Vol. XI • No II 2008 • May • June • July • August Sponson Voice of the USMC Vietnam Tankers © Association

Box& ™ Ensuring Our Legacy Through Reunion, Renewal Remembrance

A Four Part Series by Jim Coan

Night Attack on Con Thien

Also featuring:

Ferguson pg. 8

History of the Patton Tank, Part II pg. 19

Plinkin' pg. 22

Official Publication of the USMC Vietnam Tankers Association & Historical Foundation Letter from the President

Thrasher 6 Greetings, By the time you read this the year 2008 will be half over (already?!!!). Back in April, I drove down to Washington, DC, and had a strategy meeting with Lt Col Ray Stewart, President, Vietnam Tankers Historical Foundation. Ray and Update I wanted to meet face-to-face to hammer out some organization directional issues and to set some mutual goals for the future. Our members should be aware that when you are a member of the USMC VTA you are also a member of the Vietnam Tankers Historical Foundation. We are beginning to see an increase in activity with the historical aspects of our organization. We are sending out a call for more and more of our members to get involved in recording the story of your time in-country before checking into the “The Big Tank Park in the Sky.” We have already lost several members and with their passing so goes their unique personal history of their Vietnam combat experience. You should be aware that we plan to have a professional interviewer from the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation at our Charleston reunion and he will conduct personal interview sessions with those of you who would like share your stories. I plan to be one of those reunion attendees lining up to have this done. Speaking of the Charleston reunion, the tentative dates have been set for August 19 – 23, 2009. These dates are completely dependant on the MCRD Parris Island recruit graduation schedule. The USMC has not yet published the 2009 schedule this far in advance so we may have to move the dates backward or forward a week if they decide to block off the Friday, Aug 21st date. We have many tentative activities to plan but the recruit graduation and lunch in the PI Mess Hall is on the schedule. As some of you may be aware, it is takes much effort and expense to send reminders and re-reminders to those of you who habitually forget to send in their dues at the beginning of each year. On top of the postage expense, the stationery expense, and the sweat equity of our volunteer Board of Directors, there have been many Gentlemen, IED was minor and kept the injuries to the one concussion. members who fail to notify us of their address change. When a letter or a Sponson Box news magazine is mailed I just wanted to give you an update on Thrasher This modification is an exceptional one that included to your old address and the forwarding process by the Post Office has lapsed, the VTA has to pay additional Company. We completed our deployment and returned thermal sights for our .50 cals, loader’s weapon, and a postage for the return to our headquarters address. We could have had a color cover for this issue as an example, to Camp Lejeune on 11 May. Since then, we conducted belly armor plate. It makes the M1A1 the most formidable but we had to spend too much money tracking people down. Please give us some consideration and alert us when a change of command where I handed the guidon to weapon system out there today. The modification process you change your address, telephone number and your email addresses. one of my platoon commanders, 1st Lt Matt Luke, and was difficult (we had to rotate tanks through Baghdad and This coming October the VTA Board of Directors will be conducting it’s required annual meeting to discuss and the company is now on block leave. I was selected for coordinate with the Army) but well worth it. I may be resolve problems and issues that face our organization. If anyone of the membership has a question, comment or promotion and received orders to I&I duty in Broken biased, but I would say the Marines of the company were issue that you feel should be resolved during our meeting then you need to contact one of the board of directors Arrow, OK where I will run the Anti-Tank (TOW) the best tankers that have deployed since the war started. and state your piece. The meeting will be held in Atlanta this year because two of the board members live in Company 4th Mar Div (Reserves) which I’ll be reporting We conducted over 200 combat operations and had that fair city so we can save on our expenses. We are also saving expenses by doubling up in the hotel rooms. to next month. about a dozen combat meritorious promotions, including Speaking of expenses, every other year we pass the hat for donations from you to help off-set the expenses of Let me bring you up to speed on what occurred during a platoon sergeant who was combat meritoriously selected transportation and hotel rooms for our annual board meeting. We are asking again this year if you would consider our deployment. I will start by letting you know that in for Gunnery Sergeant. To my knowledge, he is the first making a donation. The checks should be made out to the VTA and can be mailed to my home address in New Al Anbar province it has really transformed into more of tanker to received that honor since the Vietnam War. Hope, PA. We deeply appreciate your investment in the future of our brotherhood. a peace enforcement operation as the Iraqi government On behalf of the Marines and Sailors of the company, Semper Fi, and forces slowly progresses. March 2008 was our I would like to thank each and every member of the John most interesting month. During March, the company MCVTA for their unwavering support throughout the experienced our only 3 combat actions, one of which was deployment through the various care packages and the “The dustbin of history is littered with remains of those countries that relied on diplomacy to an IED attack. The other 2 combat actions consisted of books written by some of you. It was truly an honor for secure their freedom. We must never forget... in the final analysis... a couple of insurgents firing a few rounds at our Marines us and especially so due to our kinship as tankers. that it is our military, industrial and economic strength that offers and tanks. We only had one WIA, a concussion from the Thank you again and Semper Tanks! the best guarantee of peace for America in times of danger.” IED attack. I would like to point out that due to a recent modification we received on our M1A1’s in Feb, the Tank Capt Rob Burton Ronald Reagan Urban Survivability Kit or TUSK, the damage from the USMC

