Category: Vietnam

Sgt. Grit,

While checking out the latest issue of your fine newsletter, I clicked on the link to your blog. There I found a link to the 3/11 (Vietnam) blog. One of the photos there was posted on the original 3/11 web site (which was later discontinued, with material transferred to a newer location). Of special interest to me is the photo of one of "Hotel" Battery's guns. It interests me because on the original web site, I posted a photo that I took of one of "India" Battery's guns, which was occupying the same firing position. And my photo was taken from almost the same perspective, but earlier–in December '66. read more

Sgt. Grit,

I just started reading this week's newsletter, and the story about ROK Marines brought back a couple of memories. The only contact I had with any of them was on 24 December 1966 at the Chu Lai airstrip on my way to board the C130 that would take me from India Battery 3/11 up to Danang for my six-month stint as art'y FO for Lima 3/7. As I was walking toward the aircraft, I passed a Korean Marine heading in the opposite direction. I nodded in greeting in passing, and as I looked him in the eyes, I saw what I have seen only a few other times: the expression of a cheetah or tiger in a cage–cold. In the Danang area, I heard about how they responded when a vehicle hit a mine in the road: they came off the vehicle shooting everything in sight. As a result, they didn't have too many such incidents in their Tactical Area of Responsibility. read more

The attached photo was taken of the celebration of my 100th Mission in Vietnam, flying as a RIO in F-4 fighter-bombers with VMFA-122. My pilot was Kurt Wilbrecht, shown leaning against the aircraft, who was later killed in action.

David Dunn
Georgetown, Texas read more

Here's an airwinger Pic for you. This was taken in early 1966 to commerate our 5,000th sortie. VMA 223 flew A4 Skyhawks. What a great war bird it was. I was on the check crew and recruited to hold the sign (I'm the one in the T-shirt) for this photo op. Later that year I was rotated to CONUS for separation from active duty. read more

i was glad to see the response to letter about how DI's treated some recruits. I was not saying it never happened it just did not happen in our platoon. My time in the Corps is something that I will never forget. Wanted to included some photos taken at Khe Sanh , Viet Nam. There is a Khe Sanh Veteras Reunion in Rochester Mn nest July. go to www.khesanh.org for more detail. read more

When the fire mission came down we advised FDC that completion of the mission would overshoot our tube and our radioman advised them to give the mission to another gun. FDC had a different round count for our gun and insisted (ordered) we complete the fire mission. If memory serves correctly, we overshot the tube by about 13 rounds before the explosion occurred. We (the gun crew) were never allowed to talk with the investigators so I have no idea what the official version of events was. I was blown off the gun into the ammo bunker and a large piece of shrapnel from the tube imbedded itself into the bunker wall about 6 inches from my head. Here is a picture of me holding the shrapnel while squatting next to a piece of the tube (laying on the ground) taken the next morning after digging the shrapnel out of the bunker. I brought that piece of shrapnel home with me and still have it to this day. read more

On the right is 1st Sgt McDonald with a chest of medals nearing retirement. On the left is a very "boot" Second Lieutenant with a National Defense Medal. We all thought the boot 2nd Lt was very cool because he drove a new Porshe sports car. Unfortunately I have forgotten his name. This would have been around 06/67 to 01/68. If anyone recognizes him please contact me using my name @Gmail. Thanks. read more