Category: Marine Corps Stories

Trip to the Vietnam Memorial Wall

Trip to the Vietnam Memorial Wall

Me in the Wall Operation Chinook Washington 2007

Sgt. Grit,

After 40 years I finally got the opportunity to visit the Vietnam Memorial Wall along with other Memorials. I along with members and thier families of Marine Corps League, Table Rock Detachment #1197 from Morganton, NC went on a trip to Quantico, VA and to Washington, DC in the summer of 2007. It was quite an experience. Initially I had some emotional moments but then I felt a calming peace come over me. It is hard for me to put the feeling into words. One of my pictures that I took of the wall came out, as I’m sure many others have experienced, with a reflection of me as if I were in the wall with my fellow “Band of Brothers”. I felt as if I were among fellow warriors at a place somewhere in history. So many years have passed yet every moment of those years are captured forever in my mind. Every Vietnam Veteran should try at least once to visit the Vietnam Memorials. I am sorry that I waited so long. I have attached a few “then and now” photographs. read more

3rd Motors, 3rd Marines Vietnam

3rd Motors, 3rd Marines Vietnam

L/CPL Jerry Burden, Alpha Company, 3rd Motors, 3rd Marines Vietnam 1966 -1968. 1st photo L/CPL Jerry Burden on 50 cal – ambushed during mine swiping operation south of Phu Bia, 2nd photo L/CPL Jerry Burden during operation to relocation of Vietnamese at the DMZ, 3rd photo L/CPL Jerry Burden and un-known Marine going on patrol outside of 3rd motors, 3rd tanks and 3rd am tracks Battalion area in Da Nang late 1966 just before Christmas. Area was over run a few days later. Hope you can use these. read more

The Vandergrift Ice Run- April 1969

The Vandergrift Ice Run- April 1969

The following article is a true story, the names have not been changed to protect the innocent. We were all innocent.

Marines gathered in front of a tank and jeep in Vietnam In my Vietnam experience, there was no scarcer commodity ‘in country’ than ice. Staff Sergeant Harold Riensche (Navy Cross Recipient and Maintenance Chief, B Co., 3rd Tanks, 1968/1969) and I agreed that when and if we returned to the ‘world’, we would get together, buy a block of ice, get two lawn chairs, set the ice block on the sidewalk, sit there and just slowly watch it melt, while savoring several ice cold brews. read more

3RD BAT. 3RD MAR. DIV LIMA CO-65-66

3RD BAT. 3RD MAR. DIV LIMA CO-65-66

HEY TROOPS….WONDER IF ANYONE CAN RECOGNIZE THE FACES IN THESE PIC’S…..? THEY’RE MEMBERS OF THE “FIGHTING LETHAL LIMA” 3RD BAT 3RD MARINES IN VIETNAM 65-66…. I was a “Rockets Gunner” (3.5 ‘s) & Team Leader . WELCOME HOME TO MY BROTHERS !!! “Rocky” Fortner , former Corporal of Marines. read more