Daddy Jay Stories: Bao Loc

Montagnards are the indigenous tribe to Vietnam. They live in platform conical houses with thatch raoofs and they fought with the South Vietnamese during the Vietnam War. During Daddy Jay’s first tour in Vietnam he was an advisor to the 407th Scout Company that was made up of almost entirely Montagnard.

While out on operation, which were often out in the jungle, they were surrounded by bamboo forests and all kinds of animals. The Montagnards were famous for capturing animals and taking them back to the tribe. Once a week, a bus from Saigon would come through the town, they would strap whatever animal they had to the top of the bus and a week later the bus would return with money from the Saigon Zoo.

One week, Lt. Colonel Abbot, Air Force Senior Forward Air Controller (AFFAC) called and asked if the Company could catch him a six to eight foot boa to keep in his hooch to eat the rats. Daddy Jay agreed but said it would cost him $100. Abbot agreed and the Scouts went out and captured a 7 ft. boa.

“Abbot flew an L-19, and he was an amazing pilot,” Daddy Jay explained, “So we got the snake and put it in a bulgur wheat bag and wrapped him up in communication wire.” Abbot was pleased with the snake and threw the bag in the plane and gave Daddy Jay the $100.

He took off and shortly after he got up in the air he veered the plane straight up in the air. “We thought he was putting on an air show, he was doing all of these amazing turns and twists.”

Abbot turned the plane towards the ground for a bumpy landing. Before the plane stopped he came jumping out and the plane bumped to a halt. “He came bounding out of that plane and screamed, ‘That fucking snake got loose in my plane!’” Daddy Jay laughed, “So the Scouts got in there and the snake was wrapped all around the control mechanism behind the seat.”

They un-wound the snake and Daddy Jay promised Abbot they would wrap the snake up really tight, “I don’t want the damn thing!” Abbot pushed the bag away. “I told him he couldn’t have the money back,” Daddy Jay said very matter-of-factly, “He was shaking his hands and backing towards his plane saying he didn’t want the money back and he got in his L-19 and took off. So, I sold the snake for $100, got the snake back, and got to keep the $100 and I was a hero for about a week.”