NO LAUGH-IN MATTER-1st Marine Division tanks take up positions against the enemy on Operation Linn River, south of Da Nang. Marines met sporadic enemy resistance. (Photo by 1st Lt. Crane Davis)

III Marine Amphibious Force, Vietnam February 28, 1969 . Fightin' TfY Command Changes Hands 9th Nails Reds Lose 1,825 To IstDi, By LCpl. Art Kibat DA NANG-Firsl' Division Marines, air and artillery cut a com pie x es containing 1,276 swath throqgh enemy territory during the week 01 Feb. 11-17, bunkers, 1,456 huts, 17 tunnel 352NVA AN HOA - "I am looking for­ networks, 7 medical sites, 2 de­ ward to the continued, hard­ killing 112. tention camps and 14 command DONG HA - Leather­ driving performance of Task The action took place in 1st Division's TAOR, primarily on posts have been found by ele­ necks of the 9th Marines, Force Yankee," said BGen. Operation Taylor Common, a multi-battalion thrust in the moun­ ments of TFY during the oper­ 1st Marine Division, strik­ Samuel J ask ilk a (McLean, tainous jungle terrain west and southwest of An Hoa. ation. ing into the heart of the Va.), upon taking command of Infantrymen of the 26th Marines directed air strikes on an If communist troops still in enemy's logistical c en t e r the task force (TFY) composed NV A force of unknown size Feb. 16, after the enemy opened up the area wanted to s.tart a large with automatic weapons fire from a tree line. The lst Marine Air scale battle their best bet for northwest of the Ashau Val­ of elements of the 3rd and 5.th supplies would be to chetk with ley, have accounted for 352 Wing :Phantoms accounted for eight NV A dead. Marines, Feb. 14. The same day, elements of the 7th Marines killed 16 NVA, TFY. Its units have confiscated North Vietnamese soldiers kiiled Jaskilka relieved BGen. Ross 1,000, individual and 75 crew­ and 134 enemy weapons cap­ well fortified in trenches and bunkers, and engaged an NVA served weapons along with 418,- tured. Now in its fifth week, Op­ T. Dwyer (Arlington, Va.). platoon in open fighing. The Marines called for artillery support, Dwyer has been reassigned to killing 14 of the enemy. 286 rounds of ammunition, rang­ eration Dewey Canyon has stir­ III Marine Amphibious Force ing from land mines to small red the proverbial hornet's nest Headquarters in Da Nang. Leatherneck and South Vietnamese forces on Taylor Common, arms. and the multi-battalion force now in its 9th week, brought the total number of enemy killed Hungry enemy troopers will headed by Col. Robert H. Bar­ Dwyer commended all units to more than 1,800. row (St. Francisville, La.) is involved for their performance have to remove the hard shell meeting a determined enemy. with TFY since it was formed on from their rice by hand because One company from the regi­ Nov. 27, 1968. He emphasized his supplies in the flatlands and weeks of Taylor Common, the the huge rice husking machine ment's' 2nd Bn., in two separate TFY's accomplishments during in the mountains. biggest blow to the enemy has they once used in their mountain encounters, killed 41 of the ene­ Operation Taylor Common. Although Marines and Army been his loss of strongholds and hideaway is now the property of my. In one engagement, after Since Dec. 7, 1968, the multi­ of the Republic of Vietnam almost uncountable caches of TFY. receiving sniper fire from an es- battalion operation has ham­ (ARVN) soldiers killed 1,825 equipment and food. Many refugee families in the (Continued on Page 12) mered away at the enemy and communists during the first nine One hundred and eighty-four An Hoa Basin have been eating better lately. The 101 hogs cap­ tured by Marines are now at the Duc Duc refugee camp. Over 198 tons of food, the majority of it rice, have been confiscated and NVA: All's Amiss; Ammo Missing distributed to needy Vietnamese families. By Cpl. Bob Partain Seven enemy medical sites CON THIEN-The Ma­ housed over 150 lbs of bandages, rine helicopter to u c h e d 50 lbs of drugs and numerous down near Con Thien anq amounts of surgical equipment. eight Marines wearing jun­ Items such as field phones, gle utilities, the i r faces typewriters, military radios, satchel charges, canteens, bows l>ainted wit h camouflage and arrows, cross bows, spears paint to blend with the rug­ and maps make up just a frac­ ged terrain, scurried out of the tion of the 4,449 miscellaneous helicopter and headed for the items captured so far during the dense underbrush and cover. operation. They were on their own. Their mission: find the enemy and his The 10,000 South Vietnamese '{ arms caches. piasters found during Taylor The eight-man team from the Common has gone to help pay 3rd Reconnaissance Bn. did just the South Vietnamese civilians that. working at the An Hoa Combat "The first sign of the enemy Base. came just after the helicopter Many North Vietnamese sol­ had put us down," recalled Cpl. diers will have a long wait until Ken B. Williams (Birmingham, their next payday unless they go Ala.). "As the chopper took off, to TFY headquarters and claim the pilot spotted North Vietnam­ some of the two million North Three of four enemy 12.7mm anti-aircraft guns captured by 3rd Recon Bn. Marines. ese Army (NVA) soldiers in Vietnamese piasters captured (Other photos on Pages 6, 7) (Contfnued on Pages 6,7) by Marines. £ &

Page 2 SEA TIGER February 28, 1969 And No'ry 0 Horse in Sight Civilian Grunt Is a Marine What Groans Clothing By GySgt. John E. Conick Regulations normally require two canteens, but the field Marine . . . . VANDEGRIFT COMBAT BASE - He calls it usually carries at least four . Permitted "humping." If you haven't tried "humping," ask a Marine Other items include rifle cleaning equipment, gas mask, All personnel will be per­ rifleman-a "grunt." He'll tell you about it. first aid packet, and entrenching tools to dig a foxhole. mitted to wear civilian Then there is still more equipment placed on. the Marine's body. clothing on R&R aircraft "Humping" is an everyday occurrence south of the His rifle, smoke or fragmentation grenades, flak jacket and helmet. Demilitarized Zone within the 3rd Marine Division. After Radios for instant communications, parts of mortars and ammuni­ (including leave) destined assault landings from helicopters, it is up to the Leather­ tion for the mortars are also carried. for all R&R sites except neck infantryman to stalk the hills and sea r c h for The weight? Hong Kong and Taipei. If "Charlie"-the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldier. No one has stood still long enough to determine how much this you're heading for either of The origin of the words "grunt" and "hump" becomes obvious assortment of gear weighs but the average Marine would gladly these two sites, you must wear as a Marine "saddles up," or straps·on his gear. The equipment is lighten the load if he could .. "appropriate authorized service loaded around his waist and on his back. Experts have made esUmates of sixty to eighty pounds, about uniforms." Back packs, carrying all the things needed to sustain life and one-third of the man's body weight. The change became effective a few luxuries, contain sundry items from a toothbrush to an in­ No two Marines carry the same equipment, but each Leather­ Feb. 15 . . flatable air mattress. neck would testify that his load must weigh at least two hundred In the pack will be up to five days rations. Although designed pounds. He would also tell you that he is carrying the heaviest But don't throw any parties to give nourishment, an experienced Marine will supplement the load in hi,S company. yet, guys. The following ru~es rations with hot sauce, onions or whatever else may enhance the Day in and day out, obstacles are placed before him. The long also apply: taste of pre-cooked foods. Also included within the pack are his slanting slopes of ridge lines, frequently wet and slippery; jagged Civilian clothes may be worn "snoopy blanket," (a camouflaged nylon cover), socks, poncho, mountain cliffs; dense jungle growth and trails that twist and at the R&R processing center. rain gear, and shaving equipment. turn every few feet. To these natural obstacles the enemy has Strung around his chest may be bandoleers of ammunition while added mines, poison punji stakes and booby traps in many forms . There will be no mixing of his cartridge belt contains more pouches of ammo. Also hanging But the leatherneck continues to march. '"distinctive military uniform He calls it "humping." items" with civilian clothes. Mil­ from his belt are canteens containing almost a quart of water each. itary "low quarter" or dress shoes may be worn. Editorial And we quote: "Personnel de­ parting on R&R aircraft, wheth­ er in imifmm or civilian attire, carry with them the responsi­ bility of representing the mil­ tary in the eyes of the public; dress must be suitable to the oc­ Never Too lote To leom casion and must not bring dis­ credit upon the United States." If you dropped out of venient f-or most ()f us, but chan­ present consist of five parts: granting of diplomas or equiva­ ces are you still have some time correctness and effectiveness of lency certificates. Last but not least, the follow­ high school before getting on your enlistment to serve in expressi-on, social studies, natu­ The Commission's recom­ ing standar~s of civilian attire your diploma, you should the States after your tour is ral sciences, interpretation of mended scores ,are, however, ac­ will be adhered to: investigate the possibility of over. literary materials and general cepted by all services and most Shirts - dress shirts and sp-ort mathematical ability. c i v iii a n establishments as shirts are acceptable. Unaccep­ finishing school while still Here is where GED comes in; these tests measure the level of The Commission on Accredita­ equivalent to high school gradu­ table are sweat shirts, athletic in the service. Or at least tion of Service Experience -has atioB. In the case of those who shirts, shirts with printed novel­ education one has acquired, ei­ recommended minimum passing ty slogans, and white or cam­ acquire a high school diplo­ ther formally or through inf()r­ desire to continue their educa­ m a I s elf-education and in­ scores acceptable for civilian tion, some business and trade ouflage colored T-shirts normally ma or certificate through tellectual grow,th. The emphasis and military use. This r.ecom­ sch()ols will accept the GED worn as undergarments. Only the General Educational Devel­ in the GED tests is t-o measure mendation is of an advisory na­ tests as a basis for taking an en­ shirts with a squared bottom opment (GED) tests. your ability to think clearly, to ture, however, and does not trance examination. may be worn outside the trou­ guarantee that a school or state If you do not have a high sers. You might have dropped out interpret, to comprehend and to department of education will school diploma, the GED tests Slacks may be worn. Unaccep­ Of. formal education, but keep in evaluate. They will determine grant a diploma or equivalency might be that "knock of oppor­ mmd that the education process whether you have the equivalent table are bluejeans, shorts, cot­ of a high school education. certificate on the basis of the tunity" you have been waiting ton khaki uniform trousers. goes on. True, the "bush" of GED test. Each state estab­ for and a broad avenue to better Vietnam makes it a bit 'incon- The high school GED tests at lishes its own standard for the things. (AFPS ) Footgear and socks must be worn. Civilian shoes, military low qua r t e r s, tennis shoes/sneakers and sandals may be worn. Unacceptable are boots, shower shoes and other Sea Tiger Mail Bag. •• g e n era II y unacceptable foot­ wear. Ann Caciacarne Lenee Leskowitz 27 4305 Orchard Park Dr. RD 2, Box 361 All clothing must be clean and * * * in good condition. The wearer Parma, Ohio 44134 Tyrone, Penn. 16686 May Belle Hamm 17 should present a good appear­ * * * 1924 New Bern Ave. ance within the guidelines set Connie Kmieck * * * Raleigh, N.C. 5588 Overlook Dr. Betty Cottini