2 Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 2008 May • June • July • August 2008 May • June • July • August Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 3 Letter to the Editor Board of Directors 2007–2009 New Member John Wear, President Dear Vietnam Tankers, a few bad ones. Poor Kent Baldwin gotten out of there had it not been 5537 Lower Mountain Road; New Hope, PA 18938 Robert “Bob” J Bonderud James R Knee We thank you very much for the drove 800 miles to get to our home for your tanks. Charlie Campbell (215) 794-9052 · E-mail: [email protected] 39 Glen Ave 704 Rosemary Lane beautiful cut flower basket. It was just for a visit which lasted only 1-1/2 and I were pinned down over a wall Robert ‘Bob’ Peavey, Vice President San Rafael, CA 94901-5024 Pocahontas, AR 72455 so very pretty and truly enjoyed. The hours. I did feel so bad about that. and Louie Gasbarinni was wounded 304 Abbey Court; Canton, GA 30115 (415) 457-4439 (870) 609-0053 heartfelt warm wishes are felt also. Any and all calls and such would be by a tree. We were the furthest down 770-365-3711 · Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Wille has cancer now in both most welcome by Wille. the street and pinned down by the Jim Coan, Treasurer A Co, 5th Tank Bn ’67 C Co, 3rd Tank Bn ’67 – ’68 MOS: 1811 lungs. We have had hospice coming God bless all of you. And again, snipers until you guys showed up. 5374 East Lantana Drive; Sierra Vista, AZ 85650 C Co, 1st Tank Bn ’68 (520) 378-9659 · E-mail: [email protected] Wife: Connie MOS: 1811 to our home since a couple of weeks thank you for the gift of love to Wille. Charlie and Louie have since passed DOB: 5/31/46 Ronald C. Knight, Secretary Wife: Patricia before Christmas. He chose not to He says he’s honored and humbled by away but thankfully I am still here Recruited by: John Hancock 720 Quail Run Court; Alpharetta, GA 30005-8920 DOB: 9/15/48 go through the surgery, chemo and so much. to say thanks to you men. (707) 623-9237 · E-mail: [email protected] Recruited by: John Juarez radiation – feeling the “cure” was Carol Wille As Rich Horner told me you have Lt. General Martin R. Steele, USMC (Ret.), Director Virgil V Milton, Jr worse than the cancer. I do believe he 223 Sea Hero Lane a reunion every two years. This year Albert K Christy 16331 Ashington Park Drive; Tampa, FL 33647 4603 State Hwy 198 was right, for many reasons. Crestview, FL 32539 Fox 2/5 is going to be in Washington E-mail: [email protected] PO Box 484 Canton, TX 75103 We have been together for 30 years (850) 689-0818 DC. The planned events include the Carl Fleischman, Director Joshua Tree, CA 92252 (903) 848-4331 P.O. Box 727; Keyport, WA 98345-0727 (760) 366-8428 Email: [email protected] and it’s been the BEST years of my Friday evening Sunset Parade at the (360) 779-1327 · E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] A Co, 3rd Tank Bn ’67 life. He is a tanker good and great. Marine Corps Barracks, a Saturday H&S Co, 3rd Tank Bn ’65 – ’66 MOS: 1811 He gives his all to so many. I’m really From our website: trip as a group to the new Marine Dave “Doc” Forsythe, Director Wife: Janice PO Box 52; Lackawaxen, PA 18435-0052 MOS 2141 grateful that he has been able to Late last night I got a call from my Corps Museum at Quantico and a Wife: Gayle DOB: 7/8/47 (570) 685-2020 · E-mail: [email protected] Recruited by: John Wear connect with so many USMC men old platoon commander who told Saturday evening banquet. There DOB: 5/11/45 Carl Ludecke, Director from past times. Through the years me that he had made contact with will be trips to the Wall and a lot of Recruited by: Web Site 18650 U.S. Hwy. 441; Mt. Dora, FL 32757 I’ve heard and felt the love, respect the men who drove the tanks in Hue hanging out in the hospitality room (352) 383-6104 · E-mail: [email protected] Emil A Wille Tom B Crossman 223 Sea Horse Lane and honor he’s had for so many. I’m City. Like him, many times I have sharing pictures, memories and a Director Garry Hall, 21469 Bear Valley Rd (#1) Crestview, FL 32539 so grateful he was abler to connect wanted to personally thank you guys few beers. If you can make it we 508 Main Street; Vincennes, IN 47591-2008 Apple Valley, CA 92308 (850) 689-0818 812-882-7510 · E-mail: [email protected] with Bob Embesi once again. We for getting us out of there. It was a would love to have you join us. The (760) 240-9097 A Co, 3rd Tank Bn ’65 – ’66 “lost” Bob back in the 90s. Wille has long time ago but I remember it like Fox 2/5 Association has about 500 Lt Col Raymond Stewart, USMC (ret) – President Emil: [email protected] MOS: 2591 Vietnam Tankers Historical Foundation C Co, 1st Tank Bn ’65 – ’66 Wife: Carol a great love for so many. I am proud it was yesterday. It was my squad members from the 1966 - 71 era. 707 SW 350th Court; Federal Way, WA 98023 MOS: 1811 DOB: 2/7/40 to take a second seat to all those men. that went down the right side of Not all are active but we usually get (253) 835-9083 · Email: [email protected] Wife: Peggy Recruited by: Bob Embesi I cherish and hold close to my heart Tran Cao Van street and proceeded a strong showing at the reunions. If DOB: 6/23/45 *Sadly, Emil passed away about every story and person he’s talked to get pinned down for a couple of you are interested I would be happy Committees & Chairmen Recruited by: Bob Embesi a month after joining the VTA. about over the years. hours before they brought you guys Awards & Medals Mike Burnett 209-383-2261 PST (Continued on next page) Paul R Emmitt Wille has his good days and then up to get us out. I might not ever had Association Archives Bruce “Boston” Manns 603-448-3305 EST Anthony D Wills 557 Bradley Ave CRCS/CR 62 Lamb Road San Jose, CA 95128 Representative CWO4 Bob Embesi 406-821-3075 MST Hartwell, GA 30643 Membership Information Changes (408) 288-9523 Chaplain Lt. Col. Harris Himes 406-375-0097 CST (706) 376-3002 Chaplain, Asst. Terry “Bo” Bocchino 518-537-2509 EST Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Sammy Binion John Ferguson North Canton, OH 44720 Database Manager David Zaslow 760-758-0378 EST A Co, 1st Tank Bn ’65 – ’66 B Co, 1st Tank Bn ’66 – ’67 186 Clara Lee Dr 1958 Cherry Hills Dr (330) 433-0113 Fallen Heroes Bob Peavey 770-365-3711 EST MOS: 2841 MOS 1811 Rossville, GA 30741-5902 Discovery Bay, CA 94505-9131 Email: [email protected] Wife: Teresa Jerry Clark Memorial Wife: Peggy Sue MOS: 2511 - 2531 Buddy Fund Jim Guffey 804-744-1179 EST DOB: 8/13/46 DOB: 7/28/47 Gary W Crutchlow Dana Hunter National Recruiter “Robbie” Robinson [email protected] Recruited by: Bob Embesi Recruited by: John Wear Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] DOB: 9/7/46w Web Master “Pappy” Reynolds 626-574-0094 PST Irvin L Dale, Jr Richard Tilden John Voss Web Site: www.usmcvta.org [email protected] 2470 Washington St 5752 So 80th East Ave. (928) 502-9926 The Sponson Box is the official publication for the USMC Vietnam Tankers Association and the Marine Corps Vietnam Tankers Historical West Melbourne, FL 32904 Tulsa, OK. 74145-8610 [email protected] Foundation. The Sponson Box is published three times a year, more often prior to the biennial reunion of the Association. No portion of the Sponson Box is to be reprinted without prior written permission from the USMC Vietnam Tankers Association. Kent Doetker (918) 664-0903 Jan Wendling Publishers: USMC Vietnam Tankers Association PO Box 127 Joseph R Treisch 594 Yale Dr Marine Corps Vietnam Tankers Historical Foundation Wauneta, NE 69045-0127 4181 Independence Circle NW, Apt. 2 Mansfield, OH 44907-1933 Robert Peavey - Editor/Publisher  E-mail: [email protected]

