On April 27, 1969, I was the OIC of a small communications detachment assigned to 1st MAW in DaNang. One day, while working in the office, there was a huge BOOM and the fluorescent lights in our small working spaces came tumbling down. One hit the Gunny in the left shoulder, more of a surprise than an actual injury. Then, there were a series of smaller, but just as dangerous, explosions. We stepped outside the spaces, actually a small hut surrounded by a sandbag revetment, to see what was going on. We could see a lot of smoke in the direction of 11:00 o’clock. Then, all of a sudden, we could see this shock wave heading towards our area. Finally, after an hour of this, I had no choice but to shut down our comm link with III MAF across the DaNang river. In the meantime, in accordance with our standing procedures, all the rest of the detachment reported in for duty. “All present and accounted for, Sir.” It must have been about 10:00 the next morning when the all-clear was sounded.
The story I heard at the time was that some local hires were burning some brush which got away from them. Sure did a lot of structural damage. After getting all affairs back in order and re-establishing comms with II MAF, I headed up to Freedom Hill in the detachment’s jeep to check in with the detachment assigned to 1stMarDiv, OIC was Capt Jim Bolson. It was like driving an obstacle course there were bombs lying everywhere. The damage was unreal. Jim Bolson’s det was back up and running also. They had suffered some minor damage, but nothing that couldn’t be repaired easily. Dog Patch, the civilian makeshift residences outside the 1st MAW compound was literally leveled.
Arthur Kidd
Capt Ret
1957-1977
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Hey Skipper – I remember that day. I was working in the Comm Center at 1st FSR/FLC out at Camp Books/Red Beach. We first thought we were getting incoming rockets, but the rocket alarm never did sound. We thought that we would probably get hit that night, but I guess it scared Charlie about as bad as us. Seems like it blew for several days after.
Good Morning Capt – I was there too with MAG-11 going from the MAG to Headquarters on a mail run and saw the waves unbelievable Semper Fi. 68-74
I was in charge of a platoon in the Mag 11 bomb dump with instructions to make sure there were no more sappers in the area. interesting that it is reported as a brush fire caused catastrophe.
I was serving in VMCJ-1 at Danang at the time and always wondered what the commotion was all about. Now I know.
First day in country we just got off the plane and standing in formation waiting for transportation to MAG 16 Marble Mountain Air Facility when everything started to go off. Some LT. told us to get the hell out of here. We all took off across a field. The first night we stayed in some Air Force Base, then the next day we ended up at China Beach and we got picked up by our unit.
I think they likked taking out that ammo bunker on a yearly basis, some kind of holiday for them or something. I got in country in April of 70 and was on hill 327 in the radio Bn comm center. A newbies for sure. and can’t remember the exact day but it was still April and that bunker went up again. we secured the comm center and posted our guards nd the rest of us went to our assigned positions for an attack. We watched the fireworks display felt the concussions and thanked our stars it wasn’t an attack.
I was also at Camp Books FLC, I drove 1200 gallons of MoGas all around Danang. I remember that day well. I also heard it was a brush fire. I received orders that Marble Mountain needed fuel, I tried to get to them, but everything was shut down, I had a shot gun passenger and we tried to go threw the air base, but that was also closed, so we sat on the runway and watched the fireworks! Not the smartest thing I have ever done, but What a display that was. I have pictures of it and also Freedom Hill, things were really messed up. If anyone would like to see them, I can email them to you.
Barry Monberger I would appreciate those photos if you can send them. Worked on the Clean-up crew on Hill 327 Freedom Hill.
Hi Moe, I don’t think they will allow me to put my email in this post. But I will try, send me an email. 69usmc@cox.net
Hey Capt. I was also their MWFS-l MWHG-1 On April 27 l969 A lot of the houches were down, roofs tops blown away. I remember being in the fox holes when it got really bad. It went on for thirty six hours non stop. 1000 bombs going off and mushroom clouds kept on coming. I too went to hill 327 Freedom Hill and helped to clean up the huge mess of what was left over of our PX which was totally destroyed. Being only 1/2 mile from were the bombs going off. And right near the R&R Center. I had gone by DogPatch many times and saw what was left of it after the bombs like you said it was a totaled.
Hello, Capt Kidd…. Was there with you, Sgt. Richard Pierson, Glad to see you are doing well..SSCT..
IN APRIL ’69, MY COMPANY INDIA 3/1, WAS ON GONOI ISLAND. I THINK WE WERE ABOUT 20 PLUS MILES SOUTH OF DANANG PULLING SEARCH AND DESTROY OPERATIONS. THAT MORNING WE ALL HEARD THE EXPLOSIONS AND SAW A GOOD SIZE MUSHROOM CLOUD . NATURALLY WE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THOUGHT A SMALL ATOM BOMB WENT OFF. LATER WE GOT THE WORD ABOUT THE AMMO DUMP. WE THOUGHT SAPPERS GOT IN ANED DID IT ? NEVER KNEW IT WAS BRUSH FIRES THAT CAUSED IT. I ‘LL NEVER FORGET THE SIGHT OF IT ! SEMPER FI
I remember that well, I have pictures that I took From Camp Books at Red Beach north of Danang. Smoke filled the entire sky.