above. * * * Parma, Ohio 44129 Briggsville, Wisc. 53920 Joanne Yelencic * * * * * * 416 Freeland St. Nancy Sherman Joceline Sheffer Pittsburgh, Penn. 15210 424 Huntington Lane 1255 E. 37th St. 3/270/fice·rs Des Moines, Iowa 50317 17 Elmhurst, Ill. 60126 * * * * 18 * * * * * Lois McCray Hold Reunion Carol Heberling Sharon Burnam Star Route Box B-5 R.D.2 Westfir, Oregon 97492 Officers of the 3rd Bn., 27th 8914 S. Parnell Ave. Marines will hold a reunion on Indiana, Penn. 15701 Chicago, Ill. 60620 * * * * March 28, 1969 at Camp Pendle­ * * 15 Diane Haley ton. Officers in-country who will Lillian Bald * 250 Weston Road Nurses Residence * * be able to attend should contact Audrey H. Oksanen Wellesley, Mass. 02181 Lt. Col. Tullis Woodham, III 161 Cook V Avenue, 36 East St. 17 Meriden, Conn. 06450 Marine Amphibious Force G-1 . Fitchburg, Mass. 01420 (Continued on Page 10) section, by any means available. COOKLEY * * * * . * * Lois Whitehill Christiane Ferland 20 Montgomery St. 2 Du Manoir Hey Guys, Concord, N.H. 03301 Levis Que * * * Canada Patti Perry 16 Lieutenant General R. E. Cushman, Jr. 20 Montgomery St. * * * Commanding General, III Marine Amphibious Force Concord, N.H. 03301 Joan Fontaine Major General Carl A. Youngdale Enoughlll 89 Mt. Prospect Ave. * Deputy Commander, III'Marine Amphibious Force We don't usually publis'h * * Verona, N.J. Brigadier General George E. Dooley photos of our Sea Tiger con-e­ Arlene Zamrok 636 Linwood Avenue 15 Chief of Staff, III Marine Amphibious Force spondents but this occasion war­ * * * FISO Col. P. Moriarty rents special attention. . Buffalo, New York 14209 18 Carole Koller Editor ...... Cpl. M. W. Starn All of the 130 Marines who 7815 W. Addison Asst. Editor ...... Cpl. J. W. Lasseter wrote to Terry Cookley, Box * * * Chicago, Ill. 60634 Published each Tuesday by the III. Marine Amphibious Force. The SEA TIGER 499, Colona, Ill. and asked for Vicki Robertson 18 complies with Marine Corps Order P5600.31 and MCO P5720.44 and is printed with 409 West Fourth St. appropriated funds, by The Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo, Japan. T~e SEA TI<:<;R a picture, please take notice. * * * subscribes ta and receives material from the Armed Forces New. Bureau (AFNB) Marines, this is Terry (above). North Little Rock, Ark. 72114 Jeannie McCarty whose material herein may be reprinted provided credit and no other copyrights are 16 Involved. All photographs are official U.S. Marine Corps Photos unless o,n«wlse She says she deeply appreciates 1310 Evergreen St. creemed. Photogrophs submitted from other sources outSide the Marine Corps for the letters and, either she or her * * * West Monroe, La. 71291 publication in The SEA TIGER become the property of The SEA TIGER. Material friends will answer aU, but she Lorina Chapman submitted for publication in The SEA TIGER must reach The Combat InformatIon * * * Bureau, III Marine Amphibious Force, FPO San Francisco, Calif. 96602, on Tuesday 01 didn't have enough pictures to 2-4-32 Harriestfield Mrs. Mary E. Johnson the preceding publication week. Statements, views and opinion expressed in The SEA go around. Halifax County 1213 S. New TIGER are not necessarily those of the Marine Corps and should not be Interpreted as directive in naTure. Whew!!! Nova Scotia, Canada Springfield, Mo. 65804 Clrculallon This Issue 38,000 Copies February 28, 1969 SEA TIGER Page 3 Pump Gear To Grunts 31d Div. Marines Wax Rich FSLG·B's Super Supply By GySgt. Gus Apsltis DONG HA-A total of 205 ene­ By LCpl. R. K. Nystrom sizes - or can be obtained with­ my soldiers were killed in QUANG TRI-In Vietnam's northernmost reaches, just below the Demilitarized in a reasonable length of time. January by 3rd Marine Division Regular Stateside uniforms infantrymen as they continued Zone (DMZ), Supply Co., Force Logistic Support Group Bravo (FLSG-B), is the pulsat­ are stocked to replace a Ma­ to engage the enemy and search ing heart that pumpS essential combat gear to more than 45,000 Marines and Army per­ rine's worn or lost gear. More for his base and supply camps sonnel. 'than 200 separate items and t h ro ugh 0 u t the northernmost Supplies reach the company from Da Nang by three modes of transportation: ship, sizes of utility and khaki uni­ sector of South Vietnam. aircraft, and truck convoy. forms are kept in stock. Socks In all, during January, 3rd Issued on arrival or stored for use at a future date, all combat gear passes through and hats compose almost half of Marine Division infantrymen lo­ supply Co. personnel at Dong Ha Clothing's inventory. Dress uni­ cated and destroyed 978 enemy or Quang Tri Combat Bases. It's forms can be issued, but only on bunkers and fortifications and ers more than 10 acres - it's tern to "mechanized" manage­ 'special order. a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week job best known as the rations dump. ment by computer. Although the found more than 200 . different for the less than 600 men - the DUSTBOWL SERVICE STA· items of NV A equipment and Durable commodities such as present system includes only 300 supplies. pace changing only as a result ketchup, canned goods. and basic, combat essential items, TION of bad weather and bulging or C-rations, are stored outside. future potential is prOjected to There are hundreds of ve­ L a r g e ammunition caches contracting supply channels. Reefers house perishables like incorporate up to 6,000 different hicles and aircraft constantly on were unearthed that included "There is no dollars and cents meats, milk and lettuce. Last items. the move in northern I Corps. To more than 77,000 small arms assessed value for Supply Co. keep fuel tanks full, more than rounds, more than 3,000 various month more than 76 million Steel engineering stakes, sand­ Cost Accounting is handed at pounds of food were issued. 80 men maintain Supply Co.'s size mortar rounds, 812 mines another level of support. We bags and concertina wire are petroleum, oil and lubricants and grenades, and 110 weapons, Nearby, the combat bakery the most sought after Class IV (POL) section. Ground aviation including automatic and semi· deal in requirements, not worth. turns out 7,200 loaves of bread commodities. We work directly with the men daily and bakes cakes for spe­ fuel is stored in 10,000-gallon automatic rifles, pistols and sev­ we support - face to face," said cial occasions like Thanksgiving MEN'S WEAR DEPARTMENT rubber bladders. Fuel is also eral mortars. LtCol. T.E. Dolan (407E Colum­ and Christmas. Two men pro­ Although this section lacks a stockpiled in 55-gallon drums. Some of the other enemy bia St., Falls Church, Va.), CO duce more than 1,930 gallons of variety of colors and styles, it Lubricants for M-16 rifles and items captured in the field in­ of Supply Co. ice cream every month at the does provide all sizes of clothing hydraulic fluid for 175mm guns, cluded more than 66,000 pounds Supplies from food to ammuni­ ice cream plant next door. Near to keep a Marine clothed in com­ plus a complete compliment of of rice and one rice grinding ti!)n, antibiotics to tank tracks, the canned goods s'ection, Class bat. Just in jungle utilities al­ eng i n e oils line warehouse machine, one blow gun, 16 ar· and rat poison to sand bags, are B, Op,en Storage, is located the one, more than 20 different shelves. rows, stoves and various cook­ divided into classes: I-rations, Navy Drug Store. Here more items are stocked in 100 various (Continued on Page 11) ing utensils, and one NV A flag. II-household, III-fuel, IV-field than 575 different items are for t i f i cat ion s , and stored. CWO J.R. Kanavel (Hu­ V-ammunition. bert, N.C.) calls them "emer­ Supply Co. can easily be com­ gency items only!' Penicillin pared to a huge shopping center and rabies vaccine are most in the United States. often called for. "LEATHERNECK SQUARE" CLASS II AND IV. INC. Currency is an IBM requisi­ The largest alid most complex tion card in multiple copies - a section of "Leatherneck Shop- ' kind of military credit card. ping Square" is Class II and IV. There are no brand names, no Within thousands of boxes and store window displays, no sales, on hundreds of feet of shelving no loss-leaders, no specials - in Class II are stored almost any just a Federal Stock Number conceivable item needed by a (ESN) and a military descrip­ Marine in or out of combat. tion: Pie Filling, Cherry, FSN- Rifle cleaning' patches, ball 8940-616-0227, or Battery, Dry point pens, cleaning brushes, pa­ BA-200/U, FSN-6135-050-3280. ' per plates, tires, mimeograph Quite unlike the colorful as­ paper are just a few of the hun­ sortment of commodities filling dreds of ~tems kept in stock. shopping center shelves, almost Just recently, Supply Co. set everything is colored a drab up what is called a Remote Stor- green and comes boxed in ply­ , age Activity (RSA). This is a wood or in waterproof contain­ step in the direction of "com­ ers. plete" automation. It took Class LACKING A FANCY FRONT II's men 30 days to change over "Dong Ha Super Market" cov- from their previous manual sys- 1 /7 Cleans House In 'Dodge City' ,:. By Sgt. Gary Clark "My platoon had been search­ DA NANG - It's a tenacious ing an area in Dodge City when, enemy that will suffer a shatter­ we became pinned down by ene­ ing defeat and still return to the my machinegun fire from a same area for more, but that is treeline. We called in air strikes what's facing the 7th Marines in . and artillery on the enemy posi­ the "Dodge City" area, 12 miles . tion," Hernandez said, "but it southwest of here. was to dark to attempt an attack The ' regiment's 1st and 2hd ' on the treeline, so the Marines Bns. recently joined units of the took night defensive positions 1st, 5th, and 26th Regiments in and waited for morning . . Operation Meade Riv.er, which "At . first light," continued succeeded in clearing "Dodge Hernandez, "we assaulted the ' City" at cost of more than 1,000 treeline and moved through it to enemy soldiers killed. Now, a a river, Although' we met no re­ little more than a month after sistance . in the trees, we did the operation ended, enemy sol­ catch incoming AK-47 fire from diers are again attempting to in­ the otlier side of the river. filtrate the area. "We fired into the area, Still, the price the enemy pays crossed the stream and made a for the infiltration is high. Every search." day 1st Marine Division patrols The bodies of three North and ambushes catch units infil­ Vietnamese soldiers were found trating into the area and exact a in graves on the other side of the heavy toN in enemy soldiers and r i v e r, apparently casualties weapons. from the air and artiUery strikes "...... ~-....,.,. Three NV A soldiers were ac­ the day before. ~- ~~, ...... ~.... counted for by men of "A" Co., "We also found huts, bunkers - .... 1st Bn., 7th Marines in the area and a tunnel complex the NV A ENEMY DETERRENT COMES IN COILS-Concertina wire is offloaded at Supply recently. With the company at had built. We removed some that time was LCpl. Frank Her­ NV A uniforms in them and the Co.'s open storage lot at Quang Tri Combat Base. The new "razor band" wire is used nandez (6013 Hudson Ave., West engineers destroyed the com­ to protect field outposts against enemy ground action. New York, N.Y.). plex." (Photo by LCpl. Roger K. Nystrom) •

