Dong Ha
 | DONG HA " The Best of times & the worst of times"
For those that were at Dong Ha ( I made it there with HMM-363) it was the Best of times & it was the worst of times. This map will show you just how close we were ( TOO CLOSE) to the DMZ.
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-27 |  | Dong Ha is Leveled
The continuous incoming artillery barrages at Dong Ha in Sept "67 completely devastated the base. All of the squadron hootches and most of the HMM-361"s UH-34D aircraft were destroyed. Photo provided by Ron Sabin.
Comment by: Mervin Evans on Apr 19, 2006 07:22 AM
I was stationed at Dong Ha with 620 TCS, det 1 from nov 67 to dec 68. Great pix.
Comment by: WILLIAM L MEYER on Feb 20, 2007 01:22 PM
Iwas serving in MATCU 62 at DONG Ha on the day of the ammo dump explosion and was in an above ground bunker adjacent to the dump and spent hours of terror under piles of burning hootches thinking the whole time that "this was it for me". I had on 2 flack jackets,one on normal and one draped over my legs staring at a hot smoking gernade that was blown into the bunker. I have never experienced any greater fear. The photo is a good physical picture that leaves to the imigination what all of us were experiencing that were so close to the dump.
Comment by: Leonard (Marty) Martinez on Feb 6, 2008 06:39 PM
I was a crewcheif with HMM-361 from July - Sept, 67. I sustained 1st, 2nd & 3rd degree burns the day the ammo dump went up. Spent four months in several hospitals recovering from my wounds. I've never forgotten the fear I felt during that day's shelling. We were luck not to lose any men.
Comment by: George on Feb 24, 2008 09:52 AM
I was with the 298th Signal in Quang Tri `70-`71 and used to go through Dong Ha all the time and never knew about this. You guys were lucky to live through this. It was, I felt,always a dangerous place up there in Red Devil Country. The road out to Khe Sahn with the infamous Rockpile comes to mind. So many dangerous places,like I said,dangerous country .
Comment by: Arnold R. LaMotte on Nov 17, 2009 06:04 AM
I was there when the ammo dump got hit with Det 1 620TCS, had two months left in Nam thought we were under an air attack at first could hear our planes flying over for a look see at what was going on, worked in the Comm Van receiving FRAGS. I will never forget Vietnam and the things I witnessed while on the DMZ.
Posted by Roger Herman on 2010-07-21 |  | ARVN outpost
Somewhere west of Dong Ha, Ca Lu maybe. Summer of 1967, picture taken from an HMM-163 H-34 by myself.
Posted by hugh smith on 2010-07-21 |  | Ammo Dump explosions at Dong Ha on 3 Sep 67.
Photos sent by Bruce Crow (unbhc@yahoo.com) to History and Records Division of the Assoc. These are photo files from the 3rd MarDiv Ammo Dump explosions at Dong Ha on 3 Sep 67. >From the 11th Eng website, contributed by Art Larsen and Bruce Crow. >Photo Credits to Bill Lyell (from 1200 meters away). Cooked for 8 hours. Incoming on 2 Sep at 0530H, 1107H 1245H 1340H and 1515H. Incoming on 3 Sep at 0855H. >From squadron HMM-361 Command Chronology: "Dong Ha Airfield came under heavy enemy artillery fire. Soon after the beginning of the attack, a round or rounds landed in the ammunition dump that was adjacent to the HMM-361 enlisted quarters. After being set off, the ammo storage area continued to explode and cook off rounds for eight hours. Due to the close proximity of the ammo dump to the enlisted huts, the living area was destroyed by shells and consumed by fire. The shops were leveled and the officers huts sustained moderate damage. The damage to the squadron aircraft was extensive..." Bill Lyell / wlyell@msn.com S/F Al Barbour -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My thanks to Bruce Crow for forwarding pictures of Dong Ha on September 3, 1967 to Popasmoke for posting on the PAS website. The photos were taken by Bill Lyell who was serving with the 11th Engineers and was lucky enough to be at a relatively safe distance from the ammo dump and the fuel farm. Bill has graciously sent me a total of 25 pictures from that day and I would consider it an honor to send free of charge a CD with all those 25 photos to any member of HMM-361 that was there on that day. Please send me an email along with your current USPS mailing address; allow two weeks for delivery. Semper Fi, Artie Larsen VMO-3 '66-'67 HMM-361 '67 Arthur Larsen [Arthur_Larsen@umit.maine.edu]
I left Dong Ha after 10 months there Oct-1966 - Aug 29-1967, I was with the food service Mabs16 and worked at the mess hall. My buddies who I had spent months with stayed there until about a week later when the ammo dump got hit. Needless to say I got to greet them at Marble Mountain when they came down a week later safe and sound..
Thanks for the memories
Rich Warner / Rich Warner [rwarner1@columbus.rr.com]
Comment by: BOB GARDNER on Oct 19, 2007 11:53 PM
I WAS THERE DURING THE AMMO DUMP EXPLOSION. WIH MAB16 MAG16. I WAS BURIED UNDER THE MESS FOR QUITE AWHILE. REMEBER AFTER GETTING OUT THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT STANDING. BOB GARDNER SEMPER FI
Comment by: Delmas Shiflett on Apr 26, 2010 11:48 PM
I was there that day, after the attack and hitting the ammo dump we were underground stacked on each other for hours ... I was an 0311 rifleman grunt with the 9th Marines Regiment HQ/Co. I was a day and night that I will never forget along with other events that were daily at Dong Ha.
Comment by: TOny Schrier on May 30, 2010 03:10 PM
I was there that fatefull day. Assigned to the US Army 534th trans company. We were right next to the dump. I do not have pictures but I did take 8MM super 8 movies of that day. Quite some fireworks.
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-20 |  | Crashed H-34s by the DMZ
Another shot of the two H-34s down near the Z.
Comment by: Raymond Lukeski on Aug 15, 2006 03:21 PM
I was the crew chief of the the chopper on the right YZ82. We hit a radio tower at night on a resupply and evac mission March 1967. No one was hurt in either planes. We spent 3 day out there. Plane 2 was crewed by larry sullivan.
