III Marine Amphibious Force
Sgt Grit,
I was 18 years-old in September, 1966 when our 3rd Marine Division MP unit was assigned to a POW compound the Seabees had built on the south flank of Hill 327 in Danang, Vietnam. A North Korean PT boat had attacked a US Navy destroyer in the South China Sea. 19 survivors of the attack were turned over to our unit for protection and ostensibly for bargaining the release of downed American pilots in North Vietnam.
The photos show the camp built as a defense buffer on the southwest approach into the city. The entire camp was constructed according to the Geneva Convention. Individual bunkers (bunkers.jpg) on the outside perimeter of the camp housed each of the prisoners and contained a small sandbag bunker. There was a mess hall and a courtyard where they played volleyball and soccer. Three isolated interrogation booths (interrogation.jpg) were used by civilians whom I later surmised to be CIA operatives.
The POWs were treated humanely; indeed, many of us befriended them. I believe it was the Captain who taught me to play chess. We were often visited by the Red Cross and Swiss doctors.
I have no idea what became of them as our unit was transferred to Dong Ha the following month.
Jack Stanfill
Jack,
Writingin reposne to your article about the 3rd MP Battalion in Danang. We may have corresponded earlier but I hope that you are well and can reply to this message. I served with the Bravo Company, 3rd MP Btn. from Feb. 1968 to Mar. 1969. I arrived at the tail-end of TET and left for home just before the I Corps Ammo Dump blew.
During my time with 3rd MPs we participated in the retaking of the III MAF Brig which was seized by brig prisoners during a riot and also saw some minor combat in August of ’68 in defense of the Danang Airbase. The North Vietnamese naval personnel which you mentioned in your article were eventually traded back to North Vietnam in exchange for U.S. prisoners. If I were guessing, I would speculate that Capt. Bao, the Ex-O, was the officer that taught to play chess. – Jim Sugden