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.

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 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.

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.

  

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

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.

 

 

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 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.

hello to all of you guys and welcome back to the WORLD......SEMPER FI

August '67 - Sept '68

Maryland

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

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.

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 

RVN 67-68; really glad I found this site;  SF