Page 4 SEA TIGER February 28, 1969 Underwater Security for Bridge Limey Becomes Diver With Marines By LCpl. T.J. Hansen operations the divers have set 'his girl friend, wood carvings (a trade magazine, "Taylor and The future Marine then ac­ hobby of the FLC sergeant), and DA NANG - London Bridge up their headquarters within the Cutter." The contest proved cepted an offer from Woodward shadows of the bridge. assorted magazines on skin div­ high,ly enlightening to Ellis. Tak­ and Lathrop, a large clothing has fallen down but the III Ma­ ing, automobiles, and mens' ing a second place his first year, firm in Washington, D.C., where rine Amphibious Force Bridge "When I arrived in Vietnam fashions. Among the fashion followed by top honors the fol­ he worked until the inevitable stands strong, thanks to the ef­ over a year ago, we worked out magazines is the British. trade lowing two years, he gained con­ greetings from Uncle Sam. forts of Londoner Sid Ellis. of battalion headquarters near publication, "Taylor and Cut­ fidence in his ability as a design­ Ellis discarded his sharply tai­ Sgt. Sidney A. Ellis, a former the. Da Nang Air Base," recalled ter." It is the reason Ellis is now er. lored tweeds for a set of Marine resident of the London suburb of Ellis. "We now live right on lo­ in Vietnam and diving in the Upon graduation from board­ Corps "greens." Boot camp at Hounslow, is currently serving cation and the job runs a lot Han River. ing school, the military in­ Parris Island and advanced in­ smoother. " as a scuba diver with "C" Co., With his father, a 35-year vet­ fluence of his father and a yen fantry training at Camp Lejeune 1st Military Police Bn., Force Around the riverside "hootch" eran of the British Army, Ellis to become a pilot in the RAF left were followed by a brief stint in Logistic Command (FLC). The area are the tools of Ellis's traveled to India, Iran, Egypt, Ellis in a quandry as to his fu­ the supply field at Albany, Ga. Marine security unit protects trade. Two skimmer boats in the North Arfica, Cyprus and Gibr­ ture. After several talks with From Albany, the 22-year-old the strategic III MAF bridge river, wet suits, air tanks, flip­ altar. It was while on the island professionals in the men's fash­ Marine was sent to a five-week agairtst enemy assaults above pers and diving masks are ev­ of Cyprus that he first became ion industry, Ellis decided to Navy Diving School in the Phil- and below the surface of the erywhere. To the rear of the di­ interested in diving. pursue a deSigning career. After . ippines. After undergoing the Han River. ver's hut, a vital air compressor a four-year apprenticeship at rugged scuba and "hard-hat" As a link between Da Nang, wheezes away filling the scuba Following his father's military the Taylor and Cutter Royal training, plunging to depths of Vietnam's second largest city, tanks with oxygen. retirement, Ellis returned to Academy in London, Ellis re­ 130 feet, Ellis qualified as a Ma­ England and to school. ceived his City of Guilds, the rine Corps Diver. and infantry, supply and com­ Inside the hut, the atmosphere mand units to the east and British boarding schools offer academy's certificate of gradu­ From diving school, Sgt. Ellis is permeated by the presence of ation. (Continued on Page 12) southeast of the Han River, the the "British" Marine. A round vocational courses in tailoring bridge is a prime target for ene­ table, made by Sgt. Ellis and and fashion designing, similar to my probes and attacks. To in­ wood and metal shop classes finished with scrap pieces of tile conducted in American high sure maximum security, Sgt. in the shape of a chess board, FLC's War Wagon Eilis ,and his team of divers pa­ schools. Wh~le he was taking one trol below the river'S surface, fills the center of the room. In 'of these classes, Ellis' teacher checking .the bridge and inland the rear of the hut is a small ice­ noticed he had a flare for this waterways for explosives, hid­ box. Perched atop the box is the sort of work. The teacher en­ den underwater caves and weap­ ever-present pot of tea. couraged the hesitant Ellis to ons caches. In the corner of the hut, where enter a world-wide fashion con­ Truck-Tank? To conduct their sub-surface Ellis has his cot, is a picture of test sponsored by the British By PFC J. R. Doyle and cleans his machine gun. DA NANG - When a "war They personally handle these wagon" begins to roll, no one tasks because they know ' they disputes its claim to be "King of have to depend on their per­ the Road" ~ not even Roger formance - and that others de­ Miller. p~nd on them." A war wagon is an armored Besides providing fire power, cargo truck bearing a .50-c~l. the war wagons carry out other machine gun. These mechanical tasks within a convoy. One war . monarchs reign over convoys of wagon serves as the convoy Truck Company, Force Logistic commander's mobile command Command (FLC) , headquarters post equipped with a permanent at Camp Books; near Da Nang. radio system. Other convoy ve­ hicles carry portable radio sys­ "Our war wagons provide se­ tems, for communications with curity for a minimum of two the mobile command post. cargo vehicles to as large a con­ "We also carry supplies: voy as we might form," said C-rations, extra ammunition, Sgt. Angolo A. Tchowitz (2804 spare tires, and spare ' parts," Kingman Bovd. Des Moines, Tchowitz continued. "In the Iowa). Tcho'witz was one of the event that another vehicle has Marines who helped build the minor mechanical problem dur­ war wagon. ing the con"oy, the spare parts "Our main objective," he ex­ carried on the war wagon are plained, "is to gain rapid fire su­ used, with the driver-gunner periority in case our convoys team aiding in the repair work. are attacked. Two Marines, a In all, there are 22 men as­ driver and a gunner, are as­ signed to Truck Company's war signed to each war wagon. wagons. "When driver-gunner teams The teams have compiled an are assigned to a vehicle, they enviable record. They have nev­ stick with that one vehicle. After er lost a war wagon during a every convoy, the driver does mission and they provide daily KING OF THE ROAD-A "war wagon" is readied for a daily convoy security run. the mechanical work on his protection for convoys covering (Photo by LCpl. N.W. Myers) truck, and the gunner checks up to 100 miles a day. Villagers Help Build 4th CAGCompound By LCpl. Bob Partaill and he asked the villagers if they wanted to help. They QUANG TRI - The Marines turned out in full force, ready to stared in amazement as ap­ work," said Sgt. Wilbur E. proximately 100 South Vietnam­ Sweet (Tucson, Ariz.), a platoon ese civilians came marching leader of the Marine/PF unit. down the road toward them As the Marines and PFs bearing axes, hoes and scythes. strung barbed wire and dug bunkers, the villagers chopped The Marines and Vietnamese down ·brush and trees along the Peoples Self Defense Force compound's perimeter. (PSDF) soldiers of 4th Com­ "They cleared a 500 meter bined Action Group (CAG) were field of fire for us and carried building a new compound near all the brush away," said Sweet as he scanned the new com­ several villages north of Quang pound. "It would have taken us Tri to offer the villagers secur­ a week to do the work they did ity from the Viet Congo in one day." "There has been ,increased The villagers vilunteered to Viet Cong activity in this area help in building the new com­ and the civilians are helping us pound. fight it. With this compound, the village will receive better pro­ SUPPLY NEVER STOPS-When the sun sets, Marines just turn on their lights. Work "A PF (people'S force) sol­ tection and the people are anx­ loads rarely change pace from day to night. Here a forklift loads artillery shells on a dier told the village chief we ioUS to help us," Sweet con­ roughrider convoy truck that will leave the following ~orning. were building a new compound cluded. (Photo by LCpl. Roger K. Nystrom) February 28, 1969 SEA TIGER Page 5 Innotent Stene Betomes Stll!le of Wllr By CpI. Dave Allen jungle trail they were following what appeared to be three emp­ about eight yards from the hut enemy position. AN HOA - A Marine platoon on a search-and-clear patrol ty huts. and· a North Vietnamese Army With the ·barrage over, the f.ound that first impressions are during a heavy rain. A check of the .first two re­ (NVA) soldier stepped outside platoon made their way to the not always right while on patrol The platoon's second squad vealed nothing, 'but as Pfc. Glen of the door for a moment, then village. With much of the jungle in the mountains west of here on was sent to check out the small­ L. Schofield, (Topeka, Kan.) ap­ went back inside. foliage removed by the artillery Operation Taylor Common. er of the forked trails. A short proached the third hut through Immediately the Leatherneck blasts, the Leathernecks quickly The platoon from the 5th Ma­ distance from the main "road" the driving rain, he heard move­ patrol returned and the platoon discovered that there was much rines came to a fork in the the Leathernecks came upon ment inside. Schofield stopped leader called in artillery on the more than just three 'huts. Coming upon a large bunker, one of the Marines tossed a gre­ nade in, and the explosion caused two secondary explosions. Seconds later, an enemy soldier stumbled from the mouth of the fortified cave and fired one shot ,before he was cut down. Trying to reach the second bunker, the Leathernecks met continued resistance as the NVA threw hand grenades at them. Working into position, a Leath­ erneck M-60 machine gun team delivered 100 rounds into the opening of the bunker. The gre­ nade barrage ceased. Low groaning sounds could still be heard from the bunker, as two Marines armed with .45- cal. pistols andflashights, en­ tered the door. The NVA tossed one mo,re grenade and the Leathernecks made their way to cover befQ~e it exploded. Going hack in, the Marines killed three NVA who 'had survived the ma­ chine gun fire that had killed three others inside the bunker. As the squad moved further into the complex, Cpl. Richard W. Jazzowski, (2635 W. Cortez, Chicago, Ill.), spotted another NVA soldier attempting to make a getaway. The two exchanged fir e, 'but Jazzowslti's bullet struck first. Another ·enemy soldier was found dead from the earlier ar­ tillery ,barrage. Meeting no further resistance, tbe Leathernecks made a thQr­ ON THEIR WAY-Marines of Battalion Landing Team 3/26 head for a helicopter and transportation ashore- (roro. Qugh search Qf the area. The the amphibious assault ship USS TRIPOLI during amphibious operations off the Vietnam coast. complex was found to consist of twenty well-built huts and 18 (USN Photo by PH3 Ralph Fix) fortified bunkers. Pilots That Fly Together ... Tiger­ By Sgt. R. R. Keene While Luciano led a flight to Both agree that the miSSions the ground troops it is reward­ CHU LAI - It came as no the Demilitarized Zone to sup­ they most enjoyed were the ing." Lott to surprise to members 'of Marine port Marines, Holmes and his close air support missions. "It Luciano summed ··it up. "We Attack Squadron (VMA) 121 wingman accounted for 32 ene­ gives you a chance to put your were able to ,help because of the when two of their pilots hit the my killed while flying in support ordnance right on target and see teamwork, not just 'between my­ '300 mission mark together. of the Korean Marines south of the results," said Holmes. "Of self and Capt. Holmes, but Be Desired Marine Skyhawk jet pilots, Da Nang. course, anytime you can help throughout the squadron." Capts. John S. Holmes (14049 By Cpl. Robb Straub SE. Fair Oaks Way, Portland, VANDEGRIFT COMBAT Ore.), and Thomas J. Luciano Army Takes Over Civil Affairs BASE - A Marine gunnery ser­ (76 Ridge Dr., Livingston, N.J.), geant at Vandegrift Combat have ,been flying together since base has set his sights on catch­ they left the Marine Corps Air ing a tiger. Station, Cherry Point, N.C., GySgt. J.E. Lott, (Zephyrhills, more than a year ago. Marines To Leave Friends Fla.), a member of Vandegrift's After serving together at Logistics Support Unit (LSU), VMA-332, Cherry Point, both pi­ By GySgt. E J. Moore the meantime, they are being pants, commonly referred to as was asked to take on the task af­ lots received orders to Vietnam. DA NANG, Vietnam - When feted and feasted by the Viet­ Hoi Chanhs, or returnees. ter several sightings of tigers in They joined VMA-121 in Japan, people come across the word namese whom they have helped "The returnees," Goodno said, the Vandegrift area. and spent months flying togeth­ Marine, the first thing that over .the past two and one-half "have three choices upon com­ Lott has already built two er as the squadron deployed to comes