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)

Stationed at Phu Bai,  also with the 7th Marines at LZ Baldy.   Took command of Radio Relay Site on Monkey Mountain until the 3rdMarines left then moved to MACS 4 on top of Monkey Mountain with Radio Relay shot to Chu Lai.

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 ).

RVN Dec67-Oct69

4thMarReg3rdMarDiv

Comm Section

Radio Relay

Radio

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.

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?

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........

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.

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.

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.

 

The way I see it I was promoted 4 times,

..... sorta makes me a Sargeant ?

 

1/8 A Co. (Radio) Cypress, Med Cruise 1964

1/ 8  H&S Co. Comm. Plt. Dominican Rep. 1965

5th Comm. Bn. V N 1965 - 1966  (Comm. Supp. Co.)

 

Looking for PFC Bruce Brantz (2531 Comm.Supp.)

from South Philadelphia.

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.

  

In Country Nov 65. Bunked in the old compound with the pyramid tents.Walked along the creek to the mess hall to eat the "RED DEATH". In Jan 66 Iflew to Subic Bay boarded ship and sailed back to Viet Nam to partiscipate in a landing. In April 66 I moved to Monkey Mountain and stayed until Jan 67. I moved to the main base in Da Nang and made courier runs until March 67.

 

I am looling for information on David Grubic. His name appears on the MAA list along with others that I knew. Stoney Broadstreet, Johnny Earl Mack, Ollie Oliveras, Prince Murray and Shimmerhorn.

 

   

 

May GOD continue to keep and bless each of vou. 

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!!!!!

 

Semper Fi Brothers. Wow, it's great to find a 5th Comm web site. My mos was 2831, radio relay repairman. Was in RVN with 5th Comm, from May '70 to Oct '70. I finished out my westpac tour with 7th Comm, on Okinawa. 5th Comm was actually decommisioned in Oct of '70 (don't know exact day), and hasn't been recommisioned. I was one of the last Marines at Camp Hoa Long. An Army Engineer unit moved in after us. Also spent time on 244, Monkey Mountain, and 950. Welcome Home to each and every one of you! I'll be in D.C. for Vets Day, and the M.C. B'Day. Hope to run into some of you there.