Author: Harry

This story may be of interest to some, maybe not so much to others. The best way to start,I guess, is from the beginning.Last Sept my close friend J.J.(Viet-Vet 101st Abn. 69-70) invited me to go along with him to a Veterans reunion in Kokomo Indiana I reluctantly accepted knowing I would be hanging around with a bunch of Army guys but it turned out OK (There was a group of “Walking Dead” 9th Marines campsite not to far away so I had backup if I needed) Maybe there are some of you out there that have been to this reunion,It is huge!! I could tell a lot of stories about this place but, not this time. During the weekend I heard a conversation concerning one of the vets getting his discharge upgraded from general to honorable but what really caught my attention was the fact that when he received his DD-215 granting him the request (He said it took almost a year and half ) there were additional awards listed that he did not know that he had earned.On a hunch,this past Spring I submitted a DD-149 to the Medals and Awards Branch HQ USMC they in turn forwarded it to NPRC in ST.Louis.All I ask for was a search to see if I or my unit earned any additional awards.I received my answer today It took 8 months but I received a copy of a DD-215 . In short it states the following. Delete:Vietnam Service Medal(w1star) Add: Vietnam Service Medal With 4 Bronze Service Stars /Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon/Meritorious Unit Citation Ribbon/ Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Action Color with Palm and Frame ) Ribbon Bar. Might not sound like that big of a deal but, it is what it is !! Harry. read more

In the summer of “57” I was in A Company 2nd Shore Party Bn. And we were training Midshipman in Amphibious Operations. There was some kind of NATO bash and all the ships were dressed out and we were standing at attention on the 02 deck of the Donner LSD14 The Blue Angels did their own review! When they did their fly by we were able to look down into the cockpits! They were leaving a wake! As with most of the stories that are posted here much of this one is true! read more

Reading one of the story’s about Da Nang and MPC’s Exchange reminded me of a similar experience.

I had a buddy named Dave Hill while stationed with the 1st MAW at Da Nang. Dave was a member of a group called the “CAT” which stood for civil affairs team. It was a position you wish you had. read more

I saw Bob Hoover flying his Shrike Commander and his personal P-51 maintained in perfect condition for him on every occasion. I was anywhere he was performing. From the tmi I was a fledgling pilot in the early fifties until many years later. I considered him the very best of the best. I will not try to tell any stories about his exploits they are too numerous and interesting but I will relate one show that he starred in at Dulles air show way back in the 70s I believe. He went through his routines with the Commander and P-51 and as I recall just before a hellacious thunderstorm swept across Dulles airport and the parking lots where people were rushing to escape thworst and largest hailstorm I ever saw in the area up until that time. The ice crystals were not round they were chunks of ice sharp and some jagged and pointed. Many folks were screaming and trying to get to their cars but since the wind was blowing up the ice so hard, the safest thing to do was get behind the left side of a car below the hood line and hope for the best. The storm passed and as I recall, Bob Hoover was right back the next day doing his miracles with his planes. It was a notion after that, that two smart mouthed FAA officials raised a Spector that he was too old to be flying before crowds of adoring fans and this began the battle of his career just to keep doing what only he could do. read more

The black market had a lot of the MPC in their hands so it was time to change it. It was in 1969 and we were stationed at a little outpost just outside Danang. We knew a lot of the girls in the surrounding Vills had a lot of MPCs from a little boom booms. So myself and 2 of my buddies decided we would go out to the bills and tell the girls we would take their MPCs and exchange them for 50 percent. Our idea was good but we had to find out a way to get off the base. The Guards wouldn’t let us out the front gate , so we decided to sneak out of the base, but it was surrounded by contstitena wire so we had to find a place where there was no trip flares. We managed to get out OK but I ripped the ass out of my fatigues on the way out. We got to the Ville and told them our plans. One of the Papasans didn’t like it. We told him 1/2 is better than nothing. He finnaly agreed and us three nuts headed back to our base. We couldn’t find the opening where we got out. While doing this a jeer was coming down the road shining the spot light. They seen us and stopped (thank God they didn’t shoot us). They loaded us into the jeep and took us into Danang. There they put each one of us in what looked like dog cages. They called our unit and told them to come and get us. Un be known to us the phone call was answered by a Corporal and he told them he was a Major and he would be right there. After about an hour one of the MPs let us out of our cages and turned us over to the “Major””. When we all seen who it was, our buddie had a cover on with the Major insignia on it, we had all we could do trying to hold our straight faces.We made it back to camp and when the keep came through the gate, the guard stopped us and saluted the Major. We all had a good laugh and we kept the end of our bargain and gave the Villes Papasan his 1/2. read more

I read the letter regarding Valdes and was inspired. I never joined the Marines but have always held them in high regard as well as my own branch. I was drafted when I got to Iceland. I was there 4 days and at the NCO club got in a fight with a couple of Marines. I will not say who won, however two days later I was called to the office of Admiral Beking. He advised me that the Ground Defense Forces had only about 20% of the man power due to Vietnam, and since I was or appeared to be in great shape (Six feet four inches 225 pounds no fat) he was reassigning me to Ground Defense Forces. I questioned his authority and said if I was not reporting to the Gunny Sergeant in charge at 0800. He said at 0801 I would be in jail. I reported at 0759. I was taken to a building and issued winter white 787 gear, and a M1 and some other things I do not remember. The Sgt who was to help me in the unit began explaining the M1 and 1911 to me and the first thing I did trying to use the M1 weapon is cut my thumb real bad. I never fired a weapon so much in all my military days. Three sometimes four times a week from all positions. I never tasted my own blood so often after Pt and I am certain to this day they were actually trying to kill me. I thought the reassignment to 3rd Rifle Platoon, Company B, 6th Marines, a detachment since the main Battalion had moved to Japan was temporary, until I looked at my orders closely and it said permanent. I ended up serving 18 months. I only saw the interceptors of the 57th from a distance. I was a Sergeant and I had a few perks, a refrigerator and a little respect. When I left Iceland and went to a missile squadron I must admit I was a little sad since I had learned such great respect for the Marines. Three of my sons asked me which branch to join i told them to join the Marine Corps. I just came back from Camp Pendleton and the promotion ceremony for my Granddaughter. read more