BLACK MARKET FLASHLIGHT BATTERIES

Black Market Flashlight Batteries, 10 x 10 inch ink and watercolor painting by George C. Clark    Collection of the Artist

THE ARMY ISSUED BATTERIES FOR FIELD TELEPHONES AND ARMY-ISSUE FLASHLIGHTS, BUT THERE WERE SO MANY PRIVATELY OWNED FLASHLIGHTS AT OUR FIRE SUPPORT BASE THAT THERE WAS ALWAYS A SHORTAGE OF BATTERIES.  YOU COULD HAVE BATTERIES MAILED FROM HOME OR HAVE SOMEONE GOING TO LONG BINH BUY SOME FOR YOU AT THE PX THERE, BUT THE FASTEST WAY TO GET SOME WAS TO GO TO THE MARKET IN PHUOC BINH JUST DOWN THE ROAD.  FOR AN ISOLATED BACKWATER TOWN, PHUOC BINH HAD A REMARKABLE SELECTION OF BLACK MARKET GOODS AVAILABLE, INCLUDING FRESH ARMY-ISSUE BATTERIES.  I ALWAYS WONDERED IF THE STUFF WAS STOLEN LOCALLY OR STOLEN DOWN SOUTH AND FLOWN IN.