4 Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 2008 May • June • July • August 2008 May • June • July • August Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 5 Letter to the Editor Thank you again. Goodin & Sparrow . . . car problems With regard to the part in the My brother-in-law and best friend, His son would also like to hear from Semper Fi! and Gene “Doc” Hackemack, before book about apricots, I had a brother Jerry Gibbons, served with A Co., anyone who served with him. (Continued from page 5) Chris Brown and after humor is appreciated. But Deputy Sheriff who was with the 3rd Tanks 66-68. He died from heart Thanks and Semper Fi. 9 Alister Circle I know many of you have stories to Marines that landed in Somalia in the procedure complications in 1999. Jerry Horn to send you the details. I am sending E. Northport, NY 11731 share, please sit down and write a 90s. He was the LT of an L.A.V unit. He often shared his tank stories 117 Cherry Lane some black and white pictures that Phone: (631) 499-8739 letter to yourself and mail it to the He asked me if in Nam we thought with me. He saw a lot of action in Medford, NY 11763 you may or may not have seen before. Cell: (917) 913-4908 Sponson Box, you will feel light eating apricots would bring bad luck. his two tours. He was assigned to Home # 631-654-9403 I helped a writer do some research on hearted in doing so! He said that it’s still a no-no to eat “Task Force Robbie” for a while and cell # 631-278-2837 a book called Fire in the Streets and Bob Peavey, Gerry Hodum, Semper Fidelis in God and them if you are in any Marine Armor he generally spent most of his time [email protected]  was able to put my hands on these Jim Coan and the many that have Country, unit. I have to tell you that to this day up near the DMZ. He was a proud pictures. They were taken by a UPI contributed to the Sponson Box, I Donald R. Gagnon I still do not eat them and I have an former Marine tanker. His widow photographer named Sawada. Let thank you all for a quality Newsletter [email protected] apricot tree in my backyard!!! recently found some pictures that he me know if you do not get them. As with very clear photos with information 2394 N. Calle Corazon S/F - Guy Everest had taken in Vietnam. I’ve attached you can see in the pictures we were to ID the photos. Without input from Huachuca City, AZ 85616 them to this message. Jerry is the putting some of our dead brothers membership it is a real struggle to have 520-456-9309 - My name is Jerry Horn and I am Marine facing the camera in the two up on the tanks as we pulled back. a representation of what happened on Cell-760-902-6683 a former Marine (stateside pogue). solo shots. I hope you can use them. One of the guys actually was alive their tour of duty. and remains so today and will be at I urge all of the membership to dig the reunion. I am sure he would like into their locker boxes where they I just received my copy of “Marine to thank you as well. I hope some of have stored photos and letters, share Corps Tank Battles in Vietnam” by you can make it. your stories and experiences with us. Ed Gilbert. •••••••• Book Review Marine Corps Tank Battles in Vietnam By Oscar E. Gilbert The author Ed Gilbert attended the past three USMC Vietnam Tankers Association reunions spending countless hours interviewing many members gleaning the details of their combat experiences... as well as their Marine Corps careers, long and short. He then took the “official” Command Chronologies of the USMC in Vietnam and he pieced together the “official” history of tanks and their involvement in the Vietnam War. When he had the pieced together the history book version of the various tank battles he then wove the personal histories into the fabric blending the two into a riveting quilt work that is (for me) a first class page turner. The book is profound, profane and somewhat humorous. And for me, being personally acquainted with the majority of the players in the book is wonderful thing. The book is available on http://www.amazon.com Semper Fidelis, John Fox 2/5 Marines taking cover behind F32 and Y52 in Hue City 6 Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 2008 May • June • July • August 2008 May • June • July • August Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 7 A colleague dropped by on a recent day to tell I rolled him back over and instantly saw the wound: me that it was the third anniversary of her son’s coming shrapnel. He’d gotten hit diving into the hole on top of home from Iraq. That stopped me. It’s been 40 years since me and had been lying there on my back, dead, during I stepped off the battlefield, and I’m not home yet. I can the attack. Squeaky and I dragged the body out of the still feel the muck of rice paddies pulling on my boots, hole and laid it in the dirt beside the sandbags. still hear the jungle hiss and snap in the dark. Even after “Who the hell is that?” a sergeant said, checking for Ferguson the night dreams and day drifts have stopped and the loud casualties. Remembering those noises no longer startle, you still press your chin against “Said his name was Ferguson, “I said. “Just got here.” your shoulder and look back. “Well since you’re the only one who can put a name to you didn’t even know In those days, we had no time for the dead: Jim Payne a face, you get to go to the morgue and ID the body.” from Glendale, California, Tommy Gonzales from Beeville, “But I don’t know him,” I groaned. by Michael Norman Texas. It was hard losing those good men, hard watching The morgue in Da Nang was a refrigerated Quonset hut them fall. But we were too busy to grieve or to toll the by the main airstrip. A pasty-faced corporal sat a desk filling knell. We wrapped the bodies in muddy ponchos, tossed out the forms. Behind him were racks of shelves holding them like sacks of rice into a helicopter and moved on. scores of green body bags. “This way,” he said. Ferguson We couldn’t cry for them until we came home, and was on a shelf in the back. The corporal unzipped the bag. then we couldn’t stop crying. I cried because they were I gave a quick look. “That’s him,” I said. dead and I was alive, and I could not shake the feeling “You can’t see his face,” the corporal insisted. And with that I had somehow purchased my life at their expense. both hands he reached into the bag and tried to turn I wanted to tell them how sorry I was for living when Ferguson’s head toward me. Rigor mortis had set in, and they could not, sorry for my beautiful wife, for my sweet the corporal kept trying to jerk the head around in my sons, my wonderful career. For a long time, I lived my direction. “I’m telling you — that’s him,” I said. life for my fallen comrades. For Worley and Parsons and When I got back, Squeaky was sitting on the sandbags around Ferguson. Ferguson? I knew him all of a minute. the hole. “What was that guys name again?” he asked. We were on some barren, windswept mound of dirt, “Ferguson,” I said, setting my rifle down and taking off and the enemy had been raining mortar and artillery fire my helmet. on us daily. Here came this replacement walking up the So I took Ferguson home with me. Who else was going to road as if he were out for a Sunday stroll. I was sitting on remember him? Who else among us “knew” him and could a wall of sandbags next to my fighting hole with Squeaky carry his good name, his reputation, the memory of him as a Williamson of Oklahoma. Marine? Remembering was part of the bargain we all made, “Hey, Marine,” the replacement said, stopping in front the reason we were willing to die for one another. of me, “where’s the company first sergeant?” I tilted my head in the right direction. “I’m Ferguson,” he said. And Michael Norman teaches journalism at the New York just at that moment, as Ferguson was about to lean his University. He is co-author of a recently completed rifle against the sandbag wall and shake my hand, I heard book on the Bataan death march. the soft phft phft phft of enemy mortars going off on the Reprinted with author’s permission, Time Magazine, far slope of the hill opposite ours. “Incoming!” someone May 2008 yelled. Squeaky flew into the hole first, I landed on top of him and Ferguson landed on top of me. The attack went Editor’s note: Michael is also the author of, These Good for two, three minutes, then there was quiet. Men, Crown Publishing, 1989. The book covers his Squeaky, in the bottom of the hole, with two of us on time with 2/9 in 1968-69 and the battle for Bridge 28 top of him, was yelling now for us to move, but Ferguson on Route 9 between Ca Lu and Khe Sanh and finding just lay there. “Tell that new (expletive) to get up,” his platoon members 15 years later.  Squeaky yelled. I thought Ferguson was paralyzed with fear, so I jammed my elbow hard in his ribs and rolled him slightly up and off me. I could feel my shirt clinging to my back — fear makes the sweat pour out of you — and when I finally pulled myself out of the hole, I was covered Artwork by Roland Castanie in sweat and blood. 8 Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 2008 May • June • July • August 2008 May • June • July • August Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 9 was on the tank with me the day I got wounded. I need were: “Rock,” “Andy”, “Panther”, “Brother Luv”, “Gater”, to get in touch with him or anyone else that was on my “Slim”, “Bug Baron”, “Raley”, “Gunny”, “Harry Harle” Looking For tank and witnessed action. Unfortunately I have lost this and “Stevie.” individuals name and a-mail address. Could anyone who This is a direct quote from one of his letters to my mom James Thomas that day but, here goes with what I have been able to put was with me at that time please contact me at the below about “Rock”: I am helping my father, James Thomas, look for together so far. contact numbers “This may seem hard for you to believe but other than information about his tank (it had “Thor” on the gun I was the TC of C-53 assigned to “C” Co. 1st Tanks and Mark Damschen you and my family, he means more to me than any other tube) and his fellow Marines. My father is now living at we were working south of Hoi An, South Vietnam in late (719) 481-9263 person in the world. We’ve been through some moments Hines VA Hospital due to various forms of cancer caused ‘68. The name on my tank was (“F*CK IT”). The “IT” P O Box 948 together that I will never forget. I have a feeling one or the by Agent Orange. part: was made up of two feet up and two feet down. Monument, CO 80132 other or both saved each other’s life.” Contact me at my home address: We where in our CP at the time when we started [email protected] We would like to find out who “Rock” is and to be able Michael J. Thomas receiving in coming rockets and mortars. I remember to meet him. 4105 S. Drexel Blvd (#2NR) running for cover and the next thing I knew I am came Daniel Matranga I know that in September of 1969 while serving on his Chicago Il. 60653 to in the NAS hospital in Da Nang. They where putting Hello, my name is David Matranga. My father Daniel tank he was injured twice and received two Purple Hearts [email protected] a cast on my left leg. A couple of days later a good buddy E. Matranga (aka “Pogo”) served in Vietnam with 4th for mine accidents. He was then transferred to a book Thank you again and God bless of mine was going to check on me and the vehicle he was Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Tank Battalion, 1at Marine keeping job that he hated. He wanted nothing more than in hit a mine. He ended up in the hospital bed next to Division from July 1969 to July 1970. He served on to get back to his platoon but it never happened. April 19, 1968 Route 9 me. I have picture of both of us in hospital together. He Operation Pipestone Canyon on Go Noi Island south of If you need some more information please let me I am looking for the tank and crew that was involved in was short with time left on his WESPAC tour so they sent Hill 55 and in Dodge City. know. an ambush on April 19, 1968 on Bridge #28 on Route 9, him back to the states. I can’t tell you how long I was in My dad died about 10 years ago of a heart attack. While My mom’s name is Linda Matranga. 