to their mind is a rugged, years. pletion of a two month rehabili­ traps in hopes of catching the Okinawa and the Philippines pri­ rifle bearing, stubbled bearded G 0 i n g over past records, tation course. They can enlist in large animals. "The only differ­ or to coming to Vietnam in fighting man. Goodno proudly related the work the South Vietnamese Army, ence between these traps and April. For one Marine officer and six that has been accomplished by join the 'Kit Carson' program those I used back home to trap Since then, the two have been enlisted men of the Civil Affairs his predecessors and his present ( b e com e scouts for allied alligators and rabbits are that parallel in combat. They flew section, Force Logistic Support crew. forces) or enter into civilian life they are made of heavier mate­ their first and last combat mis­ Group Alpha (FLSG-A) at Phu "We support four hamlets, an in a village of their choice. If rial and are large enough to hold sions together. Each has in addi­ Bai, the opposite is true. They orphanage, a 13-room combined they choose the latter," he con­ a tiger," explained Lott. tion to his 300 combat missions, still maintain that Marine rug­ grade school and high school, tinued, "the government will a total of 350 combat hours. Each gedness - but instead of carry­ plus a large Chieu Hoi (open­ support them for six months, One of Lott's traps is a cage flew 30 missions over North ing a rifle, they carry clothes, arms) center," Goodno said. "In which is considered ample time constructed from heavy fencing Vietnam prior to the bombing food and building tools of peace. addition, our medical team to establish themselves." wire and two-by-fours. A small halt. They collected six of the The present section, headed treated nearly 49,000 patients in Sgt. Goodno, on his second animal, placed and protected by North Vietnam missions in one by 1st Lt. George O. Rohlfsen 1968." tour of duty in Vietnam, gave an another smaller cage within the day, flying three missions each. (Rt. 1, Faribault, Minn.) and Goodno pointed out that the account of how he felt. "I came trap, is used as a lure. If the ti­ Now, with two years each of SSgt. Henry V. Goodno (34 Win­ Chieu Hoi program is the most here in 1966 as an infantryman ger takes the bait and enters the Skyhawk experience and 22 air ner St., Waterville, Me.), has a satisfying job they have worked and I felt differently about the large cage he triggers a trip­ medals apiece, both are being total of 74 months accumulated on. people. This tour, I have worked wire which drops the door assigned to Beaufort, S.C., for civil affairs experience. This program is a government in civil affairs for a full year. I closed. duty. These Marines have the dis­ effort offering rewards to local have gotten to know these The other tiger trap is made Although their tours parallel, tinction, although to them a sad Viet Cong if they come over to people, how they live and what out of a net anchored and weigh­ most of the combat missions one, of being the last group of the side of the South Vietnamese their customs and feelings are." ted with a 400-pound barrel. The were not flown together. Once Leathernecks to serve in this ca­ government. "Once you get to know them," bait serves as a trigger. When they gained combat experience, pacity at Phu Bai. In a few So successful has this pro­ he continued, "you find they are the tiger touches the meat, the both were assigned as flight weeks, civil affairs of the gram been in the central I Corps very sincere and become lasting 400-pound barrel drops, lifting up leaders and struck at numerous Hue Phu Bai area will be taken area that last August the Chieu friends once they understand the net and the tiger along with targets in I Corps. over by a U.S. Army team. In Hoi village at Hue had 700 occu- you. Truthfully, I hate to leave." it. ~. Improves With Age >- ,~ Recons Uncover NVA Munitions ... (Continued From Page 1) munists. and found four 12.7mm anti-air­ ed down a trench that the enemy front of our position. They were "On the third day we were fol­ craft guns. had been using to approach the Olt! Bllltk Belluty firing at the helicopter." lowing a five-foot-wide trail "They were just laying there Marines' position and spotted The recon Marines checked when an NV A soldier jumped next to the wall of a bunker," four Red soldier,S about 50 yards their equipment and started to out of a tree and started run- continued Killian. "They looked down the trenchline. By LCpl. 'l'rygg , Hansen move. "ning," recalled Pvt. Clay Babb as if someone had just disturbed "I jumped out of the trench "We had moved about 160 (Morro Bay, Calif.), point man them. There was loose ammuni­ and into another one and then DA NANG-In May 1967, the "Marine Corps began using the M- yards and stopped for a security for the patrol. "We stayed in our tion in the area and also spare opened fire on them with my 16 rifle as its basic combat weapon for the individual Marine check, when we heard what positions and again radioed for parts for the guns." M-79 grenade launcher," said in Vietnam. Since then it has earned the reputation as one of sounded like four or five groups an aerial observer." An intensive search through Killian. "I stayed down there an the best weapons ever used in combat, anywhere. of two or three men each walk­ Soon a light observation plane the enemy "bunker complex re­ hour until I spotted a few more ing toward our position," said was on station to aid the Ma­ vealed additionaI large amounts of them going down a hill, jum­ The M-lS ' Repair-Rebuild Warehouse at Marine Force Logistic Cpl. Mike Schatz (Tonkawa, rines. " of assorted enemy arms and ping from trench to trench, be­ Command, eight miles northwest of Da Nang, was created as the Okla.). "When the AO arrived, he im­ ammunition. fore I returned to our perimeter main refurbishing center for M-16s used by Marines in Vietnam's With the enemy soldiers mov­ mediately spotted nine enemy "We radioed the battalion and Jines." ing toward them, the Marines around us and called in another northernmost tactical zone. The shop, now operated by Force asked them what they wanted us The following morning Marine radioed for an aerial observer to Bronco. The piIot fired every­ to do," recalled Cpl. Joe E. Car­ engineers were flown into the Logistic Support Group Alpha try to get ' the exact location of thing he had at the enemy and raher (College Point, N. Y.) area to blow up the cache. (FLSGA), repairs and rebuilds smoothly. If even the smallest the enemy. . drove them away," said LCpI. "We were instructed to stay in "We were standing security over 95 percent of the M-16s part, however minor, is not per­ "Broncos from MAG-39 flew Os car Murkerson (Blakely, the area, that a reaction force for the engineers when I spotted used by Marines in Vietnam. fect, the weapon is rejected. over and spotted the Reds, Ga.). was enroute to help us guard the another NY A soldier in a khaki Until recently, the repair­ The FLC unit has a large opened fire on them and drove The team also called in artil­ find," added Carraher. uniform just walking along a rebuild shop was operated by stock of M-16s on hand in its the NVA away from us," said lery fire on the enemy positions When two additional recon trail. I opened up ,on him and Maintenance Bn., FLC. It is now warehouse to replace rifles that LCpl. David P. Chreitzberg (Ft. before starting to move up the teams arrived to provide secur­ didn't see him get up again," re­ staffed by Marines from FLSG­ are turned in for repair or Worth, Texas), a member of the trail again. . ity, the Marines set up a per­ called Williams. Marine and his M-16, unbeatable combination. A and Maintenance Bn. rebuild. Sgt. Grey said com­ team. "We started to pass some new imeter defense for the night. Marine engineers used ' 601) The remainder of the day bunkers and then all of a sudden Throughout the night the ene­ "By handling the job here at pany-size units have turned, all pounds of plastic explosives to their weapons in at one time for passed without incident as the there were bunkers all around my kept trying to reach the set up charges for blOwing the FLC, instead of the United Marines cautiously searched the us," related Cp!. Mark A Kill­ bunkers containing their ammu­ States, we save the government reconditioning. If the unit com­ enemy ammunition. They were mander needs rifles immediate­ On Target area for signs of the enemy and ian (Cathedral City, Calif.>, nition, but the Marines drove soon ready to clear out of the Satchel Rips NVA, over $50 on each weapon," SSgt. his munitions caches. leader of the small recon team. them off with grenades and John E. Grey (488 Hickory ly, they are issued from the Two Marines from a 3rd Recon Bn. patrol open fire on the enemy during area. stored lot. Or he can receive the Vietnamese writing on trees "We checked out the bunkers small arms fire. Broncos were "on station" Lane, Alhany, Ga.) said. As a recOil, mission near Con Thein. GySgt. Michael F. Merritt (Atchison, and old trails were found as they and found all kinds of ammuni­ Enemy movement around the head of repair-rebuild crews, "originals" back as they come overhead firing at the enemy, off the assembly line. Kan.), left, and LCpl. David Chrietzburg (Ft. Worth, Texas) helped find continued their search. But, they tion in them." Marines, however, persisted and still trying to reach their cache Grey is in charge of 15 Marines and unearth a large munitions cache. made no contact with the com- Killian ' entered one bunker was getting closer. Killian start- (Continued on Page 12) Flips Leatherneck who can turn out a rebuilt weap­ "Every so often," sais Grey, on every 60 seconds. "a Marine will want his original By GySgt. Chuck Lane "We went into full swing last weapon back. When a man lives DA NANG-A Marine engineer made a perfect one point land­ March," recalls the FLC ser­ with his rifle day in and day out, Couldn't Stay lor Dinner ing into a mud-filled paddy after a satchel charge blew up an geant. "The first rebuilt M-16s he can get quite attached to it. enemy bunker 15 feet away. We do everything in our power equipped with the new chrome to return it to him." The Marine, Pfc_ Michael A. Emmons (Rt. I, Minnesota City, barrels were sent to Khe Sanh Minn.) was attached to "H" Coo, 2nd Bn., 5th Marines, during a prior to the so-called siege." In addition to rebuilding the recent operation southwest of here. rifles, the Marines test fire the In the last 10 months, the re­ The company was moving across rice paddies and through stored weapons to check on the pair-rebuild unit has turned out effectiveness of ,their program. treelines when they were pinned down by heavy enemy fire from more than 50,000 reconditioned a large bunker. . "So far we haven't had a repair­ NVA Ree; (lltile Fount! two fuzes down to about eight M-lSs. The facility is also com­ ed weapon that didn't fire prop­ By CpI. John Lawrence hand generators used for detonating explosives, 350 pounds of CaI,>t. Ronald J. Drez (4979 seconds and by the time I had pletely stocked with spare parts erly," Grey says with obvious TNT and several miscellaneous electrical devices. Bacclch St., New Orleans, them both lighted and threw the to keep the program moving. CON THIEN-Infantrymen of the 4th Marines 3rd Marine La.