Let me start by saying that if I get this information wrong, please feel free to explain what I’m trying to describe . I can assure you my friends, my feelings will not be hurt.
As it was told to me, the VC/NVA would collect the 250 lb. bombs that didn’t go off when they hit. They would tie this bomb on a small tree, pull it back, and place a small explosive charge under the tree. When the smaller explosive went off, it would cause the small tree to spring forward with more tension and consequently forcing the bomb in to the air with some power. We would hear the smaller explosion and the bomb cutting through the air. I’m not sure how to spell the sound it would make but if one was ever thrown at you, you know what I mean when I say “cutting through the air”. The worst of it all, you didn’t know what to do (‘to sh– or get’)! Anything that big doesn’t have to land on top of you to “put your health records in to the red”. The upside to all of this, believe it or not, is that the bomb still had to hit on it’s head in order to detonate. Still, I don’t know too many guys who didn’t need to go to the head after going through something like that.
My first experience with a Lob Bomb, we had sit up in our night position somewhere in our A.O.. It was as dark as the inside my boot and a few of the guys were talking but not very loud. In a short distance, I hear that small explosion and this strange sound—like someone had thrown something real big and slow in the air. Those Marines who had been in country awhile ran for their holes! Not knowing better, I moved a little slower into my fighting position and waited. All of sudden, I heard this thump just short of our lines and then nothing. The next morning, one of guys who had been in Vietnam couple of months longer than me explained what had happened last night and how it was possible for the VC/NVA to do what they did. Wait! I’m being serious, I just now wondered how did they know ahead of time that we would be there in that area?
I wish this was the end to my story but not just yet. The second time I witness this effort to use a 250 lb Lob Bomb as a weapon against us was when we were on Liberty Bridge. There was an ARVIN compound setting on this pile of dirt with a village right outside of it. It “was” the one sitting on the right hand side of the road as you were traveling south to north from An Hoa. Anyways, one quiet night we were settling in our area when that small noise and big sound came from along the river. We all got set but the bomb hit the ARVIN compound instead and half of it was gone in the flash. Some Marines had been operating some heavy equipment inside the compound during the day; so Red’s squad and myself (radioman) ran up the hill to pull the Marines out and do what we could to help the ARVINS and call in some choppers. What a mess!
Now I have been in country for about 8 months and thought I had my “head and a– wired together” “my sh– in one bag” and all those foolish thoughts that went through our minds because we had made it this far (I got hit sent home two weeks later—they showed me). We’re getting into our night position and the new Platoon 2nd.Lt. is starting to listen to what the “old guys” had to recommend to stay alive. Some “newbies/boots” started make noise as they were getting settled in. I explain to the Platoon Lt that they needed to be quiet or we would get hit in their area of the line. Sure enough, we all heard that small sound and that “ungodly” noise of a lob bomb coming right at us. After some long seconds, we heard it hit the ground with a thump. The next morning I explain to the Lt what had happen and how the VC/NVA were able to lob a 250 lb into the air.
I’m not kidding, all of these situations are true and I’m pretty sure there are other Marines reading this that are thinking—Amen Brother! The VC/NVA were masters at using everything and simple things against us including our habits and games (ever play kick the can?).
Semper Fi Brothers and Sisters and may peace be with y’all
Footnote: That same ARVIN compound was hit a different time with a Lob Bomb and, again, it was successful in taking out that unit during a Zipper attack on Liberty Bridge.
Sgt Grit wants to hear from you! Leave your comments below or Submit your own Story !
I first learned of the “Lob Bomb” while attending SFD school at Division near Da Nang. Not quite how you described.Since it was a dud it would have to be re-fused with another type fuse,then it was attached to a makeshift rocket or some other type of propellant and depending on what was used and what size of Bomb used (they also liked to use dud arty. projectiles 105,155,etc..) it could have a range of up to about 500 meters or less. I heard of one that was on a timed fuse that was designed to detonate overhead just before impact, very deadly!!
Thank you. That makes more sense to the way you explained it. I wasn’t 100 % sure how they manage to fire off this thing but if it worked than a lot of people were not going home. Again, thank you for the help.
Yeah, I remember lob bombs. Like the man says, dud artie was often launched back at us. Could be a real nasty wake-up in the middle of the night. I was in the An Hoa area 1969.
I was in the An Hoa area with Golf Co 2/5 in 1970. Have you ever read “Field of Fire” by Jame Webb, Cpt. USMC (retired)? On the front pages there is a map of the AO for Marines Units out of An Hoa. If you haven’t seen it, I think you will find it interesting to see where we worked—it was a pretty big area to cover.
