Sgt Grit,
Here are some scans of a couple more Propaganda leaflets (front and back) that I picked up while out on an operations south of Chu Lai in the Summer of 1966 – maybe on Operation Texas or Utah (?).
Operation Utah seems to have been forgotten by most USMC Historians. I have often wondered if it is because of the high number of casualties that resulted – 98 to 104 Marines Killed and 278 wounded – on an operation that started with limited enemy information that resulted in only a couple companies being sent against an entrenched enemy battalion.
To read an excellent description of this battle, entitled "They're not supermen," Meeting the NVA in Operation Utah, March 1966 — Author unknown by me, Google the title.
I entered this battle as part of a 'reactionary platoon' from 11th Marines sent in with the 155mm battery set in place just east of Hwy 1, and a short distance north of the main area of fighting. (See pg 114 of this article) We were told we would be a blocking force and if a green flare was fired to get down in our holes as the 155s would be firing beehive rounds over our heads. We saw only light contact, but it was the first time I fired my M-14 in Nam.
Here is a picture of our 'reactionary platoon' getting ready to move out on Op Utah. Note the pict date. Yours truly – yup, that's a Full Auto M-14 with a bipod. We were young once. You can also see what they mean by the "Sands of Chu Lai"
PS – I can still shoot as good as way back then – even better! My marksmanship training in the Corps has not been forgotten. I shot a 455/500 pts last Sunday in an "EIC Leg match". That would be a 227 in a USMC scored match. I have retired the M-14 and now use an M-16 type rifle as they are more accurate – even at 600 yds.
Semper Fi,
Jim Evenson
3/11, 1st Mar Div – '66