Category: Vietnam

The Four Star Chicago flag and Incoming

We had the city of Chicago send me a city flag with the four red stars on it.
Then – we could not fully understand why we took some incoming…..
I took the flag down and had my state flag instead.
They must have thought a four star general was living in that hooch!!!
Home safe !!
Semper Fi
Gene Spanos
11th Engr Bn
2/68-2/69 read more

Platoon Pic

A pic of our Platoon 354, MCRD San Diego in 1965.     Front row, L to R, myself, Cpl. T. H. Logan, Senior DI Sgt. E. C. Villanueva, Sgt. J. W. Jones and Guide On R. Kimble.  The unique thing about this Platoon was that we had the Capps brothers who were identical twins.  Top row, center, on each side of the recruit with glasses.  I server all 4 years with Ronnie and Denny.  They have both passed away now but were Marines through and through.   Also, friend of ours is a retired film editor and has asked to cull through my 4,000 slides taken during my 26 months in Viet Nam.  The attached link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eatjbUaoDY0&feature=youtu.be) is just a start.  Many of you ( my Marine brothers ) will recognize a lot of these places and in the finished product, many of you will be featured.   This is just part one of many to come.   Enjoy and feel free to comment.   Glen

More Mighty Photos

I was with Mortor/Whiskey Btry -1-11 in 66 just south of Danang.Being in FDC (0844) Iand was assigned a Mighty Mite to make our weekly beer runs to the ship docks in Danamg. One time when we got back to base I discovered we had a flat tire. The Mite was a box design and was able to drive on 3 tires as long as it was kept balanced. I loved my little MITE read more

Con Thien

Sgt. Grit
When Jim Barr – SNCO of Marines (Vietnam Vet 62-73) mentioned
the Mighty Mite, in your Newsletter of Sept. 01, it brought back
some memories of my time in RVN ('67 and '68).  I've enclosed
the only picture I have of one of those little beasties.
 
This particular vehicle was assigned to Capt. Edwards (RVN '67)
who was the C.O. of C/1/4 during that time. [Note: He was one h-
ll of an officer and I'll never forget him.] Anyway, his company
driver – "Sid" (in the passenger's seat) and Company Radio
Operator – "Porky" (in the back, with the mail sack), used to
hunt me up and we'd make runs into Hue (months B4 Tet). I've
often wondered how we managed to survive those afternoon jaunts
– and have tried to re-collect exactly WHY we went on those
little trips anyway.  [At my age, my memory is rather foggy.] Likely "to get beer" was the logical reason.
 
With respect to USMC  "non armored" vehicles, MY personal
favorite was "the Mule". I've also enclosed a picture of one of
those little beasties. Those little suckers could sure haul the
Ammo & C-Rats, etc. read more

Near Dogpatch

Sgt Grit,
You mentioned Mighty Mites. Here's a couple of pictures of two
of our Mighty Mites in the 3rd Mar Div, Headquarters Battalion,
MP unit. I'm sitting in one with a South Vietnamese QC officer
waiting to go on patrol near Dogpatch by the Danang Air Base in
August, 1966. The other picture is of our Gunny as we're waiting
to depart from the POW compound on the south flank of Hill 327
for our new assignment in Dong Ha in October, 1966. read more

Flattened Tires

One of my favorite photos from the National Museum of the Marine
Corps in Triangle / Quantico Virginia. Also, a 105mm howitzer
staged in the Vietnam display area at the museum. (The flattened
tires, by incoming shrapnel, were just at it happened at Khe
Sanh). I tried without much success to have the gun decaled with
the shield of Battery I, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines with whom I
was privileged to serve in 1963-1965 coming out of 1st Marine
Brigade at Kaneohe Bay to Phu Bai, RVN.
 
Best regards, and Semper Fi
Joe Featherston read more