand in one of the well worn curves in the dune road…. I was a passenger…. As it rolled, I leaped/catapulted over the driver and we got out and simply pushed the jeep back on it’s 4 wheels… in a second or two we were in motion and back as if nothing had happened. In the sand you needed heavier shocks. I always remembered the first racing Porsches because as independent suspension cars when they hit the top of a hill and gained any air on the other side, the first side that touched down was the side the Porsche would roll… ah, Bilsteins….. heavier shocks were introduced to keep the bottom edge of wheels from moving inward… decades later they became the mainstay for off-road VW/Porsche/Corvairs in Baja/Off-road races and recreation.

Another memory, I was a staff driver for the 11th Infantry Brigade in Hawaii… drove principally for the Sergeant Major and Deputy Commander to various training exercises…   but my M151 was lacquered… it was the only lacquered tactical vehicle that I had ever seen. I would use in parades as we were a Pacific (non conflict) brigade training and prepping to go to VN…. So, lots of Canadian, Australian, Japanese, ARVN, Washatonian  etc brass as passengers in my shiny jeep….. essentially a PR jeep.

BH, HHB 6/71st
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Being a Brooklyn Boy, I had no clue as to how to drive a jeep with standard...my motor pool SGT..barred me from driving, he said I was only good for shotgun..which was just fine with me.....

    Bobby"automatic) Barresi

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PS: I was a farm boy who had driven stick shifts (on tractors) for ALL of my life! My troops were dumbfounded when I hopped onto our front end loader and began to move equipment without a hitch! 

Patrick

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At the 3/7th, as I was short, they pushed me into guard duty as everyone else was on field training.  It was winter, cold, and no question it was retribution for one of my antics.  Not even our motor pool of dead vehicles that was out on the far end of the post with no lights, no radio, no shelter.  Just a long night to walk around the few acres of dead steel and ripped canvas.  

However, as luck seems to find me, there was a twisted up jeep that had full canvas cover to break the wind and falling snow.  Dang!  It started and had a heater too!  

Guard duty is always more enjoyable driving.... MY relief never showed up, and of course I knew that they were hoping I would abandon post.  By morning I had completed a 500 lap race, and saw headlights in the distance.  I backed the jeep into where I had found it, and went to the gate.  I was relieved!

Interesting no one came to guard in my place, and I never told about my having smashed up the "other" fender on the jeep I was racing around with.  

E:)