Lizards in The Nam

One of the little known dangers of the Vietnamese jungle was the Giant Chameleon.

Long range patrols into deep forests were most likely to encounter them.  For years they were thought extinct at best or a mere legend at worst.

But by 1968 several patrols had reported contact with the great beasts, this diorama is based on one such encounter.

The point man for a squad size patrol of US Marines looking for reported NVA activity in the area was instead surprised by a Giant Chameleon.  It's natural ability to change color made it almost invisible in the jungle until the point man got within range of the Giant's tongue.

Only rapid engagement with the Marines implementing their reaction to ambush drill and laid down massive fire upon the Giant Chameleon.

 The point man, while obviously surprised, emptied a whole magazine 20 round magazine from his M14, straight into the left eye of the Giant Chameleon, and coupled with the support fires from the rest of the squad, the Giant released him and ran back into the forest.  The squad withdrew a full click and requested napalm air support over the whole grid square where they had just been.

Not being quite sure what the target was, the US Navy still sent in four Skyraiders and dropped napalm on the target area.  The next day a careful search by the squad, by then reinforced by the rest of the platoon, was unable to find anything definitive.  

1/72nd scale plastic USMC Vietnam by Pegasus.