Soldier Pay Day - Vietnam War Picture

  Description

"Pay Day" for the troops came monthly, with the paymaster being flown in by helicopter and accompanied by a medical team who would take the opportunity to provide essential medical services as the men received their pay packets.  Typically, a soldier in the field would only receive a portion of their pay in the form of military currency that would provide them with enough funds to purchase incidentals during visits to areas where shopping and commerce where possible.  In the vast number of cases, the men were stationed where there were no goods to be purchased and thus much of the balance of their pay was sent home to support families or for savings when they returned to civilian life.