 | Ammo Dump Fire, 1969
Ammo dump fire near Da Nang. Photo taken from MMAF.
The ammo dump blew in March of 69. I know because I was A dog handler, our kennels were next to the dump on the south side of hill 327. I just happened to be in our rear that day. Semper Fi, Frank Herschler, 1st. Scout Dog Plt.
The dump blew in late April 1969. I knew the approximate date but Mike Wolter confirmed the exact date for me from his journal. I lost his email to me when my computer crashed. It most definately was not in March J Dullighan
The dump blew on 27 April, 1969
I was with 5th Comm, South of China Beach. The day of the ammo dump explosion, I was in the back of a pickup, somewhere in Danang. I saw the mushroom cloud explosion and thought the truck would overturn. The was a significant shock wave but no damage. The dump blew all day and into the night. The sky was overcast that night and we sat on the top of out hootch, drinking beer and watching the shockwaves in the sky. Tony Mastriani tmastriani@hotmail.com
You have a great site. I was w/ MCB-5 (SEABEES) from 1/69 to 9/69 @ Camp Hoover, just below the Freedom Hill PX complex. ASP # 1 blew on 27 April 1969. Our camp was about 97% destroyed. We spent about 17 hours in our perimeter fighting holes. Frank Musumeci Fmoose@citlink.net
The ammo dump pictured went up late April 69. I had just returned from ridding gun for a medivac and we were sitting at the MMAF Sergeant's Club wondering who did it! We heard sappers and/or an accident. Our sympathy was with MCB-5 as they got nailed. Those folks were our premo source of steaks and other "hard-to-get" items!!!! // Semper Fi Chet Russo // Chet Russo [c.w.russo@verizon.net]
The asp-1 explosion in April '69 was an accident. My dad was there and was a month short and had to finish up at asp-2. The "logistics bad luck" that led to this accident is as follows, according to a Warrant Officer Carr, when Dad was talking to him....papa san was burning some trash in a field, when the wind whipped up and spread it into a large grass fire. In vain, the men used fire extinguishers to put it out,but it caught the Grade 3 (faulty) ammo on fire. The cooking off and exploding ammo spread the fire, resulting in a mass detonation as $80-$100 million of ammo went up in smoke,taking 40 percent of Force Logistics Command's ammo and fuel supply,as well as Air Force Bombs in a three day fire that leveled Camp Monahan's hooches and damaged the Freedom Hill Exchange. A shitty shame, as Dad found out that the main fire truck was in for PM that day, and the back up wasn't around. Anyway, God bless all of you vets, and thank you for all you have done. Son of an E-3 Marine, Ammo-Tech, Basic. gandkmcgregor@comcast.net, Semper Fi!!
Remember this incident well, although the exact date slips my mind. I was with HMH-463 at MMAF when the ammo dump went up. We could see the shock wave ripple through the air as ordinance exploded. Someone decided that there were chemical weapons in the dump, so rumor spread and we were told to carry gas masks around the squadron area. Can remember climbing up and down the sides of the 53's checking main rotor dampers and having a gas mask strapped to my leg while watching shock waves coming from the dump. I have to believe that the gas masks were an over reaction, but at 19 years of age….who the heck cared. CHARLIE PETTYS EDS-BPO/CPS 31011 Viking Parkway Westlake, Ohio 44145 440-250-5030 charlie.pettys@eds.com
From: Gatehead@aol.com, Sunday, December 04, 2005 5:56 PM
I was in the barracks accross the street , the two story building collapsed on me. I was waiting to come home. I'd like to hear from anyone in that barracks. Leatherneck magazine did a super story on it a few years ago.
From: Dale Newsome , Date: Dec 24, 2005 9:25 PM
I was a Marine stationed with the 1st Medical Battalion during that explosion. I volunteered to stay behind while the outfit was evacuated. Slept in an old French bunker that night while battling the giant cockroaches. The next day I somehow got picked to do a sweep thru a village near the dump. Sure messed up Hill 327 and the Sea Bee's. Probably wiped out Dog Patch too, but I really don't remember. Dale Newsome, Cpl, USMC
Comment by: cpl. cliff collar on Mar 3, 2006 08:38 PM
I was stationed 1st maw Hq 1/2 mile from 327 ,early sunday morning we could hear small round cooking off sounded like popcorn .went to Em club about 0900 sat at the bar for a few minutes ,Then all hell broke loose the doors blew off the ceiling came down we were knocked off are bar stools .I went running back to the hooch to get my duce gear about 300yards away when the 2nd major blast went off .Looking up I could see the blast blow out and over hill 327 and then suck back in and up forming a mushroom cloud. the shock wave came at me ,I could see tin roofs ripping off in dog patch as the air distorted with the wave . I hit the deck and covered my head ,the blast pushed me back about 3 feet. All the buildings that were sealed or air conditioned had walls blowed out or were flattened (IE officers BOQ'S, church, officers mess) Blasts would happen on and off for 48 hours, stayed in holes all night . About sundown a W.P bunker went up
looked like thousand rolls of toilet paper streeming down around dog patch and 4 corner area.