Posted by hugh smith on 2010-07-16 |  | Dong Ha, Vietnam. Operation Hastings
Dong Ha, Vietnam. Operation Hastings - Marines of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment take to the water as they move to join up with other elements of their battalion. National Archives Photo
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-16 |  | Dong Ha Ammo Dump
Photos sent by Bruce Crow (unbhc@yahoo.com) to History and Records Division of the Assoc. These are photo files from the 3rd MarDiv Ammo Dump explosions at Dong Ha on 3 Sep 67. >From the 11th Eng website, contributed by Art Larsen and Bruce Crow. >Photo Credits to Bill Lyell (from 1200 meters away). Cooked for 8 hours. Incoming on 2 Sep at 0530H, 1107H 1245H 1340H and 1515H. Incoming on 3 Sep at 0855H. >From squadron HMM-361 Command Chronology: "Dong Ha Airfield came under heavy enemy artillery fire. Soon after the beginning of the attack, a round or rounds landed in the ammunition dump that was adjacent to the HMM-361 enlisted quarters. After being set off, the ammo storage area continued to explode and cook off rounds for eight hours. Due to the close proximity of the ammo dump to the enlisted huts, the living area was destroyed by shells and consumed by fire. The shops were leveled and the officers huts sustained moderate damage. The damage to the squadron aircraft was extensive..." Bill Lyell / wlyell@msn.com S/F Al Barbour
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My thanks to Bruce Crow for forwarding pictures of Dong Ha on September 3, 1967 to Popasmoke for posting on the PAS website. The photos were taken by Bill Lyell who was serving with the 11th Engineers and was lucky enough to be at a relatively safe distance from the ammo dump and the fuel farm. Bill has graciously sent me a total of 25 pictures from that day and I would consider it an honor to send free of charge a CD with all those 25 photos to any member of HMM-361 that was there on that day. Please send me an email along with your current USPS mailing address; allow two weeks for delivery. Semper Fi, Artie Larsen VMO-3 '66-'67 HMM-361 '67 Arthur Larsen [Arthur_Larsen@umit.maine.edu]
Comment by: Simpson, Jack on Sep 30, 2006 01:05 PM
I was with K/3/3 that day - we were set in at Dia Do when we heard the blast and it rocked the tank we had climbed up on to see what was happening - it was a truely amazing sight. There was even black& white photos of the blast from ground level, published in some Navy magazine we were given to read at Yokouska Naval Hospital, Japan ( I still have a copy of that pic somewhere )!
Comment by: monty farmer on Nov 10, 2006 03:24 PM
my unit, as small as it was (maybe 30 men) was next to the cb unit on the ammo dump side. trying to find anyone from my unit 67-68 the unit name was larc . we worked on the ramp unloading boat loads of supplies.
Comment by: Bob Putrino on Mar 23, 2007 09:39 AM
I was there that day. I took the same picture. SemperFi
Comment by: Ronald Lester Patzer on Jul 7, 2007 01:23 PM
I was detaced to the perimeter from FLSU#1 and was assigned to the tower right outside Delta Med. About 0800 two of us came down and went to the Delta Med messhall for breakfast because they had fresh eggs and blueberry pancakes! I was just about to take the first bite when the first rounds came in. I never did get a bite of that breakfast. We were able to get back to the perimeter, but it was too hot with incoming and falling shrapnel to try to make it into the tower. We spent the better part of the day "low crawling" down the perimeter trying to assess our situation and help out some of the guys trapped in the bunkers. We all expected to get hit with ground troops at any minute. I'll never forget 3 Sep 1967.
Comment by: John Tsitrian on Aug 17, 2007 05:05 PM
I was at the mouth of the Cua Viet River that day. We were getting hammered pretty hard too, but will never forget the collective awe when we saw the plume of smoke rising from Dong Ha, several miles up river. I was a FLSU radioman, so I had a lot of buddies at Dong Ha, including some at the ammo dump. Couldn't raise anybody on my PRC-25, so I feared the worst. Was amazed that nobody got seriously injured or killed. Never forget September 3, even now, 4 decades later. Semper Fi.
Comment by: Ken Layne GMG3 YFU 68 on Mar 27, 2008 02:29 PM
I was on river about 2 miles from Bridge Ramp when the dump went up. We thought it was an atomic bomb. the concusion was AMAZING.
Comment by: DICKIE KISER on Jul 13, 2008 04:33 PM
I remember it so well also. The most amazing thing is the post by Ron Patzer on 07 July, 2007. I was also at the same mess hall at the same time. I was T.A.D. with 3/9. I ran to the old French bunker which was near the reafer across from graves reg. ‘til I could head back to my location.
Comment by: Robert Clinton on Jul 14, 2010 08:48 PM
Image was well done, despite the distance it was taken from. I would like to know exactly where that tent was placed. Mine was near that area on that day. I was closer to the ammo dump,because I was leaving the mess hall. Good job men.
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-16 |  | Dong Ha
Just a shot here of the buildings and parking area at Dong Ha only a few months before it being levelled.
Comment by: BONI LUNA on Mar 13, 2006 01:49 PM
Very good photo, I can where I lived next to mess hall
sep. 66 to sep. 67
Posted by hugh smith on 2010-07-14 |  | Razorback
Adjacent to the Rockpile was another pleasant feature known sometimes as the Razorback for obvious reasons. Some extremely complex medevacs/hoists and the like occurred here, always good for a wakeup. Mutter Ridge showing in shadow at the far right.
Posted by hugh smith on 2010-06-23 |  | Bomb crater
Yellow smoke just showing at the top of the picture where a medevac waits pickup; taken during Operation Prairie II out of Dong Ha.
Posted by hugh smith on 2010-06-18 |  | Welcome to Dong Ha
I was stationed with the Third Marine Air Support Squadron 2 in Dong Ha in 1966-67. We were located in some building just south of Delta Med near the CG's Headquarters .
This photo is the building that was located at Ha airport. If you flew in fixed wing like I did on many occasions, you had to have seen it. Here you see marines waiting on a C-130 back to DaNang or Phu Bai.
