Grunts
 | Army & Marine, Died together – Buried together “ The Brotherhood”
Roy Lee Griffin, Jr. was born on June 20, 1939 and joined the Armed Forces while in Greensboro, North Carolina. He served in the United States Marine Corps Infantry and in ten years of service, he attained the rank of Captain. He began a tour of duty in Vietnam on June 21, 1967. On March 30, 1968, at the age of 28, Roy Lee Griffin, Jr. perished in the service of our country in South Vietnam, Quang Tri Provence. Captain Griffin was killed with Peter J. Gallo, First Lieutenant, United States Army, and Dennis Poteat, Sergeant, United States Army, and they are buried together in Arlington National Cemetery.
March 30 1968 First phase of “TASK FORCE KILO” begins. Gio Linh, Quang Tri Province, I Corps. Task Force KILO launches diversionary attack along Gio Linh coastal plain to divert attention away from Ca Lu where 1st Cavalry Division and 1st Marines are staging for Operation PEGASUS. Task Force Kilo, made up of the 2nd Battalion, 1st ARVN Regiment pushes north from Kong Ha on a search and destroy sweep through the Gio Lenh Coastal Plain between the Cua Viet River and the DMZ. Task Force Kilo confirms 150 NVA KIAs the first day of the operation. 30 March - C Troop, 3rd/5th Cavalry finds entrenched NVA. 10 US KIA. KIAs include: Patrick Kevin Burke, 1st Lt. Peter Joseph Gallo, Capt. Roy Lee Griffin, Jr. (USMC), George Edward Grubbs, Bert Austin Keeler, James Earl Morse, Dennis Michael Poteat, Charles E. Shaw, Stephen Max Wiggins, and Wilbur Leo Williams, Jr.
From: JTEver566@earthlink.net, Friday, November 25, 2005 4:50 PM
A friend of mine was there, and was witness to this terrible day. He knew 1st Gallo, who was in the lead apc, with Capt. Griffin , Sgt Poteat and one lone survivor who was blown out of the apc. Lt. Gallo was with the 9th infantry.
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | Chaplin Beirut 83
A picture can say 1000 words.
This is the Chaplin after the Truck Bombing in Beirut 83. The Building is in the background. 241 Marine Corps KIAs
Comment by: Sgt. Brad Ulick on Mar 11, 2009 09:24 PM
I survived the attack and know this man well. You are looking at Father Francis Puccarelli. He is one of the kindest and most empathetic men I have met. The expression you see on his face is genuine and real. When he came to the hanger we were using as a morgue, Father Puccarelli had this same pained expression. I asked if he was alright. He said, "I am fine. It is just all of you have no time to mourn, so I will mourn for you." Semper Fi Father.
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | ROOF TOP MEDEVAC HUE TET 68
Official USMC photo of a wounded( lower left leg) Marine being helped ( while under fire) down from a roof top in HUE City TET 68. This is the "BROTHERHOOD" at work.
Comment by: Greg Buchanan on Apr 14, 2007 06:12 PM
This looks a lot like it was taken at the Hue University.
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | "SEMPER FIDELIS" "He Ain"t Heavy , He"s My Brother!"
All Popasmoke Aircrews saw this scene over and over again. No mater how Dangerous it was, no matter how exhausted they were, Popasmoke Aircrews, Ground Marines & Navy Corpsman always assisted each other to help make the MEDEVAC happen. You might say, we have experienced "SEMPER FIDELIS" first hand. Photo enhanced by John P. Dullighan, HMM-165s Boeing Tech Rep & Popasmoke member.
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | Marines & RVN Forces
Vietnam....Marine Lance Corporal Coy L. Hester Jr., right, 19, raises the American flag with the help of a Vietnamese soldier at a small Marine outpost 36 miles north of the Marine Air Base, Chu Lai.
National Archives photo
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | The NVA Aiming Point for Khe Sanh 1968
Here he is Ken Doss with that Confederate Flag that he would not take downfrom the 1/13 area. This flag was the aiming point for a lot of NVA rounds.
We Marines are a Brave? (subborn) lot!
Comment by: Richard Riddle on Aug 23, 2009 05:07 PM
I remember this guy. Please send me a copy. Thanks for the site.