8-clicks outside Ca Lu towards Khe Sanh. The grunt unit the hospital. Upon my release I was sent back to our main he was alive he did not like to relive any of his experience 6 Chestnut was 2/9 and the tank in question pulled forward onto the CP, just south of Da Nang and got back with my unit. in the war. My mom, brother and I have starting trying Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 bridge as the grunts tried to recover bodies. Some grunts The buddy of mine is John Maxwell. I finally made to find some of his buddies or fellow Marines that may (949) 362-6111 sought shelter next to the tank due to intense enemy fire. contact with him again several years ago. He wrote me a have served with him or knew him. I would like to add a Email: [email protected] In his words: letter stating what he witnessed that day but, due to his post with some pictures of the tank he commanded, “Miss I am Dan’s son David Matranga “April 19th to be exact -- a tank on Route 9, the road current medical condition he doesn’t remember any dates Goodie Two Shoes”, along with pictures of him and his Email: [email protected] between Khe Sanh and Ca Lu, saved my miserable rear end. also. If I could ascertain the date of his injuries then I platoon, to see if anybody out there might remember him. (512) 228-9181 NVA had set up a brilliant ambush and the peckerheads could pinpoint a date I got medivaced to Da Nang. My dad after coming home from Vietnam had a major had us caught in a murderous cross fire. Many men had I have asked for all my files and service records but battle with cancer that I believe he attributed to his John, been killed, rounds kicking up the dirt in the road. I was I’ve only received to this date around 8 to 10 pages. If I exposure to Agent Orange. That was in 1984. He then In the hospitality suite in Las Vegas I was talking to a wearing a ANPRC25 radio and, trying to crawl under that though that if I went to St. Louis and get all my records he survived seven surgeries and went on to live until the tanker that had throat cancer surgery and was now getting tank for cover, and I got stuck with my ass and legs hanging then I would. age of 51, when he died of a sudden heart attack in 1998. 100% from VA. Our corpsman, Doc Forsythe, has throat out there on the road. The gooks were having a great time I am looking for anyone out there that may have any My dad, like many Marines who were there, was pretty cancer and he is getting a lot of crap from VA. He asked shooting at me, and this sergeant -- I’ll never forget the information that can help me with this matter. I would quiet about his experiences over there. But even with him me if we could find the other guy & hook them up. I bastard, big, hairy, smile on his face -- opened the trap really like to hear from them. I want to thank you for any keeping most of his memories inside, his love and loyalty know it’s fishing deep but maybe you can find out who door in the deck of the tank, slipped out onto the road and help possible. for the Corps was extremely evident. the member is. dragged my ass under that big, beautiful hunk of metal. Here is my contact information: Recently my mom found a box that is almost 40yrs old Doc Forsythe’s email is: [email protected] Tankers are some of my favorite Marines.” 5757 S. Staples - Apt #2512 that held many-many letters that he sent to her while he Thank you. I am in contact with the individual and would like to Corpus Christi, Texas 78413 was over there. She hasn’t read them since she received (Cpl) Doug Scrivner hook you up if you were there. He has written a book and (H) 361- 993- 7810 (C) 361- 877- 6685 them back in 1969. We are finding out the names of a few USMC 1967-1970 Semper Fi RVN 68-69 is now a Professor of Journalism at NYU. He is also the [email protected] of the men he hung out with and many of the “nicknames” BLT 2/7 B & C Co. 1st Tanks (Zippo) 1st Mar.Div. author of the article in this issue, “Ferguson”. of the men in his Platoon, along with bits and pieces of [email protected] Please contact Bob Peavey Mameluke Thrust his experience over there. We would love nothing more [email protected] OR 770-365-3711 I am looking for Marines that were on my tank crew when than to find out the names of the men in his platoon and I was wounded. I was with 1st Plt B Co 1st Tank Battalion. to contact as many as we could. The following VTA members have no mailing addresses James “Digger” Didear We were on Operation “Mameluke Thrust” escorting a The 2 names of tanks that my mom has found are on our roster. Anyone who knows any of these men, I am looking for anyone who may have witnessed me convoy on 30 May 1968 when we were ambushed. I was “Miss Goodie Two Shoes” and “Cheap Thrills Two”. maybe you can contact them and fix this problem. being WIA and medevaced toward the end of the year of wounded by a gunshot wound and I was contacted by He mentioned the names of Lt. James Skoog, and Ron James M Ferrin, Gerald A Potts, John J Quindlen, 1968. I don’t remember alot about what really happened one of my fellow tankers about a year ago saying that he Kleffner and the nicknames of the men in his platoon Phillip S Weigand, & Lawrence W Zuley. 10 Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 2008 May • June • July • August 2008 May • June • July • August Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 11 Meet Your Board of Directors in the winner’s circle for the 1994 could only smile and agree — he did guides to get him into the most Daytona 500 with the Kodak Racing do a lot of dumb things with those unusual of locations. With a cost A feature that provides some history about Team and has the winner’s ring to magnificent machines — but didn’t of $25 per exposure, he has learned one of your Board members. prove it! we all? What do expect when you to be patient and wait for the exact Bob had been working on a give an unsupervised 20-year old the moment when nature and light manuscript for five years that was ultimate 52-ton off-road vehicle! come together to make the perfect Robert (Bob) Peavey knew he would DI’s wanted everyone to pass so eventually picked up by Zenith Bob currently lives outside image. While others may be taking never join the Army from almost the they could look good. He knew Publishing in late 2004. Praying For Atlanta with his wife Alica who is a pictures over his set up camera, he day he was born in 1947 on New York’s he did the right thing when Slack – A Marine Tank Commander Family Nurse Practitioner with over is often in a lawn chair waiting for Long Island. Bob graduated from Valley an amtrack sank off Delmar in Vietnam was his telling of the story 30 years of E.R. experience. Bob the precise moment. He is a firm Forge Military Academy in Wayne, during his tank crewman class. of Operation Allen Brook and the also has two sons, Ian and Douglas believer that it is the second mouse Pennsylvania in 1965. Coincidently, Bob only lied twice while in the difference between the two wars being who live in Fort Myers, Florida. that gets the cheese. He recently had the guest speaker for the graduating Corps, the second time would fought in I Corps. One veteran tanker Bob is an aspiring Ansel Adams and a one-man show of his work in the class at this Army ROTC school was occur at Con Thien two years best summed up his book when he enjoys backpacking throughout the Atlanta area. then USMC Commandant, General later — but that’s another story. said the book should have been titled, SW United States with a large 8x10 He is currently the Vice President of Wallace M. Greene. Bob would be Bob’s tank crewman class was He finished the last seven months of “All The Stupid Things One Can Do format camera shooting majestic the USMCVTA as well as the Editor the only one in his graduating class unique in that it was made up of three his tour as a TC and Section Leader With a Tank.” At first offended, Bob landscapes. He has used Indian and Publisher of the Sponson Box.  who decided not to go on to college future Vietnam Tankers Association with 3rd Tanks. He rotated back to that year. He knew that his draft board Board of Directors with John Wear the world in March of 19693.296 to 2nd pt was breathing over his shoulder, but and Garry Hall. Upon graduating, Tanks in Camp Lejeune where he after years of Army ROTC training their class was split between Vietnam was promoted to sergeant the day WE NEED YOUR HELP he decided he would never become a and the recently activated 5th Tank he checked in. He finished out his Tanks in Country DVD Offer Dog Face. His father was a 2nd Marine Battalion in Camp Pendleton. All enlistment in August of 1969. We are required by our bylaws and the IRS to hold a Board of Directors Division veteran of Saipan and Tinian three future board members were While in Vietnam, Bob had applied meeting every year. This is not a problem during our reunion year, but for If you were at the Las Vegas reunion who knocked out three Jap tanks with assigned to the new battalion where and been accepted to Rochester the off year it requires additional expenses to hold the meeting; it means dinner, you probably saw the great a bazooka on Saipan, blunting a major they continued their friendship. Institute of Technology which would getting 10 people to a central location. This costs your organization around home movie running during the $3,000 after you figure airfare, hotel and food. This is not a vacation. We enemy counterattack; it also made the Bob was in California for 14 start a month after his enlistment cocktail hour of tanks in Vietnam value our member’s contributions and we do our best to economize as shot on color movie film. Tom Sny- MOS assignment for his future son months but it was his love of auto ended. His love for photography, best we can. We double up in rooms and we negotiate a favorable rate all the more ironic. August 16, 1966 racing and Riverside Raceway north discovered in the Marines, led to with an airport hotel for meeting space and room rates. This year we are der provided this fabulous footage found Bob getting off the 0200 bus at of Pendleton where his interest in a Bachelor of Science degree in holding the meeting in Atlanta since two of our members live there; we to us as a fundraiser. It is 20 min- MCRD Parris Island robbing the Army photography took root. Borrowing a Professional Photography. Upon can also save on airfare because it is a hub-city. We have already booked utes long and features 2nd Platoon, of another draftee by a single day. fellow Marine’s Nikon, his lowly E-4 leaving school he accepted a position the flights 3 months ahead to try and save as much as we can. C Company, 1st Tanks operating A week before graduating “The paychecks were often spent on film to start a commercial photo studio with 2/7 in 1968-’69 on Goi Noi Is- Island” he learned about the strange and developing charges. While with in Lorain, Ohio, and then moved to Here is where we need your help in order to keep this organization alive: we land. There is also footage of tanks numbers called MOS and what 1800 5th Tanks, he attended NBC School a larger photo studio in Rochester, are seeking donations to help cover the expense of holding this required and their crews on the USS Thom- meeting. You have supported us in the past with similar requests and we meant — tanks or amtracks. Shake and was in the last day of NCO School New York and later to an even larger aston around the same time. Even are hoping you can support your organization once again. Please donate if you weren’t with 1st Tanks, it is & Bakes (as amtracks were called) when he abruptly mounted out with commercial studio in New York City. what you can to help offset these necessary expenses. didn’t appeal to him, besides, being Bravo Co., 5th Tanks, in February of Much of what he was doing was more a thoroughly entertaining and price- a taxi driver wasn’t his cup of tea; 1968 to support the 27th Marines business than photographic related so Make your checks payable to USMC VTA and on the memo line of your less record of tanks in action. tanks were more to his liking. Upon outside Da Nang in the Dodge City he decided to go back to school for check place the words, “Mtg. Exp.” Send your donation to: Send a check made out to USMC arrival at the Track Vehicle School in area. He was a gunner and participated his MBA, again at RIT. USMC VTA, 5537 Lower Mountain Rd., VTA for $25.00 plus $3.00 S/H to: Delmar, California, he told anyone in Operations Allenbrook, Mameluke Eastman Kodak Company hired New Hope, PA 18938 who would listen that he couldn’t Thrust & Napoleon Saline. His Bob in 1979 while still in school where USMC VTA swim a lick. His rationale was that platoon would later be assigned to he still works today as a Marketing Thank you for your continued support of our great organization. c/o John Wear it might make him undesirable as an support the Korean Marines for three Communications Manager. His love 5537 Lower Mountain Road Semper Fidelis, amtracker — and it worked! When months. When the elements of the for auto racing never diminished New Hope, PA 18938 confronted that his SRB showed that 5th Marine Division were sent home and was realized by Kodak in 1992 John Wear he had passed drown-proofing in in late August of 1968, Bob was making him Director of Motorsports bootcamp, he lied and said that the transferred to Charlie Co., 3rd Tanks. for 3 years. He was fortunate to be 12 Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 2008 May • June • July • August 2008 May • June • July • August Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 13 •••••••••••••••••&ANDOf Of•••••• What members are doing?

