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Sgt Grit
The ONTOS in your video brought to mind my time with 1stATBn from July 67 to Dec 67. Our CP was a few miles outside Danang and our letter companies were in support of various infantry units in 1stMarDiv. The Battalion was disbanded in Dec 67 with most ONTOS being attached to 1st Tank Bn and sent North to the DMZ. I am including a few pix which may be of interest to other readers.
In August 1967 I arrived in-country and eventually ended up with “India” Co. 3/3 at a place called “Payable”. Just a little hole in the ground along route #9 and one of the last stops before The Rock Pile, Razorback, LZ Stud (Later Named Vandergrift) and Khe Sahn. Just want to confirm with Paul Martell….Yeah they were really loud and it took all we sometimes had to keep our shaky little hoochs up after some of the outgoing barrages but, thank god for those big boys. One other note, we are the ones “India” 3/3 who saved those same Army Arty guys at Camp Carroll from getting pounded everyday from NVA Arty coming out of Dong Ha mountain. Took us a couple of days to get to the dug in Gun Positions but, we eventually ran the NVA off the mountain and captured the 75mm Howitzers. Funny thing…They turned out to be American Made!
After graduating from Parris Island ( Platoon 3012, 29 October 1968) plus a bus ride we arrived at Camp Geiger and were assigned V4 company. Upon our arrival the Troop Handlers informed us no Poggi bait was allowed in the barracks. I had a box of brownies in the very bottom of my sea bag and had no way to retrieve them. That evening I asked the Marine next to me if he wanted to meet in the head after lights out and discard of the contraband. He readily agreed and we proceeded to destroy all the evidence. Approximately 0400 we returned to the head and held our own sick call as the evidence went down the toilet. From that day on our friendship grew until he was the brother I never had. His name was, David Teutsch, from Newton Falls, Ohio.
Dear Sgt Grit,
Had read your last 2 issues with the ASP 1 stories and figured I would add my 2 cents. I was stationed on Hill 34 with Hq Co – 7th Comm when the dump blew up. It was the d*mndest show I ever saw and went on for two days and nites. We were in the bunkers and manning the trench lines 24 hrs a day for about 5 days if I remember right. Everyone was warned NOT to waste ammo because what we had on hand was all there was if we got hit by Charlie.
Sgt. Grit,
As per your reguest to print a story, this is a picture of my mortar platoon section in Viet Nam 66 -67. Foreground upper left L/Cpl Rick Starkey. The other photo is of SSgt.David Nugent,who was seriously wounded trying to return a chicom grenade thrown into his position. Sarge was helping a wounded marine at the time.This action took place Sept.67 at the church yard in Con Thein.These events were documented in a book called Ambush Valley.Because of Sgt.Nugent who recovered from his wounds and other marines that gave their lives,I survided that day but if for nothing else to remember and honor them everyday.
I was on a radio relay shot at An Hoa when the ammo dump in DaNang went up. Even though we were about 30 miles away it was still a spectacular sight.
I can’t remember if it was before or after the DaNang dump went up but sometime that same spring the ammo dump at An Hoa went up. Here are some photos I took of the explosions that night. I used an engineer’s stake for a make-shift tripod and took a long exposure. Several times that night a huge blast went off and night turned into day. The picture of the shrapnel is what we policed up around our hootch and radio bunker. The toe on the right will give you some idea of scale.
Sgt. Grit Sir,
Please find attached Official Citation for Marine Commendation Medal for Valor while serving in South Vietnam with U.S. Marines (1966-67). I was originally recommended for this medal in October, 1966. But never received it. Yesterday history caught up with me and the long over due medal was presented at the Marine Reserve Center in Chattanooga, Tn.
Don,
I recently completed, with 10 other former or retired Marines, all Vietnam veterans, a 14 day visit of Vietnam. Arriving in HaNoi on 27 April then traveling to and around the old I Corps area from Chu Lai to the DMZ. We visited all of the significant Marine positions and traveled what used to be part of the Ho Chi Minh trail from Khe Sanh to DaNang through the A Shau Valley (a 10 hour bus trip).