Comment by: Wayne Kigerl on Sep 28, 2009 09:10 PM
Ken Doss, my old high school friend from Virginia Beach, Virgina. I last saw him in 1974. What the heck happened to him?
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | CON THIEN & THE MUD!
Anyone that was there remembers the MUD! This is a great UPI photo showing a MEDEVAC being brought out to the Helicopter LZ.
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | The BROTHERHOOD
These Marines are heavily engaged with the NVA and yet they stop everything to comfort a wounded BROTHER MARINE!
This is Bravo company marines 1/3, 1st platoon treating wounded on July 5 or 6, 1968 ,east southeast of Con Tien , the 2 marines in the upper right hand corner of the picture are Lt Thomas Keppen, kia July 7 ,68 and myself " Jake" on radio, I was wounded July 7 with the Lt. Jake chris jakelsky
Photo By SSgt. Donnie Shearer USMC Combat Photographer, in 1968 during operation Thor. The marines are 1-3 in a battle with NVA Rangers north of Quang Tri. The man who was shot was standing next to Donnie Shearer who was having a shootout with an NVA , his M-2 carbine with folding stock is in the left background. Donnie Shearer [donnieshearer@themadpiper.com]
Comment by: Bruce S. Lewy on Apr 22, 2008 06:30 PM
This was taken during fighting in the Dai Do area on the banks of the Cua Viet. Men are from B Co. 1/3.
Lt. Tom Keppen in background, KIA 7 July 1968
Comment by: jerry keppen on Nov 11, 2009 10:02 AM
Thank you for posting this photo. Photo's are all i have of my uncle Tom as i never got to meet him. Thank you also to those that have served or continue to serve so admirably for me. Happy Veterens day
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | MEDEVAC by Larry Burrows
Everyday was tough, some were just tougher then others.
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | Med Evac Vietnam TET 68
Every Squadron saw a lot of this while flying Med Evac in Nam.
It was an everyday thing in the Spring of 1968 ( TET 68)
It was just something we all got used to.
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | U S Marine & Native American Robert Greenwood MEDEVACed
The wounded were treated with great care at Khe Sanh Base. Most MEDEVACS got out within 24 hours.The members of POPASMOKE can be very proud of their "Brother Helicopter Crews" for the risks taken to accomplish those MEDEVACS.,
U S Marine & Native American Robert Greenwood , a member of the Chickasaw tribe is Medevaced on 22 February 1968 from Khe Sanh.
Robert was serving with delta Company 1/9, he had been wounded previously on 14 Feb and was eventually Medevaced to the states spending 8 months recuperating from his wounds.Robert was Honorably Discharged as a CPL in 1970, he now resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma..
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | Col David E. Lownds CO Khe Sanh 1968
A DOD Photo of Col. David E. Lownds CO of Khe Sanh in 1968. This is how we all remember Col. Lownds, constantly smoking those cigars, and of course the "Mustache". A real "Marines-Marine". Constanly looking out for his Marines. Col. Lownds was as concerned for the Air support groups as he was for his own Marines. Semper Fidelis, George T. Curtis (HMM-363 LCpl 67-68) MGySgt USMC Ret // GCURTIS@POPASMOKE.COM
Came across your photo of David Lownds and thought it was just terrific. I had the privilege of serving under Col. Lownds at Khe Sanh from mid-'67 to April, '68 as a somewhat naive junior Officer (1st Lt./Capt.) and thought the world of the man. From those days to now, I have never met anyone that I had more respect for. During some pretty dark times, he never, ever conveyed anything but a quiet, strong confidence in believing that things would work out. Around 2 AM, the night that Lang Vei was overrun (2/7/68), I found myself in a bit of a jam and Col. Lownds told me over the radio (PRC 25) that when (not if) I got back to the COC bunker he would give me one of his precious cigars. I did and he did. Your photo of him with the ever-present cigar brought back some incredible memories. Brian Traynor [traynor42@comcast.net]
have had the honor of knowing col lownds during the late 90s, and i so agree about what was written here about him. a true marine who just after a short time i grew to have such a deep respect for and proud to know that i could call him a close friend. what a great marine,american,father,husband and human being a true honor to know him..Howard Decker //HARVEYM133@aol.com
Comment by: Craig W. Tourte on Dec 15, 2008 05:22 PM
Lownd’s Mustache: I only saw Colonel Lownds on the Khe Sanh Combat Base a few times. I was impressed with his prominent large black mustache, ending in a twisted point. Even then he looked very distinguished with the authority of command, and often a big cigar protruding from his lips. I would say more like a movie character than a Marine Corps Infantry Battalion Commander.