Comment by: Jim Hogan on Apr 26, 2006 02:50 AM
I was with first batt. 1st Marines Bravo company when the dump blew, we where a long ways off across a river but near DaNang. Our site got hit with morter rounds that blew and rockets from that explosition what a day! I am 100% PTSD from Maine. thanks for the web site great!
Comment by: DJ Conners on May 22, 2006 04:59 PM
The ammo dump blew April 27th, 1969. I was at the foot of Hill 327 at the Transit Facility. Our compund was destroyed. I have a bunch of pictures of it blowing up and of our compund during the explosion. DJ Conners, corporal USMC, Force Logistics Command 2481240
Comment by: Ken Vaughn on May 23, 2006 11:55 AM
I was with MCB5 when the dump went up, you were in the hole and the ground would drop out from under you and you would get slambed when it came back. When it was done and clear I hit my head on something when I was getting out of the hole. It was a 105 round. CM-3 This is something I will never forget........
Comment by: william j. march on Jun 9, 2006 08:33 AM
i was with HML-167 at MMAF when the dump went off. a bunch of us sat on our bunker and had some beers while we watched the show.
what i remember most after that was that we had to go out on missions with less ammo, most of which we expended in one gun run.
Comment by: Mike Moses on Sep 2, 2006 03:51 PM
Thats right, this thing explode on a Sunday morning and was still going almost 2 days after. It is the first time I saw the ground shake and everthing around us was destroyed. Beer club went first-what a shame. After everthing was over with we had to move to Red Beach and set up new camp. I was with 1st FSR/FLC Suppy Battalion from Sep 1968- Oct 1969. Most evrey one evalculated the area, but our Marine outfit staed and rode it out.
Comment by: Richard D. Sawyer on Jan 3, 2007 04:59 PM
I remember this event very well. I was on top of hill 327 surving with \\\"C\\\" Battery 1st LAAM Bn at the time. It happened on 27 April 1969. We lost most of the top of the hill in two days. I have photos and movies of these explosions. 38,000 ton of ammo went up in two days. The atomic bomb droped on Hiroshima was only 20,000 tons, but it did take two days for our 38,000 tons to go up. BIG BANG!!!!!!!
Comment by: bill currie on Jul 27, 2007 02:23 PM
I was in MCB 8 at Camp Haskins when this blew. We were also in the perimeter holes for about a day and a half. I believe we were about 2 miles away, and had little damage. I remember watching the shock waves when one blew then the ground shook. It sure got on our nerves though.
Comment by: Mickey Krakowski on Oct 27, 2007 01:59 PM
I was with 1st Tanks to the south of ASP1.. It still sends chills up my spine when I remeber the dump going up.. I still have a iece of 155 shrapnel that landed next to me outside my bunker.. I have some photos I took of the explosions, where can I send thewm to be displayed? Mickey
Comment by: HE Smith on Nov 29, 2007 07:52 PM
Sorry bout that During our Deployment to Da Nang we built ASP1 on 327 I myself drilled holes for the fence that was strung over the hill area and watched as two of our TD15 Dozers worked on rolling one of the French bunker down the hill. Also one of the funniest things I ever saw there was a group of Marines moving a hut that was on the top of Hill 327 I set there in my truck and they looked like a centipede they got all around that hut and quick stepped it down the road I thought I was going to crap when they did that.
Comment by: Roy H. Tompkins on Apr 26, 2009 09:25 AM
I was on the mortar crew with the Naval Security group south of Marble Mtn. We did security for the communications grid south of Chin Strap. I have a photo of the explosion from our compound. The pressure wave opened the doors of our hooch as it passed by. I sent a photo to Vietnam magazine five or six years ago with coments, but they did not publish it. Was quite a distance from it. Have lost contact will all but one of our group. On the mortar crew, I went by the name of "Dogman".