Santiago
Semper Fi
sarredo1@oncorgroup.com
Comment by: Chuck Heebner on Apr 8, 2010 04:21 PM
I remember this place. Was at Delta Med from Oct 1966 to around March 1967. Chuck Heebner, HM2/USN/USMC etc.
Posted by Admin on 2010-06-18 |  | Navy Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 301
Aerial view of CBMU301 on western edge of Dong Ha base late 1967. by Fred Herrin of CBMU301
Comment by: Dennis G. Nolan on Jun 10, 2006 11:38 AM
I was A BU2 SeaBee at CBMU 301. I was there when the ammo dump blew up in '67. I still remember the feeling when one side of the trench lifted and settled and then the other side lifted and settled. Hell on Earth is how I recall all the explosions.
Comment by: BILL ANWANDER on Oct 15, 2007 04:43 PM
I was in Dong Ha in 1968 driving an R.T. at the ramps. I remember after the ammo dump was hit 301 came in and built us a new hooch. I have no pictures but I seem to remember I could see the 301 compound from where I lived. Could you please tell me if that is the compound in the upper left part of this picture. I also want to thank the for the great job they did and also all the guys that worked around the clock unloading the boats on the cauviet river. When I left Dong Ha I went to Danang and was working at the RVN ammo dump when it got hit. I went back to the world shortly after for separation at Long Beach, Calif. Any information for me I would be thankful. Thank you, Bill Anwander U.S.N
Comment by: Joe Montoya on Mar 25, 2008 01:45 PM
Actually if this were MCD-5 replacements the picture was not correct. MCB-5 was next to the amo dump and next to where the air cav. picked up the troops. The huts were away from the action and I do not see the marine camp or exchange or can I tell where the village is from here. I do have pictures and maybe someday I'll post mine.
Comment by: Joe Montoya on Mar 25, 2008 01:45 PM
Actually if this were MCD-5 replacements the picture was not correct. MCB-5 was next to the amo dump and next to where the air cav. picked up the troops. The huts were away from the action and I do not see the marine camp or exchange or can I tell where the village is from here. I do have pictures and maybe someday I'll post mine.
Comment by: fred herrin on Jun 27, 2009 12:59 PM
CBMU301 history etc. can be found at http://ansel.his.duq.edu/cbmu301/
Comment by: Gene Ray Kinnick on Jun 8, 2010 07:19 PM
I was with CBMU-301 from Nov.1967 to Jan. 1969, having served in the siege at Khe Sanh Dec.67 -Feb. 68 with Detail Bravo, and in Quang Tri following that. I mustered out of the main body in Sept. 68 and finished my extended tour with NSA Danang working in supply and running Vietnamese work crews out of the shops there.
This is definitely a photo of CBMU-301\\\'s compound. I was 2nd Sqd Ldr of Charlie Co and we occupied 2nd hut in from left on front row, home of the \\\"Skate-away\\\" crew.
Posted by fred herrin on 2010-06-08 |  | 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 |  | HMM-363 lUCKY RED LIONS , Dong Ha July 1967, Metal Shop
L to R Bill Witmer, Jerry Sheridan, Manny Mercardo and John Messick Submitted by SGT Richard "BOSS" Lagasse
Comment by: Natalie Cheseldine on May 22, 2010 03:45 AM
Does anyone know how I can locate Manny Mercardo?
Posted by Admin on 2010-05-22 |  | HMM-364 CRASH WHERE? WHEN?
Photo by SSGT Larry G. Powell "POPS", (GYSGT USMC Ret)HMM-363 Crew Chief/Line Chief 67-68. The photo shows one of HMM-364s CH-46s crashed just outside the fuel pits at ??? When??Photo enhance by John P. Dullighan.
UPDATED 03SEPT02
If I"m not mistaken this bird crashed in the fuel pits at Dong Ha (my
memory is shakey on the date) returning from a resupply mission at Khe
Sanh. The pilots were Trev Sarles and Emmett Carson. No injuries except
to pride and egos. No Gas..cutting it a little thin.
Phillip R. Hemming
plhemm@hotmail.com
Comment by: john venhous on Mar 21, 2006 09:21 PM
I was the crew chief, we lost an engine while on the approach. I was leaning out the left gun window when we went down. The only injury was to my lower lip caused by my lower teeth punching through. This occured mid summer of '68 at Dong Ha.
Posted by Admin on 2010-04-21 |  | Fixed Wing "PAID THE PRICE" Dong Ha 67
A great photo of Fixed Wing that were damaged while trying to support our Helicopters at Dong Ha 1967. Photo sent to us by SSGT. Larry G. "POPS" Powell ( GYSGT USMC Ret). POPS served as both a Crew Chief and as the Flight Line Chief for HMM-363s ( Lucky Red Lions) UH-34Ds, 67-68. Photo enhanced by John P. Dullighan, Popasmoke member.
Posted by Admin on 2010-04-06 |  | Radio blimp at Dong Ha, 1969
NSA supplied some experimental radio equipment which was hoisted up by this blimp.
