Here is a picture of myself taken during the period of April-May 1964 while doing my first (6 month at the time) TAD tour in Vietnam. I was with a small 30-man detachment of Marines under the leadership of, then Major Al Gray (future CMC). The picture was taken in the ville of Khe Sanh about four years before Tet of ’68.
Capt Arthur Kidd
USMC Retired
Semper Fi Capt! You look all bright eyed bushy tailed with a big shit eating grin under your El suave stache! Were you as happy 6 months later?!! Semper Fi Captain!
kinda clean, and a white tee?
I was Arthur in 1964, as communication operator.
I was with Arthur in 1964, as a communication operator.
I served with2/3/3, Fox Company, 1at Platoon, 0331. Our send Operation was at Khe Sanh, may 1967. We fought at the Hill 861 and 881. We had a lot of casualties, but inflicted more NVA casualties.
After rotating back in March of 1968 our Battalion pushed back up to Khe Sanh. Foxtrot Marines fought bravely and a Hill was named after the Company, Foxtrot Ridge.
Semper Fidelis
I was a Combat Engineer attached to 2/3 during the “Hill Fights”. I’m not sure what company I was attached to during the 861, 881 fights, but they were some tough days. My team had to assault a bunker with satchel charges during one particular fight. Thought I’d breathed my last that day. Anyway, Semper Fi, and glad you made it back. Joe Brown
Glad you made it James…lots didn’t. I probably hauled you and your guys at Khe Sanh. I was flying H-34’s with HMM 163 out of PhuBai in ‘66-‘67.. Made lots of trips to 881 and 861. Those places are burned into my memory!
Semper Fi
Did you know the other Gray? D’Wayne Gray? He retired a Lieutenant General but was in Vietnam in 1965, again in 72. He was my father. Died in 2014. Miss him every day
Your father was a Marines Marine. A credit to the Corps.
Theresa,
While I didn’t serve with your dad in Vietnam, I did work for him at HQMC in the early 1980s when he was the Director of Operations in Plans, Policies & Operations (PP&O). He ran a “tight ship” and was an impressive leader. If memory serves me correctly, he became the Director of the Marine Corps Staff at HQMC and retired as a LtGen commanding Fleet Marine Forces Pacific (FMFPAC). He was one of our Corps’ best!
As an aside, I also worked for the other General Gray (Al) after leaving HQMC.
Semper Fidelis,
Reed Bolick
Marine 1965-1995…and beyond!
Theresa,
Once had the honor of briefly meeting and talking with your father. He was one helluva Marine, may he rest in peace.
“…and when he gets to heaven, to St. Peter he will tell, ‘Another Marine reporting, Sir. I’ve spent my time in hell!'” – Unknown
Semper Fi!! Top Pro
Ah, yes, the utility jacket with the covered buttons! I still have mine!
Look’n good Skipper……iron on EGA and ink block name tag. We are old 🙂
Seper Fi.
The Old Salts had the herringbone hand-embroidered name tapes from Okinawa, worn by those who served with Third Marine Division. The P1958 utilities (cotton sateen) came issued with the USMC/EGA already in place. The iron-on transfers were from the PX, used when the original faded. When McNamara became SecDef, he directed issuing an ‘all-services’ cotton sateen fatigue/utility uniform with exposed buttons, squared pocket flaps, and cuffless sleeves. Ugly as a mud fence … Those came without the EGA and had to be ironed-on. McNamara was also the guy who got rid of the rough-out M1956 ‘speed-hook’ boots we wore (remember the glass bottle shine, sitting on the bucket?) and replaced them with an all-services black combat boot with glued-on soles.
Anyone interested in learning more about how McNamara and his Whiz Kids, under the auspices of JFK and LBJ, managed to totally screw up the Defense Department, JCS, and military services as well as lied to escalate the war in Vietnam should read H. R. McMaster’s book Dereliction of Duty. Any of us who served in and were wounded in Vietnam suffered immensely because of that idiots philosophies and concepts of leadership and management. And of course, some of us still suffer from the exposure to Agent Orange. Semper Fi!!! Top Pro
Was on 881S Dec 67 – Mar 68. Got popped, went home. I still have my utes with the covered buttons. Way to go, Skipper.
I Kidd you not, great photo!!
I Was a U-34D crew chief with HMM 361 and HMM 362. We flew insertions, resupply and Med-evac into from and around and out of Khe Sanh during 66, 67, and 68.