~, pride. Division, dealt a stunning blow to a North Vietnamese Army (NVA) "From the amount of personal equipment captured," added the co~pany commander, di- charge into the bunker, I had Unlike the M-14, which the M-16 Further evidence of the pro­ Hopkins, "the engineer unit was at least of company size." rected hiS men to surround the only about three or four seconds replaced, every part of the M-16 engineer unit near Con Thien by capturing the enemy's equipment gram's results can be seen in and large stores of ammunition. "The NVA didn't have the guts to stay and fight for their bunker. to get out of there_" is interchangeable, simplifying the record books. property, but it seems that they had somebody watching us the assembly-line process. Acting on reports from aerial observers that enemy units were "Some of the men close The young Leatherneck was 15 "Earlier statistics indicate through field glasses," he remarked. enough to throw grenades into feet away and moving out when massing the area and that there was increased trail activity "On two separate occasions, just as my men began to lift The assembly line begins with that the old model M-16s had a leading south, Marines were heli-lifted into an area just west of the bunker," the captain said, the top of the bunker blew away, a take-down of the light-weight 40 percent kick-back after re­ captured gear from enemy bunkers, the NVA opened fire on our "but most of them would come rifle into its three basic groups. Con Thien. positions with 60mm mortars," said Hopkins." flving right back out. Some spinning him into the air. pairs were made," SSgt. Grey "As my men swept along the trails, they discovered caches of " "Alter about three spins, I These groups are examined for says. "Today, we have less than On both occasions Marines called in counter-mortar fire to would go off inside the bunker landed head first in the rice pad- defects and wear along the line. ammunition and some sophisticated engineering equipment," said silence the NVA mortars. two percent of the weapons re­ LtCo!. Joseph E. Hopkins (Costa Mesa, Calif.), a battalion com­ but it didn't seem to do !iny dy," continued Emmons. Damaged or worn parts are re­ turned. In addition to the various pieces of engineering equipment, good. We were still receiving "I was a little dazed from the mander with the 4th Marines. placed and new barrels are "In a way, I'm working mu­ the Marines' thrust into the jungle just south of the buffer zone heavy fire." blast, but wasn't hurt because added at separate stations. As self out of a job," adds Grey. "The NV A in one case left everything they owned and escap,ed also netted the Leathernecks a large enemy munitions cache. The captain then decided to the rice paddy was filled with the weapon passes down the from the area just a few minutes before we got there. One of my It included 26,190 rounds of .50-cal ammunition; 115 rocket propelled use one of his engineers whose mud. "In a few months, we should line, every part is checked thor­ have a complete changeover companies found rice and vegetables still bubbling over cooking grenades; 641 mines and grenades; 594 61mm and 82mm mortar speCialty was demolitions . .. "I jumped up and ran back to oug,hly until it reaches the final throughout I Corps. With very fires," Hopkins continued. rounds; 94 82mm recoilless rounds, including nine gas rounds; Emmons. our lines and was just getting stages for reassembly. few rifles being returned, my One cache of equipment included two ohmmeters, two electrical and one .50-cal. machinegun. "Three 'grunts' gave me cov- my breath when we spotted one After it is reassembled, the job will be greatly cut back. er as I crawled up next to the NV A running out the back side rifle is given another thorough This means the mission of the entrance of the bunker. I had a of the bunker. I don't know how inspection to insure that all repair-rebuild program is being satchel charge made with 12 he lived through the blast but he parts operate properly and fulfilled. " sticks of explosive _'.. about 15 didn't get but a few steps before 3rd Div pounds," said Emmons. the grunts got him," said Em- "The captain and I had cut the mons. Chapel $1 Million, Round-the-Clock Supply Dedicated By LCpI. Bob Partain QUANG TRI - Four months ago Marines of the 3rd Engineer Bn. started out to build their Operation Feeds I Corps Marines own house of worship. Today the chapel, a wooden By GySgt. E. J. Moore supply depots in the United Dillard, a 32-year-old, 15-year (Monroe, Mich.). "Our work structure with mahogany pan­ eling and glass windows stands DA NANG - American fight­ States to the platoon supplyman Marine veteran, said his night really begins at midnight when in the field. crew handled 7,579,520 pounds of the 'Sea-Land' refrigerated trail­ proudly amidst all the other ing men in South Vietnam are Supply records at FLC reveal meat and 1,256,200 pounds of ers start rolling in from NSA. structures at Quang Tri Combat not only being fed better than that over a recent seven-day pe­ produce during the month of De­ We know what is on them and Base. any army in history, but in riod, 4,296,000 pounds of canned cember. can plan ahead," he said. D uri n g brief ceremonies, many cases are receiving fresh goods were issued to field mes­ "We like to keep a nine or ten­ "We've already started mak­ headed by Navy Capt. R.W. Rad­ ses and semi-permanent mes­ day supply of meat and a two­ ing up orders for morning issues cliffe (Falls Church, Va.), senior fruit and vegetables right on the shalls. A further breakdown on day supply of produce on hand," from on-hand supplies," he con­ chaplain of the III Marine Am­ battlefield. just one of these items, a tradi­ said Dillard. "We have 48,000 tinued, "and if we run short on phibious Force, the chapel was The responsibility of supplying tional American favorite, shows square feet of Jefrigeration any items, we fill it from the in­ dedicated to all Marines who food for a daily average of 55,000 that 44,345 cans of pork and space divided into two equal sec­ coming trucks. have served with the 3rd Engi­ of America's troops, in Da Nang beans are distributed weekly. tions. One section is for the al­ "We have all orders filled and neer Bn. in Vietnam. To maintain an even flow of ready-frozen meat, and the oth­ ready for pick-up by 7:00 a.m. "Many hours of hard work, and surrounding areas, belongs fresh food and prevent deterio­ er is for fruit and vegetables." From 7: 30 until around 9: 30 patience and tender loving care to the Marines of Rations Co., ration, the cold storage section "Although all meat products a.m. trucks from the units we made this chapel possible," said For c e Log i s tic Command of Rations Co. works two 12-hour and the bulk of the vegetables supply come in. It's just a mat­ Lt. John A. Ecker (Yakima, ( F L C), headquartered eight shifts, seven days a week. come from the United States," ter then for the driver and his Wash.), 3rd Engineer Bn. Chap­ miles northwest of Da Nang. GySgt. George W. Dillard he related, "15 percent of our working party to load and move lain. Hot line To I (orps Tom 0 v e the staggering (4311 Greenhaven St., Wichita, produce is purchased from Viet­ out. We also make up issues for He was more than happy at amount of fresh frozen meat and Kan.), the night operations namese farms. Some of the lo­ truck convoys and helicopter LANDING ZONE PERIMETER-Members of the 9th Marines protect a rugged the dedication ceremonies. "The produce needed to feed these chief, is responsible for receiv­ cally grown items are lettuce, lifts for units out of range for landing zone while other members of the unit are enroute in choppers. The 3rd Ma­ men have worked almost four A Marine on the Camp Muir helo-pad, 10 miles southwest of Da Nang, men takes a lot of hard work ing all shipments from the Nav­ tomatoes, garlic and melons." normal pick-ups." months to get all the material and cooperation up and down al Support Activity (NSA) com­ The cold storage section is The day operations chief, rine Division Leathernecks are searching for the enemy and his supply caches in the and build this chapel for them­ (maps a net full of supplies on the cargo hook of a 1st MAW Sea Knight the supply chain, from large plex in Da Nang. headed by SSgt. Jean E. Daman (Continued on Page 11) northwestern I::orner of I Corps. (Photo by LCpl. M.C. Patterson) selves," concluded the chaplain. chopper. (Photo by LCpl. Blake B. Barker) •

Page 8 SEA TIGER February 28, 1969 Too Busy Along Highway 1 Chu Lai: No Resort For 9th Engineers By Sgt. J.D. Perdue 1966, it has resembled anything Division work hand in hand, To solve this problem, the en­ span bridges ever built by Ma­ DA NANG - Sixty miles south but a vacation land or resort. with the engineers building and gineers use several 6,000 gal. rine Corps engineers. It is more of Da Nang is a place that in fu­ ' When the battalion landed, the Army providing most of the tank-trailers to haul water for than 720 feet long and crosses ture years, after the war, inay there was little more than a few Security. the roads. the Ba Ren River 42 miles north be known as the Palm Springs of hard-backed huts and tents, Not only are the engineers ac­ The Vietnamese weather and of Chu Lai. Vietnam_ Huge multi-million­ housing elements of the 1st and complishing this part of their enemy activity often slow down Besides doing their primary dollar resorts may be built on 3rd Marine Divisions and the 1st mission but they are upgrading construction work on the road job on Highway 1, the engineers the mil e s of sun-whitened Marine Aircraft Wing. the road to U.S. Military stan­ and the bridges. Several of the find time to construct almost bleached sands of the beach. Now it is also the home of one dards and paving it. The ordina­ bridges between Chu Lai and the any type of building needed by Mini-bikinied bathing beauties of the largest Army units in ry engineer battalion is not river north have been blown up the Americal Division, the Ma­ may adorn the beaches as the Vietnam, the Americal Division, equipped for such an ambitious and have had to be rebuilt. rine aircraft groups or the other waves oJ the South China Sea two Marine Aircraft Groups and undertaking. Four miles have "The farther north we get, the free world forces in the area. roll in to crash on the shore and supporting elements. been paved and an additional more enemy activity we run In the last six months they the cool ocean breeze offsets the Besides these units the battal­ five miles have been prepared into," commented J 0 h n son. have completed a series of temperatures that in summer ion also supports units of the for paving. "Thirty-two miles of the road buildings for the Americal Divi­ months may soar above 130 de­ Arm y 's 5th Special Forces "One of our main problems is must be swept by a mine team sion that include fourteen 16' x grees. Group, Korean Marines and a w ate r distribution," reports each morning and that takes a 64' living quarters, a l,400-man The name of this potential re­ Marine Combined Action Group Maj. Sven A. Johnson (28 Elling­ lot of man hours away from the messhall, a combat operations sort-and-vacation land is Chu (CAG) that operates in and ton Dr., East Northport, N.Y.) job." The mine sweep team usu­ center, and a fire direction cen· Lai. Sometimes referred to as around Chu Lai. the battalion operations officer. ally finds at least four mines on ter bunker, storage warehouses, "Chu Lai by the Sea." Primary mission of the Ma­ "This means that we have to each sweep. maintenance pads and recrea­ maintain the proper moisture The engineers are nearing the However, at the moment, it is rine engineers is to keep an ap­ tional b~ildings. the home of the 9th Engineer proximately 47-mile stretch of content in the roads for the as­ completion of rebuilding two Bn., 1st Marine Division, com­ Highway 1 south of the Chu Lai phalt. If the roads are too wet bridges destroyed by enemy They have been equally busy manded by LtCoi. Darrell V. Da­ River to Chu Lai open and pass­ the asphalt gets mushy and slop­ mines. A third, to replace an old building bomb dumps, an en­ vidson (Osage, Iowa). And since able. To accomplish this, the py. If they are too dry, the as­ deteriorating French-built struc­ listed mens' club and roads. Marine engineers and Americal phalt won't pack." ture, is one of the longest fixed- The Marine engineers also the battalion's arrival in June build bunkers and cantonments and clear fields of fire for the Combined Action Group units in the· area. Supporting the 5th Spe­ cial Forces perhaps offers the most exciting part of the engi­ 'Middlemen' Keep Supply Moving neers job. For the Green