Photo by Gary Williams
Posted by Admin on 2010-04-06 |  | Dong Ha Ammo Dump
Photos sent by Bruce Crow (unbhc@yahoo.com) to History and Records Division of the Assoc. These are photo files from the 3rd MarDiv Ammo Dump explosions at Dong Ha on 3 Sep 67. >From the 11th Eng website, contributed by Art Larsen and Bruce Crow. >Photo Credits to Bill Lyell (from 1200 meters away). Cooked for 8 hours. Incoming on 2 Sep at 0530H, 1107H 1245H 1340H and 1515H. Incoming on 3 Sep at 0855H. >From squadron HMM-361 Command Chronology: "Dong Ha Airfield came under heavy enemy artillery fire. Soon after the beginning of the attack, a round or rounds landed in the ammunition dump that was adjacent to the HMM-361 enlisted quarters. After being set off, the ammo storage area continued to explode and cook off rounds for eight hours. Due to the close proximity of the ammo dump to the enlisted huts, the living area was destroyed by shells and consumed by fire. The shops were leveled and the officers huts sustained moderate damage. The damage to the squadron aircraft was extensive..." Bill Lyell / wlyell@msn.com S/F Al Barbour
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My thanks to Bruce Crow for forwarding pictures of Dong Ha on September 3, 1967 to Popasmoke for posting on the PAS website. The photos were taken by Bill Lyell who was serving with the 11th Engineers and was lucky enough to be at a relatively safe distance from the ammo dump and the fuel farm. Bill has graciously sent me a total of 25 pictures from that day and I would consider it an honor to send free of charge a CD with all those 25 photos to any member of HMM-361 that was there on that day. Please send me an email along with your current USPS mailing address; allow two weeks for delivery. Semper Fi, Artie Larsen VMO-3 '66-'67 HMM-361 '67 Arthur Larsen [Arthur_Larsen@umit.maine.edu]
Posted by Admin on 2010-03-13 |  | Dong Ha Ammo Dump
Photos sent by Bruce Crow (unbhc@yahoo.com) to History and Records Division of the Assoc. These are photo files from the 3rd MarDiv Ammo Dump explosions at Dong Ha on 3 Sep 67. >From the 11th Eng website, contributed by Art Larsen and Bruce Crow. >Photo Credits to Bill Lyell (from 1200 meters away). Cooked for 8 hours. Incoming on 2 Sep at 0530H, 1107H 1245H 1340H and 1515H. Incoming on 3 Sep at 0855H. >From squadron HMM-361 Command Chronology: "Dong Ha Airfield came under heavy enemy artillery fire. Soon after the beginning of the attack, a round or rounds landed in the ammunition dump that was adjacent to the HMM-361 enlisted quarters. After being set off, the ammo storage area continued to explode and cook off rounds for eight hours. Due to the close proximity of the ammo dump to the enlisted huts, the living area was destroyed by shells and consumed by fire. The shops were leveled and the officers huts sustained moderate damage. The damage to the squadron aircraft was extensive..." Bill Lyell / wlyell@msn.com S/F Al Barbour
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My thanks to Bruce Crow for forwarding pictures of Dong Ha on September 3, 1967 to Popasmoke for posting on the PAS website. The photos were taken by Bill Lyell who was serving with the 11th Engineers and was lucky enough to be at a relatively safe distance from the ammo dump and the fuel farm. Bill has graciously sent me a total of 25 pictures from that day and I would consider it an honor to send free of charge a CD with all those 25 photos to any member of HMM-361 that was there on that day. Please send me an email along with your current USPS mailing address; allow two weeks for delivery. Semper Fi, Artie Larsen VMO-3 '66-'67 HMM-361 '67 Arthur Larsen [Arthur_Larsen@umit.maine.edu]
Comment by: JIM MEHL on Apr 15, 2006 03:26 AM
My unit - 3rd Shore Party had their hootches between bulk fuel@ the LZ across the street from the airstrip, and the ammo dump. The morning the dump "went up" i was @ our company office hootch getting paid - I had spent most of the summer @ Con thien, and adjacent areas (C@ bridge), Anyway when the dump went up, all I had was a pair of green Boxers, shower shoes flip-flops, my wallet with ID, and my dog tags -then the incoming started and the dump went up. I remember it seemed like it was hot until later that evenening - they evacuated us to 11 th Engineers for some chow, clothes and a place to sleep. I met a guy w/ 11th Engineers, Dick Spence, who I went to High School in CT. we were a wreck, eveything was destroyed and leveled. Had nothing left except the boxers, dog tags , ID, and flip flops. One Hell of a day - made you want to go back to Con Thien - I was transferred to Demo security duty w/ civilian construction outfit down near Hue (off the coast dredging channels) for about a month before returning to Dong Ha. Anyone else that close to the dump - would be great to hear fro yo. Outstanding web site !! now living near Colubia SC.
Comment by: Malcolm I. Maloon on Apr 22, 2006 05:56 AM
I remember that day very well. I was with Army ordinance detachment that supplied the Army Artillery companies that were supporting the local Marine bases. The 49th Ordinance Detachment (US Army) was assigned to Task Force Pike. I watched from the top of a an old French concret bunker about 1/2 a mile away. I had taken some pictures that day, also. I'm going to see if they are still around. If they are it may be from a different angel.
Comment by: bob morris on May 29, 2006 10:55 AM
The tents in the forground are 9th motors where i served nov. 67 to dec. 68
Comment by: Sean P. Barry on Jan 20, 2010 09:25 PM
Dear Artie,I'd like to make a correction to this article. I served as a Medivac Corpsman in Dong Ha from May until September 67,and was on duty that day, September 3rd. Our Squadron was HMM 363,not HMM 361. HMM 363Medivac Corpsmen were Howie Veal,Tom Blankenship, Bill Yancy,JohnMcElligott, Bill Tertzlaff, Russ Guliano,Mike Hardy,myself, Sean Barry and a number of others whose names I cant recall. It had to be one of the least favorite days of my life. I personally have anumber of aftermath photos of that day,and will be glad to share them. I would like to communicate with anyone stationed at Dong Ha or anyone who was medivaced by HMM363.
Semper Fi, Sean
Sean P.Barry HM4/USN/USMC/RET.
9 Seekonk Road
Great Barrington,Mass.01230
413-528-6487
E-mail: musicstr@bcn.net
Comment by: Arthur Larsen on Mar 13, 2010 06:20 AM
The previous post is in error regarding the helicopter squadron present the day this photo was taken. The UH-34 helicopter outfit that was based at Dong Ha on September 3, 1967 was HMM-361. HMM-363 was at Dong Ha during the summer of 1967 but was replaced by HMM-361 sometime in July.
Posted by Admin on 2010-03-13 |  | Helicopter Valley
Looking west into the valley itself, Mutter Ridge up at the top of the picture; some smoke from a downed aircraft (fixed wing, I believe) showing faintly. HMM-163, 1967.
Posted by hugh smith on 2010-03-05 |  | Rockpile No. 4
Don't think this one has been submitted already; at any rate, a good shot of the fixture.