Comment by: James W. Minnery on Jul 27, 2010 08:15 PM
I was at the 3rd MP Bn compound when the ammo dump blew up. As I recall, we evacuated to the west and south. I remember seeing a bomb land about 50 yards from our jeep while on the road. I can recall a very large fire ball in the evening among other explosions. When we returned to our camp we found it leveled. I lost some of my medical records from my foot locker as well as other stuff. The place had an odor that lasted weeks. EOD was picking up cluster bombs for days. I appreciate others with better memories and their comments. I was with the interrogation team that processed POWs held at the 3rd MP prison. One somewhat funny memory was when we were waiting in the chow line in the hot sun to see the half completed mess hall crumple to the ground when someone pulled out a brace apparently in error. Those poor SeaBees were really up tight.
Posted by John Dullighan on 2010-07-28 |
 | Rocket Attack Sick Bay MMAF
Rocket Attack Sick Bay MMAF
MISC 1969 MMAF/DANANG PHOTOS Submitted by:"DOC" Hackworth Relocated from COMBAT PHOTOS by George T. Curtis / DEC 2002
Comment by: Mike Dunn on Apr 4, 2010 09:27 PM
If memory serves me this occurred the same day they hit the movie pit just before a Raquel Welch movie was going to start. I was in the dark room developing film and was also on perimeter duty so I had to hurry down to my assigned bunker. I never saw most of the damage until the next day.
Comment by: Lev Keely on Apr 7, 2010 02:23 PM
Two primary hooches were involved, the OR (treatement hooch) and a hooch next to it where a FNG was sleeping. I usually slept in the OR but was flying that night on Medevac.
........................................ Lev Keely HM2
Comment by: Tommy Kelly on Jul 27, 2010 02:56 PM
I was stationed at Marble Mountain when this happened. I also took a picture and sent it
to my girlfriend, which has now been my wife for 40 years this year. I am still a firm believer in the
Corps. MAG-16 was always being shelled from
the sea.
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-28 |
 | HML-367 MMAF 1969
SGT. George T. Curtis ( in the center ) and two unidetified HML-367 friends. MMAF 1969 just across fromthe ECLUB
Dave Gee is on the left, and Frank Hoffman is on the right. Chuck Cornfield // CHARLES.CORNFIELD@asu.edu
Posted by User Deleted on 2010-07-25 |
 | HMM-165 Change of Command MMAF 1969
HMM-165 Change of Command from Col. Patrick to Col Haines MMAF 1969 (L to R) Dave Young, Bob Carlson, Dave Ross and Charlie "The Troll" Schwab Photo submitted by Bob Carlson
New CO was Lt. Col T. E. (Tom) Raines. He was CO during most of my time with HMM-165 as a Tech Rep. Great guy. Took care of me just as if I was one of his Marines and not a Limey civilian.
John Dullighan, Boeing Tech Rep, HMM-165, Jan - Dec 1969.
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-22 |
 | Rocket Damage
Overnight rocket attack at Marble Mountain, mid 1968
Comment by: john bible on Aug 22, 2008 11:27 AM
this was done in 1968 by a mortar
Posted by Fred Pratt on 2010-07-18 |
 | Bones"
That is all I ever knew him by. I think he was a crew chief with HML-167 in 1969. I know he won more than one purple heart.
Posted by Norman (Gene) Glenn on 2003 02 20
Comment by: Norm LaFountaine on Jul 6, 2010 11:02 AM
Jesse Giambrone
My hootchmate. From NJ.
Came to 167..late \'68 from VMO-6 with Lt Rick Allen among others.
I BELIEVE this picture was taken in \'69 after a night shoot down in Antenna Valley.
Bones was on light duty status.
Lt Allen was PIC. New XO in left seat....Gunner, Andy Anderson KIA.
For those of you that know the story...sad day for 167.
Semper Fly!
Frenchy
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-06 |
 | At the generator on Marble Mt., 1/68
Need help identifying EM from HMM 363, 1/68
Comment by: Bill Storck on Feb 6, 2010 10:51 AM
Don't know who that is but I worked across the street (Phone guy- Roseanne Alpha)- Had to change out generators before they ran out of fuel- Oh was there hell to pay when we forgot and the base went dark-
Comment by: Chuck Coster 2533 on May 12, 2010 10:16 AM
Hey - Bill Storck Roseanne Alpha - worked next door to you at the radio shack. There for 2 tours in 67 and 68. When not in the field ran the TSC 15 van and other normal stuff. When were you there?