Berets, the y have built suspension By LCpI. T. J. Hansen tween for FLC supply units ~ith headquarters, knowing the ers start to fill up, we have to bridges and cantonments in the DA NANG - For Marines the headquartered at Camp Jay K. status of incoming gear, the start worrying." wilds of the jungle near the Lao­ terms "incoming" and "out­ Books and the cargo-transport items being staged on the flight When a tactical operation is in tian border. going" generally conjure up un­ planes arriving and departing line and the availability of air­ progress, the amount of ammu­ When a unit needs something pleasant memories of mortars, from the Air terminal. c r aft, we can recommend nition coming in is increased built, 1st Lt. Charles J. Toenis­ artillery and rockets. To Force Keeping accurate records is a whether or not cargo should be greatly. During the month of koetter, (2158 Riverside Dr., Be­ Logistic Command's (FLC) 15th must for the section. All in­ shipped by air or other means of January, over 15 million pounds loit, Wis.) the battalion con­ Aerial Port Liaison Team, the coming and outgoing items must transportation," said Sgt. Sasso. of ammunition was processed by struction officer, receives the terms have an entirely different be compared with a manifest or­ Staging the supplies is anoth- the six man liaison team. request. meaning. der to insure that nothing is \ er important part of the liaison A key word in the unit's activi­ "Getting the materials for the Located at the Da Nang Air missing. A copy of this record is team's duties. Ammunition is ties is speed. "Hot items," those vertical construction that we do Base, second busiest air termin­ ·kept, double checked as the car­ given special consideration be­ receiving top priority, and per­ is the biggest problem we al in the world, the FLG liaison go is sent to Camp Books, and 'cause of the air base's attrae· ishables are given prompt atten­ have," reports Toeniskoetter. team, headed by Sgt. T. J. Sasso then filed for future reference. !tiveness as a target for Viet ·tion. "That is why we usually ask the (149 Eagle St., Fredonia, N.Y.),. In routing the cargo the liai­ Cong rockets and mortars. Summing up their mission units to get their own mate­ processes over 90 percent of the son team works closely with two "We store all of the ammo in Lance Cpt James Skipper said, rials. " cargo airlifted to and from Viet· FLC headquarters units; the steel bunkers," said Lance Cpl. "When the equipment comes to Once the request is received, n am's northernmost tactical Traffic Management Office and Lawrence Minnaert (800 Nasa, us, we try to get it off the line Toeniskoetter inspects the area zone. Working around the clock, Motor Transport Control Center. Webster, Texas), who processes and to the Marines who need it for the proposed building., From the supply unit acts as a go-be- "By keeping in close contact the munitions. "When the bunk- as fast as possible." this inspection the specifications and measurementS' of the pro­ :posed construction are figured out and then the drafting section goes to work. The item is de­ signed and drafted on blueprints and then taken to the requesting unit for approval. If changes or modifications are called for, the blueprints are re-drafted until the unit is satisfied. At the same time the unit ap­ proves the blueprints, they re­ ceive a list of materials neces­ sary for the construction. When the materials are procured, the engineers go to work. One of the main reasons for the success of the engineer bat­ talion is the work of its Service Co. personnel. These Marines work night and day to keep the engineer's trucks, cranes, tractors and oth­ er heavy equipment tolling. "These people work around the clock to get a piece of equip­ ment on the road," said Maj. Edward M. Condra (2028 Eli­ zardi Blvd., New Orleans, La.), the company commander. "As long as they have the parts, the equipment is repaired as soon as humanly possible. While the rest of the men of the battalion get a chance to go to the club to see a movie, at least part of my men are working each night." Much of the credit for their success at keeping the equip­ ment rolling is their new, mobile machine shop. Most of the small pins, bushings, sleeves, axles, drive shafts, bolts and nuts can be turned out in the shop. All Marines pride themselves on dOing a lot with a little. Ma­ rine engineers can claim to do MIDDLE OF NOWHERE-Marine UH-IE (Huey) helicopters touch down with their loads at Fire Support Base even more with a little less. Cunningham. Artillerymen of the 12th Marines at Cunningham are supporting elements of the 9th Marines conduct­ They prove it every day in Viet­ ing search and clear operations. (Photo by LCpL M.C. Patterson) nam. February 28, 1969 SEA TIGER Page 9 AO Spots · Enemy Cache By Cpt Robb Straub The AO, flying at tree-top lev­ nearby and they moved in to mander with 4th Marines, "but VANDEGRIFT COMBAT el over the rugged jungle terrain unearth the North Vietnamese due to the heavy undergrowth - BASE - An alert Marine aerial southwest of Con Thien, dis­ Army (NY A) weapons and am­ and rugged terrain, we were not observer (AO), operating just covered the NV A hiding place munition storage plant. able to search out the area as south of the Demilitarized Zone just 400 meters from the Ma­ "We had a patrol near the thoroughly as we would have in support of infantrymen of the rines on the ground. area the previous day," said liked." 4th Marines, sighted an enemy He informed elements of the Capt. Walter Fleming (Ft. Lau­ The NV A bunker-complex storage area. 2nd Rn., 4th Marines operating derdale, Fla.), a company com- housing the arms cache was well-camouflaged and virtually undetectable from ground level. Supplies Ope Taylor Common But the light, single engine air­ craft above spotted the enemy position and the Marine air­ ground team swung into action. The AO radioed the Marines on the ground and marked his find An Hoa lSA Gets New look with smoke grenades. His mark­ By' Cpl. Larry White ities," said Maj. James Connelly commented Connelly. "The sup­ ers led a squad-size patrol to the AN HOA - It's a small helicop-. (Alexandria, Va.), operations of­ plies are brought in from Da area to check out the discovery. ter pad set off in a corner of An ficer, 3rd Marines. "We took Nang and stockpiled on the heli­ As the Marine force moved Hoa Combat Base and without over the landing zone, in­ copter pad or in a nearby ware­ into the enemy" supply area they the constant clatter of- in­ troduced our own techniques of h 0 use. When a field unit met with no enemy ground resis­ coming helicopters, it would staging the supplies and imme­ requests a resupply, the supplies tance, but did draw enemy mor­ go unnoticed. diately started the shuttle ' of are located in cargo nets and tar fire on their positions. Ma­ Marines of the 3rd Shore Par­ equipment to the field units. placed on an assigned line and rine counter~mortar and artil­ ty Bn. use the small landing "Now that our system is going number on the pad. lery fire was used to silence the zone around the clock providing full steam, we can airlift in ex­ enemy mortar positions, "As the helicopter pilot hovers "First reports from the patrol food, ammunition and water for cess of 500,000 pounds of sup­ over the LSA, a shore party Leathernecks in the field who plies to the field in one day," ­ indicated that it was a company­ radioman tells the pilot which size enemy supply po.nt," said MIXED EMOTION-Con­ are conducting Operation Taylor continued Maj. Connelly. supplies are his external load. Common near An Hoa. To the newcommer, the con­ S g t . Eugene Kissel (Chan­ cern for the future of her The n the helicopter simply nelview, Texas). After a closer "When the 3rd Marines moved stant flurry of activity around drops to within a few feet of the child and herself is mirror­ south to participate in Operation the LSA looks highly com­ look, the Marines discovered a cargo net, gets hooked up and false floor under one of the ed in this Vietnamese, Taylor Common there were no plicated. airlifts the supplies to the field Landing Support Activity facil- "It's actually quite simple," hunkers, which revealed addi­ mother's face. She has just unit," added Connelly. tional enemy munitions and a left her village as request­ "Weather is our biggest prob­ French-made .50-cal. machine lem," stated Connelly, "so we gun. ed by Marines. After the \Ie Spoil Ambush keep several days of supplies at In all, the Leathernecks found battle passes, she and her the fire support bases. However, and destroyed ten NY A bunkers infantry units must carry their in the area. The bunkers yielded neighbors will be returned supplies so their resupply must more than 500 enemy mortar to their homes free of the be handled daily." rounds, 350 Chinese communist grenades, 36,000 small arms Viet Congo (Photo by SSgt. Talked-to-Death The task performed at An rounds and one enemy 122mm Bob Jordan) Hoa's LSA is why Marines in rocket round. In addition, the By Cpl. Frank B. Wiley Vietnam are termed "The best­ Marine force destroyed four ene­ CHU LAI-An ambush set by 30 Viet Cong (VC) fed and most highly equipped my machine gun positions and failed because the VC were a bunch of blabbermouths. men ever to enter combat." 45 rocket propelled grenades. The action was described like Quang Tri this, "We were on a six man patrol which was supposed to go out 500 meters from our per­ imeter when the point man All Secure heard some Vietnamese voices," By LCpl. Bob Partain said Sgt. Joseph H. Hauer (206 QUANG TRI - When 2ndLt. N. Payne, New Ulm, Minn .), James A. Yorg (1824 Roseview leader of the "M" Co., 3rd Bn., Lane, St. Louis, Mo.) left an in­ 26th Marines patrol. fantry company for duty with The Marines moved up a little Headquarters Bn., 3rd Marine further and heard more voices Division, he thought he had a but then had to get down be­ relatively quiet desk job waiting cause there was too much il­ for him. lumination from a flare ship He was soon to discover that passing overhead. he was only half right. "After getting down we decid­ Besides being assigned as ex­ ed we had to crawl to the enemy ecutive officer of Headquarters so he would not spot us. It took Co., he was giv:en the job as the us five minutes to get to the security platoon commander. enemy because of the deep water in the rice paddies and that 100 "The security platoon han· meters we had to travel on our dIes 80 percent of the patrolling stomachs," said PFC Robert around the Quang Tri Base and L. T. Ramsey (701Y2 N. Maple all of the long-range patrols," St., Stuttgart, Ark.). explained the 24-year-old lieu­ tenant. "We also back up any Ramsey was the first to spot unit that makes contact on the the three VC moving on the perimeter. And we go outside patrol flanks and fired an auto­ the perimeter if a night ambush matic burst with his M-16, kill­ or listening post needs our ing two of the enemy soldiers. help." The rest of the Leatherneck Only 30 percent of the security patrol fired and dropped the platoon is composed of trained third VC. infantrymen. The majority of Sgt. Hauer decided that it the unit's members are former would be best to stay there and tankers, artillerymen, clerks or let the enemy come to them. So cooks who are assigned to the the Marines waited . security platoon. "I was guarding the rear when Capt. David L. Chilcote (5911 I saw a VC coming up behind Marta Dr., Tampa, Fla.), com­ us. He raised his rifle to fire but manding officer of Headquarters I fired first and killed him," said Co., also performs a dual role as Lance Cpl. Willie E. Watkins commander of the defense force (Rt. #1, Box 109, Red Springs, for Quang Tri Base. Many times N.C.). Capt. Chilcote's unit will accom­ The Marines had been in their pany the security platoon on pa­ position for half an hour when trols. they saw five more VC moving "Six enemy soldiers have been toward them. killed by the security platoon Lance Cpl. John W. Raulding and the men on the lines (P. O. Box #21, Ridgeway, S.C.) recently," stated Capt. Chilcote, opened up with his M-79 grenade "and one day we had the only launcher and after one of the two confirmed enemy killed in enemy dropped, the rest turned the 3rd Marine Division's TAOR and scattered. ( t act i c a I area of responsi­ The score-five gabby 'am­ FOUR DEUCE-Artillerymen of the 12th Marines send a 4.2-inch mortar round on bility)." bushers' down, no Marines lost. its way to an enemy target. (Photo by LCpL M.C. Patterson) • Page 10 SEA TIGER February 28, 1969 Sea Tiger 3 Medevac Crewmen Hand-lift Mail Bag f , (Cont. From Page 2) Wounded Recon Into Chopper Rita Wolff 2503 Thomas Louisville, Ky. 40216 By SSgt. P. L. Stacy the ground, the crew managed to medevac. Of course the rest of * * ... pull the Marine up and place the recon team had laid down QUANG TRI - Any helicopter him inside the cabin, where a heavy volume of protective Linda Newman emergency medical evacuation R.D.1 he was given first aid treatment fire for us, which I think kept (medevac) mission at night has by the corpsman. the enemy pinned down. Julian, Penn. 16844 a certain amount of danger in­ * * ... "Our aircraft didn't take any "I've flown a lot of medevacs volved; but when there is no hits from the enemy ground but this was the most unusual Jean Hilliard landing zone, the chopper's hoist fire," said Boyd, "but there and hazardous I've seen. I'm Box 14 selects that time to break down was heavy firing all during the just glad we got him out." Briggsville, Wisc. 53920 ana there is h e a v y enemy * * ... ground fire, the danger in­ Karen Hicks creases ten-fold. R.D.1 These were the circumstances Plan-of-the-Day Weedville, Penn. 15868 when a Marine Medium Heli­ 15 copter Squadron (HMM) 161 * * ... Sea Knight launched to pick up Donna Guernsey a member of a 3rd Marine Divi­ Box 51 sion reconnaissance team casu­ NVA Plan Found Dorloo, New York 12099 alty in northern I Corps. * * * "When we arrived over the By SSgt. Bob Jordan Leslie Edelstein team's position and made radio AN ROA-Ever wonder how the average North Viet- 92 Fairview Avenue contact, we found out that there namese soldier spends his day? . West Orange, N.J. 07252 wasn't an LZ large enough for Leathernecks of the 3rd Marines participating in 17 us to sit down," said LCpl. Ray­ Operation Taylor Common got an insight as to what the * * * mond K. Boyd (Rt. 5, Rogers, NVA troops do, when they captured a chart listing the Marvena Lash Ark.), crew chief of the heli­ 521 E. Hendrix St. copter. daily schedule of the communist soldiers. Brazil, Ind. 47834 Boyd explained that they de­ The chart read: 18 cided to hover over the position 0500- REVEILLE ... * * and lower a cable from the hoist 0500-0515 EXERCISE NOTHING NEW - The Vicki Munschy in order to pull the Marine up 0515-0530 SHOWER, SHAVE, SHINE, ETC. powerful Sea Stallion heli­ 708 Jones St. through the cargo hatch in the 0530-0610 CHOW . copters of the 1st Marine Grand Ledge, Mich. 48837 floor of the transport. 0610-1110 READY EQUIPMENT Aircraft Wing and their un­ * ...... "I lowered the cable and after usual cargos have become Rita Kirby the casualty was put into the 1110-1120 WASH HANDS 2 Pine St., Box 245 sling by his teammates, I hit 1120-1200 NOON CHOW & REST PERIOD such a common sight that Pacolet Mills, S.C. 29373 the switch to raise the hoist­ 1200-1330 READ STATUS even one hauling another * ... * but nothing happened," he said. 1330·1700 WORK helicopter doesn't rate a Dolley Ballard Due to an electrical failure 1700-1710 WASH HANDS second g I a n c e from this 4647 Harrison St. the hoist could be lowered but 1710-1730 EVENING CHOW farmer. (Photo by GySgt• . Gary, Ind. 46408 not raised. Dan Grady) * * * Although they couldn't land 1730·1810 ACTIVITIES 3·3 (sic) Carol Horan and the hoist was inoperative, 1810-1830 FREE TIME 3658 Tyler St. the crew chief was determined 1830·1840 ACTIVITIES Gary, Ind. 46408 to get the casualty aboard the 2100 TAPS *. • .* chopper. After the drubbing the enemy plan of the day, have fallen into NVADie Marty Giebelhausen "I left one gunner at the has received at the hands of the the hands of the Marines as the 240 Allen-URH window and the other gunner, enemy retreated. Urbana, Ill. 61801 the corpsman and myself began Marines it is doubtful the sched­ Hundreds of weapons, food * * * pulling the Marine up by hand," ule is being followed very close­ caches, communications equip­ Billie Thorndyke explained' Boyd. ly. ment and hospital supplies have In Own 2137 W. 3rd St. With the pilot hovering the Over 600 pounds of enemy been discovered by the 3rd Ma­ Davenport, Iowa 52802 aircraft at about 100 feet from documents, including the NV A rines during the operation. * * * Cathy Ziska Ambush I 2124 East 21st St. By Sgt. Gary Bremerton, Wash. 98310 qa,-k * ... * DA NANG-A North Vietna­ Erlene Thomas mese Army (NVA) squad that 425 Willow Street tried to ambush a Marine patrol Waterbury, Conn. 06710 13 had no luck at all. * * * A squad from "A" Co., 1st Lynn Kirby Bn., 7th Marines was running Box 487 a patrol along a river near Hill Pacolet, S.C. 29372 42, 13 miles southwest of here. * * * According to Hospitalman Louise Oravec Robert Holland (140205 Hawes, RD 1, Box 80 Whittier, Calif.), corpsman for Nanty-GIo, Penn. 15943 the squad, the Marines had just 17 passed through a small village * * * Rosie Madey and were in a rice padqy when P.O. Box 3449 U.S.L. enemy rounds began snapping Lafayette, 0 La. overhead. "The fire was coming * * ,. from a tree line about 200 yards Janice Lawrence to our front, so we all took 5711 South Sacramento Ave. covered positions in a trench­ Chicago, Ill. 60629 line and waited." * * * As soon as the six enemy Michele Mackaros were in the middle of the paddy, 8 Rodney Street the entire squad opened up with Clymer, Penn. 15728 small arms fire. Holland noted 20 that "two of the NV A were * * * killed immediately and the other Alice Bradley four took cover in a small group 3619 Fillmore Ave. of tree nearby." Brooklyn, N.Y. 11234 Holland's squad leader thought ... * * an attack. on the enemy position Doreen Semon would be too risky. "We radioed 2918 Sprague Dr. back to Hill 55 and requested Orlando, Fla. 32807 supporting arms," added Hol­ 16 land. "It wasn't too long before * * * a tank came out on one ·of the­ Donna Semon fingers projecting from the hill 2918 Sprague Dr. and fired directly down into the Orlando, Fla. 32807 enemy position. 18 "We got two more with that * * tank," said Holland, "and then Nellie Mabe we called in artillery. Needless Lake Pickett Rd. to say, we didn't catch any Orlando, Fla. more sniper fire from those 18 VIET BABY-A month· old Vietnamese baby is examined by a Navy doctor during a NVA. That was a real 'no luck' (Cont. On Page 11) MEDCAP visit to the infant's village. (Photo by SSgt. J.J. Tolarchyk) group!" February 28, 1969 SEA TIGER Page 11 Sea Tiger Mail Bag 'Bul'ets In (Cont. From Page 10) Debbie Parker Phyllis Luskin R#8 S. 13th St. 163-25 130th Ave. East Moline, Ill. 61244 Marinels Jamaica Queens 11434 15 23 * * * Jeanne Hant * * * 14 Vita Rd. Dale Le Blanc Totowa Boro., N.J. 07512 Pack Hit 1442 Choctaw St. Metairie, La. 70005 20 By Sgt. Ron Staff * * * * * * Lonna Davis DA NANG - Nine M·16 rifle M. Jeanes Rt#3 Old Maryville Pk. rounds detonated inside a Ma­ 8, Hillbrow Road Knoxville, Tenn. 37920 rine's pack - and saved his life! Southbourne, Bournemouth BH6, * * * L C pI, John E. (!arnahan 5nT Mitzi Belich (166VV. Lemon, Arcadia, Calif.), Hampshire 1580 Morse #23 a 20-year·old fireteam leader England Sacramento, Calif. with "E" Co., 2nd Bn 1st 17 * * * Marines, was on a seven-man * * Betty Christini night patrol when it happened. Dale Monacell '" Box 58 RR#l The patrol was in "Indian 3812 N. Plainfield Ave. Peru, Ill. 61354 country," and had just spotted Chicago, Ill. 60634 ' * * * five North Vietnamese Army * * * Angie Velez (NVA) soldiers. As they pre­ Angela Lee Starn 4130 W. Nelson pared to · move out to intercept 8214 VVoodyard VVay Chicago, Ill. 60641 the NV A, enemy machine gun Citrus Heights 17 fire broke loose from three dif­ Calif. 95610 * * * ferent positions. 17 Janice Berrian Carnahan said, "I was just * * * Eastern Nazarence College moving up to the top of this rise Claudette Coderre VV ollaston Park when they opened up. During 4275 Acushnet Avenue Quincy, Mass. 02170 the first burst of machine gun New Bedford, Mass. 02745 19 fire I felt myself get hit. At the * * * * * * same instant I was diving for Jane Leonard Peggy Brown BRASS RANCH CULTIVATES BUMPER CROP-Shell the ditch to our direct front. I 227 Sip Ave. Rt. 1, Box LF55 casings are reusable. Marines of Supply Co., Force Logistic started thinking that it sure Jersey City, N.J. 07306 Bandon, Oregon 97411 didn't hurt very much, consid­ 20 * * * Support Group Bravo, have the task of returning brass ering I'd been shot. Then I real" * * * Darlene Buelow casings for salvage. (Photo by LCpl. Roger K. Nystrom) ized I wasn't hurt. If there's no Sharon Oakes 2117 Vassar pain, your.'re not hit, right? 541 Morningside Ave. Dearborn, Mich. 48124 "But then my squad leader, Union Beach, N.J. 07735 * * * who was right behind me, start­ 22 Ann Stags Pilot Quits Flying, ed yelling about my back. I was *. * * 3714 Lynch Ext. smoking! VVe couldn't figure out Winhie DackerY Jackson, Miss. 39204 what was wrong because there 512 Cross St. * * * was no holes or scratches on my Harrison, N.J. Lori Timosevich flak jacket. VVe didn't think 24 Box 148 Becomes Chaplain al>out it too much, considering * * Central Bridge, N.Y. 12032 the tight squeeze we were in." Dale Helen Zale * * * By Sgt. Bob Morris This unique innovation of the Mortar fire finally drove off 2117 VV. 3rd St. Evie Goldstein DONG HA - Navy LtCmdr. chaplain's offers him the priva­ the larger enemy force and the Mesa, Ariz. 85201 8140 Troost Lowell VV. VanTassel spent near­ cy he needs for individual coun­ squad returned to the battalion 18 Kansas City, Mo. 64131 ly 15 years and two wars looking selling of Marines with prob­ area the next morning with no * * " * * * at the earth from a bird's eye lems. casualties. Debbie Ansell Mary Stillman view. "A lot of people thought that I Still somewhat mystified as to 176 Ramblewood Road 4120 VVest 108 Street Today, involved in another was a little crazy when I first what had happened, Carnahan Ellicott City, Md. 21043 Bloomington, Minn. 55431 conflict, he is seeing Vietnam moved in," he chuckles, his im­ began sorting through his gear 16 * * * from the vantage point of a Ma· posing frame wedged in the to find some answers. He found * * '" Jim Stillman r i n e infantryman, while he small cubicle, already crowded three relatively small holes in Cindy -Myers 4120 VVest 108 Street serves as chaplain for the 2nd with his cot, desk, books and his pack. Then he began wonder­ Route 1, Box 16 Bloomington, Minn. 55431 Bn., 3rd Marines. . other effects, "but I've found it ing about the additional band­ Boulder, ColQrado 80302 * * * This is a -big change for the to be very comfortable and oleer of ammunition he usually * * * Marilyn Nagel cozy." carries in his pack. Barbara Le Page 5024 S. VVolcott chaplain, who, at the beginning of VV orId VV ar II :began a career Although the chaplain is well Checking it out, thtt young 4341 Butler' Circle Chicago, Ill. Lea the r n e c k discovered a Boulder, Colorado 80302 as a Navy pilot, flying dive satisfied with his work, he says * * * bombers and torpedo planes. that he still misses flying and shredded bandoleer and nine * * * Anita Hernandez empty, burned and twisted car­ Terry Bigane S.N. 720 N. Hancock He continued to fly until the when he gets the chance likes to "get behind the stick." tridges that the enemy round LCM School of Nursing Gary, Ind. 46403 spring of 1955, involving himself had set off. In stopping the ene­ 2800 VV. 95th St. * * * in many areas of aviation, such VanTassel resigned from the my round nine of his own had Evergreen Park, Ill. 60642 Ida Louise Laquatra as the aerial mapping of Alaska, Navy in 1955, with his present fired. * * * 432 VV. Belmont, Apt. 405 and the flying of priority car­ 'rank of lieutenant commander, All Carnahan had to say about Karen Kerns Chicago, Ill. 60657 goes. He was wounded during to enter the Louisville Presby­ his find was, "I'm sure glad 3760 VVest Sprague Road 26 the Korean war. terian Theological Seminary. Al­ those rounds were pointed out Parma, Ohio 44134 "My decision to enter the cler­ though not ordained until 1958, away from me. Pointing in that * * * gy was not ·based on any blind­ his first assignment as minister direction, they saved my life." Kathleen Kudlesky ing revelation or miracle such to the First Pres'byterian Church 319 Center Ave. Meat... as St. Elmo's fire on the wings of Oswego, Kan., began in 1955 Jim Thorpe, Penn. 18229 (Countinued from Page 6, 7) of my aircraft," states Van­ due to the need for clergymen of * * * SSgt. Jack VV. Russell (Nash­ Tassel (Pittsburg, Kan.), "It his faith in the area. Ann McGavin ville, Ark.) filled in the rest of was mostly due to the slow pro· According to the chaplain, he Bravo..