Posted by hugh smith on 2010-02-23 |  | Shower at Dong Ha
The oldtimers will remember the shower stall made of drop tanks off a crashed fixed wing. Water buffalo showing, a Huey in the background. Khe Sanh 30 miles or so in the background behind the hills. Taken November 1966
Comment by: JIM MEHL on Apr 15, 2006 02:56 AM
Our showers @ Dong Ha were really refreshing - i was with 3rd Shore Party- @ the LZ, our hootches were right across the road from Bulk fuel # airstrip (ammo dump on the other side- more on that later), anyway they would pump water for our showers over in the evening, after using the hoses for fuel during the day. that way we received a dose of Bug repellant blended with the water. Didn't smell great - but kept the bugs down.
Posted by hugh smith on 2010-02-23 |  | Rockpile
Couldn't resist sending in this one; a good shot of the newer, larger platform on the Rockpile which would allow for up to an H-34 to land on. The older and smaller platform was capable of trapping a Huey skid under the edge of the boards which happened on at least one occasion, creating an undesirable situation. Rumor had it that the new arrangement also provided shelter for the people stationed on the rock. Anyone who spent some time there would certainly know more than I do about the living conditions there.
View is looking roughly east towards the artillery plateau and Dong Ha.
Posted by hugh smith on 2010-02-12 |  | Marine Convoy at Dong Ha 1966
Convoy was heading north. Dong Ha Airbase was located left side of picture.
Santiago Semper Fi sarredo1@oncorgroup.com
Posted by Admin on 2010-02-12 |  | DONG HA AMMO DUMP
Sept "67 , Dong Ha combat ammo dump is hit. Photo provided by Ken Anderson
what a shot I was in a bunker with other marines from MATCU 62 John Seton //Setonnotes1227@aol.com
Comment by: Sekou Shepard on Apr 9, 2006 12:04 PM
More information (after my last post), July 3,1967, North Vietnamese artillery fire hit the bulk and supply dumps at Marine base at Dong Ha. On Sept. 3, 1967 again North Vietnamese artillery and rocket fire destoyed the large ammunition dump and demaged Marine helicopter facility (17 destroyed). They operated out of Phu Bai or Marble Mountain near Da Nang until a new facility at Quang Tri City. Sekou Shepard, Charlie Co., 2nd Sq., 2nd Plt., 1st M.P. Bn.
Comment by: joe esposito on May 20, 2006 11:48 PM
i believe the date was sept '68, i was directly in front of the dump
Comment by: bob morris on May 29, 2006 10:48 AM
The ammo dump was hit in both years.
Comment by: Gregory A. Phillips on Oct 2, 2006 02:49 PM
I remember that day well. I thought that the Russans goi in and nuked us. I am glad I was rong. One hell of a day. We had seven kinds of hell come down on us that day.
Comment by: JIM MEHL on Jan 4, 2007 10:14 AM
I was an engineerwith the 3rd Shore Party Outfit - our hootches wer directly between the ammo dump & bulk fuel next to the airstrip... we were in the bunkers all day - obviously nothing left above ground.. What a day !!!!!
Comment by: Greg Beman on Apr 18, 2007 12:02 PM
I was with the 11th Eng. I was driving a mobile crane past the ammo dump as it was hit. We made it back to the yard and spent the day in the bunkers.
Comment by: John W. Perkins on Sep 22, 2008 11:42 AM
Thanks for the image of the Marine ammo dump. I watched the dump burn from my bunker on the NE corner of Dong Ha Air Base. It was a scary sight. We had one of the morter rounds embed in the side of the bunker and thank God it didn't go off. Chief Master Sergeant (Ret) John W. Perkins, 620th Tac Control Squadron, Dong Ha Air Base, 19 Oct 1966 through 13 Oct 1967
Posted by Admin on 2010-02-12 |  | Dong Ha Ammo Dump
Photos sent by Bruce Crow (unbhc@yahoo.com) to History and Records Division of the Assoc. These are photo files from the 3rd MarDiv Ammo Dump explosions at Dong Ha on 3 Sep 67. >From the 11th Eng website, contributed by Art Larsen and Bruce Crow. >Photo Credits to Bill Lyell (from 1200 meters away). Cooked for 8 hours. Incoming on 2 Sep at 0530H, 1107H 1245H 1340H and 1515H. Incoming on 3 Sep at 0855H. >From squadron HMM-361 Command Chronology: "Dong Ha Airfield came under heavy enemy artillery fire. Soon after the beginning of the attack, a round or rounds landed in the ammunition dump that was adjacent to the HMM-361 enlisted quarters. After being set off, the ammo storage area continued to explode and cook off rounds for eight hours. Due to the close proximity of the ammo dump to the enlisted huts, the living area was destroyed by shells and consumed by fire. The shops were leveled and the officers huts sustained moderate damage. The damage to the squadron aircraft was extensive..." Bill Lyell / wlyell@msn.com S/F Al Barbour
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My thanks to Bruce Crow for forwarding pictures of Dong Ha on September 3, 1967 to Popasmoke for posting on the PAS website. The photos were taken by Bill Lyell who was serving with the 11th Engineers and was lucky enough to be at a relatively safe distance from the ammo dump and the fuel farm. Bill has graciously sent me a total of 25 pictures from that day and I would consider it an honor to send free of charge a CD with all those 25 photos to any member of HMM-361 that was there on that day. Please send me an email along with your current USPS mailing address; allow two weeks for delivery. Semper Fi, Artie Larsen VMO-3 '66-'67 HMM-361 '67 Arthur Larsen [Arthur_Larsen@umit.maine.edu]
Comment by: CLYDE HECKWINE on Nov 17, 2008 12:56 PM
I was a ammo tech at the ammo dump at dong ha the day this picture was taken. There were about 15 of us in the dump at the time. We were in the middle of this for an hour or so before we could get out. The explosions were tremendous, there were probably 500 or so liniere charges going off, containers weighing 1000 lbs each, packets of c4 linked together for clearing mine fields and such. We also had about 1000,000 rounds of 105 setting in open storage that was right across from the powder burm that took the rocket. After that it was run for your life. I still can remember the guys at the dump like it was yesterday and that day. Neat to see what it was like ,thanks.
