Category: Vietnam

Operation Kingfisher

Don,

This is the first story I ever wrote. I was mad at what the
Marine Corps had written about Kingfisher and I wanted the first
hand truth told. I sent it to a Col. Summers, who used to be the
editor of Vietnam Magazine and he accepted it first shot. He told
me I needed about 200 more words so I e-mailed my BN CO. and he
helped me with things that a L/Cpl Machine-gunner was not privy
to. They published it in the Spring of 2001. I tell it like it
was! Semper Fi! read more

Senior Class Trip

Plt. 103, MCRD 1967, Honor Platoon. The amazing thing is, our
platoon was made up of reservists and a group of Marines from
Peru. All the drill instructors were Spanish speaking, so most of
our commands were in Spanish. I went on to spend my senior class
trip in Viet Nam (18 months) with 1st Marine Div., 7th. Com.
Support Co. read more

AN HOA 1970

To all those that spent time at AN Hoa. I was with 2/11 ,1970 until we left and gave it to the ARVN's in Aug. I went back in 2005 and their is not one piece of the base left except a few pieces of the tarmac. Liberty Bridge is also gone, I met a few people that lived in the ville, but An Hoa was destroyed and move a few miles away. It was a great trip and I'm glad I went but never again, twice was enough. China Beach has a 5 star hotel. read more

40 Years Ago and I Remember It Like It Was Yesterday

I had not been in country long around 3 months on this 1/21/1968. It was just past  midnight and the word came down that we had NVA in the wire and there was a break in our lines. Every 3rd man turned and watched the back in case we got jumped from behind. read more

Silencing The Ghosts

Several years ago, at a Marine Corps reunion, a friend and fellow brought in a number of brochures from a travel company that specialized in tours of battlefields throughout the world. He had recently returned from a trip to Vietnam where he had served almost 40 years ago. While he talked up the return trip to all that would listen, few took him seriously at the time. The time and expense of a trip to Vietnam dissuaded me from even considering the trip. Last year, with my retirement income fairly solid and working only 3 days per week I began to give the trip serious consideration. read more

“Pig”

In 1969 while serving in the 1st MAW in DaNang, I was at the airstrip waiting to catch a C-130 for Chu Lai when a little guy came out of nowhere… He jumped in my lap and looked hungry. I took him back to the compound and got him some chow & water. We became good buddies for the next 4 months. I named him "Pig" because he would eat anything!  He was a great little guy! read more

Baby Huey

During my tour in Iraq 04'-05' my trusted driver, and friend was a former Marine.  Richard  "Dick" J. Forss was in the Wisconsin Air National Guard who volunteered to serve one last time for his Country.  In order for Dick to accomplish this tour he transferred from Personnel Section as an E-7 MSgt to the Security Forces Section as an E-6 Technical Sergeant.  Talkin about a patriot… Now Dick not only saved my life more than once, he had this sixth sense of incoming rounds and would either go to one knee or "flop" down on his belly.  I asked him how he knew how close these rounds would be… He simply said, "Kevin, I spent 13 1/2 months in the bush of Vietnam from a few days before "Tet" Jan 1968 until March 1969.  Whenever I would go over and get my hair cut at the barbershop by a TCN (Third County National), he would defer and have me cut his hair.  Curious as to why he wouldn't let them cut his hair I asked.  He said that during his tour in Vietnam his fire base was over ran and the Marines where pushed back to the Main Base on the hilltop.  All night long the battle was fought with the outcome in the balance.  The next morning the Marines had not only secured the Main Base but all overran fire bases.  He walked over his barber's body laying at the maingate, wearing a NVC badge.  His in country name was "Baby Huey" because of his size, easy going personality, and baby face complexion.  I was amazed, not only was Dick a retired Milwaukee PD of the famous Motorcycle patrol after 31 years, here he was after entering the USMC in late 1967 and was here serving his country again at he age of 55 years old and saving lives (especially mine), with the same training he had learned all those years ago in the bush of Vietnam.  Dick retired from the Wisconsin ANG in Nov 2009 at the age of 60 years old.  What a comrade in arms he has been to this "Space Cadet".  Dick I salute you and all those serving. read more

MIA

I was stationed at Phu Bai, 2/9, 81 Mortars. My older brother was with 1stReconBn at Chu Lai. When time would allow we would take turns and catch a hop back-n-forth to visit each other. Finally the scare of my life happened around Feb 1967. I recieved a letter from… with a return address from Gen Westmoreland. My first thought why am I getting a letter from the General. Opening the letter I read the words I dreaded to read. My brother was MIA. I freaked out. After getting myself to calm down I went to my CO and asked permission to go to Chu Lai and find out what happen to my brother. Permission was granted and I was advised not to start WW III.  I said my farwell and loaded up my overnight bag with grenades and boxes of 45 ammo. I had all the intention of shooting every villager if necessary to find out what happened to my brother. Upon arrival at the helo pad at 1stReconBn I met the SgtMaj who did a double look at me thinking I was Sgt Jim Griffith and then realized I was his brother Sgt Don Griffith he smiled and inquired if I was here to find out about my brother's MIA status. The SgtMaj explained the screw up with the status lableling my brother as a MIA when it was suppose to be not due to action.  The screw up was a C-130 landed at Chu Lai and my brother was due to rotate back to the good old USA. his flight went directly to Okinawa and by-passed Da Nang where he was suppose to check in. So the military had him AWOL/UA. My notification indicated MIA.  I got on the HAM radio and called my Mother and explained the mistake and to assure her, her Son is safe. Then I heard a laughter in the back ground and I sensed my mother didn't seem to be very much alarmed about the whole screw up. Then I asked my Mother who is in the house? She replied; Do you want to speak with your brother Jim ? He's sitting here laughing. Talk about freaking out and angry at the same time I chewed his butt out with some choice words until the HAM radio operator had to calm me down and told me I couldn't use that kind of language on the radio.  The end of this story turned out great. I didn't get to go to the village and terrorize the local and go to jail for murder… But I think I aged a few years faster then just being in Vietnam.  Attached is a copy of the radio msg explaining the screw up.  Semper Fi Brother, read more