Looking for any of the old guys from construction. Was in country from August 1968-February 1970.

Most of my bio, is on the msg. board. The rank listed, may cause someone's memory to jolt.

OTD

Enlisted for Three.

Orders out of ITR were to 8" guns 29 Palms Calif. Reported in Oct. 1965. In December 1965 I was transfered to 7th Comm, Radio Relay. The Platoonwas preparing to mount out to Nam to complete 5th Comm Bn. January 66 we boarded the USS THOMASTON (LSD) and shipped out to Nam. Landed at Tein Sha pier on a cold rainy day February 1966. Convoy to the 5th Comm base camp near  Marble Mnt. where the Salts commenced to scare the crap out of us with war stories.

About 2 months later I was reassigned to Service Co. Motor transport and remained there until I rotated in Sept..1967. Col. Kelly was the Bn. Co.

Some of the guys I remember ar Danny Milek (Missoula Montana), Carl Nutt ( Tenn. ) Mike Yslavia (Arizonia) Schollser ( louisana ).

I was sent to IIIMAF COC comm ctr from 5th Comm and spent my tour at the III MAF

compound in 69-70. I remember when the ammo dump gothit and our mess hall

got destroyed plus all the rain, the smells and the trips to freedom hill.

TSC-15 Van Operator

Served July, 1968 to June, 1970 in Ground Radio Repair and Administration.

I was a regular on React Platoon when I wasn't at theE Club.

 

I'm interested in any documentation of 5th Comm. Bn. Awards and Citations,

and graphics, for any patches, logos, or memorabilia from 5th Comm.

 

I'd like to hear from anyone who served with me in Nam.

 

After 35 years i'm just now going through the old negatives that I have left

(many were lost) and will post some of the better ones of 5th Comm., DaNang, Marble Mtn., III MAF, Hoa Long, and whaterver I find.

 

Semper Fi

John Roach

MOS 2841

Ground Radio Repair

 

Stationed at camp Horno from Feb. 1963 till March 1965 went to Okinawa then on to Da Nang. Changed from to 7th to 5th on the way over. Built China Beach.Spent most of my time with TSC15s before arriving at the beach. Did my first 60 days in bunkers as we expanded the size of the base camp.

How in the hell is everyone?  Man, it has been a long time.  Came in country Oct. 67, rotatated back to the world Dec 68.  TAD Radar school, 1stMARDIV ; TAD Task Force Hotel' Khe Sanh, TAD POL Dong Ha. Anyone who was there with me, say hello!!!!!

 

I was with the 5th Comm. Bn in 1967. My MOS was mechanic in the motor pool and together with a great team, we kept the radio trucks in operation and off the "Dead Line". <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

I went through Motor Transport training at Camp LeJune, then Infantry training at Pendelton, then to Vietnam.<o:p></o:p>

While in country, I served for six months at 5th Comm. then later at FLC (Force Logistics Command) on the other side of DaNang.<o:p></o:p>

After Nam, I served at the Marine Corp Air Station in Santa Ana, California.<o:p></o:p>

Three short years in the Corp., but a whole lot of memories. Here are a few of my photos of 5^th Comm.

Maryland

RVN 4-68~11-69  Danang-Dong Ha-LZ Stud-Dong Ha-Danang

I spent most of my time on TRC-97s.  I was also out on several 1st Div 97 shots but don't recall the locations.

I was lucky enough to get out on mail runs and the like to Cua Viet, Phu Bai, Quang Tri, Con Thien, Camp Carroll.

Departed 29 Palms with Capt Wilhelm.Boarded the USS Thomaston in San Diego for transport to RVN.

In country from January 66 to February 67.

Slept in our pup tents the first night in camp.

 

 

Arrived in country abord the General Gordon in March 67 with 1500 Marines and they took us to some large grinder in Danang. So we're all sittingon our sea bags and they start calling out lists of names. Each list went to an awaiting cattle-car and off they went. Hours later they finished calling out names and 7of us were still sitting there like abandoned children in this enormous field. The NCO in charge yells out, "Who the hell are you? You're not suppose to be here!". That was fine with me but how was I going to get back to San Diego? Five days later they located our orders and I was on my way to the 5th Comm Bn at the beach paradise Camp Hoi Long, The Flower Garden.

M

USS Okanogan from Long Beach, CA JUN66 to CHU LAI,

JUL66, via Hawaii for a few days. And of course the Typhoon

we ran intonear the Phillipines. After a short while, some of

us went to DaNang (some nice pictures on this site). Lived

at the Beachfront property for a while and then moved to

III MAF HQ to work in the message center. All in all I have

some fond memories of the time spent in VN. I have a few

pictures of the 5th Comm camp and local areas. I drove a jeep

and made a lot of courier runs when the lines were down. Not

all of them were fun. Approx. tour dates Left Long Beach at end

of May 66, arrived Chu Lai about one month later. Left from

DaNang about mid July 67.I heard the day after I left, the DaNang

AirStrip was hit pretty bad. Would be glad to hear from anyone

I served with or any others.