Dennis Mannion sent me a link to an interview Colonel Lownds did some thirty years ago. The interview was thirty-five odd pages and quite interesting. Regarding the mustache, and I’ll paraphrase here, and not quote his exact wordings, you’ll understand what he is saying about this issue. Colonel Lownds said that a leader is recognized because he knows what he is doing and because people recognize who he is. In order that others know who you are and that you’re around you have to have something distinct. My standard trademark in the Marine Corps was to always carry a stick. It wouldn’t be anything fancy, it’d be a broom handle, or something I’d pick up and I’d say this is my stick. I didn’t use it as a walking aid but the young Marines would recognize me when I carried it around. If I happened to visit another battalion or another company I would sometimes inadvertently leave it there, they would always send someone to my unit after I left and say that the Colonel left his stick behind. This was one of the ways people would know that the Colonel was in the area. I didn’t have a stick at Khe Sanh, I couldn’t find one, that’s a good excuse, so I grew a mustache, and I guess it became quite famous. So that’s the story, the colonel grew his mustache because he couldn’t find a stick to carry around. I think the mustache was a good choice. I’d forget someone carrying around a stick back in 1967/1968 on a muddy combat base; I could not forget a very photogenic Colonel with a large black mustache. S/F Craig W. Tourte
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | HUE TET 68 a Tough one for Everyone
Hue TET 68, this was HELL in the city. No one was trained for this type of House to House fighting. The Korean Vets said it was just like Seoul Korea all over again. All squadrons participated in one way or another. Popasmoke members that were there will remember all the confusion. It was overwelming for a while, but once we got it figuered out, the city was ours.
Posted by User Deleted on 2010-07-25 |  | Hue Tet 68 too many MEDEVACS
Tet 68 caused us all to see too many of our "Brother Marines" in pain from wounds recieved while in direct combat with the NVA. Hue was just awful with the type of house to house , street by street, one wall to another fighting. It was strange for helicopter aircrew as we could be in Khe Sanh and Hue on the same day. Both battles were equally fierce but completely different. Khe Sanh and its Hills were mostly defensive while Hue was all offensive.
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | GRUNTS "The Brotherhood"
This is what the Aircrews saw in every zone. The Grunts were hanging in there for all the y were worth during TET 68. We MARINES were a BROTHERHOOD to be proud of!
Photograph by SSgt. Donnie Shearer, 1968 3rd, Mar. Div. Combat Photo
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | HUE "THE WALL" TET 68
Our BROTHER Marines spent a lot of time fighting the NVA from behind this wall in HUE during, TET Feb 68.
The MEDEVAC zone was just south of the wall, this is the view most Aircrews saw when flying in support of HUE.
I flew in and out of this zone with HMM-363s Lucky Red Lions " YZ-14" , a UH-34D, on many trips. The first few days ( FEB 68) nothing seemed to change except the faces. The NVA were on the far side of the wall and we were on this side. We brought in tons of Ammo and pulled out too many MEDEVACS.
Comment by: Cynthia BEckman on Mar 5, 2006 09:55 PM
I wrote earlier. My father was in the TET at HUE and I am writing his memoirs. This is a fantastic photo. Any of the 155mm or 8" howitzer? I would like a copy of this PHOTO.
Comment by: Larry Franke on Jul 30, 2006 11:13 AM
I was a FAC (forward air controller) with 1st Bn, 1st Marines (1/1) and was with the first unit to go into Hue on the first day of the Tet Offensive, 1/31/1968. We ended up with 2 Companies of Marines and the Battalion Staff that day, and despite overwhelming odds made it through the south side of the City, re-took the bridge over the river and attacked the Citadel.
I remember coming up on Guard Frequency several times that day asking for air support and/or emergency medevac, neither of which was readily available. We had a large number of casualties, and kept moving them back to the rear until we could get them transported.