As soon as I read “small comm det” and spaces; I knew this was one of my predecessors. I read on and saw Arthur Kidd as author. Semper Fi, Sir. I had the good fortune to be one of “AJ squared away’s” red headed step children in Non-Morse Plt, Ops Co, 1st Radio Bn. Fond memories of decades gone by.
I was at the POW compound, 3rd MPs, when the ammo dump blew. It was just west of the ammo dump. We evacuated amid flying bomb parts. When we came back to our compound, we found it flattened. I was a SSgt with 7th IT.
I was with Alpha 1/11 down south of Da Nang. We felt the shocks waves down there and we saw the mushroom cloud we all thought what the hell did they do drop the “bomb”?
I was on a flight into Country that was delayed because of this. Heard all kinds of stories about what actually happened. When our plane landed in Da Nang three days later we finally got information on what actually happened.
At the time I was with G 3/11 1st Mar Div on hill 10 south west of Danang. It was like the 4th of July! Many years later a I became friends with a fellow Ex-Marine who claimed that he was an ammo tech at that ammo dump and that he and another Marine started the fire while horsing around. As the ancient story goes, the only difference between a war story and a fairy tale is that one starts off “Once upon a time” and the other starts off “No s#$% this really happened” otherwise no difference! Scuttlebutt is what it is. Who knows the real truth? I sure don’t. But maybe, just maybe, this s#$% really happened! Semper Fi!
I heard a lot of rumors about what caused the fire. The one most people believed was that someone was “burning shitters,” got out of control and spread really fast. Sure caused a lot of turmoil. Semper Fi!!!
It was a trash fire that started the whole thing. The locals let it get out of hand and ammo techs responding could not put it out. EOD and ammo techs spent a few hours in the bunker before we were able to start clean up. The small stuff was picked up by hand. The bombs etc. were moved by forklift to trucks for disposal at a different location. Lots of work and lots of shots. Some shots were 50k pounds or more.
I was with HQCO 1stMarine Regiment-we were 15 miles or so SW of DaNang- I was awaken to such loud booms I thought we were taking enemy fire. It went on well into the night, and we would watch the sky-see the mushrooms, watch “ripples” in the sky (like throwing a stone into a calm lake) then when the trees began to sway-you stuck your fingers in your ears! I remember going to DaNang a few days later and the SeaBee unit was flattened as was most of the area-Funniest thing-no one back home heard anything about it.
MARINES I WAS STATIONED AT DANANG IN 66’68’ AND SMALL PART OF 69. I SERVED WITH THE 1ST MAW. I WALKED GUARD DUTY AT THAT DUMP FOR TWO WEEKS. MAYBE MY MEMORY IS SHOT BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE DUMP BACK IN 68 AND OR 69. BUT THE ONE I WENT THROUGH WAS A DIRECT ROCKET HIT ON THE DUMP. WHAT A FIREWORKS SHOW. ANYONE REMEMBER THAT ONE???? BETTER THE DUMP THAN OUR WOODEN TENTS. BUT SORRY TO SAY THAT ALSO HAPPENED. SEMPER FI.
For the ammo dump it was April of 67 I was with India 3/7 frist marine corps division we just ended oppression Desoto and was put on hill 65 just 5 miles from hill 10 at that time we had just started oppression X-ray and it looked like the 4th of July. Over Looking that hill from hill 65. My Nick name was called “lefty” my real name was Robert maldonado
For the ammo dump it was April of 67 I was with India 3/7 frist marine corps division we just ended oppression Desoto and was put on hill 65 just 5 miles from hill 10 at that time we had just started oppression X-ray and it looked like the 4th of July. Over Looking that hill from hill 65. My Nick name was called “lefty” my real name was Robert maldonado
I was in the mountains on search and destroy west of Da Nang with India 3/7 1st Mar Div. We watched the fireworks from there. We figured sappers had hit it. And I’m pretty sure we felt the shock wave. That was 48 years ago and my memory is a bit dim.
I was just north of Da Nang on the bridge just before you got to Hai Von pass when that dume blew, i was with Echo Co 2nd Bn 26th Marines. I remember that shock wave coming at us and hitting us then the fireworks afterwards for it was quite a show . I had only been in country for about a month then or more anyway Thanks for the memory LOL.
I was with 1st LAAM Bn right off the strip at Danang when the dump went up in ’68. Our compound was along the east side of Dogpatch so we were pretty close to the “action”. We also had the outpost on top of Freedom Hill which was right above the dump. It was amazing to see the shock waves rolling across the sky like ripples in a pond. A large hanger next to our compound buckled from the force of the shocks. Since we had the detachment on top of the mountain, the next day we had to clear the unexploded bombs on the roadway leading up Freedom Hill. Our troops walked the road ahead of a 6X placing the arms in the bed of the truck VERY gingerly. Fun times!