Posted by Admin on 2010-02-12 |  | The Rockpile
Hated, despised, loathed, feared and any other number of negative emotions applied to the Rockpile. About ten minutes west of Dong Ha, anyone who ever went on it will never forget it, and anyone who says they enjoyed doing it was never there. There was a larger platform built when this picture was taken in Summer 1967 big enough to land an H-34 on, but it was still an eye-opener.
Comment by: Msgt Rod Consalvo 1965-2001 on Jan 2, 2010 09:18 AM
I was on top of it June 1967 and enjoyed it good sleep and plenty of chow, it was good,,,why? Safest place in Nam....:>}
0311 India Co 3/3 3rd plt
Posted by hugh smith on 2010-02-12 |  | 1/LT Ron Sabin of HMM-361 at Dong Ha
This picture of Ron Sabin was taken at Dong Ha shortly before the start of several days of incoming NVA artillery in Sept "67. Ron and the rest of the squadron personnel survived the attack, however, all of the squadron hootches and helicopters did not.
Posted by Roger Herman on 2010-01-18 |  | The thing.
Everybody surely remembers the Ontos; these two were parked by the hootches at Dong Ha, sometime in the winter of 1967. Ugly but effective.
Posted by hugh smith on 2010-01-06 |  | Dong Ha Ammo Dump
Photos sent by Bruce Crow (unbhc@yahoo.com) to History and Records Division of the Assoc. These are photo files from the 3rd MarDiv Ammo Dump explosions at Dong Ha on 3 Sep 67. >From the 11th Eng website, contributed by Art Larsen and Bruce Crow. >Photo Credits to Bill Lyell (from 1200 meters away). Cooked for 8 hours. Incoming on 2 Sep at 0530H, 1107H 1245H 1340H and 1515H. Incoming on 3 Sep at 0855H. >From squadron HMM-361 Command Chronology: "Dong Ha Airfield came under heavy enemy artillery fire. Soon after the beginning of the attack, a round or rounds landed in the ammunition dump that was adjacent to the HMM-361 enlisted quarters. After being set off, the ammo storage area continued to explode and cook off rounds for eight hours. Due to the close proximity of the ammo dump to the enlisted huts, the living area was destroyed by shells and consumed by fire. The shops were leveled and the officers huts sustained moderate damage. The damage to the squadron aircraft was extensive..." Bill Lyell / wlyell@msn.com S/F Al Barbour
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My thanks to Bruce Crow for forwarding pictures of Dong Ha on September 3, 1967 to Popasmoke for posting on the PAS website. The photos were taken by Bill Lyell who was serving with the 11th Engineers and was lucky enough to be at a relatively safe distance from the ammo dump and the fuel farm. Bill has graciously sent me a total of 25 pictures from that day and I would consider it an honor to send free of charge a CD with all those 25 photos to any member of HMM-361 that was there on that day. Please send me an email along with your current USPS mailing address; allow two weeks for delivery. Semper Fi, Artie Larsen VMO-3 '66-'67 HMM-361 '67 Arthur Larsen [Arthur_Larsen@umit.maine.edu]
Comment by: Robert Clinton on Jun 5, 2006 11:35 PM
I was there on that day.I lived in one of those tents,because we lived twenty-five feet from the runway.We maintained the runway,when we could and we also flew on choppers as gunmen.The tent looks like where I lived.That was just one of a number of ammo games,because they could see the runway from a building in town.They had no problem hitting the runway,ammo dump,huts,and anything near the area.There was also a control tower near the runway and the ammo dump which was operated by MATCU-62 people.I remember the 11th engineers and also the Seabees,and other marine outfits,living away from the runway and the ammo dump.I don't remember what chopper outfits I flew in,but I would love to get a CD,just to see what is on those images.At that time,I was in Marine Air Group 32.When I was flying,it was in a CH-46 and we had 50 caliber machine guns.Please let me know what it will take to receive a CD.Thanx.The image is outstanding.
Posted by Admin on 2010-01-01 |  | Highway One
Intersection of Highway One and Six adjacent to Dong Ha Ramp 1967. by Fred Herrin CBMU 301
Comment by: richard keeton on Sep 7, 2006 02:00 AM
I was at the Dong Ha ramp '67-'68. I had tried to describe that very sign to people. I couldn't believe you posted it on the internet. I remember it well, just like it was yesterday. Thanks very much.
Posted by fred herrin on 2010-01-01 |  | Hardbacks at Dong Ha
Some of the first buildings going up at Dong Ha; January 1967 most likely. Probably not still standing a year later.
Posted by hugh smith on 2010-01-01 |  | Dong Ha
An aerial shot of the country Dong Ha is to the right. Nothing to the left but north V.N. as we all know, showing the artillery plateau, Rockpile, Razorback, other pleasantries.
Posted by hugh smith on 2010-01-01 |  | Dong Ha Ammo Dump Hootch Area
Photos sent by Bruce Crow (unbhc@yahoo.com) to History and Records Division of the Assoc. These are photo files from the 3rd MarDiv Ammo Dump explosions at Dong Ha on 3 Sep 67. >From the 11th Eng website, contributed by Art Larsen and Bruce Crow. >Photo Credits to Bill Lyell (from 1200 meters away). Cooked for 8 hours. Incoming on 2 Sep at 0530H, 1107H 1245H 1340H and 1515H. Incoming on 3 Sep at 0855H. >From squadron HMM-361 Command Chronology: "Dong Ha Airfield came under heavy enemy artillery fire. Soon after the beginning of the attack, a round or rounds landed in the ammunition dump that was adjacent to the HMM-361 enlisted quarters. After being set off, the ammo storage area continued to explode and cook off rounds for eight hours. Due to the close proximity of the ammo dump to the enlisted huts, the living area was destroyed by shells and consumed by fire. The shops were leveled and the officers huts sustained moderate damage. The damage to the squadron aircraft was extensive..." Bill Lyell / wlyell@msn.com S/F Al Barbour
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My thanks to Bruce Crow for forwarding pictures of Dong Ha on September 3, 1967 to Popasmoke for posting on the PAS website. The photos were taken by Bill Lyell who was serving with the 11th Engineers and was lucky enough to be at a relatively safe distance from the ammo dump and the fuel farm. Bill has graciously sent me a total of 25 pictures from that day and I would consider it an honor to send free of charge a CD with all those 25 photos to any member of HMM-361 that was there on that day. Please send me an email along with your current USPS mailing address; allow two weeks for delivery. Semper Fi, Artie Larsen VMO-3 '66-'67 HMM-361 '67 Arthur Larsen [Arthur_Larsen@umit.maine.edu]
Comment by: BONI LUNA on Mar 13, 2006 02:04 PM
Sad Sad; I worked in the mess hall, lost everything
Posted by Admin on 2010-01-01 |  | HMM-361 Readies for a Possible NVA Ground Assault at Dong Ha
In Sept "67, Dong Ha was shelled continuously for several days by NVA artillery from just across the DMZ. Word had it that a ground assault would soon follow. Personnel of HMM-361 gather in front of one of the squadron"s partially destroyed ops hootches and prepare for the attack. Fortunately, a major assault never took place and the squadron was later airlifted back to DaNang.
