I was a bit under the weather last week and did not get to respond to “Weather and food in RVN for Grunts,” so here’s my contribution:
Every Marine’s assignment, reception and duties are different and often depend on the rank, attitude and motivation of the individual at the time. My first tour in ’66-67, as a Pfc/LCpl with H&S 2/26, in Happy & Elephant Vallieys and later on Chinook and at Phu Bai was vastly different from my second tour in ’69-70 as a Sgt/SSgt with Comm Co 1st FSR/FLC and Provisional Rifle Co at Camp Books, Red Beach. With each I was a different rank, age & maturity, in different areas doing different jobs. Actually, I’ve always felt like I was in two different wars between ’66 and ’70 and have confirmed this with many other multiple tour Marines.
Yet, there were still quite a few similarities & differences with others. How could you possibly complain about a free, all-expenses paid, one year vacation in beautiful Southeast Asia. Personally, the first time I made the trip was by smooth sailing luxury ocean liner, with excellent stacked berthing and wonderfully prepared cuisine and ample respite with highly educated & animated fellow travelers. The second trip I made was by first class air accommodations on a swift, modern and comfortable airliner.
Once I arrived, I was greeted by very pleasant tour personnel who would arrange connections and further transportation to my final destination. Maybe your experience was different from mine, but I enjoyed the nearly daily walking tours, punctuated by picnic-style box lunches and camping overnight in tents, or just under the stars. Rain or shine, we would enjoy the marvelous climatic conditions. And, Oh!, the firework displays were breathtakingly brilliant.
It just proves the adage, “Join the Marines, where every days a holiday, and every meal a feast!!”
Semper Fi!!! Top Pro
Very clever analysis there M/Sgt Edd! Hope you’re feeling better . Harry
An excellent way to describe the Vietnam experience. Semper Fi,Bill,66 to 70.
This description is good, however not quite how I would have described my “adventure”.
Went over in ‘66 on U.S.N.S. Gordon, the last one by ship. Yes the Nam was quite a vacation, not.
Semper Fi -64/67
Good Example pf Marine Corp Wit!!! Just goes to underscore the fact that in the Marines everyday is a Holiday and every meal is a feast!!! I can relate to the excellet meals and endless enterainment we use to get in An Hoa 69-70.
Semper Fi
Sgt. Golden
Sgt Golden, I als enjoyed the entertainment at An Hoa in ’70. I was assigned to rude escirt on the supply convoys between there and Da Nang. I also had up close entertainment at Dai Do while with 2/4 in ’68. All provided free with delicious ham and mother for fir dinner!
Sgt Charles Bryson. 2/4 67-68. 1st SP 69-70 and 5th Marines ’70
I severed in the bush with Golf Co. 2/5 in 1970 out of AnHoa. How close were we to each other?
I remember a book called, How to live in Vietnam for under $.10 a day. It has little things in it like, Sleeping in the great outdoors. I wonder if that book is still around.
MSgt Prothro,
Your post just proves that two people can have vastly different outlooks on the same event. It’s all about attitude. Thanks for that humorous and colorful writing. Love it!!
Sounds like a very good duplication of my one tour in the ‘Nam, with the exception of the “walking tours”. As a 2533 we drove our MRC-83 radio Jeeps everywhere we went. Rank can have its privileges but so can your MOS.
(Yeah, many of you will consider me a REMF pogue but I ate the same dirt and got shot at by the same V.C. – – but a I always had a fighting hole dug nearby)
L/Cpl SoSueMe
5th Comm
Danang – Chu Lai – ’65-’66
Semper Fi!
A small Sea Story about the MRC 83 Jeep: If I recall, there was a sign on the back warning to “Keep Back 100 feet” or such … I was with the 11th Marines in 16 Area of CamPen and a new second lieutenant joined us.
He’s standing by the Comm/Supply shed and notices the Jeep with a huge antenna and said sign, manned by a salty L/CPL. The 2/LT asks, “So, just how powerful is that radio unit, Marine?” The L/CPL responds, “Well, sir, step over to the Comm Sergeant and ask for an AN/PRC-6 Handi-Talkie, turn it ON, and then stand behind the shed. I will transmit to you and the signal is soooo powerful, it goes around the world and you’ll be able to hear it right there …”
Illustrating – yet again – why Second LTs are not allowed compasses, maps or live ammo …
“Every day a holiday,
Every meal a feast,
Every paycheck a fortune,
Every formation a family reunion,
Every mission an adventure.
US Marine Corps: Just one good deal after another.”
MSgt Prothro….I was also on Chinook in support of 26th and 4th Marines. I got to enjoy the daily highway excursions from Camp Evans to Phu Bai and back for a couple weeks. We had the beautiful views of the mountains to the west and the sandy beaches to the east from atop the Heliport. Luxurious accommodations were provided complete with, as you mentioned, box lunches each and every day. And, generous mud baths were available 24/7 for our relaxation and enjoyment. Welcome home MSgt……..…Bob 1381 Vietnam 1966/1967
Bob – Back at’cha!! WELCOME HOME to you also, and to all the other guys that were fortunate enough to survive their respective vacations. Thanks for reminding me about the “generous mud baths (that) were available 24/7,” and at absolutely no cost. How could I have ever forgotten them. Semper Fi!!! Top Pro
Top Pro…..Do you remember the truck blowing up near the 4th Marines aid station? We had moved from a location north of Camp Evans about the fist of January 1967. I was in the truck just in front of the one that hit the mine. We were to pull off where he did but were directed to move up one position. Another close call. It makes me realize that God was looking after me again…Semper Fi…..Bob 1381.
I’ll bet you had to change your skivvies after that. I seem to remember something like that, but it was so long ago, and if it didn’t happen to me personally, it all runs together and is hard to recall. I was transferred to 3d FSR on Okinawa in mid-Jan ’67 so I was in short timers mode. Have you read Don Hoffman’s book To Hear Silence? He was with C/1/13 supporting 3/26 during Chinook, and it seems like he may have mentioned that incident. It’s been well over a year since I read his book, but it sounds familiar. If you can’t find the book, send me your address and I’ll loan you my copy; TopProUSMC@gmail.com . God was looking after all of us in those days. Semper Fi!!! Top Pro