Best
Chuck
Comment by: Bill Storck on Jul 1, 2010 09:44 AM
Chuck- Was there the same trime you were- So I have to assume we drank beer togather. If I recall your Hooches were next to ours- I also worked out of the Aif Force hut with the Micro Wave link to Da Nang- It was air conditioned (for the gear- not us). Then one night a Marine Major was all heated up when his phone didn\'t work and tried to force his way in and Air man Fuller locked and loaded on him and barred his way- The next day we moved our stuff into the comm shack-
Best regards-
Bill (Silicon Valley Ca.)
Posted by Granville Schultz on 2010-07-01 |
 | Hootch Area MMAF HMM-262.
Hootch Area MMAF HMM-262.
HMM-262/HMM-364. 1968 Submitted by:Mike Greene Relocated from COMBAT PHOTOS by George T. Curtis / DEC 2002
Posted by Admin on 2010-07-01 |
 | Thom Williams Easy Rider Hooch
This was our hooch next to the messhall at MAG 16.
I guess Thom Williams and I must have been their the same time ?
Posted by Bob Milby on 2010-06-28 |
 | MMAF Rocket Attack, 1967
Different angle - As other marines view the damage done to the hut -8/28/67
Submitted by:Ramiro Alvear Serial No. 2228031
Relocated from COMBAT PHOTOS by George T. Curtis / OCT 2002
Comment by: Donald K. Lange on Sep 9, 2006 11:31 AM
This hootch was across the road and 3 doors down from my hootch. When this one got hit, I had a 140 come in under my rack and didn't go off!! It wasn't my time yet. I believe the Marine looking off to the right is me looking down towards my hootch while EOD is digging the rocket out. dr
Comment by: mark creech on Jan 31, 2008 11:31 AM
my hooch was 2 rows west of this hooch,one of our men bob steele was killed there, he had less than 2 weeks left in country. we never put on short time ribbons after that happened.
Comment by: Paul O. Hunt on Apr 20, 2008 11:01 AM
When I got to MMAF a month later, this hooch had been replaced by a new one. Harold \"Butch\" Erb was on the REPOSE with wounds from that rocket. Butch lives near Rockford, Il. and has 40 percent disability from that attack.
Comment by: David Gregory on May 29, 2008 01:32 PM
The Marine looking right, looks somewhat like David Kleber, he lived in the hootch that was destroyed and had a shrapnel wound to his nose. I lived in the hootch directly east and that could be me crouching down although I don\'t remember sitting that way much. I was on guard duty that night out by the main gate. Just lucky I guess since my bunk was a mess of shrapnel and rusty tin when I got back the next morning.
Comment by: Jim Van Dornick on Apr 30, 2009 05:47 AM
That happened my first month at the camp. My hooch was not far away. Thanks for sharing.
Comment by: Lawrence Keith Jacobs on Jan 10, 2010 09:22 PM
I was there. I lived in the hooch to the left of the barrel in the fore ground.
Comment by: raymond cfox on Jan 23, 2010 07:32 PM
if I'm not mistaken,that would be hootch #410..Iwas wounded in that hootch that night,and ended up on the repose for amonth,then returned to 410,and finally moved to #400 for the second 1/2 of my tour..currently reside in twin lakes wi..I have quite a few slides and photos from there
Posted by Admin on 2010-06-21 |
 | Sgt. Mike Swiatecki Preflighting An HML167 Huey - 1970
Posted by Scott Chellis on 2010-06-14 |
 | Marble Mountain from the sea. 1969
Posted by John Dullighan on 2010-06-07 |
 | HMM-164 CH-46 MMAF 4/67
Comment by: Chuck Nowotny on Jun 3, 2010 09:58 AM
BU 151920 YT-6 in her younger days.
She was a good bird and gave her all.
Why she still had her Winders.
Alan Holmes had her before me as i was oft told by his first mech Tom Gopp prior to his KIA .
Incident Date 670803 HMM-164 CH-46A 151923+ Hostile Fire, Crash
Posted by A.R. Tafoya on 2010-06-05 |
 | Marble Mountain O Club 1966
Attached is a picture of the Marble Mountain O Club taken in the summer of 1966.
Posted by Pete OKeefe on 2010-04-30 |
 | HMM-363 CREW CHIEFS 1967
Front: Butch (Val) Valliere, Tom Schaney, Henry "HANK" Amparan Back: Mike Rutherford, John Messick, Steve Backlund, Buz Shantry, Mike Tripp
HMM-363 APR 66 - Dec 67
Submitted by:Butch "Val" Valliere
Relocated from COMBAT PHOTOS by George T. Curtis / OCT 2002 .
Comment by: Pete Pedersen on Mar 19, 2010 01:39 PM
Does anyone know were Mike Rutherford in now?