• 510 Center St. the story. cess of maturation." didn't leave the Navy with the (Continued From Page 3) Jim Thorpe, Penn. 18229 "VVe have an average of 55 The heavy·set, 45·year old intention of returning to the ser­ AUTOMATED PARTS STORE * * * Marine Corps, Army and Navy chaplain continues, "I finally re­ vice as a member of the Chap­ E qui p men t breaks down. Kathy Lienhard units to support, along with Re­ alized that I had one lifetime to lain Corps. Acquaintances he Vietnam's heat, dust and mon­ 87 VV. 7th St. public of Korea troops,''-' - said accomplish the thing that I felt had made while he was a pilot soon rains take their toll on _~ _ Jim Thorpe, Penn. 18229 Russell. "These range in size was most important." were influential in his return to combat equipment. To keep -- - * * * from 50 men to as high as Chaplain VanTassel can be the Naval service. maintenance section supplied Dianne Meatz 2,400." found doing what he considers "It was like coming home," he with parts - sparkplugs, tran­ R.D. 2 Russell pointed out that in ad· most important in the remote says. sistors, firing pins and fuel Lehighton, Penn. dition to perishable food, Ra­ area of northern .I Corps where pumps - Supply Co. mans an * * * tions Co. in December issued his Leathernecks are serving. "automated" shop's store. More Lynn McGavin 173,000 cases of. C-rations and "These men are operating in than 8,500 items complete its in· 510 Center St. the new individual long range widely scattered areas," the ventory. Because the store has Jim T~orpe, Penn. 18229 patrol rations. Also shipped out chaplain says. "They can't Every Day's the largest item inventory with· * * * were over 2,000 cases of 'sundry come to church, so I :have to in Supply Co., it was the first to Joyce Gabrielson packs.' These are packets of take it to them." become computerized. 402 Highland Rd. items normally purchased in This can mean holding reli­ Presently, all paperwork is VVillmar, Minn. 56201 post exchanges that front line gious services atop lonely wind· A Washday handled by Marine Data Pro­ * * * troops do not have access to swept fire support bases over· cessing Platoon (DPP 10) at Mary Kelk such as razor blades, cigarettes, looking the Demilitarized Zone DONG HA COMBAT BASE­ Phu Bai. More than 2,000 requi· 2605 Majestic Drive soap, shaving cream. or in tangled jungles, using Force Logistic Support Group­ sitions are received during an VVilmington 3, Dela. 19803 First Lt. Charles A. Burr stacks of ammo -boxes for an al­ Bravo's combat laundry person­ average month. To provide fast, * * * (Kailua, Hawaii), commanding tar, and a bomb crater and the nel washed and dried more than efficient service, automation is Mrs. M. Averitt officer of Rations 'Co. said, "VVe sky for his cathedral. 300,000 pounds of laundry during employed. G.1. Mail Lady here, in FLC's Rations Co., VVhen not in the field with his December, a task requiring 620 FOUND ONLY IN COMBAT P .O. Box 674 would like to assure the Ameri­ Marines, he usually can ·be pounds of detergent. The Marine Supply Co. maintains the larg­ Newman, Calif. 95360 can housewife and mother that found in his combination office Corps has laundry facilities at est ammunition Supply Point * * * their husbands and sons are and living quarters, which con· the Vandegrift, Quang Tri and (ASP) in northern I Corps. Dur­ Mary Owca being provided for better than sist of a metal shipping contain­ Dong Ha combat bases to serve ing an average month 22,000 2945 N. Springfield Ave. any fighting man in history - er. Made of corrugated iron, the all American forces fighting in tons of ammunition, consisting Chicago, Ill. 60618 and we mean to keep improv­ box measures roughly 8 ft. -by 6 the northernmost sectors of of more than 250 different types, 16 ing." ft. by 6 ft. Vietnam's I Corps. (Continued: on Page 12) Page 12 SEA TIGER February 28, 1969 Dewey Canyon ... (Continued From Page 1) munition caches. timated two platoons of NVA, The 9th Marines have uncov­ the Marine unit, supported by ered more than 10,000 rounds of artillery from nearby fire sup­ enemy small arms ammunition, port bases and Marine air nearly 600 rocket-propelled gre­ strikes, killed 39. Four Marines nades, 500 1bs of TNT, 5,000 :Lbs were wounded. of rice and a large quantity of The NV A apparently thinks medical supplies. highly of his jungle sanctuary, previously unexplored by allied forces, and has made desperate attacks on two Marine fire sup­ port bases that provide the artil­ Bravo ... lery punch for the 9th Marines' (Continued From Page 11) drive. On one unsuccessful attack on are handled at the ASP. Fire Support Base Erskine, the During the latter months of enemy left behind 25 dead as 1 9 6 8 , Supply Co. not only Marine infantrymen defending changed its name, but also the hilltop position threw back moved to a new area. Force Lo­ the enemy assault. gistic Supply Unit One, nick­ In the early hours of Feb. 17, named and pronounced "Floo­ failing to keep their own Tet 'sey-1," was the company's origI­ truce, NV A troops attacked Fire nal name. Its former base of op­ Support Base Cunningham just eration was Dong Ha . Combat northwest of the Ashau Valley. Base. Now, more than half of its The enemy launched the attack sections are located here at 'with sappers penetrating the Quang Tri Combat Base, eight perimeter Wire and rushig to­ miles south. ' ward the Marine artillery posi­ "We've moved to provide bet" tions. Near hand-to-hand fight­ ter and more efficient service ing resulted and some of the for the 3rd Marine Division," enemy were slain within three Col. Dolan said. feet of the Leatherneck's guns. At least 37 NV A bodies were counted in the wire and on the artillery positions when the at­ tack was hurled back. Four Ma­ Diver ... rine defenders were killed and (Continued From Page 4) 47 wounded. was assigned directly to FLC On Feb. 18, the 9th marines and his present job of providing again encountered a determined underwater security for ' the III enemy force as they continued MAF bridge. their offensive thrust just north of the Ashau Valley. R e c a II i n g his earlier ex­ A company from the regi­ periences, Ellis said, "The dif­ ment's 1st Bn., encountered a ference between diving in the platoon of NVA dug-in on a murky waters of the Han River ridgeline. Said the company and the clear blue of the Medi­ commander, "They appeared to terranean is tremendous. The want to hold the ridge at all tides, monsoon rains and muddy costs." The Marines assaulted water in the 'Han' make it very the hill, killing 20. One Marine d i ff i c u it to see at certain was slightly wounded in the en­ depths." counter. Currently serving on a six­ In addition to the enemy killed month extension, Ellis plans on and weapons captured, Marines returning to the field of fashion on Operation Dewey Canyon are upon completion of his tour in also unearthing large NVA am- Vietnam. Arms Cache ..

HORN OF PLENTY-Like the celebrated "hom," a 1st MAW CH-46 Sea Knight (Continued From Pages 6-7) The helicopters arrived and helicopter provides a net of supplies to Marine ground units at fire support bases atop as Marines moved down the hill­ the Marines were picked up. the rugged mountains in northern I Corps. (Photo by Capt. Joe Collins) side to their helicopter pick-up point. The complete cache dis­ A series of loud explosions told covered by the team included 8,- the Marines that the enemy's 000 rounds of 12.7mm anti-air­ bunker complex was now only a craft ammunition, 800 rocket­ big hold filled with twisted propelled grenades, 1,350 mortar pieces of metal. . rounds, 10,000 rounds of small As the Marines waited for arms ammunition, 10 cases of 311 Marines Spring Trap TNT, 11 cases of Chinese com­ helicopters to pick them up, an By LCpi. R. L. Evankavitch defensive position when Pfc. J. passed the word to get ready. a e ria lob s e r v e r overhead munist grenades and 1,100 as­ E. Northing (Cedar Hill, Tenn.) spotted two enemy soldiers try­ sorted mortar fuses and other DA NANG-A group of North When the NV A were about 10 equipment. All were destroyed. Vietnamese Army (NV A) sol­ spotted approximately 15 NV A yards away, LCpl. R.E. Burkes ing to sneak up on the Leather­ diers lost five men when they about 20 yards away. (108 Wright PI., Grand Prairie, neck positions. A volley of M-60 The four enemy anti-aircraft walked into a Marine position Northing told his squad lead­ Texas) opened up with his M-60 machine gun fire and grenades guns, discovered by Killian, seven miles southwest of here. er, Cpl. R. J. Cosgrove (4107 machine gun and the rest of the put a damper on Charlie's in­ were returned to Quang Tri Elements of "M" Co., 3rd Bn., 28th Ave, Astoria, N.Y.) of the squad opened fire with small tentions and drove them away. Combat Base. Seventh Marines were in a night enemy movement and Cosgrove arms and M-79 grenade fire. Three NV A were hit on the in­ itial burst. A search team went into the 5th Marines Linked Mail The Sea Tiger Home area and one wounded NV A fired on the Marines with an FIOM: •••••••.•••••••••••.•.•••••••• AK-47 rifle. The Marines re­ To Families Via MARS Postage turned fire killing the NV A. When the search team moved By Cpl. Dave Allen (2813 31st Ave. N., Birmingham, 3nI Class If! ...... into the enemy area again, an­ AN HOA - Leathernecks with Ala.), NCOIC, has four . men Airmail 2Ot! other wounded NV A started to the 5th Marines, 1st Marine Di­ working two hour shifts daily to vision, have the opportunity to keep the station on the air. "0 San 'ran cisco, Ca'if 96602 l~t Class 1~ throw a hand grenade. LCpl. R.A. Menard (160 Catherine St., hear the voices of their families Sgt. Brooks has been in the Lafayette, La.) killed the enemy and friends because of the new MARS business for 15 years. soldier. Military Affiliated Radio System "As far as I know, this is the ( MAR S) installation located only MARS station at a forward The grenade exploded near near the regimental headquar- com bat base in Vietnam," ·TO: Cpl. Cosgrove wounding him ters here. ' Brooks said, "and naturally slightly. Open for bus i n e s s since we've had our problems. The Marines, searching pos­ Dec. 31, the MARS station has "We operate with only two ra­ sible hiding places, found one already handled nearly 200 dio frequencies, and at times more dead NV A. "phone patches," the name giv­ h a v e had problems getting A search of the five dead en the long distance calls to the patches to the States. But things enemy revealed three AK-47 .u .S. In addition, approximately are improving and I expect the NOtE: Fold paper three tim." secure edges with rifles, nine Chinese communist 400 "in country" messages have show to be running smoothly in grenades, three packs of sealed been made by the Marines at An the near future. Staple or lap. and mail home. documents, one diary and a map Hoa. "I'm real happy with the situ­ showing a local guard tower. GySgt. Benjamin F. Brooks ation," Brooks concluded.