I served with VMFA-314 from Nov. ’67 to Dec. ’68 in Chu Lai. In a past posting, I had mentioned Operation Military Embrace, and the Watermelon Run For The Fallen in Hempstead, TX, where I had reunited with some of my Vietnam brothers last August. This time, I’m sending some pictures of my father, Harry W. Kiehnle, who enlisted in 1922. He was a seagoing Marine and a bugler, who was stationed on the Battleship Utah for the Friendship tour of South America that sent General John J. Pershing to meet with South American heads of state, as he was still highly respected after having served as General of the Armies in WW I.
The first picture is four buglers (my father on the left) leaving music school at PI, headed for Sea School at Quantico, next are two pictures of the firing range in the Virgin Islands (my dad is in the t-shirt), third picture is inspection of the Marine Contingent on board the Utah, and finally, General Pershing and dignitaries aboard the ship.
CPL. James Kiehnle 1966-1970
Chu Lai, Vietnam 1967-1968
I just wanted to leave a note: I served with VMFA-115 (next door to 314) from November, ’67 to December, ’68 in the Radar shop. I’ll bet our paths crossed sometime.
Semper Fi
Sgt. Mike Gollihur ’65-’69 (Cpl in RVN)
I was in the motor pool for MAG 13 from Oct 67 to Nov 68. Worked a lot with the crash crew on the MB1 and MB5 crash fire trucks.
In electric shop until made S-4 logistic nco didn’t know a thing about F-4s so they stuck me there.
You were in COM NAV Have the cruise book 314 Dec 67 dec 68 then off to El Toro 531 and 323.
Last of the old Corps where the years of 66 & 67 when the Marines started to change, I was in Nam 66 & 67.
I joined VMFA-314 in Jan. of 1968. Was assigned to COM-NAV. shop. The article from Cpl James Kiehnle struck my rusty memory bank. Name was familiar, time of duty matched, looked up my Black Knights squadron tour book and low and behold, there on the same page of the com-nav, section two photos to my right is LCpl Kiehnle . Long long time ago, some good and some not so good memories of my tour with the Black Knights.
Cpl John B. Coyne Jr
USMC 1966-1970
Viet Nam 1968
Wanted to say HI to my fellow 68′ Black Knights. Great info about your dad, James. I was in the Metal Shop or Check Crew from April 68-to May 69.
Semper Fi all !