MIKE 4/11 1st Marine Division. You can not make this stuff up, you only access, adapt & over come. I once responded to a article that appeared in Sgt Grit from a person that I served with in An Hoa Vietnam, 1969. Have left my email in the sponge box, I received a phone call from Sgt Grit that a marine known as Mike Paul was trying to contact me. The years have clouded my memory but what the hell, I gave the go ahead to call me. At first I did not remember Mike because we used nicknames until he said they called me Top because his father was a Top in the Corps. That name hit the right bell in my head. After a long talk the past 46 years seemed as if they never happened, we were back there as 18 – 19 years olds covering any fears with a laugh. Well we decided to meet in Sanibel, Florida 4/2016. I have to say we didn’t look the same, the apprehension that was felt left as soon as our eyes locked our hands shook and a rather tight hug. The feeling between two Marines from serving in combat never changes, that bond is not breakable. The day and a 1/2 that we were together was something that gets written about, the wives shared their own stories about their Marine. We departed by saying let’s not wait another 47 years.
Semper Fi,
Cpl Mike Paul.
Cpl Karl Lavin
Was in AnHoa 1970 with 2/11 and went back in 2000. The only thing left was a very large open field. Their was some old pieces of the tarmac under the grass. AnHoa village was relocated.
I was also in HQ 2/11 in 1970. I was in FDC. I was only there from Feb.- Oct 1970. I was in 12th Marines and extended when they pulled out and went to Okinawa. Sgt. Bob Sisson
I was with the 3rd Mar Div in the Dong Ha area. We were sent down to An Hoa to assist in a operation with the 5th Marines. This was around Dec of 1968. I remember I got picked to go to the Bob Hope USO show. I was the first guy on the LZ that morning waiting for the plane to arrive. When it did, it had taken sniper fire and refused to take the Marines into Da Nang for the show. Merry Christmas, right! I remember eating in the chow hall on Christmas and looking at the herd of guys in green. I saw a guy I thought I recognized from home. He was a year ahead of me in school back home. I went up to him and asked if he went to Mt. Diablo High School and he did, he was shocked.
Was in AnHoa in 1969 golf 2/5 work the Arizona territory. Like to hear from Marine brother
We were located at the end of the runway near the ammo dump. I recall using your mess hall and having the planes doing touch and goes dropping supplies during Nov 1969.
Was in An Hoa in 1968 with 3/7 1st Mar Div.
I was in An Hoa in Jan 67 with 2/5 H&S Co. We went to Phu Bai, I rotated back in Feb 68. Just in time to get away from tet. Would like to hear from anybody that was in that area at that time.
I arrived in An Hoa on Dec 4, 1969 assigned to 1/11 3rd 175SP Gun Battery. Was trained as a 2533 but was thrown in to the 2511 field. Them were very BIG guns! Also, that was a very good story. SF
Found my 9Th. Engineer buddy in 2010 after 40 Yrs.Googled his name and a couple of phone #’s came up tried one and he answered.I visited 6 times already in south west VA.It was like yesterday only grayer and balder.Do not give up searching. Joe Nichols “A” Co”9 th Egrs. 69-70
Glad to see that old friends meet again after a long time. keep in touch with your friends Semper Fi to both of you. Good looking shirts
God Bless you both. Awesome story. Semper Fidelis. John Martinez. USMC 87-91
I was in “Mike Btry” 4/11 when we landed in Aug 1965 at Chu Lai under the command of Captain J.O. Black having “mounted” out of 29 Palms in June 1965 and was attached to RLT-7. The 51 years have passed, so has Captain Black, but the memories and the brotherhood will always remain strong! Semper Fi!
Hello brothers, I too was at An Hoa…. Hqtrs Battery 2/11, Jan. 69 thru Apr. 69…. In case of land attack my area of duty was the ammo bunker under the ob tower…. Looking to here from Marines in area at that time… Semper Fi…..64/69
I have to say the responses to my article has been great with all the out pouring of comrodery between all Marines from different years, companies and MOS’s that were part of the An Hoa / Arizona Territory family. God Bless you all and Semper Fi brothers.
I was in Mike 4/11 in ’68 also. I was in tracked vehicle maintenance. My nickname was “Peacock”, because of a brightly colored towel my sister sent. Mike Battery moved from Freedom Hill to Hill 55, and then to An Hoa. Semper Fi…..66-75
I was with HQ 2/11 as a 2531 in An Hoa from Nov.13,1967 to Jan. 16, 1967 then was sent with the forward party to Phu Bia to form up 1st Field Artillery Group (2 weeks before Tet 68 commenced). The end of November 1967 we were move back and made part of 11th Marines at Hill 55. Semper Fi……………5/67 – 3/74
I was with Golf 2/5 at An Hoa from Feb.69-Feb.70, would like to hear from brothers who remember me from those early years.