Being the old imperial capatal of VN, there was concern by some (don't know who) that we shouldn't bomb or otherwise destroy the city (at least not that day), so we did the best with what we had. In the proudest Marine tradition, we commandeered an ARVN tank that was boogying south (the wrong direction), blasted our way north, appauded Navy gunboats that were obliterating structures on the north side of the river, took the bridge and tried like hell to find a way to start moving into the Citadel. All on the first day!!!
About 6pm, we were loading two trucks with dead and wounded, when one of the trucks was hit with an RPG (or something else bad). A number of us were standing close to the truck guarding the area when the explosion occured. I was hit several times by schrapnel, and ended up being medevac'd out sometime in the middle of the night in a CH-46 (Thanks Guys!). Ended up back in the States where I instructed in advance jets with VT-25 at NAS Chase Field in Beeville, TX, then another trip to RVN flying F-4's before saying adios.
One of the surreal things I remember while laying in the back of a truck that night waiting for evacuation was watching Puff the Magic Dragon hosing down the Citadel with a red ribbon of fire. Those C-47 (DC-3) gunships were pretty awesome!
God Bless everyone I served with, and God Bless the Marine Corps!
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | United States Air Force "Getting Some!" B52 Ark Light
This was a beautiful sight if you were at Khe Sanh for the siege in 68. Marines smiled their biggest smiles when this took place within sight of the base. A loud cheer could be heard every time they got an "ARK LIGHT FLIGHT" (USAF file photo)
Comment by: George Lovell on Oct 29, 2008 05:41 PM
We flew escort for a RECON ladder inset. Got them in OK but was called back about 5 hours later to get them out. Too many bad guys. They put an ARCH LIGHT on the area later that day. When we went back and put the RECON team in the next day the area was laid to waste. Awesome display of ordnance. Sure was glad we were on the delivery end. Being on the ground would have made for a real bad day. Semper FI - George Lovell VMO-2 Ordnance 68-69
Comment by: James W. Robbins on Jan 26, 2010 09:19 AM
You are right. This was a great sight when I was sitting on the base and looking out to see the bombs hit
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | Never too much ammo
An M-60 machine gunner and his assistant provide cover fire in the streets of Hue during TET 68. As the photo clearly shows the assistant gunner carried every round he could. Everyone knew that you never wanted to be out of ammo.
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | Khe Sanh "Always Prepared"
It seemed like every time I had to stay the night at Khe Sanh for Medevac or due to bad weather the Base was on Full Alert and it was "for sure man" going to be overun by 20,000 fully armed NVA. Well thank GOD it never happened, but it was taken very seriously by everyone!
Comment by: Charles Wood on Jun 17, 2008 11:25 AM
The young marine top left photo facing camera was my best friend Lcpl Bill W.Luke 3/26 . Wounded at Khe Sanh early 1968. He passed away a few years back of some god forsaken cancer that the doctors said was found only in south-east asia. Was killed there and he didnt even know it. I miss him. Thank you for posting the photo.
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | Con Thien "Hell on Earth!" TET 68
Con Thien was "Hell on Earth!" This is how my cousin LCpl. Stephen Hinkley ( KIA Con Thien 6 May 68) described it in his last letter home dated 5 May 68. Stephen loved the Corps and I had visited with him two days prior to his death. He was in good spirits but he was sure to tell me that Con Thien was the most dangerous place on earth. Stephen died attempting to save a Brother Marines life. Stephen had sent this Stars & Stripes photo home in one of his letters.
Comment by: peter stephen hinkley III on Apr 11, 2006 12:26 PM
how are u doin man, my name is peter hinkley im 21 and stephen hinkley was my uncle his brother peter is my grandfather i am leaving for the marines on august 28 2006 and my other brother is already in the marines and leaving for iraq in june he is currently being trained at camp pendleton. and i would like to know more about stephen and what u know of his duties in vietnam
he is a HERO to me for his sacrafice he was a good man and he gave his life to save that of other fellow marines. if u could please send me an email about stephen and how u know him i would appreciate it thank u very much and semper fidellis!
