Joined USMC one day after turning 17, spent my 18th birthday on hill 225 out side of Phu Bai (I 3/4). Did a Med Cruise with the 6th then a another tour, Khe Sanh with H 2/26. Quite an experience, never regretted it, always enjoyed hunting and camping. Oh yeah did college after my service. Semper Fi
Category: Main
THE END OF COMBAT?!?
Yesterday was 29-March the date in 1973 “That the last combat troops left Vietnam.” Our local VFW was having an event to commemorate that day. My friend and I decided to go.We are not members of that post but, all veterans and the public were invited to attend.They had refreshments and music but,not much else.It was more of a meet and greet.We were listening to a guy that was talking to a group of young people and I heard him comment that the last casualty occurred in March 73′. My friend JJ looked over at me and shook his head as to say “let it go” but I couldn’t .I waited for an opening and ask if he knew how many names are listed on the WALL after 29- 73′? I told them “at least 83 maybe more.I ask if he knew about the S.S.Mayaguez He said he did but thought it happened in Korean water.I said “No it was actually Cambodian water.” 41 Americans were killed including 18 Marines and Corpsman (3 of the Marines were executed by the Cambodians) Ask the families of those killed or wounded after the so called “End of Combat”. What they think.His response was that more would have died if we would have stayed I agreed and, we left it at that. jj and I also left! NEVER FORGET!! SEMPER FI!! Harry
Don’t jump in to a fox hole without looking
I arrived in country in September 1968 and was assigned to KCo 3/7 on hill 37. The Bn was out on a operation so I was with the short timers and walking wounded that remained in the rear.Each night some of us had to stand watch in the fox holes and bunkers that was on hill 37. One night we started taking in coming so all of us started running with our M16 rifles to our assigned positions when I jumped in to my fox hole I landed on a M16 fifle flash surpresser right up my ASS! All I saw was stars and almost passed out.Mean while we are taking 82 motors and small arms fire from the village below hill 37 (Di Loc) I went to sick bay the next morning and was put on light duty for 5 days. I could not take a crap crap for a week . Welcome to Vietnam Nam my friend! Sgt R.P. McLeod on the right ready to go on night patrol !
Welcome To Chu Lai
February, 1970. We arrived at Da Nang late in the afternoon, too late to transit to our final destinations. Driven to a transit barracks, 2nd deck. I grabbed an upper rack next to a door to the outside. Not sure of what happened next, I kept my clothes on, but tied my boot laces together with my glasses inside. While all of us were trying to settle in, grab some shut-eye, we could hear sounds of artillery somewhere in the distance, coupled with occasional small arms fire. I had just begun to doze when I heard the sound of incoming 122 rockets. I hit the deck, grabbed my boots, and flew through the door, jumped to the stair landing midway down in one jump, and on the ground. While I was jumping down the stairs I saw at least three 122 rockets landed in a field directly behind the barracks. We crammed as many of us into bunkers, and waited for whatever happened. After what seemed like hours, somebody sounded “All Clear,” and we returned to where we had been when The rockets came in. I don’t think there were any casualties. Not many of us got any sleep that night, and we spent most of the rest of the night trying to figure what kind of defense we could mount if the VC came at us, as we did not have any rifles, pistols, ammo, grenades, or even knives.
My Opinion
Just my opinion: I have know idea if boot camp is harder today or fifty+ years ago. I think everything is relative to the times. I do believe that the marine’s of today are better trained than we were. The one big
difference is, we did not have to deal with the PC Police watching and listening to everything we do or say, or diversity training. What a crock. And they wonder why moral and military discipline is at an all time low. I blame the past administration.
MARINES TAKE POSSESSION OF NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART RADAR
Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, a global security company that provides systems, products, and solutions to government and commercial customers worldwide, presented its new AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar or G/ATOR at a receiving ceremony March 29, 2017, at its facility in Baltimore.
Warrior of the Week
Daly’s greatest moment in World War I came during the intense fighting at the Battle of Belleau Wood. Daly’s Marines were in the middle of a goddamned shitstorm. They were outnumbered two-to-one, outgunned, and facing down the barrel of a veritable assload of German machine gun nests. They had been pinned down for hours by a non-stop hail of artillery and gunfire, and things were looking bleak as hell for our boys.
Choppers are better
Much preferred being a crew chief/door gunner on a UH-34D (“Dog”) than humping on the ground. Good thing is that the bad guys usually didn’t lead us enough while we were flying so rounds hit the tail section without causing much harm. Bad thing if they had auto weapons or we were stationary on the ground or taking off. As for tanks… we came into a hot zone for a medi-vac and a guy was sitting on top the tank taking pictures of us, guess he thought the VC didn’t have the balls to open up on him or us.
I Did the Same Thing-Quit School and joined the USMC at Age 17
I joined the USMC at age 17 and it was the best thing that I could have ever done at the same time, just like you. It actucally led to me getting my GED and eventually getting a BA and MPA degree later. I don’t think I would ever have made it into college without joining the Marine Corps at age 17 and I have always been very proud of my service in the USMC.
Cpl.Ron Pate
I was a 2841 in ELMACO with Pate we both were in Radio Relay section, we had not worked together much as I had problem with 1St Sgt. During move from Air Base by Dog Patch to FLC I had helped move Com stuff in Radio Relay to the Plywood Elephant, I think I only had a rack at FLC a couple days. Got to Nam in Nov. burner shitters and TAD to conveys duty as Co. Camder did like my records of M.O.S. from C&E. Batt San Diego a another story! Ronny and I walked to club that night a little late so we stood up leaning on the fence, round eyes on stage were great. Grenade went off Pate and I were knocked to ground when I woke up later, Marines were still leaving so I moved Ron and my self to wall so not to trip any one. All Marines inside club thought the gooks were inside the wire so they were leaving for Defense.
Ronny they say got a piece in the heart , I was wounded from shoulders to ankles. Marines reasonable did not do time. One got a Bad Conduct discharge but because of Drugs. I have never talked about this as of coarse I never received purple heart nor should have I but being in N.S.A. Guam Naval hospital Japan then Great Lakes till June 1970, I seen so many wounded Marines legs arms missing burns Infection as I was on Ward 3 S. great lakes dirty ward. Plus I got to come home early Ronnie stood by me I lived he died. I am going to PTSD meetings now for a year or so. I am telling this for others maybe me some. I now wear Marine Hats, put emblems on my trucks 10 or 15 years ago. I was always proud my being a Marine by volunteering to serve in Corp and Nam. But being stationed at El. Tore from June to Oct. with all the Hippy Dippy spitting outside gate. Last time I was spit on was in Denver Airport by a mother of two children Plus not many regular people supported us either
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