Comment by: Michael DeWeese on Dec 11, 2009 07:38 PM
I was in the attact of Sep. 3rd, 67. I was one of the worse of the casulties from what I was told. I have block all that out for all these years to the point I do not remember the men I served with. If any one remembers me please let me know. My name is Michael DeWeese. I flew 007 air craft, my handle was the Jolly Green Giant. I was there from Oct 15 66 to Sept 3 67 Thanks For any help.
Posted by Roger Herman on 2009-12-11 |  | Rockpile valley
Taken abeam Cam Lo; Camp Carroll upper left, Dong Ha behind, Rockpile in center of the picture.
Posted by hugh smith on 2009-12-05 |  | Dong Ha 1967, no protection
This photo of HMM-363s Lucky Red Lions UH-34Ds sitting out in the open without revetment protection shows how it was at Dong Ha in the summer of 67. Photo by SSGT Larry G. "POPS" Powell (GYSGT USMC Ret). Pops was both a Crew Chief and the Flight Line Chief 67-68. Photo enhanced by John P. Dullighan, Popasmoke member.
The reason they didn't put in revetments was some Colonel sitting in the Field Grade Mess in Da Nang decided the NVA didn't have artillery in the DMZ. If we put in revetments to protect the airplanes it would make him look bad. Capt Dave Petteys
Posted by Admin on 2009-09-25 |  | CH-37 lifts out of Dong Ha, November 1966
This picture taken from behind the ready room adjacent to the medevac parking spots...anyone who operated there will recognize the area. Don't have any info on who or what, but proof that the old bird could fly. One of my favorite types.
Posted by hugh smith on 2009-09-25 |  | Plague River Dong Ha 1967 Photo Vietman
From: Thomas Farris
> To:
> Date: 12/14/2003 3:51:58 PM
> Subject: Plague River Dong Ha 1967 Photo Vietman
>
> Need to know if anyone remembers this picture or rectanizes the sign
> in
the
> photo. Please contact me at tfarris@hotmail.com. Thank You-------Tom
Posted by Admin on 2009-09-25 |  | Dong Ha Ammo Dump Takes a Direct Hit
In Sept "67, with Dong Ha combat base under enemy artillery attack, the ammo dump takes another hit. In the foreground can be seen the orange glow of the explosion reflecting on the tail of one of HMM-361"s H-34 aircraft, highlighting the squadron"s Esso Tiger logo. Photo provided by Ron Sabin.
From: "Ward, Phil" , Thursday, December 08, 2005 2:51 PM
I was with 2nd Bn. 3rd Marines and we were somewhere north of Hai Lang and south of Quang Tri along route 1 where the sand used to drift across the road andwe saw the mushroom cloud from the explosion. We thought at first we had finally done it and dropped a nuke on the DMZ. Phil Ward
From: KlarichIns@aol.com , Date: Dec 24, 2005 4:50 PM
The year of the explosion of the dump by the airport was in late summer "1968" not 1967. I also have old newspaper accounts of the hit. Thanks, Steve
Comment by: Jerry Krawczyk on Apr 28, 2006 08:30 AM
Both of you may be right. I was with India 3/3 in September 67 when during the Dink Elections Dong Ha was lit up like a Roman Candle. Had to be about the 3rd as I was hit and medevaced to D Med on 7 Sept 67. Dong Ha was continually mortared and rockteded during the week I was there before being medevaced to the Santuary. Thank God for that. Hated Dong Ha with a passion. There were so many dinks working in the compound, from barbers to hootch girls, that it was no wonder how accurate the rockets and mortars were.
Imagine that Dong Ha took multiple hits in the years the Marines occupied the DMZ. I have some good shots of the ammo explosion from Us. Marine Corps archives and will try to post them.
Comment by: Larry Mason on Nov 2, 2007 09:47 PM
I agree with Klarichins@aol.com. I believe the ammo dump went up in 1968, as I was only in country New Years Eve 1967 and all of 1968 and one month of 1969.
Comment by: Sam Messer on Nov 21, 2008 12:13 AM
The dump at Dong Ha went up numerous times. Sept 3, 67 it went up while I was at Khe Sanh. One of our Seabees got the Bronze Star for rescuing Marines from the dump that day. I have been sent pictures of the dump going up in 68 from Seabees that were there then also. Sam Messer Semper Fi Can Do
Posted by Roger Herman on 2009-09-19 |  | Fire Base just South of DMZ NE of Dong Ha, Gio Linh maybe
Comment by: Scott Berry on May 19, 2006 02:21 PM
Looks like Gio Linh. I was there March-April28, 1967. 2100 meters from the DMZ.
Comment by: Guy on Aug 7, 2007 04:44 PM
It is definitely Gio Linh. I spent almost a 8 months there. Part of both my first and second tours.
Comment by: L/cp/ John Gullo 2231722 on Aug 18, 2007 02:03 PM
Hi Marines, I do not believe that the photo is of Gio Lyhn as I was TAD to the first ARVN infantry from 1 April till sep. or Oct. I have photo's of the dump in Dong Ha blowing and photo's of my Battalion dump blowing that I took at 11th eng. bn. area. The plume from Gio Lyhn looked like a small a-bomb. Took pictures of c-123's flying over our heads at Ca Lu 0n Dec. 1967, x-mas propbly. Twice in one week. Hope to have a web up soon, have couple hundred photo's from 67-68. Semper Fi L/Cpl John L. Gullo 2231722 USMC
Comment by: bill livesey on Aug 21, 2007 02:42 AM
My spelling is a guess, but wasn't there a place to the east also called Con Tien ?