••••••• Two Corporals in the Family We now have 2 Corporals in the family.... My daughter Jill (USMC) was promoted to Corporal in Hershey, PA today..... Above & Beyond Son-in-law Rob, and Col. Jeff Miller, Commander,

PA State Police, Harrisburg, PA look on.

Recognizing those members that have made financial contributions above Submitted by Tom Snyder

and beyond their normal membership dues to help our organization grow. • • ••••• CLR-15 Mounts Out For Iraq Many of you met my son Dominic at our last reunion. like”. He said that the unit they relieved had only found Since then Dominic became one of RB’s ( Sgt. Major R.B. three IEDs during their entire tour and that it had been English USMC Ret.) neighbors when he was transferred a long time since the base had been subjected to a mortar to the 15th Combat Logistic Regiment at Marine Corps attack. “Reactive memory” caused me to tell him to enjoy • • Air Ground Combat Center 29 Palms, or as we know the quiet because with the televised promises that some it “the Stumps”. On February 22, 2008 I was at the presidential candidates are making, and the soon to be Jack Arena Robert Gates Dover Randolph “Stumps” to wish Dominic well as he mounted out with televised anti war protest that would be taking place on his unit for his 2nd tour in Iraq. Dominic is a wheeled the invasion anniversary things probably would not be Bill Bisbee Jeffery Griffith Pete Ritch vehicle mechanic and outside the wire he is the fix it man quiet much for much longer. A few weeks later he again who keeps the convoy rolling. Also, because he is one of called home. That call took place about the same time Eddie Blanchette Jim Guffey Doug Scrivner only a few combat veterans in company he gets to be the that things were “heating up” in Basra. It was then that Robert Bonderud Garry Hall Ron Shuppy 50 cal. gunner on the lead vehicle. Here are some photos he informed me that he had survived an IED attack while of our young brothers getting ready to leave for the Sand on the road to Ramadi. Apparently the MPs who were John Byrne Doug Hamilton Frank Slovik Box, as well as a photo of an M 48 and an Ontos that are suppose to “sweep” the road” missed an IED. Fortunately on display at the base. there was a problem with the IED and the entire thing did Louis Cherico John Hefferman James Stayton Since Dominic has been in country I have had the not detonate. So, Dominic and the rest of the Marines on opportunity to speak with him a few times. A couple the truck just got “banged up” and became a bit more Albert Christy Fidelis Jarnot Edward Tierney of days after his unit arrived in country he called home. religious. I have spoken with him since and he is doing Frank Cotton Fred Kellogg Chris Vrakelos He said that the unit would be operating out of a former fine, and things are no longer boring up in the Al Anbar. Iraqi Air Force Base up near Falljuah. The base is called He said to say hello to everyone, and that he is looking Steve Curti Geary McCleery Charles West Al Tagaddum or just “TQ”. In our first conversation forward to being with us at our next reunion. Dominic said “This is not the same country I left in Semper Fidelis Justin Donnelly Armando Moreno Emile Wille 2006. It is quiet, boring and has become very garrison Mike “Belmo” Belmessieri Edgar Evans Larry Parshall Stan Williams Guy Everest Bob Peavey Ken Zitz Lookin’ Good! Danny Farrell Richard Peksens If we failed to recognize someone we are truly sorry Charles Fischer Jim Raasch for the oversight. Lloyd “Pappy” Reynolds shows off his latest E-Bay acquisition. He never was one to keep up with the • • latest fashion trends. Belmo & Son 14 Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 2008 May • June • July • August 2008 May • June • July • August Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 15 charges into bunkers and trenches as Three tanks were on the northern happened to be on the northeastern they passed by. half of the perimeter, hunkered down perimeter where the main assault came through the wire. Cpl Thatcher was asleep underneath his tank when the incoming started. He stayed put. Tanks To climb out into the open would o n t h e be suicide. His gunner, L/Cpl David Gehrman, took the attacking force under fire with his .30-caliber machine gun. Suddenly, an anti-tank HEAT round pierced his turret and exploded. DMZ Choking smoke filled the turret. Part I Gehrman yelled, “Everybody bail Night Attack out!” As he was leaning out of the tank on Con Thien commander’s cupola, yelling at Cpl 1967 Thatcher to run, another explosion blew him out of the turret. The blast By Jim Coan Photo by Don Gehl had mortally wounded the other two Blown Bunkers crewmen, L/Cpl J. E. Young and An isolated little hill, two miles barbed wire obstacles, anti-tank and by combat-savvy Marines from Alpha About 0400, the main force in their firing slots when the attack PFC J. C. Lester, Jr. Gehrman was below the southern border of the anti-personnel mines. Company, 3d Tanks. attacked, pouring through giant gaps began. Sergeant David Danner, the hurt bad, but he managed to rise Demilitarized Zone dividing North Work commenced on bunker At 0250 in the morning, a green blown in the perimeter wire. Three platoon maintenance man (“shit and stagger towards a nearby trench. and South Vietnam, became the scene construction, emplacement of barbed flare shot skyward from somewhere of the NVA were armed with flame fister”), was in the gunner’s seat on Before he could reach safety, a bullet of numerous battles in 1967. Many wire obstacles, and mine installation beyond the southern perimeter. throwers. Their blazing fuel suffocated the center tank. An RPG penetrated smacked into his leg, knocking him years before the Americans arrived, the first week of May. The engineers Almost immediately, sounding like and roasted several Marines crouched the turret and exploded with a searing off his feet. He began crawling towards the French army had recognized the and Navy Seabees were making dozens of kettle drums beating in the in their bunkers. Other NVA carried flash, blasting the crew with molten the trench, dragging his shattered leg, superior observation capabilities progress, but much work lay ahead distance, the booming and thumping satchel charges or RPGs. steel fragments. Despite being hit and when a bullet struck him in his other of the hill identified on their maps before the perimeter would be secure. sounds of many artillery and mortar burned severely, Sgt Danner got all leg. Two grunts reached out and as Nui Con Thien. Eventually, after The NVA were keeping a wary eye on pieces could be heard all over Con of his wounded crewmen out of the pulled Gehrman into their bunker. the French departed, it became an this new development that threatened Thien. Within seconds, a screeching tank and into a nearby aid station. He was out of the war. ARVN outpost. to impede their infiltration routes roar of incoming descended upon He refused treatment, returning to his Tank commander Thatcher was In 1966, Secretary of Defense into the south. the Marines. It was every man’s worst tank to retrieve the .30-cal. machine painfully wounded in the back and McNamara and his whiz kids in the The night of May 7-8, a combined nightmare—an all out attack—and it gun and as many boxes of ammo as neck by shrapnel as he climbed aboard pentagon decided that a barrier plan force of NVA soldiers and sappers was coming right at them. he could carry. He continued to pour his still-smoldering tank. He gave first was needed to halt enemy infiltration from the 4th and 6th Battalions of the NVA sappers sprinted in under a heavy volume of machine gun fire aid and attempted to comfort one of south across the DMZ into South 812th NVA Regiment gathered in the the covering barrage and blew several into the ranks of the attackers despite his dying crewmen as best he could. Vietnam. Hill 158, Nui Con Thien, trees outside of Con Thien’s perimeter, huge gaps in the northern perimeter being wounded many more times by Then he fired off all of his remaining was identified as a key strongpoint rehearsing their attack plans for the wire with bamboo bangalore shrapnel from exploding mortars and .30-caliber ammunition, inflicting position. Work commenced quietly umpteenth time. The regulars would torpedoes. While the sappers did grenades. On one occasion, when heavy casualties on the attackers. in early spring, 1967, to bulldoze a follow their highly trained sapper their dirty work, the waiting infantry he saw a seriously wounded Marine He climbed down from his disabled strip (called the Trace) two hundred commandos through gaps blown laid down a fierce covering fire with lying exposed in the open, Sgt Danner tank and retrieved a rifle from a dead yards wide from Con Thien to Gio in the concertina wire and quickly their automatic weapons. Nearly all picked him up and carried him through Marine. Observing an RPG team Linh six miles to the east. The 11th overrun what they believed to be weak the young Marines had their heads intense enemy fire to the corpsman’s about to fire at the third tank, which Engineers, accompanied by Marines ARVN and CIDG forces manning the down in a trench or were huddled bunker where he could receive first was the only one still mobile, Thatcher from 1/4 and the 3d Tank Battalion, base. What they did not know was that inside a bunker. The sappers knew aid. Danner kept fighting until the gunned them down before they could finally completed that task the end the ARVN had been replaced recently this. Creeping and crawling forward, attack subsided hours later; then he unleash their anti-tank rocket. of April. The next objective was to by two reinforced companies from tossing 1/4 pound blocks of TNT allowed his wounds to be treated. The tank platoon sergeant, clear a 500-meter wide strip around the 1st Bn., 4th Marines, a platoon of ahead of them to simulate mortar A second tank commanded by Gunnery Sergeant Barnett G. Person, Con Thien that would be filled with engineers; and, three tanks manned blasts, the sappers threw satchel NVA Flame Thrower Corporal Charles D. Thatcher commanded the third tank. He was 16 Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 2008 May • June • July • August 2008 May • June • July • August Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 17 located on the northwest side of the accompanied by an Army “duster” but ammunition continued to cook Part II perimeter, away from the brunt of the and two LVTH amtracs, attacked off for hours. main assault. He chose to button down across the old landing strip through As the sun rose in the smoke- his hatches and keep his tank moving, the center of the perimeter. The shrouded morning sky, vengeful steering towards the main point of the “duster” immediately exploded into Marines attacked isolated pockets of attack where his other two smoking flames after an RPG struck it. The NVA and shot them down as they tanks lay immobilized. Several NVA following amtrac caught fire when a tried