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | USMC KIAs VIETNAM
This is a photo of Marines under Heavy NVA gun fire in HUE durring TET 68 getting a Brother "KIA" Marine to the rear. Many Marines risked thier lives to get thier KIA BROTHER MARINES to the Medevac zone so they could get home to thier families.(USMC photo)
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | BROTHERS UNDER ENEMY FIRE!
A Marine crawls to the rescue of a badly wounded BROTHER MARINE , 1967.
(Catherine Leroy)
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | Marines in heavy combat against a hard corps North Vietnamese
unit in the sand dunes north of Dong Ha near the border between the two countries. Cpl. Rufus Patterson, throwing the grenade, and Sgt. Anthony (Tony) Carter, seated of the 1st. Bn. 3rd. Marines of the 3rd. Marine Division return fire as the North Vietnamese deliver intense fire against the Marines. This battle lasted 5 days and cost the enemy over 1000 killed. The unidentified Marine in the background was shot and medivaced just minutes after this picture was taken, and Anthony Carter was killed a month later. Rufus Patterson retired from the Marines as a Master Gunnery Sergeant Official US Marine Corps Photo by Donnie L. Shearer
The Man sitting down is Sgt. Anthony Hartman and the man in the background throwing grenades is Tony Carter who was shot about 20 minutes later, med evacked and died later. Photograph by SSgt. Donnie Shearer, USMC//Donnie Shearer [themadpiper@verizon.net]
Comment by: Eddie Edison on Aug 15, 2006 07:02 AM
when was this picture taken?
Comment by: John Keating on Feb 15, 2009 02:22 PM
The way it was.....proud of all of these guys and their sacrifices. Actually... think Viet Nam is a better place today because of our intervention. But that doesn't replace our personal or human losses.
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-25 |  | HMM-263 aircraft down in zone
The aircraft was from HMM263, downed on 9/16/66, Mutters Ridge. The grunt
outfit was Delta, 1/4. The crew chief was Ron Luks (azcerteng@aol.com)
Posted by User Deleted on 2010-07-24 |  | Enemy TOO CLOSE! A bad day in Vietnam!
Official USMC photo showing how bad it could get in Vietnam. This photo shows a Marine with his bayonet fixed, that is not a good sign! That means you are out of ammo and the enemy is TOO CLOSE!
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-04 |  | Grunts Strike into An Hoa Valley
On 15 July, grunts from the 25th Marines unload from a HMM-165 bird at the start of a strike into the An Hoa Valley - Nat"l Archives" photo.
Posted by gary zimmermann on 2010-06-29 |  | Cover Fire
The Grunts always tried to give as much cover fire as possible for the medivacs
Posted by Admin on 2010-06-27 |  | OUR FLAG ALWAYS GOES WITH US!
HUE TET 68, Marines show the FLAG! Photo enhanced by John P. Dullighan, Popasmoke member.
Comment by: Brett Elcock on Jun 25, 2010 08:37 PM
When I first saw this photo I was in the University on a 4 year ride; this photo, moved me to dropping out and enlisting in the USMC in 1969. I served with 1/5 and 1/1 as a grunt with a radio in the Que Sons and A Shau Valley.
For me, this photo taught me more about the Corps then my father or boot camp. Semper Fi !
Posted by Admin on 2010-06-26 |  | "HORNETS NEST" at CUA VIET River OCT 68 / 32 KIAs
A NAVY SWIFT BOAT takes fire whils assisting YZ-14 one of HMM-363s (LUCKY RED LIONS) UH-34Ds working MEDEVAC support for 2/26 Marines OCT 68 on the CUA VIET RIVER. HMM-363 was working off the USS Pirnceton LPH-5. 2/26 Marines were overun ( 32 KIAs), it was an unforgetable few days for everyone involved.