Posted by Brook Stevenson on 2009-09-18 |  | Firebreak
Anyone operating in Ha area in the summer of 1967 will remember the firebreak, aka the McNamara line. Gio Linh is at the far end of the clearing, South China Sea just beyond with Dong Ha out of sight to the left. Taken while HMM-163 was still operating sometimes in the area.
Dong Ha would be found to the "right" or south of Gio Linh in this photo. The South China Sea is east of the country. To the left is the DMZ. Sgt. William E. Lyell, USMC, Ret. 11th Engineer Battalion "Builders of the McNamara Line" Wlyell@msn.com
Yes, Dong Ha is to the right not left. My compass failed me, also can't type and tell left from right. Hugh Smith/ hdsmith02@yahoo.com
Posted by hugh smith on 2009-06-19 |  | New Buildings, 1967
Anyone operating out of Dong Ha throughout the winter of 1966-67 would have been amazed at the development of the area, especially west of the field where this shot was taken. Compared to the tent city that existed barely six months previous... Taken from an HMM-163 H-34, summer 1967
I think what this picture shows is the 11th Engineer Bn. Area. I was their Bn. Surgeon from January ’67 to I think May ’67 when I was transferred “downtown” to Delta Med in the old French buildings. Once I got down there you helicopter guys brought us a lot of business. At the 11th Eng. Compound the H-37s used to “bomb” us with water cans when they started to lose power on take off. Carl Highgenboten, MD Dallas, TX cshigh@msn.com
From: , Thursday, December 08, 2005 1:38 PM
I was crewing on one of those "duece water can bombing" missions. We had started out for the Rockpile with mortars and water cans -- started losing power, if my memory is correct we lost an engine (not that unusual) so Gunny and I started chucking waters cans out to reduce weight -- our buddies said we looked like a flying waterfall - often wondered whether any one got hurt -- I think we collasped a few tents. Sorry about that. Sgt. Bob Bannon - Nam 66-67, Thanks for a great web site.
Comment by: john fesler on Nov 13, 2006 09:37 AM
I arrived Dong Ha in late September 1967. I was assigned to the only army unit there. (1st Batallion, 40th Artillery). I was assigned to Headquarters Battery. Our units shot 155 Howitzers, overshadowed by the 175\'s the Marine shot. There was a massive secondary explosion sometime after I arrived near airport. I had slides of it, but they disappeared over the years. This was a massive secondary explosion and happened well after 9/3/67.
Possibly after TET IN 1968. Just wondering if anyone has photos of the 1/40th compound???Or if there is anyone associated with this site that remembers the 1/40th. We had a battery at the Rockpile and elsewhere. I worked in S2/s3, operations and intelligence and spent most of my 12 months underground in a bunker constructed of metal containers. During my tenure we were under constant barrage of artillery fire. I may be reached at jjmrsf@aol.com. My name is John Fesler. Thanks for posting this, and any replies are appreciated.
Posted by hugh smith on 2009-05-25 |  | Another resupply mission for HMM-262.
This CH-46D from the combat base at Dong Ha resupplies the hilltop outposts surrounding Khe Sanh May 1968.
Submitted by: Peter Emmons
Relocated from COMBAT PHOTOS by George T. Curtis / DEC 2002
Comment by: Peter Emmons on Mar 14, 2006 10:59 AM
A more accurate caption for this photo would read: a CH-46D attached to HMM-262 externals a load of supplies from LZ Stud (Vandergriff Combat Base) to the hilltop outposts surrounding Khe Sanh-May 1968.
Posted by Admin on 2009-05-04 |  | Firebreak
Another shot here of the Con Thien-Gio Linh firebreak. Taken from an HMM-163 H-34, sometime around the spring of 1967?
Posted by hugh smith on 2009-04-25 |  | Word Had It That the NVA Ground Assault Was Imminent
Well into the Sept "67 NVA artillery barrage on Dong Ha, the word was that an enemy ground assault would follow shortly. Pictured here, in their bunker awaiting the assault are some of the pilots from HMM-361. L to R are Ed "The Hulk" Rick, Jack Luby, Gary "Rat Eyes" Cunningham, Jerry "Clutch" Farrow, Ron "The Prince" Sabin and Ken "Kahuna" Mott. The looks on their faces tells the story. Special thanks again to Ron Sabin for having recently had some 34 year old slides developed into scannable pictures for this webpage. By the way, not only were all of the hootches destroyed, but so were the H-34s that belonged to the squadron.
Photo by Ron Sabin, submitted by Roger Herman
Posted by User Deleted on 2009-02-24 |  | DONG HA MAP
DONG HA MAP 1967
Posted by Admin on 2009-01-07 |  | H-34 with broken leg
This took place at Dong Ha; the slide is dated March 67, and memory fails as to what squad., who was flying, what happened etc. Somebody else can fill in the blanks. The eventual landing, on sandbags, was a piece of work that had to be seen. Glad it wasn't me. Turned out OK in the end.
Posted by hugh smith on 2008-12-31 |  | No idea
Any suggestions would be entertained; too many libations on Saturday nite contributed to this impasse. Looks familiar is my best guess.
Comment by: Al Gervacio on Apr 8, 2007 08:23 PM
If this picture was taken near the DMZ, it appears to be from an aircraft east of Dong Ha and south of the Cua Viet. The smaller branch should be running through Dong Ha (town) while the larger one heads south to Quang Tri (city). If this picture is near the DMZ, but it is not Dong Ha, then you probably was in North Vietnam:)
Posted by hugh smith on 2008-12-31 |  | Dong Ha LZ, probably February 1967
A typical day at Dong Ha in the monsoon; ready room roof showing in the upper right of the picture, HMM-163 medevac H-34s parked at the left. Don't know who the rest were.
Posted by hugh smith on 2008-12-19 |
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