I too remember the Ammo dump going kaboom. I was with F/2/26 at Resurrection (sp) City. About mid-day all hell let loose, not sure how far away we were or in which compass direction we were but talk about being scared shit-less. Lots of rumors going round as to how it started etc. Huge mushroom cloud coming up over some small mountain top and then the concussion waves to follow. Yes, all of us thought for sure someone had touched-off a small atomic bomb, remember this was 1969, and most of us young Marines were still of the “Civil Defense mindset” of what to do in case of. Day or two later I happened to be near the Freedom Hill PX or what was left of it and what was left of the “beer gardens”, Dog Patch, the R&R Processing Center, 1st Force Recon and lord knows else. Ammo dump was nothing but a huge earthen crater. Don’t recall hearing any causality report, but it couldn’t have been good. Semper Fi to anyone from 2/26, would love to hear from you. gbross@yahoo.com.
I was on Hill 55 watching all the fire works thinking the SH**T had hit the fan. We all just hunkered down and stayed alert. Hill 55 was a favorite target for rockets, mortars, and an ocasional bomb catapulted on the hill. We guessed the gooks were trying to resupply their goodies.
Robert Maldonado earned the Silver Star while serving with I-3-7 on January 30, 1967.
I had just arrived in Da Nang for my second tour in late March. I was assigned to III MAF Hq, PSYOPS , didn’t effect us much. But, a similar incident happened toward the end of my tour. I was in the senior Sgt and had the only enclosed rack in the east wing of the first floor right inside the fence line adjacent to the road across from the ammo dump. A rocket hit right in the middle of the road between the barracks and the offices across the narrow street. Had just returned from the Qua Sans mountains. When it went off I stirred out of bed and headed for the head, it didn’t do much damage and succeeded only in the activation of sirens. Half way to the head the world lit up like a nuke blast, concussion hit me from the back and I went skidding on my elbows and knees. What the official explanation was: a tanker truck driver parked his rig, loaded with AVGAS, right in front of a bunker of explosives, which a rocket hit and detonated both. Yes it did get my attention, and yes I reeeeally need to get to the head. It did an tremendous amount of damage and at least one KIA.
Captain Kidd: I think that was the day ASP-1 blew up. It was south of Freedom Hill, not far from the III MAF Brig, I believe. We heard a brush fire got out of control. I was a 2881 (Tactical Crypto Tech) with Electronics Maint Co, Maint BN, 1st FSR/FLC. Maintenance Battalion occupied the southeast corner of Four Corners, on the DaNang AB side of Route 1. The continual explosions wreaked havoc on our infrastructure. We were told everyone else around us was evacuated, BUT we were to line the perimeter facing Route 1 in the event the VC tried to take advantage of the chaos. We were there for a day or more, alternating Marines on the perimeter, with those taking shelter in the bunkers. Frankly, it was boring, except for the continual explosions. We were never sure if one was going to be of sufficient size to reach us. In the end, the concussions are what took out whatever flimsy buildings we had within our compound.
I was in the back of a 3/4Ton somewhere in Danang when the first big explosion hit. We were stopped in traffic and everybody jumped out, thinking it was all over. There was a definite shock wave but no damage. That evening, we sat on our hooch roof (5th Comm, next to MMAF) and watched the shock waves travel through the cloud cover.
I was west of the runway with 225 (immediately adjacent to Dogpatch. That was the most impressive fireworks display I have ever seen. I think what impressed me the most was that you could actually see the shock waves traveling through the air so you knew when to brace yourself for impact. What it did to corrugated roves, plywood walls and what few windows there had been was indescribably. Most of Dogpatch went horizontal. I certainly had rockets explode closer to me, and bullets flyer closer to me and spent numerous nights hunkered down scanning the approach to our position, but I NEVER had an all day fireworks display to match that one. I think it was also in April that we had 147? rockets land in our compound, but I will NEVER forget the most expensive fireworks display of my lifetime on April 27th.
I was a Cannoncocker with 11th Marines in 67-68 on hills 55 and 55 and around the surrounding areas when the ammo dump was hit with a rocket and as I recall the fuel dump up as well. Don’t remember if was late 67 or early in 68 when that happened – we all felt it and it looked like daylight was upon us. We all thought here comes a big offensive. Mike Pelucca – Sgt – 1966-70
I was on the other side of the runway coming back from NCO club having 5 cent beers. We were in a truck. We got closer and we were told to get out of truck. We walked out into field and saw the explosions. Then we saw the really big one with the fireball and huge shock wave rings. That is the last thing I remember probably for about a month after. I worked in the USAF bomb dump. We had loaded up the revetments with bombs, napalm, etc. I suffer from PTSD and maybe TBI. I stayed in Gunfighter Village. Ken Tocha Munitions Specialist. USAF 68-69 DaNang Airbase. Does anyone know me?