I was at An Hoa on my extension working in FDC 2/11 in 1970. When there was a lob bomb lobbed into the 155 SP area. There was a guy walking though their are stonned out of his mind that fell over it. He had no idea what he fell over. He told one of the guys on the guns and they went to investigate and found out it was a lob bomb that had not gone off. If was right in the center of the SP’s. area .Does anyone out there remember this between Feb 1970 and Sept 1970.
Sgt. Sisson….I worked in FDC with Delta 2/11 on Hill 65 from Feb. 1970 to Feb. 1971. In July we were taking mortars and some small arms fire from the ville below the hill and received a 155 lob bomb that landed about 10 feet from our ammo dump. Lucky for us it was a dud. Capt. Jim Vinyard wrote an article on it.
I was with Lima 3/5 69-70 @An Hoa. We were also @ Liberty Bridge. It was like an ant hill, tunnels all around. A home town buddy of mine got hit around Liberty Bridge 29 Dec.69 while on patrol. Lost both legs. Most of the patrol got hit that day. Somehow, it was known we were going to be there. I t was safer out side in a fox hole, than in a bunker. I managed one of the 60MM mortars (0341).
WHILE AT KHE SANH DURING THE SEIGE IN 1968. WE WERE WARNED THAT THE NVA HAD A 250MM ROCKET THAT THEY MIGHT USE,BUT I NEVER WITNESS ANY, TO MUCH 122 MM ROCKETS MORTAR’S AND LONG RANGE HEAVY ARTILLARY TO PUT WITH, BESIDES WORRYING ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE. BUT I NEVER HEARD OF A LOB BOMB( I’M NOT SAYING THEY DIDN’T EXIST BECAUSE YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT NVA HAD TREMENDOUS INGINUITY(SP) SEMPER FI AND WELCOME HOME!
I will give you a turn about. In 1966-67 when I was with S-2, 1st Marines up the road (old railroad bed) from 5th Marines we used to call night 500lb bombing missions on suspected enemy locations and trow in a few bobs with 24 hr delayed fuses. The VC/NVA would take the bomb, believing it was a dud. The next night we would hear the explosion and if there were secondary explosions we knew they got it to their ammo dump.Surprise!
That’s great!! Any more stories like that? I would be interested in reading them.
Now THAT is good. This is why S-2 got the big bucks and the rest of slopped in the mud.
The vc liked to return our stuff. We found a 250lb bomb one morning floating on a raft near the ferry landing at Liberty Bridge. LT wanted to blow in place,convinced him it was a bad idea since it would most likely destroy the landing,we already had convoys backed up damn near to hill 37.Air Force EOD was sent to take care of it. Harry
Hi Harry. Had my meeting with the VA. They turned me down on the badder cancer since I am in remission. They said if I had 3 conditions now I would get the disability, well guess what I do have the conditions. I have to go see my doctor now and find out what the hell is going on. They did say if the cancer comes back to get in touch with them. What a load of crap. If any of you MARINES were ever at Camp Lejeune and have had Bladder Cancer it probably is due to the water that was there.
Hey Sgt Sisson, I was station at Lejeune a couple of times for a couple of years—all my health problems have affected my right side. It took me over five years to get the VA to understand that this isn’t normal. Keep after them because I agree with you someone is BS you. I had prostate cancer and the VA paid for my prostates, inconsistency, and E.D. You might want to tell them about your PTSD. (know what i mean?) You should get something for your pain an all the things that have changed in your life.
My friend told me to go for PTSD but I couldn’t do it. I had a meeting set to talk to one of the doctors in Oakland ( VA hospital ) . I took one look in the waiting room and saw all those guys that were really messed up and left. Thank God I was not like any of them. I had an older cousin put 18 years in the corp was medically discharged with PTSD. But back then 1968 they did not call it PTSD. No one knew what it was. Anyway he finally killed himself. My wife thinks I am crazy for not giving up but I have nothing but time now. I’ll start again.
Please tell me they at least gave you “Service Connected 0%.” Along with your denial letter you should have received a form (notice of disagreement) fill it out and send it in.Keep your claim open as long as possible It helps if your Doc.sends a letter stating that your condition is ” Static” not remission.It might make a difference.I try to be in Oakland on Monday’s for PTSD and Anger Management group meetings You should try to come in Good Luck and try to stay well. Harry
I,m sorry to hear that ! I,m with Robert, keep on them!! Harry
AMEN!!!
I was in FDC 2/11 at An Hoa Jan 1970- Oct 1970. Did you know a Corp. Stites, , Sgt Crabetree, Lt Van Horn. Did you hear about the FDC Captain getting fraged by a smoke gurnade.
Yes Harry it does say service connection has been granted 0% I will stay on them.