to escape. With the perimeter History crawled atop his tank, attempting to satchel charge exploded underneath sealed off, making escape impossible, of the disable it with satchel charges, but he it, but the crew and passengers it was either surrender or die. Most kept his 90mm main gun blasting out managed to escape. chose to die. General Lew Walt flew into Patton Con Thien by helicopter later that morning, landing near the still burning amtracs. Some isolated stragglers were still being hunted down and killed as late as 1100 that By Gerry Hodum Tank morning, even while General Walt was assessing the attack damage. The human carnage was mind- numbing. Nearly 200 NVA bodies lay inside and outside of the perimeter. No doubt dozens more dead had been carried away by their “transportation unit” before dawn. The 4th Marines “guestimated” another 200 were probably killed by air strikes and Amtrack on Fire Photo by Don Gehl artillery. Marine losses were heavy, 44 canister, and his two machine guns The next amtrac was not so killed and 110 wounded. Destroyed sprayed thousands of bullets into the fortunate. While trying to avoid the or damaged were two amtracs, three determined enemy. His tank would other two vehicles, it was driven into M-48A3 tanks, one road grader, one be the only one of three still operable a barbed wire fence, entangling the Army “duster,” two dump trucks, when daylight came. sprocket. Sitting there as helpless as two jeeps, and one Ontos. Four green Out of a dozen crewmen on the a beached boat, another RPG flashed berets and five Navy Seabees were The T48 design was an elliptically T42. The vehicle had six road wheels main gun was a lightweight 90mm three tanks, only one man survived through the night exploding inside the also wounded. shaped hull and turret based on and a wider track (28 inch compared T139 with a quick-change gun tube. the battle unscathed. Three tankers “flaming coffin,” turning it into a death (Continued on page 24) concepts forwarded from Ordnance to 23 inch). The T48 had an 85-inch The tube could be removed with were dead. Sgt Danner and Cpl trap for the crew and squad of Marines Tank Automotive Command turret ring (M47-73.0 inch) the same out removing the breech ring or Thatcher would survive their wounds from Alpha’s third (OTAC) to the Chrysler Ordnance as the T43, which allowed for heavier gun mount from the turret due to and be awarded the Navy Cross. platoon. One man Development Department, designated weapons systems in the future and interrupted threads attaching the tube Gunnery Sergeant Person received a escaped before the as Vehicle Design Agency. These for the turret walls to slope smoothly to the breech ring. Coaxially mounted Silver Star. amtrac exploded into closely resembled the hull and turret to the hull. The crew of four men with the main gun on the left were Enough Marines from D/1/4 on flames, but he was shape of the T43 120mm gun tank. consisted of a driver, who was a 0.50 caliber M2HB machine gun the northern perimeter had survived riddled by machine This shape provided for maximum positioned in the center of the hull (removed in production vehicles) and the initial sapper attack to fight gun bullets while armor protection at minimum weight. eliminating the assistant driver/bow a 0.30 caliber M1919A4 machine back fiercely, along with the tankers, attempting to run The vehicle was to be equipped with gunners’ position. This allowed main gun on the right (moved to the left and this slowed the momentum for cover. Horrible the same basic power package as the gun ammunition to be positioned to side and replaced by a telescope in of the main NVA attack. On the screams from inside M47 to make the transition to the user the driver’s right and left. The turret production vehicles). At the tank southern perimeter, a severely the blazing amtrac easier and to answer user complaints contained the rest of the crew, tank commanders position a 0.50 caliber outnumbered platoon from A/1/4, died down quickly, Fighting Holes Photo by Don Gehl about the questionable power of the commander, gunner, and loader. The M2HB machine gun was mounted 18 Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 2008 May • June • July • August 2008 May • June • July • August Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 19 to the commander’s cupola in a It was found that with the two Ford Motor Company (Livonia service his 0.50 cal under armor and end of the chute so you could juggle saw no service in the Marine Corps). manually controlled mount. This was gasoline heaters operating the short MI) General Motors Corporation with the hatch in the upright position a 105 round box with one hand while Continued testing of the M48 called the Chrysler mount by the users exhaust vents allowed heater exhaust (Grand Blanc Tank Arsenal) and protected his back somewhat. During pushing a round through the double series vehicle showed that limited and could be elevated/depressed and to enter the crew compartment. Chrysler Corporation (Chrysler testing, this cupola had a powered link of the fresh ammo and the single operational range had to be addressed. traversed from inside with the hatch The change made was to make the Newark Delaware Tank Plant). (A ammunition drum unit mounted on link tail hanging from the flexible Improved engines and transmissions closed. The 0.50 cal M2HB could be tubes longer and directing them little Tank Trivia: Chrysler made ALL the turret basket that held 500-600 link chute with the other hand. were tested at the proving grounds. reloaded by using a crank to unlock to the sponson box area on the left their M48’s at Newark Delaware. rounds feeding up thru a flexible Simple, right? As you can see I’m a The Army accepted a fuel injected the machine gun mount and then side. Further testing revealed other No M48’s were ever made at Detroit chute to the M2HB 0.50 that was great fan of this cupola and it didn’t gasoline engine AVI-1790-8 and a cranking the mount to pivot over the shortcomings in the suspension and Tank plant!!!) To avoid confusion on mounted horizontally in the cupola. get any better. Many suggestions were CD-850-5 transmission along with open loaders hatch where another hull configuration. To reduce the the part of the user it was decided that Feed was from the right side of the submitted regarding this cupola (some improved fire control Instruments 105 round (as 0.50 caliber was chance of throwing track, a track early vehicles with the small hatch and receiver with link and brass being not printable) and efforts were made and Cadillac Gage turret power packaged then) box of ammunition tension idler was placed between the the Chrysler cupola were designated “flex link chuted” from the right to alleviate the situations but NONE controls, after much testing as the could be installed. The mount was last road wheel and the sprocket and M48 (this included a number of side out of the cupola. It was found proved satisfactory, the worst (in M48A2. Improved suspension then cranked back, relocked and hub assembly. At the engine exhaust mild steel “Non Ballistic” hulls and that the feed system interfered with this writers mind) was the 50 round components included an upgraded was now ready to fire. The tank was area it was found the exhaust was turrets that were designated M48C the access of the gunner’s area and ammo supply box and the continued front idler mount and arm along to be equipped with a range finder directed straight at the gun travel For “Training Use Only.”) At Camp the commander’s use of the range use of the small cable charger. When with added snubbers and reduction but the original T48s that were used lock and gun tube. This caused a Lejeune you could find, in the mid to finder. This system was replaced by 8th Tanks was stood down the tanks of the support rollers from five to in 2d Tank Battalion in the training heat hazard unless asbestos gloves late’50’s, T48’s, M48’s and M48C’s at an ammunition box, attaching to (including all the storage ones) were three. M48A2’s were not used by platoon, under Gunny Dick Wenner, were used and the heat also “froze” 2d Tanks. You also could find at 8th the cupola edge, with 105 rounds taken up by 2d Tanks, which had the Marine Corps, as they did not had the Phase 1 fire control. This was the lock with the gun in travel lock. Tanks, Force Troops, 54 brand new (as packaged then per box) available become the Force Troops unit. It give that large an improvement for an off set telescope (T161) for the tank Deflectors were designed to aim the M48A1’s Chrysler manufactured (of for use. The box lay along the left might be of interest to know that the the Corps investment. The Corps commander connecting to a ballistic exhaust away from the travel lock which 50% were in open storage in side of the head of the commander Marine Corps pushed for flame tank followed the developments of the drive unit (T24) that connected to a and the gun tube. The original travel the tank park). These were equipped when he was at the sight. The ammo development right along with the Army’s up grade program. The Corps range drive unit (T25) and gunners lock was short and a longer one soon with full up completed fire controls fed forward into a flexible link chute, T48-M48. The T67 was a Chemical finally looked at the M48A3. periscope (T35). This simple fire appeared to lift the gun tube out of system with a stereoscopic rangefinder went forward, did a 180 degree turn Corps Flame Unit M7-6 mounted in control was replaced by a Phase IV the heated area. As need increased (T46 or M13), ballistic computer to the rear, a 90 degree turn to the a T48 modified structure. Next issue: The M48A3. fire control as more components and production of the M48 started to (T30 or M13), ballistic drive (T24 were produced by industry. This had ramp up and testing continued it was orM5) with elevation quadrant a stereoscopic range finder (T46), found that casting of the one piece (M13), gunners sight (M20) and ballistic computer (T30), ballistic hull was limited by available facilities. a straight tube telescope (T156 or drive (T24) and gunner’s periscope A design study developed a hull that M97) as an auxiliary sight. They (M20) with a straight tube auxiliary could be made from seven pieces and also had the production version of telescope (T156). There were various welded together and still provide Aircraft Armaments Industries Model marks of each instrument series until the ballistic integrity required. This 30 commanders cupola that was they were given model numbers. Hull permitted hull availability and the designated “Cupola M1”. This cupola design changed as a result of testing tank to be being manufactured by gave the commander the ability to of the T48 at Fort Knox KY, Redesigned driver’s hatch Aberdeen MD and Chrysler viewers right and up in the receiver This had a reduced crew of three proving grounds Chelsea (now mounted at an angle towards (no loader) and mounted, beside the Editor’s note: The designer of