From: A buddy from the past.
Comment by: Diane Crook on Apr 23, 2010 07:07 PM
Ole' friends from a era long gone by.....
Posted by Admin on 2010-04-24 |
 | MMAF Hot Water Shower
MMAF shower between officers and staff NCO area - Summer 1966 on South China Sea
Posted by Al Barbour on 2010-04-18 |
 | Lt. Col " Dad " Watson and Arthur Godfrey
TV and radio personality Arthur Godfrey visits with HMM-164 personnel at MMAF May 1966.
Posted by Marty Hoesch on 2010-04-01 |
 | 46crewchief
46crewchief
MISC 1969 MMAF/DANANG PHOTOS Submitted by:"DOC" Hackworth
Relocated from COMBAT PHOTOS by George T. Curtis / NOV 2002
Posted by Admin on 2010-03-22 |
 | Making use of plywood
Not to let a piece of plywood just lay around, someone in the HMH463 Hyd shop had to dress it up a little, however it was double sided.
Posted by Larry South on 2010-03-18 |
 | MMAF SICKBAY
MMAF SICKBAY
MISC 1969 MMAF/DANANG PHOTOS Submitted by:"DOC" Hackworth Relocated from COMBAT PHOTOS by George T. Curtis / DEC 2002
Posted by Admin on 2010-03-06 |
 | VMO-2 OV-10 "Bronco" with 7 and 19 shot 2.75" rocket pods at MMAF
VMO-2 OV-10 "Bronco" with 7 and 19 shot 2.75" rocket pods at MMAF
Submitted by:Gary Prewitt HML-167, 68-69 -
The following are photos that I acquired while on recruiting duty.
All DOD photos are in B/W.
Relocated from COMBAT PHOTOS by George T. Curtis / NOV 2002
Posted by Admin on 2010-03-03 |
 | MMAF - Watering Hole
First attempt at establishing a place for those "in the know" to share information with less fortunate in an informal after hours atmosphere. This information exchange may have included slightly-cooled beverages.
Comment by: Mike Szymanski on Feb 25, 2007 11:04 PM
Looks like our first attempt at building an E-5s Bar. When it was finished it was first rate.
Comment by: mark creech on Jan 31, 2008 11:40 AM
that is what the base looked like when i first got there in 1966
Comment by: George Silbersdorff on Feb 17, 2010 08:27 AM
I was stationed there from August 1965 to July 1966.
Assigned to H&MS16. This is an ecellent picture of the tent living area before the "tin" was added sometime in late 1966 or early 1967.
Posted by Dana La Roche on 2010-02-17 |
 | MMAF 28 Oct 1965
Aftermath of attack. They didn"t just hate UH-1E"s!
Posted by Dana La Roche on 2010-02-17 |
 | Best little mess hall in Vietnam.
Best little mess hall in Vietnam. Marble mountain. 1967
Submitted by: GySgt C.E. Woodard (Woody)
Relocated from COMBAT PHOTOS by George T. Curtis / DEC 2002
Posted by Admin on 2010-02-17 |
 | HMM-165 CH-46
#10, Front View
Posted by Terry Basham on 2010-01-31 |
 | MMAF and Monkey Mountain 1968
MMAF and Monkey Mountain 1968
Comment by: George Lovell on Jun 9, 2009 06:52 PM
If memory serves me correct his area looks like the beach where we would do the ground training for the door gunners and flight crews. The bench is what we would shoot from and the barrels were for the spent brass. VMO 2 68-69
Comment by: Stephen Dombeck on Jun 11, 2009 07:24 PM
As I remember it in 1969-70 that was the place we went to get our cordite fix. We also took our m-16's and fired till we ran out. In late 1969 someone put a OD green parachute close by for shade and a cold beer from the cooler.
Comment by: MAURICE DE YOUNG on Jun 17, 2009 08:46 AM
that fence was installed nmcb 7 we were aross at CAMP ADENIR
Comment by: dalton a. derby II on Jan 18, 2010 06:49 AM
That is the beach at MMAF where we had beer bashes.The nurses from the hospital would sometimes come to sun themselves.Oh the fond memories, considering I spent 13months "At the beach"
Posted by Admin on 2010-01-18 |
 | Ammo Dump Fire, April (?) 1969
This fire burned for days and produced some spectacular light shows. It was reported to have happened when a clerk was burning paper and the fire got out of control. If you believe that I have a bridge near by here I can sell you....real cheap.