Please contact a vet rep with one of the service organization, you do not need to be a member, their job is to help, see DAV, VFW, American Legion, VVA, or Purple Heart, or PVA. Just get someone to help you with fighting the VA.
I served with H/2/5 in early 1970. We called them “flu-flu” bombs because of the sound that they made when airborne. The NVA would also use bamboo frames to launch them off paddy dikes. It was passed down to us one day that a unit had found six NVA around a bomb crater against a paddy dike and the evidence pointed to a failed attempt to launch one of these devices. We got a good laugh out of that scenario. The ordinance of choice seemed to be unexploded 250 and 500 pound bombs. Semper Fi.
Operation Macon, July 1966. One of the Marines spotted a blue wire sticking up out of ground. Engineers started probing, then had everyone back off. They blew the bomb in place, 250# bomb, had a trash pit for a week. Ya, those guys were pretty good at reusing our duds and our trash
The VC also loved our Zuni pods. They’d take them from the dumps up in the mountains, conveniently placed around our air fields, and fire rockets back on the base (mostly at night), trying to hit our aircraft or sleeping quarters. Not very accurate but good at harassing us and every once in a while they’d get lucky and hit something causing death or damage. Zuni pods carried 4 Zuni’s, hence the reason we normally got hit with salvo’s of 4/8/12 or more each attack. Chu Lai 68-69
The “Lob Bombs”, were usually 250# and were dropped with a nose impact fuze. If the fly boys dropped them too low, the fuze would not arm. Charlie would unscrew fuze, pack the fuzewell with C-4, install a non electric cap with a two or three second fuse and a pull friction igniter. The pull wire was tied off to a tree and a propelling charge was placed midway down the body of the bomb on the low side behind a mound of dirt. The rest is history. Charlie also would steam out the explosives on dud ordnance and recast it into homemade devices.
I was a 1371 combat engineer who worked with many a grunt units on ops and missions. I ran across many booby traps but never one as was explained in the account. All the accounts that are mentioned in the comment section seem to come from the Da Nang area or the Quang Nam Province and areas around there. I was up North at the DMZ and never saw one. Maybe they were VC improvised. I did 3 tours as a combat engineer and I never saw a lob bomb. A lot of 122 and 152 rockets and various booby traps though. Some 500 lbs booby traps as well as Chi Com Z-10 trail booby traps.
I am with you Manuel, I was a 1371. When reading this I was getting worried cause I never heard of them either. I was in C company 3rd Eng. from Dec 66 till Aug 68 then back in May of 69 till Aug 69. Went with 1/9, 2/9, 3/9, 2/26 and others. Blew a 250 lb bomb once that was covered with banana leaves, the grunts thought they had a booby trapped artillery round till we uncovered it. They all spilt as soon as we told them it was a 250 lbs. Bomb. My friend is The one who uncover it. He and I were Pvts. but had been in country for about 6 mo. As I started to make up the charges to set it off, I pulled arm length fuss length about 6′. My team leader just from the States, where they gave all the promotions, stopped me and said that I was only to put 1 ft. length on the charge , he said you always only use 1 ft.. After argument, I said okay but that he could pull the fuse but only when we let him know that we were safely away. It then finally hit him that he was wrong he split with the grunts. I always remember if my friend hadn’t uncovered it it would have taken out the whole CP group. this was with 2/9 in early May67, later in Aug67 at Con Thien that friend was killed clearing a mine field, I went to Japan.
We lost 2nd. Platoon of G Co. 2/5 to a 500 lb bomb booby trap. That’s a sight I can do without. It was real bad.
Had a”Lob Bomb” launched at our night position around mid July of 1970. Heard a small explosion from a village near us then the woosh woosh of it go over us. It failed to detonate but sure scared the crap out of us. On another occasion we found an area where they made cradles to lay the bombs at an angle. Removed the fuse and tail fins the built a fire under them to melt the C-4 out. Both times was near Hill55.
Now i know what it was1 week in country with golf 2/1 in rear before going to bush of was sleeping before my watch it got incoming ran to post heard a whoosh later wentmy rack sunck in sand in morning we looked hole in rack found 105 shell they shut said lucky mf then was sent to the bush
Sept 1969- April 1970
Are you related to a Master Sgt. Nunez?????
No relation
Glad to hear that. He was one of the biggest assholes I ever met in the Corp. I got my orders for Vietnam and he forced me to go to rifle range, Lost 2 weeks of my leave. When I got home I was lucky enough to get an extension on my leave. He came to Vietnam a year after I got there, I was on my extension when he came. My buddy Doc Rainey was a door gunner. He was taking Ninez to a fire base and they came under fire. Nunez pissed himself he told Doc if he told anyone he would live to regret it. DOC TOLD EVERYONE.