The following pay chart shows the pay and allowances for soldiers serving in Vietnam in 1970.
In addition to the amounts shown below, both officers and enlisted received  $65.00 per month
hostile fire pay and $30.00 family separation pay (officers, and enlisted over 4 years of service).
As "deluxe" meals were served to soldiers in the Battalion (i.e., C-rations, LURP rations, or hot
chow from a mermite container or from a mess hall) basic allowance for subsistence was not paid.
Because quarters were furnished (i.e., a damp foxhole, a poncho covering a spot on the ground, a
hammock in a bunker, or a cot in a hootch, etc.) basic allowance for quarters were not paid at the
without dependents rate.  For officers in the battalion, BAQ with dependents ranged from $110.10
to $157.20.  For enlisted soldiers, BAQ with dependents ranged from $60.00 to $120.00 depending
on rank.

     Most of the officers in the Battalion were unmarried 1LTs with under 2 years of service.  Most
of the enlisted soldiers were unmarried SP4s with under two years of service. Assuming that both
served in a platoon occupied with patrolling and ambushing, this usually meant they "worked" 20
hours a day seven days a week and got to sleep a maximum of four hours a night in between their
turn on watch at a an ambush position.  For the very real opportunity of dying or being maimed, the
1LT got paid about $.92 per hour, while the SP4 got $.49 per hour in 1970.

     If you, dear reader, encounter a Vietnam veteran, this is just another reason to be sure to thank
him for his priceless service and sacrifice for the country.

                            Monthly Basic Pay and Allowances  1970

Rank O-5 O-4 O-3 O-2 O-1 E-8 E-7 E-6 E-5 E-4 E-3 E-2 E-1

Under 2 773.40 652.50 606.30 486.60 417.60 x 369.90 318.90 275.40 231.60 167.70 138.30 133.20

Over 2 909.00 793.80 677.70 577.20 462.20 x 443.40 387.30 339.30 290.10 233.70 193.50 177.00

Over 3 971.10 847.50 723.90 693.30 577.20 x 459.80 403.20 355.50 306.60 249.90 x x

Over 4 x x 801.60 716.40 x x 476.10 419.70 371.10 330.60 266.40 x x

Over 6 x 862.50 839.70 731.40 x x 492.30 435.90 395.40 347.10 x x x

Over 8 x 901.20 870.00 x x 588.60 507.90 451.80 411.60 x x x x

Over 10 1,001.10 962.40 916.80 x x 605.10 524.10 468.30 427.80 x x x x

Over 12 1,054.50 1,016.70 962.40 x x 621.00 540.90 492.30 443.40 x x x x

Over 14 1,125.00 1,063.20 985.80 x x 637.50 580.80 524.10 x x x x x

Over 16 1,209.30 1,109.40 x x x 653.70 597.00 532.50 x x x x x

This pay chart, while not complete, was applicable to the vast majority of the soldiers in the 1st Bn 6th Inf
in 1970.

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