Category: Vietnam

To Randy Talbot, 3rd Amtracs

Saw the pictures of A Company with Liberty Bridge in the background and a lot of old memories came flooding back. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and all the other "tractor rats" with 3rd LVT who took me in as a young 0433 and taught the skills I needed to stay alive. Major Operations, search & destroy, ambushes, blocking force , patrols we did it all. We also knew that every VC and NVA with a RPG was gunning for our tractors every time they went out. I also witnessed the three Marines drown on November 23, 1967 off Marble Mountain when one of the P5s sank.
Attached are pictures I took in 67 & 68. Also wanted to thank Sgt John Adams aka Adams Family. read more

Morning Grit,   I’ve been seeing a lot of chatter in the newsletter about amtracs in Viet Nam lately.  January 1st, 1969 at the ripe old age of 18 I found myself serving with the 3d Amtrac Bn. “A” Co. 3d Plt. 1st MarDiv. FMFWestPac. in the republic of Viet Nam.  Our Battalion Area was on the beach at Marble Mountain.  3d platoon operated in that area known as Arizona Territory/Dodge City, Charlie Ridge, Hill 10, Hill 37, Hill 55, Hill 65, Liberty Bridge, and some times around An Hoa.  I’m sending a few pictures taken at Liberty Bridge showing some of the outstanding Marines I served with and the 37 ton tracked amphibious vehicles we played with.  Hope they bring back some fond memories for your readers.   Semper Fi Randy (Beast) TALBOTT SSgt. 1968-1977

YES SGT. Wackerly..

We had T-Bones in the Corps. Here are 4 pics from 1968 "B" Brty 2nd LAAMS Chu Lai. I can be plainly seen cooking T-Bones on my Field Grill…88 men in the Brty, 54 steaks per box…….the leftover, unfrozen steaks went….. maybe back into the Black Market? maybe for the ice cream I served. read more

I was in MAG-13, VMFA-115 Ordnance at Chu Lai in 69/70 and the group was all F-4s.  Except for the HAMS Hummer, a C-117. There was a sign on the taxiway side of the revetments that said MAG 13 FIGHTERTOWN. Don't let the sign fool you.  We were mostly close air support though.   Richard Brown

While I was in VietNam (1967-1968) I experienced the true meaning of SemperFi and how Marines take care of Marines.

I was a dump truck driver with the 7th Engineer Battalion, Service Co. I was in a large convoy leaving the AnHue Combat Base with my friend Tyrone Jones heading for Hill 55, then on to DaNang. Tyrone had a new guy with him in his dump truck. I also had a new guy riding with me.(I can't remember the new guys names) The convoy had two tanks with it. One in the front, the other in the rear. About halfway to PhuLoc 6 the rear tank hit a command detonated land mine(I.E.D.) The convoy stopped,the front tank went back to help the blown up tank. We all jumped into the ditches and started shooting into the treeline. We received a few sniper rounds. The undamaged tank blew-up a hootch and the grunt next to me blew-up a small cement structure with a LAW. We got the all clear from the convoy commander and headed for Hill 55. Little did Tyrone and I know that what just happened was only the beginning of a very scary and exciting day. read more

I served in the Marine Detachment and came aboard at N.A.S. Alameda Feb 1975- Went on that Westpac – then departed to another carrier in Jan 1976.

While On-board HANCOCK, I was a Brig Chaser and also on the 5 inch 38 gun crew, starboard bow. Matter-of fact, that is where(in the Gun Tub) Craig Tenney and I were hanging-out watching the UNREP when we had an Emergency Breakaway. I never would have thought an aircraft carrier could heel over that far trying to avoid collision. We could see the bow of the USS Kawishiwi coming toward the side of Hancock,we scrambled up out of the gun tub onto the flight deck.  I do not know the exact degree of list to the portside as we veered away, but looking at the flight deck, I think anything that was not secured or holding on would have gone over the side. Thinking back, I seem to remember a horn or Klaxon ??? and the 1MC shouting "Collision Eminent Take a Brace! Take a Brace – Collision Eminent". But as you well know memory is not always exact science. During Operation Frequent Wind, I was on the Flight Deck (with my M-14) as security; but looking back now, I think "People Herder" might be a better description. You could read the fear and disorientation in their expressions. read more

Sgt. Grit,   I'm a little behind in reading the newsletter, but thought I would briefly comment on the topic of the "PC" (personnel carrier). My fond memory of that particular vehicle has me sitting on one of the bench seats under the canvas cover in the back, and watching the "Third Eight Inch Howitzer" sign (photo attached) disappear in the distance, as I headed for the Danang Air Basic (a few miles to the east) on 17 December 1967, to catch my "Freedom Bird" flight back to "The World" the next day.   (Note in reference to the photo: Although I live only about sixty miles from the beach resorts on South Padre Island, Texas, I hate sand to this day, and seldom spend any more time there than my family can talk me into.)   Once a captain, USMCR; always a Marine. Tom Downey '63-'76 Vietnam 4Dec66-18Dec67

This was sent to me by Sgt. Jack Thompson VMA(AW)533.We flew the "beautiful" A-6s. VMA(AW)533 was in Chu Lai from April of '67 through Oct'69.

Semper Fi! Sgt. Jerry Callaway '67-'71