Category: Vietnam

11th Marines

Thought I would dazzle you with some of my Nam pics. Here is an aerial view of HQ, 11th Marine Regiment, near DaNang. The Comm Plt is the small group of about 8 hooches kinda by themselves to the left of the compound. We always felt kinda lonely down the hill by ourselves. Then again it did have some advantages, nobody bothered us. If memory serves me correctly, 11th Motors was across the road on the right. At the bottom of our compound we had an Army search light detachment, attached to 11th Marines. Apparently Marines did not have search lights so we borrowed from the Army. read more

Welcome Home for Viet Nam Vets

My local Marine Corps League detachment is involved in the local Welcome home celebrations for retuning veterans of all services.  It was brought to the committe chairmans attention that many Viet Nam Veterans have missed that recognition, so he decided to do something about it…  here is a letter he just sent out to those interested.  Please help support this great cause… read more

TBS Class 6-67 Class Reunion

Attached are several photos of the memorial I put together for the guys KIA from our class. I suspended the dog tags you folks made on a cross bar. Everyone was impressed especially the family members of the fallen. I told the families to take home their guys tag. The memorial was looked at a lot by everyone. We had over 200 class members and family at the reunion. I made sure to tell everyone who did the dog tags. Thank you so much for giving me the deal on those tags. The memorial was a labor of love. read more

Never Had A Swabby

Read Cpl Schweim's letter re landings: I was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, 12th Marines, during 1961- 62, we made many amphibious landings training with the Republic of Vietnam and other Units, off-loading from the APA Pickaway in the South China Sea to Thailand we climbed the ropes to the landing craft. The South China Sea was seldom calm, so the LST would bounce up and down sometimes hitting the side of the ship. Marines in full gear would climb the ropes while Marines on the landing craft would try to hold the ropes. However we never had a swabby directing us. One incident I recall a Marine did not have his helmet chin strap buckled and it fell from the APA's deck to the landing craft fortunately missing us, we listened to orders and had our steel pots on and secured. I have attached some photos of the operation. read more

Reunion of Hollywood, Plt 2118, June ’69 – Sept ’69, MCRD San Diego

Would like to hear from the Marines of Platoon 2118, MCRD San Diego , summer of '69… also from my fellow A6'ers stationed in Iwakuni and DaNang '70 – '71 , VMA 225 and VMA 242… my contact: scarygary7777@aol.com… served '69 – '73…  read more

A More Salty Appearance

About two weeks ago while cruising the internet I stumbled on an ad for a "Vietnam era" green utility cover so I bought one (right photo). I still have one that I was issued in 1963 and it has long since passed the stage of being unserviceable (left photo). My wife is a wonderful companion but she is like a First Shirt when it comes to cleaning house. Once I caught her just in time, my old utility cover in hand, heading towards the sh-t can with obvious intentions of throwing it out. When I tried to explain why I couldn't part with it, she only stared at me blankly. Suffice it to say, I just explained you don't sh-t can old warriors, you stow them away. My new cover has the "first day of Boot Camp" look to it, but that doesn't matter; it will gradually take on a more salty appearance. read more