the MI. Some of the changes the left side so the cover could be flame unit, a 0.30 caliber machine cupola mounted .50 should have were the small drivers opened somewhat) where the rounds gun and a 0.50 caliber M2HB in a been made to take a tank into hatch and linkage operated (DOUBLE LINK INBOARD AND Chrysler cupola. In 1955 the vehicle combat with only a working .50 driver’s periscopes that FORWARD!!) could be laid in the was designated the M67 (on modified and nothing else. A fix would have had to be lowered before receiver. The charging handle, a very M48A1 structures). These units saw come about real soon.  the hatch could be opened small wire called a “Charging Cable” substantial service in the Marine being replaced by a larger was used to arm the weapon. The trick Corps in the mid 1950’s and early hatch and periscopes that we learned early on, if your weapon 1960’s. (The flame tank developed remained in place during fired at all, was to remember to stop from the below mentioned M48A2 hatch opening and closing. with two rounds hanging before the was the designated M67A1 which 20 Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 2008 May • June • July • August 2008 May • June • July • August Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 21 command ever admitted it officially, light 12-gage shotgun shooting an 1500 rounds of ammo. Trainees to do but these tanks went to Israel during ounce and a quarter of shot at 1200 the heavy work. It’s beginning to look the Yom Kippur War. They made a feet per second can bruise you with really good. The range was set up for difference in the outcome. Israel went the energy of its recoil, so picture the us when we got there: six by six foot on to kick Arab butt, stopping short recoil involved with sending a twenty panels stationary at 1200 meters and of Cairo and Damascus only when something pound projectile out the a four by eight foot moving target the Soviet Union started rattling barrel at 3850 feet per second. Even making two passes, one at 600 meters atomic sabers. though the main gun weighs in and one at 800. In return for us giving the Israelis thousands of pounds and it recoils Our instructions were to shoot our tanks, they gave us some against a coil spring four feet long all four tanks, counting rounds, and suggestions on how to make them wound out of inch-thick steel, it note if and when the seals failed. We better. They should know. After all, requires hydraulic oil to dampen its thought we’d died and gone to heaven. the Egyptian and Syrian armies were travel. Several gallons of oil. Oil that I know some of you shooters enjoy Plinkingt a n k e r s t y l e using Soviet T-54’s, T-55’s and T-62’s, heats up quickly as the gun is fired, plinking, you know, just throwing out the same tanks we’d face if we went to both from the heat of firing and the random targets and pumping rounds war in Europe. We also got a lot of huge amount of recoil energy it has at them with a .22, or maybe even Soviet T-54’s, T-55’s and T-62’s, but to handle. And this oil is held in the a high-powered rifle. We’d just been that’s another story. sleeve of the gun mount by seals made given orders to plink with a 105. One of the things the Israelis of synthetic material. And we did. Boy, did we ever! 1200 straightened us out on was the fact that I’d been tanking for a few years and yards with a 105 is like 50 yards with the hydraulic fluid used to move the had NEVER seen one of these seals a .22. If you miss, you just ain’t paying by Mostly Cajun turret around, elevate the main gun, leak more than a couple of drops. attention. We didn’t miss. We played. and absorb the recoil when the 105 But when we changed to the non- The 1200-meter targets were canvas, went off, this fluid was a flammable flammable fluid, they started failing. stapled to a wood frame. A hit on the I had the privilege of being an And we gave them an introduction possible to fire the main gun accurately petroleum product. Furthermore, the We went to the range with a mixture canvas left at four inch hole you could armor crewman (that’s a tanker, ya’ll) into firing the 105mm main gun. while the tank was moving. These new hydraulic system of the tank put this of new tanks with the new fluid, and see through the magnified gun sights. instructor at Fort Knox, Kentucky Just a taste, mind you, a few rounds tanks came from the factory with all fluid under a pretty high pressure, our tired old tanks with the old fluid, This wasn’t enough action for some. from 1972 to 1974. Yeah, that’s the at stationary targets out to 1200 yards the accessories neatly boxed, and the around 1400 pounds per square inch, and every one of the new tanks had We wanted to see things fall down. place where they keep the gold. The or so, and a moving target at around barrel of the main gun in a big box so that a tiny leak resulted in a fine, recoil seal failures. So after a couple of shots to fine tune Gold Depository is just across the street 800 yards. Since our tanks back then on the fender. We went to Boatwright and very flammable, cloud of oil So the experts went back to the the weapon’s zero, we went after the from the Post Laundry and surrounded did not possess stabilized turrets, we Maintenance Facility, the big shop droplets. This is not a happy thing to drawing boards and came up with 4" lumber used to hold the canvas up. by the Officer’s Club golf course. At did this from stationary positions. on post where these new tanks were have in an environment wherein your two things: A new seal that shouldn’t That’s how good these guns are. You least it WAS when I was there. Tank gunnery is FUN! But because parked in the big lot of the motor opponent delights in punching holes react adversely with the new fluid, aim at a four inch wide board 1200 We trained young soldiers fresh we were supposed to be teaching the pool. There, the mechanics installed in your vehicle with incandescent and a proposal for a test. And when meters away, and you hit it more often out of basic training, showing them trainees how to shoot, we instructors the gun tube in its proper place and metal projectiles. they reached these conclusions, they than not. Soon there were no more the basics of becoming useful armor did not normally get a chance to do we did the myriad tasks necessary “No problem”, said our experts. caught us on our next cycle break, so 1200-meter targets standing. We shot crewmen. They generally left our care a lot of shooting ourselves. Okay, we to take the tank from its storage “We have a non-flammable hydraulic we got tapped to run the test. at pieces on the ground. and went to regular line units where did occasionally get to pop a round or condition to ready for use. fluid.” So they changed. Worked fine, They sent us out to the range with And we got the range folks to start they became loaders on M60A1 Patton too, but never enough… This was happening in the two too, with one small exception. The four new tanks: two with the original up the moving target. We had speed- tanks. But we taught them a bit of every Now if you recall your history, weeks between the time one set of new fluid was NOT compatible with seals that had been failing, and two loading contests to see how many aspect of tanking: driving, mechanical you’ll remember that in 1973 Egypt trainees graduated and the next group the seals in the recoil mechanism. which had their seals replaced with rounds we could get at the target on maintenance, radio communications, and Syria attacked Israel in what showed up. We called this “cycle Allow me to clue you in on this the new composition that wasn’t one pass across the range. A pass took care and feeding of machine guns and became known as the Yom Kippur break”. We had two weeks to get recoil system thing. Most of you supposed to leak. They sent eight of maybe a minute and a half, and in personal weapons. Back then, a tanker’s War. When the war kicked off, we 15 tanks ready for use. We worked know that when you fire a gun, it us young instructors, a range safety this case the tank commander and the personal weapon was the M1911A1 were in the process of commissioning steadily all the first week, and left the kicks back as the projectile goes officer who was one particularly good loader, both experienced instructors, .45 pistol and the M3A1 .45 caliber new tanks. motor pool on Friday for a deserved forward. The magnitude of this lieutenant, a senior drill sergeant and both knew what they were doing. A sub machine gun, affectionately known They were still M60A1’s, but rest. Coming back Monday, all the recoil is a function of the weight a platoon, fifteen trainees. And the round went downrange every three or as the “grease gun” for its remarkable with improvements, including a new tanks were gone. –POOF!!– and velocity of the projectile and kicker. Two semi trailers loaded with four seconds, and at 600-800 meters, mechanical beauty. stabilization system that made it Disappeared! Nobody in my chain of the weight of the powder charge. A 105mm main gun ammo. Four tanks. all hits. The moving target was a four 22 Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 2008 May • June • July • August 2008 May • June • July • August Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 23 by eight sheet of plywood. A hit took when we asked, we were told that we smoke. We just turned on the turret a four-inch circle out of the panel. We could just shoot up the rest of the evacuation blowers to clear the air and weren’t missing. Aiming at the center truckload of ammo. Apparently the kept on shooting, stopping only long of the target lost its challenge, so we paperwork to turn it back in unused enough to offload the spent casings started cutting a horizontal notch was too inconvenient to fill out. and to take on more ammo. And we from the leading edge back to the So we kept on shooting. WE shot shot it ALL up. middle, the from the top down to the up a second panel off the moving For years after I got out of the Those horizontal notch. And this knocked target. And a third. We shot so army, I had little interest in shooting out a two foot by four foot chunk of much, so fast, and the guns got so rifles because of the impact of this freakin’ the target. The fun continued. hot that the olive drab paint on the day. After you’ve been plinking with About sixty or so rounds into barrel charred to a deep coffee brown. a 105, it’s hard to get excited by a .22. the day, the first seal failure came as The recoil system on my tank got Or a .30-06. expected on one of the tanks with the so hot that the oil expanded in its So that’s the story of the day we Torsion original seals. About thirty rounds reservoir until it bled out, and when went plinking with 105’s. later, the second failed. They had to it squirted onto the hot shell casings stop shooting. We figured that this lying shin-deep on the turret floor, it Reprinted with permission from the is where the exercise would end, but gave off voluminous clouds of acrid author.  Bars