I spent two years on or around Swift Boats at An Thoi, Cat Lo and Cam Ranh Bay and this is not a Swift Boat. I'm not an expert on PBR's but that's sure what this picture looks like. Bring em home or send us back. Ray Labahn USS Tutuila ARG-4 IUWG-1, Unit 2, Cam Ranh Bay, LCPL 66 Boat Captain
My first tour in 'Nam was as a Navy doctor touring the small Navy bases along the coast and down in the delta. Having ridden on both PBR's (Patrol Boat, River) and Swift boats, this definitely is a PBR. John "Doc" Hackworth/ hack5518@bellsouth.net
I served aboard Swift Boats in I Corps and IV Corps in 1969, and operated with PBRs. This photo is of a PBR. Tom Terfehr GenesisSolutions 203-595-0174 Thomas Terfehr [tterfehr@genesissolutions.com]
From: Patrick Flowers , Nov 11 2005 6:08 PM, It isnt a swift boat. It's a PBR
Comment by: Carlyle G. Story on May 7, 2006 10:39 PM
I spent a full year running up & down the Cua-viet river, two and three times a day - seven days a week, on LCM-8 #687 # I don't remember any foilage that heavy, exept on one sweeping curve on the river. I don't think this PBR is taking heavy fire on the Cua-viet river. Still a pretty neat picture though.
Comment by: Samuel Swenson Jr. on Jan 4, 2007 04:27 PM
I have ridden a swift boat and PBR's and that is a PBR.
I was LCM 6 & 8 boat LPO and Boat Coxswain of #600 and 823 for a year 68-69 on the Cau-viet--Dong Ha river. I agree that there are one or two places on the Cau-viet river that have that foilage and in the picture looks like the boat is firing. Had to have happened south. BM1
Posted by Admin on 2010-06-20 |  | Two OUTSTANDING Forward Observers and Radio Operators
Cpl. Wayne D. "Chunk" Bachinski, F/O & Radio Operator for H-2-3 (on left) and Cpl. Gary Seaford, F/O & Radio Operator for F-2-3. Both Wayne and Gary have sent me great photos to post of our helicopters in support of thier operations.
Posted by Admin on 2010-06-18 |  | CH-46 TROOP LIFT 1968
By late 1968 the CH-46 was the main troop lift workhorse in Vietnam.
Posted by Admin on 2010-06-02 |  | Aerial of Razorback and Rockpile
Prominent geological features near Cam Lo that we all came to know like our backyard
Posted by Al Barbour on 2010-05-23 |  | Troops at Phu Bai, 67
Posted by A.R. Tafoya on 2010-04-16 |  | MEDEVAC M-60 TOO HOT to work!
When you are sitting in the Medevac zone and the M60 machine gunner is not surppressing the incoming enemy fire because he has burnt up his M60 barrel, that is a "HOT" zone.Kind of gives you the Pucker Factor feeling. Photo enhanced by John P. Dullighan, Popasmoke member.
Posted by Admin on 2010-04-07 |  | Phu Bai, UH-34D, 67
Troop Lift
Posted by A.R. Tafoya on 2010-04-06 |  | HUE TET 68 it was HOUSE TO HOUSE FIGHTING!
HUE TET 68 it was HOUSE TO HOUSE FIGHTING! I saw a lot of this while serving as a MEDEVAC Crew Chief on one of HMM-363s" LUCKY RED LIONS" UH-34Ds.
Posted by Admin on 2010-04-06 |  | HUE TET 68 Radio Operator Calls Medevac
Good photo of a radio operator calling in a Medevac.
As you can see from the beard there was no time to shave in HUE durring TET 68.
Posted by Admin on 2010-03-25 |  | HUE TET 68 a tough one for everyone
Hue TET 68 was an offensive house to house, street to street DOG FIGHT. We can all be proud of those Marines that endured the constant stress of this Block by Block fighting. These Marines show that grayish color on all their gear from all the rubble dust off buildings being blown up and then crawled through.
Posted by Admin on 2010-03-25 |  | HMM-165 "OKLAHOMA HILLS" April 69
Grunts from the 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines leave Hill 55 onboard HMM-165 aircraft for Operation Oklahoma Hills (April 1969). - Nat"l Archives photo. Photo submitted bu GZIMM283@AOL.COM
Posted by Admin on 2010-03-19 |  | Con Thien "HELL ON EARTH!"
Many squadrons got into Con Thien. I was in and out of Con Thien a lot while serving as a UH-34D Crew Chief with HMM-363s "Lucky Red Lions". The NVA lauched a massive mortar
and artillery bombardment during which Con Thien took over 3000 rounds of incoming Heavy Artillery. The 26th Marines at Con Thien returned fire with Tanks, Artillery, mortars, Machine Guns, Close Air Support, M-16s and anything else they could find. It was "HELL ON EARTH!".
