Category: Marine Corps Stories

Immediately Introduced Himself

I first met LCpl Gary Keller during ITR (advanced infantry training) at Camp Pendleton in late 1966. All the Marines looked alike in their utilities and short cropped hair. One stood out from the others. He appeared to be more mature and with no chevrons, I assumed he was an officer. He was a private. It was our first day at the training facility and we were being assigned billeting in Quonset huts. As I was putting my gear away, a Marine tapped me on the shoulder. “My name is Gary Keller and I am from Yakima, Washington.” I introduced myself as PFC John Foster. I was surprised that Keller had just completed boot camp. I thought he was older but he was 18, just like me. After we all got settled in, we were called out on the deck for a promotion ceremony. About 6 Marines were being promoted to LCpl. Gary was one of them but he was getting his first promotion to PFC. read more

FDC Bunker

You sat in FDC at the 11th Marines did you not?
That same night I sat in the FDC bunker at Lima 4-11 on Hill 55…..
Merry Christmas ‘lo these so many years later.

stew

Army Artillery

In late 1966, 2 Army artillery battalions were sent to the DMZ to be attached to the 3rd Marine Division’s 12th Regiment. My unit was the 1st Battalion 40th Artillery composed of 105mm SP’s. The other unit was the 2nd Battalion 94th Artillery composed of 175mm SP’s. The 1/40’s base camp was at Dong Ha and we rotated the firing Batteries between Dong Ha, the Rockpile, and Gio Linh. The 2/94 was based at Camp Carroll. I was an artillery surveyor and was all over the DMZ and was at the ammo dump September 3, 1967 when the ammo dump was hit by NVA artillery. read more

The Bomb Dump

Sgt. Grit, My name is Sgt Dove, KA 0311 71-78 (Rose Garden 72-73). I would have never thought all this being possible sitting up in my tower at the Bomb Dump some 36 years later. What America has done is just mind blowing, being able to connect with long lost brothers who were close friends at one time and now reunited again. I have had the pleasure of having 3 old buddies come into my life again via your page, the Nam Phong roster and one other web page. read more

X-mas in RVN

Well; now I sent this to you: Dec 1967 as OpChief, G-3-11; Hill 10 and Dec 70, and still OpChief, this time E-2-11 at FSB Ryder.

The picture from Ryder show some interesting people: BGen Simmons; Lt Houston who retired some 28 years later as Colonel, Gunny Aguilar, Capt Mulholland, the battery commander who spent 4 tours in the Nam, SSGT Lozada (Me) who retired a CWO-5 in the Field Artillery and after 34 years and 4 months and other FDC guys and an Army Liasion Team since army units were loose in the Que Son basin. read more

April 1963 First Combat Unit in Vietnam

This is just to let you know, the first combat marines in Vietnam was April 1963 it was a 47 3rd Recon Bn “C” Co.. and this is the only link to this special ops unit.

Click here: The Advisory & Combat Assistance Era: 1954-1964 read more

Capt. Ron Browns jeep from 7 Feb 68, after Retrival to Phu Bai

Death of a Marine

my husband died suddenly of a massive heart attack Sunday. he was Marine Force Recon and did 3 tours in Vietnam. he did a lot of other things that were classified but suffice to say he qualifies as a hero like all Marines do.

he was larger in life and in death, he has become a legend to me. this photo, though you cannot see the writing on his shirt, is one from i got him from Sgt. Grit. it says “University of Vietnam.” i just wanted to post this so other Marines will keep Carl and his family in their prayers. he is now standing alongside his mates in Heaven guarding the gates. read more

DaNang ammo dump

Re: SSgt D.J Huntsinger’s letter about the DaNang ammo dump.

The ammo dump explosion on April 27, 1969, killed only one Marine (one too many) but did cause an estimated 120 mil loss to the US. As CO, Alpha Co, 3d MP Bn, FLC, I was in the front row for that day. The explosion, caused by the Vietnamese burning out one of the roadside garbage dumps, caused damage to the USAF bomb dump, the Navy POL dump, and some damage to the USMC fuel farm. Of course, 3d MPs, being right next door to Ammunition Supply Point #1 (ammo dump) suffered greatly. We did evacuate the brig prisoners and the Vietcong POWs, and suffered the loss of one Marine scout dog.
LEATHERNECK ran a story, together with my corrections, many years ago.
Ed Craft, LtCol USMCR (Ret.) Plt 187, San Diego, 1505691 read more

Dong Ha Ammo Dump

The Dong Ha ammo dump story that you had on your Feb 26th newsletter prompted me to send you these images taken mostly from the 3rd Tank Battalion maintenance ramp on June 20, 1968. It was an amazing pyrotechnics display of the magnitude that I’ll never experience again. Many years later I read a very interesting story that was published in the official history, “The US Marine Corps in Vietnam – 1968” printed by the History and Museums Division, HQ US Marine Corps. On Page 360 they write that the North Vietnamese, fearing that the rumors of a US invasion into their country was about to take place, fired a massive artillery bombardment into the huge Dong Ha Combat Base striking the ammunition dump that was located at the far southern edge of the base. This left the 3rd Mar Div “desperately short” of artillery ammunition and the planned invasion was delayed. read more