have some great video transferred from an 8mm movie reel. Got the "really big" ball of fire whose shock wave almost knocked me over. Spen the afternoon and evening on alert in the fighting positions in the S. Cantonement area (By the Med Evac Area). GORDON FRENCH flic5180@earthlink.net
Was sitting up at Phu Bai getting ready for R & R when they announced on AFVN that all those going on R & R report to China Beach instead of the Transit Area. Combined with info from guys up from Danang we knew something was up. Wayne Stafford
This is a great shot! I have others, but until I get my scanner on line they will remain slides or photos. I believe this was May of '68 when the ammo dump at 327 went up from a mortar or rocket attack. I was at MMAF from April '68 until May '69 and remember riding a hootch while watching the explosions and timing them from 327 to MMAF. We could see the shock waves rolling toward us through the thick smoke and when they got to us, the hootch would shake like a mother. This would be right around the same time we had out POL lot at MMAF hit by rockets. I have wonderful memories of watching a Marine run from the "sh**er" to a bunker with his pants around his ankles. Wasn't it funny what we laughed at then. The poor guy was scared to death because a rocket had just gone off behind his perch. // Bruce Hennell [hennell@direcway.com]
Comment by: BOB WAGNER on Nov 9, 2008 07:23 PM
I remember it well. All the hanging lights in the chow hall came down, my bunker would jump when you saw one of the expanding black circles in the sky get to you. Its exciting to think of it now but it was scary then.
Posted by John Dullighan on 2010-01-03 |
 | Gold Diggers
Posted by William Blair on 2009-12-25 |
 | Purple Heart Awards
L to R: Fred Pratt and Mike "Bear" Bryant, summer 1968, HMM 265 at Marble Mountain
Posted by Fred Pratt on 2009-12-22 |
 | Marble Mountain Air Facility MMAF
Marble Mountain Air Facility MMAF
MISC 1969 MMAF/DANANG PHOTOS Submitted by:"DOC" Hackworth Relocated from COMBAT PHOTOS by George T. Curtis / NOV 2002
Posted by Admin on 2009-12-12 |
 | HML-167 Fly By Spring 1970
HML-167 was able to get all, but one of their aircraft up for a Fly By of MMAF. The squadron was one engine short of being able to get all 34 of their aircraft in the air at the same time. Photo credit: Ted Polacec
Comment by: cpl Dias, Frank on Jul 10, 2008 08:19 PM
great remembrance I was there watching the fly over with our s-4 section. It was a fun day that i remember. God bless our veterans.
Posted by Allyn Hinton on 2009-11-27 |
 | VMO-2 Mascot Justin Case
Frank Pfeiffer with mascot in 1966. He never found a pocket he couldn"t get into. I was Ops Chief and gunner.
Comment by: Tom "Mo" Morrison on Jun 14, 2006 10:30 PM
I've told several friends about the monkey who would quite often sit on top of the line shack and take a leak ( on purpose ) on whoever was was going outside! It was pretty funny as long as he didn't do it on you. After a while he advanced to "other antics", that was low even for a monkey! Thanks for this photo it brings back a lot of memories.
(Edited by Moderator)
Comment by: Martin Halpin on Nov 11, 2009 09:16 PM
L/Cpl Justin Case was the Mascot for VMA 225 at Chu Lai from May to Oct. 1965. Justin belong to VMA 225 Ordinance OIC Lt. John Chizzini from Long Island, N.Y. You could always recognize Lt. Chizzini by his Handlebar Mustache. VMA 225 went back to CONUS in Oct. 1965. Lt. Chizzini stayed in Viet Nam after we went home. He was transferred up to Danang. So VMO 2 picked up Justin as their Mascot. Lt. Chizzini had other Monkeys on our tour of the Western Pacific Oct. 1964 to Oct 1965. The monkey's name comes from an expression that VMA 225 CO Lt. Col. Robert W. Baker alway said, " Just In Case " Yes Justin took a leak on everything down at Chu Lai also. Both Lt. Chizzini and Lt. Col. Baker passed away in 2007 in Florida. If you do a search on Popasmoke Photo search engine on the left put in Justin Case and press GO, you will see a couple of photos of Justin at Chu Lai.
Posted by Frank Pfeiffer on 2009-11-17 |
 | Puff The Magic Dragon
From the HMM 265 hootch area of Marble Mountain, Summer 1968, A time delay photo watching Puff work the area south of Marble, probably in response to a rocket attack?
Comment by: Gary S. Cox on Dec 5, 2007 02:04 PM
This was probably in August, 1968, when charlie had taken the mountain overlooking the base. Puff was wearing them out on the mountain. I was there in VMO-2.