Posted by Admin on 2010-02-23 |  | Search and Destroy Operation Southwest Of Phu Bai
Marines of the 3rd Division debark a CH-53A from HMH-463 on 18 November 1967
to begin a search and destroy operation 17 miles southwest of Phu Bai.
- Nat"l Archives photo by SSgt. W.F. Schrider
Posted by gary zimmermann on 2010-02-10 |  | ARTY 1/4 Rockpile 1968
1/4 providing outstanding fire support for 26th Marines at Khe SAnh 1968 Updated from Email dEc 22, 2002 hat"s definitely a Marine 175mm long range gun. An Army gun would have a white star on it. I always thought the white star made such a good aiming point. The Marine heavy artillery like 175"s and 8 inch always belonged to force troops. Force Troops was the "Rein. as in reinforced in the "3rd Marine Div. Rein." This gun most likely belonged to 3rd Force guns. It could toss the rounds twenty-six miles. This made for a very short tube life. Only a few hundred rounds between barrel changes. Regards: Mike Robinson 0811 MRhogwood@aol.com
I served with the Army's 8/4 Arty at Con Thien 69/70. The 2/94 and 8/4 Arty supported the Marines and later the Army's 5th Mech. in Northern most I Corps on the DMZ from 1966 to the end, with 8 inch and 175 guns. See our site
http://www.8th-4th-arty.com/
Michael Swert [mjswert@comcast.net]
Mike Swert
Comment by: Lou Milanesi on Nov 28, 2006 08:53 AM
With all due respect, I\'d suggest the photo is an Army gun, especially if it was taken in \'68. I served with 5th 175mm Guns (SP Rein) at the Rockpile from mid \'69 until we evacuated the base to pull back to JJ Carroll. The photo is taken from the main road (Rt-9) that passed through camp. When I was there (later than the photo), the Army 175s were on the north side of the road, and we were directly across on the south side. However, our battery did not have 175 guns until around March of \'69 when the old 155mm guns were replaced with the 175s. For our battery, the \"rein\" meant that the six 175mm guns of the battery were reinforced with two 8\" howitzers.
Posted by Admin on 2010-01-27 |  | UH-34D Extract, 66/67
Submitted by Ray Kelley D/1/3
Posted by Cpl. Beddoe on 2010-01-14 |  | Air delivery of Oranges
I was a Combat Engr. with "C"co. 11Th.ENGR.Btn. 3Rd. Marine Div. 11/67-1968-7/69. In April 1969 we were out on a Patrol somewhere west of C-2 base and south of Con Thien. We were taken a break. When a Huey flew over us then circle back. I thought he mistaked me for a NVA but when he passed again I started waving to save my life BUT the Door Gunner throw out some oranges and then came back one more time to wave and thats when I took this Photo of the Huey. If you are out there THANK YOU MUCH & SEMPER FI, FX. NOE' Ph. 1-781-341-4038 E-Mail: fxn1054@verizon.net
Posted by Admin on 2009-12-27 |  | Troops, Phu Bai, 67
Posted by A.R. Tafoya on 2009-12-09 |  | Khe Sanh TET 68
A few of my brother Marines keeping warm while eating breakfast in the morning. Some days were cold and wet while others were hot and dry. The weather was always changing.
Posted by Admin on 2009-12-07 |  | SGTMAJ FREDRICK B. DOUGLAS KIA Beirut 23 OCT 83
SGTMAJ Fred Douglas ( KIA in the Building in Beirut) is shown here in a photo taken by MGYSGT George T. Curtis USMC Ret, taking his last salute as the SGTMAJ of the I&I staff of MAG 49 Det A NAS South Weymouth MA. SGTMAJ Douglass was the Supply Gunny, a Gunner ( Prairie Fire) and the Squadron SGTMAJ ( as a 1stSGT) from 68-69. for HML-367. MGYSGT Curtis renamed the Pearls Airfield captured in Grenada after SGTMAJ Douglass(MCAS DOUGLAS). The United States Marine Corps awards the SGTMAJ Fredrick B. Douglass award for leadership annually. photo enhanced by John P. Dullighan.
