Arrived in March of '66 and was assigned to Comm Support Co and worked over by Dogpatch.  Stayed with 5th Comm until late December '67.  Went to Iwakuni and then came back to MWSG-17 from February '69 til January '70 when I rotated and was discharged.

I remember the raining days the most.  I also remember watching puff the magic dragon overhead spitting out death and watching the pink elephants in the trees while on guard duty and feeling the what it is like when a grenade bounches in your bunker.  I remember watching the clounds move accross the mountains like it was being poured from the other side. 

I was one of the original 7 marines that cleared the land for the 5th comm camp.  I arrived just after the 9th marines in April of 65. I was also one of the 10 people that put in the swimming area and was one of the life guards.  About May-July 66. Rotated in July of 66.

I was at 5th Comm from Oct 1969-Sep 1970

I was in country from Dec. 68 to Dec 69 . Don't remember too many names these days but my Sgt. in the motor pool was" Horney" Sgt. Hornbuckle I remember guard duty on the orphanage roof and mag 16 getting rocketed.  Oh and the stinging  jelly fish in the ocean. and that first "smell" as you stepped off the plane at DaNang .  God...  a different world, a different time, a million years ago ...yesterday 

SERVED WITH RR & C CO. FROM APRIL 1970 'TIL SEPT.1970

WHEN THE BATTALION WAS ROTATED HOME; WAS THERE

WHEN ARMY CAME INTO HOA LONG AND RELIEVED US.

WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO 1st ENGR.BN.

 

If you look at George Powell's bio,it tells the same story about how we got to the Nam.While at Hague on Okinawa,I was with Radio Relay Plt.Cpl Walter Anderson had a Boonie Hat made for me that had our patch and then below it read "Radio Relay Attache".He is the one who nicknamed me Tank.Walter is now the publisher of Parade Magazine ,you know the Sunday paper mag.He is also the author of a couple of books.I am sure he would really love to hear from some of guys from RR that served in 65-66.I remember Jim Coffee,Joe Lewis,Sgt.Ted Ford,Cpl.Jim Weiman,Cpl.Steve Valarga.Gunny Futch,S/Sgt.King.I have forgotten the names of so many others,but I remember faces as I see them periodically over the years in my dreams.I lost all of my stuff(pictures,etc.) many years ago in a fire.If anyone out there remembers me or has pics of the old guys from 1965 I sure would love to see themThis web site is the greatest ! I have had tears in my eyes and goosebumps since Jim Fowler e-mailed me.Why don't we have a reunion?

I was TAD to FLC from 1970-1971. At first I set up Tech Control, then Acting Telephone Officer and finally TTC-28 Mobil Dial Central Chief. We handled all of the comm for Danang North.

When I retired I taught electronics for United Electronics Institute. Over the years rose to Director/Dean of the college. When the school closed I moved on to Tampa College where I retired as Academic Dean 2 years ago.

Arrived in country Sept 1967....left Oct 1968.  Remember some of the things that we missed....throwing beer cans at the out door movie screen (4x8 sheets of plywood painted white)...walking guard....patrols....and the great food at the mess hall....I stuck to pound cake and peaches.....And the missions that the Top sent me on........

Entered the Corps in 6/63 going to MCRD Parris Island, Plt 238. From there went to Camp Lejuene for 27 months with 2nd Shore Pty Bn. Went on several cruise in the Caribbean and ending up in Santo Domingo 4/28/65 making a wet landing on Red Beach. This ended up being a joke because we landed on a hot beach with blank ammunition. We finally got ammunition about 0200 and shortly after got hit. After returning to Lejuene went on a couple more cruises I thought I was short but got orders to RVN with only 13 months left.  Got to RVN in June 66 assign to 5th Comm.  The first few months I was assigned to I Corp HQ working on the switchboard and finally getting promoted to Cpl. Trf to RR & Cons and went on the construction changing field wire to cable. After a while got a crew that was responsible to repair and replace telescopic poles that the ARVNs shot up.  We had a SSgt promote 2nd Lt who became our CO but I can't remember his name.  If anyone knows his name send an email with his name. Please !! Does anyone remember Dunn or Ashby.  They where bunked in my home.  Left RVN 5/28/67 and left active duty 6/10/67.

GOT IN COUNTY AUG 66 LEFT NOV 68. WAS HOUSED AT

III MAF HQ, WORK IN THE COMM CENTER. LONG TIME AGO.

WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FMSOME OF THE GUYS

THNAKS

EO

RVN Dec67-Oct69

4thMarReg3rdMarDiv

Comm Section

Radio Relay

Radio

53 Area (CommCo(Rein), 1stMarDivFMF Mar65 depart Braodway Pier SDIEGO aboard LSD-3 Carter Hall.  Couple of months at Hague, then to Da Nangon the LST-1168 Wexford County.  Moved from airstrip (swamp side/tent city) near "Dogpatch" across the river (Marble Mountain).  Remember Restad, Denny Sargeant, Wise, Wuergler, Prendergast, Crutchlow, Foster, Giles, Santos, Dycus, Schiffers.........Harvest Moon, Prairie, Hastings, Starlight and R&R in Hong Kong.  Never left comm, been at it since the day I left the Corps, continued using hooks for 16 years (gets to be hard on the knees)

August '67 - Sept '68

Was first in 7th Comm HQ Bn and the went to base on beach when changed to 5th Comm Bn.  Arrived Nam Oct. 65 and rotated to states in Nov. 66.

Landing at Red Beach, 7thComm, then 5thComm, DoubleEagle I and II, MK83's Radio Jeeps, TSC-15's..2531 MOS  RVN 65-66