GC7E0D7 Full Metal Jacket 30th Anniversary Cache
Type: Traditional | Size: Regular | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: GySgt Hartman, Pvt Joker & Ann Margaret @ | Hide Date: 10/24/2017 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N38° 54.933 W104° 53.943 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
                             

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This cache is a tribute to all service members of all nations that served in the Vietnam War. For me, Vietnam invokes very specific thoughts. My friend PFC Orlando Rodriquez , USMC, the Tet Offensive, and the film Full Metal Jacket invoke some of the most vivid descriptions of the war.

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During the 30 years of formal U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War (1 November 1955 to 30 April 1975), the Tet Offensive is undoubtedly the most well known campaign. Launched on January 30, 1968; the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) irregulars attacked more than 100 cities and outposts scattered across South Vietnam. Arrayed against them were a coalition of South Vietnamese, American, Australian, Thai, and South Korean ground and air units. Despite that the North Vietnam achieved strategic surprise, they were defeated in the majority of tactical engagements. At the operational level, North Vietnam’s military power was severely weakened; providing the first possible widow of opportunity for the U.S. to win the war. However, it was a strategic victory for North Vietnam as the American public had been told that North Vietnamese defeat was close. The Tet Offensive revealed the opposite. As a result, U.S. forces soon began their withdraw; culminating in the fall of Saigon in 1975.

Full Metal Jacket is a 1987 war film directed and produced by Stanley Kubrick, based on the novel The Short-Timers (1979) written by Gustave Hasford. Its storyline follows a platoon of U.S. Marines through their basic training as they struggle under their drill instructor, Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. For the second half of the film, some of the Marines reunite while fighting the North Vietnamese during the Tet Offensive. The film was released in the United States on June 26, 1987 and went on to be nominated for eleven awards worldwide between 1987 and 1989. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, two BAFTA Awards for Best Sound and Best Special Effects, and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for R. Lee Ermey. Ultimately it won five awards, three from organizations outside of the United States: Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

It should be noted GySgt R. Lee Ermey was not the first choice for the GySgt Hartman, but he won over Stanley Kubrick after going on a 30 min improvised non-scripted boot camp language filled session with compliments only a boot camp attendee would appreciate.

The Tet Offensive and the United States Marine Corps (DOB 10 Nov 1775) are linked forever in history. Despite being surprised, the Marines held their positions and fought bravely despite the losses they suffered. As PFC Rodriquez once told me, "Tet started for me by being rudely awakened from my rack to the sound of incoming fire and continued the first night with me standing my post in my boxers, boots, flack jacket, helmet and rifle returning fire. Let me say, I stood that position until the next morning with brass all around me when my relief took over." Semper Fi

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While you may not have to fight as hard as PFC Rodriquez did at Tet, you should enjoy your own geo-battle while attempting to find the cache. Fortunately, we have better intelligence than the Marines had at Tet.

1. The cache container is a item normally used to hold 7.62mm ammunition; the same ammunition featured so predominantly in the numerous small arms engagements during the second half of the movie.

2. Just like the VC, the container is well covered and camouflaged with the surrounding terrain.

3. Just like a USMC ‘Search and Destroy’ patrol, you will have to search for a elusive foe with some ambiguity as to its precise location. Getting an accurate reading here was difficult. The coordinates are averaged using three different measurements using two different phone apps. Be prepared to search.

4. There is some imagery intelligence, see the attached spoiler photo in the image gallery. The photo provides a view looking to the SE (from a NW approach), towards the GZ.

Using these nuggets of intelligence, any cacher should be able to lock in and find the cache. Most of the vegetation in the area has been burned away, just like any area that has been bombarded with artillery. In order to maintain the difficulty rating, please use some military discipline and re-camouflage the container as good or better than you found it. If you don’t, Private Joker and I may have to throw you a ‘blanket party.’ PFC Rodriquez wants you to give your loudest “oorah” once you make the find, so sound off.

Two routes stand out as most viable to reach GZ. It is up to the cacher, just like any patrol leader, to decide which route you wish to take. I recommend you do your planning thoroughly.

Now, pack your ruck with hydration & food supplies and move out....

There is room for trackables and coins in the container.

Please recover the cache the same way or better than you found it so the next cacher can enjoy the find too.

Watch for wildlife and respect their domain.

Caching can be dangerous. There are inherent risks involved which you take upon yourself when you are caching.

Please be careful and remember rule #13 - HAVE FUN!

Congrats to ernie66 and estes01 on FTF!

11/04/2017 By ernie66
I saw the movie shortly after it came out. I don't have any personal experience with the military, but I get the feeling that this is one of the seminal pieces about war and the everyday life of soldiers - it's the beginning of an illumination of a profession that is consistently ignored, misunderstood, and unappreciated by the general population.

The path to the cache from Rampart Range Road seemed like a war zone - burnt wood, debris, and stone walls standing in the way. Estes01 and I had taken the same route in 2014 shortly after the area opened back up after the fire. It was bad then, but the thistles, wild roses, and mullein have flourished since then and it is practically impenetrable in places. But we persevered and successfully reached GZ. Only to find the wind so strong it nearly blew us off the edge back down into the canyon. We had planned on checking on our own caches along the north rim, but the wind today made that next to impossible.

On the other hand, the destruction has kept people away so the wildlife has flourished. Queens Canyon used to be a popular day hike. Now, it's a wildlife paradise. Evidence of recent deer kills kept us on edge for a bit but those cats are stealthy and of course we never saw anything.

The Forest Service has recently opened up most of the fire zone again and Rampart Range visitors are free to park anywhere in the National Forest territory. We parked at N38 54.192 W104 54.605 and used the trailhead at N38 54.212 W104 54.561. It's a difficult 5 mile round trip, even though the cache is only 1 mile away from parking. If only we were crows, we could just fly there! Or maybe we could all chip in for a zip-line?

Despite the change in scenery, GZ seemed familiar. Looking at old caches, it turned out Bobfireman had put in a cache only 25 feet from GZ. Great minds think alike. Great cache - a definite favorite! TFTC!

11/04/2017 By estes01
Ernie66, the patrol leader, chose the way on this one. Not the route I would have chosen, but definitely one of the two legal ones. Coming in from Rampart Range Road is a direction I would no longer recommend. We did this route to get to Hidden Falls Overlook in November 2014 and as bad as it was after the Waldo Canyon fire, it was still enjoyable. It’s worse now. Way worse. But for those who love a challenge and don’t mind stepping constantly over loose rocks and large dead fall on a 45 degree angle, it’s really the way to go. Now let me talk about the return trip, in other words going back the way you came. Being a goat definitely helps. You certainly don’t want to try this in high winds. Apparently gusting to 60 mph today, but we really didn’t have to contend with the wind in the gully. As we approached the ridge all 100 pounds of me struggled to keep my stability. Fortunately ernie66 took pity on me and dragged me up.

I have been to this spot before with the original cache owner…Bobfireman. It was called “The Road to No Where” GC1XEHX. Appropriate name for the decisions of the U.S. government’s policy in this war.

Loved the premise of this cache AND the location. Thank you to GoMRT for placing this cache as a tribute to all those who served in the Vietnam War!

10/27/2017 By Alpine Reviewer
Published