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HM3 Charles A. Halstead who had seen action with Mike Company before coming to BAS. He had been in heavy close combat on Hill 881 and 861 near Khe Sanh.

One day in June Dr. John Miller sent HM2 Nick Longo and me up to Camp J.J. Carroll. Our mission was to pick up several cases of battle dressings and other needed supplies from an army medical unit. While we were in their supply tent Longo spotted 5 gallon cans of both ethyl and isopropyl alcohol. The cans looked identical. We gathered up all our supplies and Returned to their aid station. The medic asked us if we had found everything we needed. Longo told him that we were preparing to immunize our entire battalion, but we were low on alcohol. The army medic told us he had several 5 gallon cans in his supply tent and we should go back and help ourselves. We helped ourselves to 5 gallons of their 180 proof ethyl alcohol. The army medic watched us as we loaded up the battle dressings and the can of alcohol into the jeep and waved goodbye to us.

Camp J.J. Carroll was located on a plateau and was the regimental headquarters for the 3d Marine Regiment. It was mainly an artillary base covering from Dong Ha to Khe Sanh.

Once we got back at Payable Longo used the 180 proof ethyl alcohol to make us "Mai Tai's". He diluted the alcohol by mixing 3 parts water to 1 part alcohol and then he added pineapple juice, which he got by the case from the cooks by trading a 5 oz bottle of 180.

Soon he had the cooks delivering our evening meal and snacks to the BAS in exchange for the 5 oz. bottle. The five ounces would yield 20 ounces.

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