Posted by Fred Pratt on 2009-11-03 |
 | Home Sweet Home
HMM-164 Officers hooch at Marble Mountain in May 1966. All the comforts of home.
Comment by: Andrew (Andy) Young on Oct 22, 2009 12:13 PM
Looks like Phu Bai 1968. Is it?
Posted by User Deleted on 2009-10-22 |
 | HML-367 Ready Room Pilots at MMAF
HML-367 Ready Room Pilots at MMAF These three pilots of HML-367 catch up on their proficiency in taking "combat naps". The location is the squadron ready room at Marble Mountain in 1971, as they await the inevitable call from the field requesting helicopter gunship support...It's either that or the C.O. is briefing them on the availability of regular commissions for these reserve officers. Submitted by: Arthur A. (Buddy) Hough Relocated from COMBAT PHOTOS by George T. Curtis January 2003
Marine on far left is Tommy Summers. Last I heard in 2000, Tommy was in Long Island, New York. // Charles Love clove37@msn.com
I believe Dan Watry on the right side; don’t recognize the middle Marine Kevin Kuklok [kkuklok@sktdayton.com]
From: "Pruden James R", , Monday, November 21, 2005 2:20 PM
Of the 3 sleepers, it looks like Ed Valdez on the left and Ted Quinter in the middle??, Semper Fi, "J.R."
Posted by Admin on 2009-10-17 |
 | DeWitt
DeWitt
CH-37 Det. Marble Mountain 1965-1966 Submitted by:GySgt Almus L. Dean - Relocated from COMBAT PHOTOS by George T. Curtis / NOV 2002
Posted by Admin on 2009-10-16 |
 | A Dark Period
What"s left of a HMM 364 CH-46 that came apart upon landing at Marble. I don"t remeber the crew.
Comment by: WALTER WISE on Oct 11, 2009 08:34 AM
I think this is the aircraft that was involved in a taxi
accident with a Navy CH-46 who was \"lost\" on the
ramp at Marble. The Navy aircraft ran into one of
our aircraft that was also turning.
Let me know if this is correct.
1/LT Walt Wise
Posted by Butch Brown on 2009-10-11 |
 | EM Club at Marble Mt., 1/68
No description needed, everyone knows what goes on here.
Posted by Granville Schultz on 2009-09-24 |
 | Cpl. John Broussard, Crew Chief TV-34/Section 314, HML-167, MMAF, Summer 1970
We"ve been looking for John for a long time. In May 1970 John was the crew chief on the flight where Steve Alexander, and Allyn Hinton captured a VC.
Posted by Allyn Hinton on 2009-09-19 |
 | HMH-463 Fly-Bye
Anyone remember this last flight over MMAF 18May1971? What a great sight! This photo was published in the book" Marines and Helicopters 1962-1973 by LtCol W.Fails, HQMC.
Lt col Fails was my Officer in Mag-16 . He was the best Officer i ever met in the Corps, I was just a corporal. I remember that day very well.. every body had a tape recorder and taped all the noise and fire power. It was a great show.. Frank dias // Frank Dias [usmarine1969@sbcglobal.net]
was (Dimmer 29) tail-end charlie on this last flight. It was pretty spectacular.
Raul H. Bustamante
Contracts Manager
Garrett Aviation Services
1524 W. 14th St., Suite 110
Tempe, AZ 85281-6974
Voice: 480-377-3116
Fax: 480-377-3105
raul.bustamante@garrettaviation.com
Posted by Larry Groah on 2009-09-05 |
 | Beach at MMAF,"70-71
Posted by Frank Bonin on 2009-08-24 |
 | The proud fella in the "Dog".
Cpl. Mike White is the proud fella sitting in one of HMM-263"s "Dogs". Marble Mountain 1966
Submitted by: Mike White
Relocated from COMBAT PHOTOS by George T. Curtis / DEC 2002
Posted by Admin on 2009-08-20 |
 | MMAF Weather Station
MMAF Weather Station across the street from Marble Mountain Base Operations.
The sidewalk, the road, and the wooden posts with the "rope" looks familiar but the structure was not there when I left in August of 1969. The conical structure was an antenna that our vans eventually were equipped with and had to do, I believe with receiving satellite images for forecasting. I have a complete set of "take off" pictures of the Seaboard Airlines DC-8 (stretched) that landed with 117 SOB's by accident (and sloppy ATC/Pilot communications) and later took off (empty and dry) in the summer of 1969. H. L. Watson
henry watson [henrylee@alltel.net]
Comment by: mike rawles on Aug 19, 2009 01:25 AM
i was with this unit in 1969...spent most of my time in an hoa but about 3 months at marble. i vaguely remember the name watson...sargeant?
