Sgt Grit, ref Jim Macken’s letter on the old French resort at Ba Na west of Danang, here are a couple of pictures taken in 1968. 1st Recon Bn used Ba Na as a radio relay site for teams operating in the western mountains. It was a beautiful site that gave a commanding view of the mountains and the coastal plains. It was a fairly secure site (tho’ it was hit periodically, mostly after my time) and was a sort of in-country R&R for the recon teams, after humping all those vertical hills where we usually operated. It was also a lot cooler and more pleasant than the lowlands or the elephant grass. In the years since 1975, Ba Na has been rebuilt and is now a major resort and tourist attraction – you can google it for pictures and info. It looks great now, but there was something about the ‘old’ Ba Na that had more character. I guess you had to be there.
Fred Vogel
1st Recon Bn.
6/68 – 2/69
Hey, Marines My name is Doug Helmers, nickname in 1969 was “Junior.” A Radio Repairman with H.Q. Battery 11th Marines, I served on Ba Na [ called Hill 1467 by most of us ] during Operation Oklahoma Hills. A corporal at the time, I was TAD to 3/11, and was among the Radio Operators and Techs who set up radio jeeps so Grunts down in the valleys to the west could call for artillery support from our units east of the mountains. We also had some 60mm mortar men with us, just one tube. I too have many fine photos of the “hill”, including Sea Knights bringing supplies, and Sea Stallions lifting our jeeps to our LZ. I’d love to hear from anyone who served atop Hill 1467. Fog Of Time as robbed me of names except for Doug Seneca, Radio [ Operator ]; R.J. White, and a Recon Marine, Randy Raitt, a fine lad from 1st Recon Bn. I’d often sit & chat with Randy as he monitored radio net, keeping track of any Recon teams operating in the bush near us. Would especially love photos of the big room on ground floor, where a Lister bag was hung. If you email me, please use subject line of “Hill 1467” ~ otherwise I don’t open email from unrecognized senders. ‘Have left my hotmail address for any contacts.