Posted by Admin on 2009-10-23 |  | HMM-364 "Purple Foxes" Troop Lift
Photo By: Sgt. P. L. Thompson, Leatherneck Magazine( MSgt., USMC Ret)
One of HMM-364s CH-46Ds proudly wearing the "Purple Fox" on her tail pylon about to load for a troop lift. One of the cabin windows has been broken out on a previous mission so extra fire power can be put out on that side of the A/C. USMC photo, .
The birds HMM-364 came back in country with were all "super D's" as far as I remember. We were all jealous with our old "A's" in HMM-165, but glad for them. Our time would come, after I left.
The bird in the photo (153989) is definitely a Super "D",
Joe // Joe and Carole Reed [jrcr@adelphia.net]
Comment by: John Venhous on May 28, 2006 06:01 PM
We also had a number of the earlier Ds. My aircraft, YK5 was one of them. When I rotated home in Nov./68, old YK5 was still flying the Unfriendly skies of RSVN. Former Cpl. J.R. Venhous
Comment by: Jim King on Feb 16, 2008 09:47 AM
This picture was made at Vandergriff base near the DMZ (formerly LZ-Stud). It is actually a copy of a picture from Leatherneck Magazine. was part of a massive troop lift and I was a new aircrew gunner during this time.
Comment by: James "JC" Taylor on Oct 14, 2009 10:07 AM
Plane # 1 was my aircraft. I originally had plane # 1 with the side number of 153364. Thats why the squadron made it #1. We were shot down in Ashaw Vally while on an emergency extraction. I was then given 153989 to replace my old plane. I flew almost 700 hundred combat missions in old #1. It was one hell of a great helocopter. Our commanding officer, Col. Louis Gulling, always wanted to fly plane #1. I was always very proud to be the Crew Chief on the #1 plane of the Purple Fox's.
Semper Fi,
JC Taylor
Posted by Admin on 2009-10-14 |  | ONE NINE the WALKING DEAD
This is the patch for 1st Battalion 9th Marines " THE WALKING DEAD" this unit was heavly involved in operation Dewey Canyon. January 18-25 1969. 1/9 was moved from MCB/LZ Vandergrift into the hill top Fire Support Base" SHILOH" While 2/9 went to LZs DALLAS and RAZOR 3/9 to hill top LZs HENDERSON, TUN TAVERN and CUNNINGHAM. All these zones were in the Da Krong Valley and Ashua watershed.
Comment by: Robert Syler on May 18, 2006 07:40 PM
During 30 years of service, none were more proudly served than the time I spent with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines. Semper Fi! Robert J. Syler, HMCM USNR-RET "Doc", A/1/9, '66-'67
Comment by: Blaine E. Moyer on Jul 1, 2006 02:29 PM
Numerous inaccuracies in your description of Operation Dewey Canyon. I am a former USMC Captain who is 100% disabled from my wounds incurred during this operation. In addition I returned to the area in 1999 with the "Return to Dewey Canyon Tour" put on by Military Historical Tours (See August 1999 Leatherneck Magazine).
First of all Operation Dewey Canyon was nearly two months long, lasting from mid January to Saint Patrick's Day in March, not the 7 days you have listed. Secondly as a platoon commander with Bravo Company I promise you we were lifted into Fire Support Erskine not Shiloh. FSB Erskine was located at 163110 on the A Loui map sheet.
Comment by: Warner DeFord on Aug 11, 2008 09:14 PM
I was a TACParty radio operator on Tiger Mountain with India 3/9. I remember the last day of Dewey Canyon and talking to the 1-4 operator with A 1/9. They were taking some vicious mortar fire just prior to being ,lifted back to Vandy. He was bitching to me about being wounded 6 or 8 times or more that day. His C.O said he could only get one Purple Heart a day. I remember that every time a round came in he'd come up on the frequency saying "they hit me again" and laughing. He was a class act.
Posted by Admin on 2009-09-02 |  | The wall in HUE, TET 68
I pulled a lot of MEDEVACS (too many) from behind this wall. This was a HOT ZONE!
(USMC file footage)
Posted by Admin on 2009-08-27 |
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