Posted by User Deleted on 2009-08-19 |
 | Major Jack Pipa in one of the new Cobras at MMAF
Major Jack Pipa in one of the new Cobras at MMAF in October 1969,I don"t have the copilot"s name. Submitted by:James King HMM-364 67-68 Relocated from COMBAT PHOTOS by George T. Curtis / NOV 2002
UPDATED 2 DEC 02
The co=pilot in the picture is 1st/Lt. "Skip" Massey. SF, Jim Wilkening
Jimwilkening@aol.com
Comment by: George Lovell on Mar 19, 2006 02:20 PM
The Marine standing on the ground looks like he may be 1st Lt J.C. Jackson - Hostage "Jack". Looks like him in my "Angry Two" 68-69 cruise book.
Comment by: mike rawles on Aug 19, 2009 01:22 AM
one of these was destroyed in an hoa in 69...don\\\'t remember the month. they had the bird parked in front of the regimental aid station next to the runway
the rocket landed on the runway side and turned the bird into swiss cheese. pilots were on the blast wall of the aid station and were injured i believe
Posted by Admin on 2009-08-19 |
 | Marble Mountains
Where these Marines stationed atop this mountain. What a place to be.
Comment by: Val Villarreal on Sep 17, 2007 11:49 PM
In 1968 I was a Marine on Marble Mountain. This Photo is the higher of two positions. This photo is the one we called the crows nest. Out of view to the right is the smaller hill we called alpha 6. I was a member of the 3rd BN 27th Marines. I was a part of the 106 recoilless rifle platoon. We did security for the Air Force. They would call in the big guns off shore.
Posted by Larry South on 2009-08-06 |
 | Cleaning upout behind HMH-463 hanger
Sometimes these crews would clean up around the outside of the hangers and they would always pose for a picture. Whew, that beetlenut really made for a shocking smile ----- at first.
Posted by Larry South on 2009-08-04 |
 | MMAF
MISC 1969 MMAF/DANANG PHOTOS Submitted by:"DOC" Hackworth Semper Fi...... "Doc" John Hackworth, Flight surgeon HML-167 Senior Medical Officer MMAF 1969. Relocated from COMBAT PHOTOS by George T. Curtis / OCT 2002
Posted by Admin on 2009-07-23 |
 | Doc Gelien"s (KIA) medevac huey after Sapper Attack on MMAF - Oct 1965
Doc Walter Gelien (Tab Hunter"s brother) was killed while standing medevac duty in the early hours on the VMO-2 pad at MMAF. It is assumed that he thought that the individuals running toward him in the darkness were medevac pilots. In fact they were sappers with satchel charges. http://www.popasmoke.com/kia/incidents.php?incident_id=29
Walt Gelien was my uncle, married to my father's (Brian Dicker) sister. I am working on a family history book and would be interested in any photo of Doc that anyone might have. Thank you, Joyce Alyson Dicker aly@whoopzoop.com
You might want to talk to Jim May as he was Doc Geliens' Crew Chief that night . As the story goes that a flip of a coin let Doc sleep aboard the Medivac chopper and Jim got the Line shack bunk. Sorry to say I have lost Jims E-mail Address .Your Uncle was a well respected Corpman and we were proud to have served with him. Kind Regards and Semper Fi Marc Czomba // GunnerM79@aol.com
Comment by: Andrea Palestro on Oct 19, 2006 04:41 AM
Walter Gelien was my grandfather (my mother is his youngest daughter Susie). What a moving and sad picture, though it helps to understand how he died. I would love to hear stories about him if anyone knew him. Thank you.
Posted by Al Barbour on 2009-07-14 |
 | Jeff "Rambo" Rainaud
Marble Mountain, Spring 1968, HMM 265. Jeff Rainaud with his prized possession. That old Thompson was sure a lot of fun to shoot. It was accurate all the way out to about 10 feet. But what the heck, in those days of Robert Stack doing Elliott Ness on TV, it was very cool.
Comment by: GENE SANDERS on Jul 8, 2009 06:30 PM
I don't remember the Thompson, but I flew with Jeff in HMM-265 and was tasked to inventory his gear when he was killed. I liked him. I miss him.
Posted by Fred Pratt on 2009-07-08 |
 | More Ugly Angels
Bill "Duck" Nelson, Tom Heyer Photo provided by Robbie Robertson
Posted by Brook Stevenson on 2009-07-08 |