•••••••• By Robert Peavey

I was in the Corps for only three stuck torsion bar had to be at the at someone to run to Maintenance Tank on the DMZ the bodies off the trucks into the Their tenacity and overwhelming years but I feel like I had seen it all top of a tank’s long list of potential to get a “slap-hammer” from the ditch. He watched in numbed silence fire support was too tough a nut to when it came to torsion bars or as maladies. It seemed that every broken battalion shop but the runner thought (Continued from page 18) as the dozer operator pushed dirt over crack. Instead, he would carry out his the book called them, “Torsion Bar, torsion bar was unique, each with its his Platoon Sergeant was putting the NVA corpses, noting that here and war of attrition through ambushing Suspension, 2510-00-703-5899”. own story of just how it wanted to him on, after all, a “slap-hammer” A relief crew of tankers came up there a hand or foot protruded up out patrols outside the fire bases and by These were the 6-foot long, 100 be extracted; I never experienced one sounded like one of those ramp jokes from Dong Ha that afternoon to of the mass grave. shelling the Marines with his artillery, pound, 2.35 inch diameter steel rods that came out easily. often pulled on newbie tankers as in, replace the wiped out crews from the The May 8 attack on Con Thien rockets, and mortars. He planned to that actually carried the weight of the My first indoctrination to a broken “Go to Supply and get me a bucket three tanks and to determine if any of had been a disaster for General Giap’s keep the Marines tied to defending M48 tank — all twelve of them. And torsion bar was at Camp Pendleton, of muzzle blast” or “Get me some their equipment was salvageable. L/ North Vietnamese Army. The better their bases below the DMZ, where in case you are not an aficionado of home of B, C, & D Companies of high frequency grease for the aerials”; Cpl Ken “Piggy” Bores, a tanker from part of a reinforced battalion plus a his supply lines were short and he had the “Torsion Bar, Suspension” the 5th Tank Battalion; Alpha Company a box of ground guides was another Alpha Company, was shanghaied to sapper company had been sacrificed; a safe haven immune from ground two ends were NOT the same: one was already in Vietnam. frequently sent for item. So the runner be part of a working party retrieving they left half of their dead behind to interdiction. But all that would soon end had 57 teeth and the other 55 It was on the ramp at Los Flores, hesitated and smiled back at Embesi NVA bodies. While going through be buried by the Marines. Everything change, as immediately after the and they were not the same diameter. right behind Battalion Maintenance thinking, “I’m not falling for that their personal effects, Ken noted that was planned down to the last detail, May 8 attack, MACV authorized I know my torsion bars! where I got my lesson in: Torsion one.” Little did he know that there many had photos of themselves with except what would happen when they General Walt to commence planning A year with 5th Tanks in Pendleton Bar, Suspension, Extraction. Keep in really was such a tool; it was Embesi’s girlfriends and family. He then helped encountered a force of U. S. Marine an invasion of the DMZ. That next before going overseas gave me a good mind that we were only 100 feet from look that got the runner to move. load the bodies on trucks and ride out grunts, tankers, and engineers who operation would be named Hickory indoctrination into the trials and every tool the Marine Corps issued a It was that look that said you are to the burial site with them. fought like cornered badgers. and would actively involve all three tribulations of removing torsion tank battalion, we had all the 2141’s about one second from reaching your An engineer bulldozer operator had His devastating defeat at Con companies of 3d Tank Battalion. bars — and that represented the best you could shake a stick at, and experts maximum pain threshold. Embesi scooped out a wide ditch north of Con Thien convinced General Giap that of conditions! Now, I know I will up the wazoo in the form of recently called it, “Command Presence”. Thien in the newly cleared perimeter he would not be able to attack and Source: Coan, James P., Con get some arguments from career returned combat veterans. It was the Snuffies had a different name for it: that encircled the fire base. Bores was overrun the U. S. Marines dug into Thien: The Hill of Angels, University tankers who spent a lot more time ideal condition under which to learn “Command Intimidation”. part of the gruesome detail that tossed those barrier system strong points. of Alabama Press, 2004.  around tanks than I did about what how to remove a T-bar. A slap-hammer is a 1.5” diameter was the worst job for a crew, but a Staff Sergeant Embesi hollered rod with a T-handle at the top; the 24 Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 2008 May • June • July • August 2008 May • June • July • August Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 25 other end was screwed into the be moved. I discovered the purpose Packing the access well with a small exposed face of the torsion bar (after of their stationary lifestyle while amount of C-4 and adding a blasting How Lucky Was I? removing the suspension arm and walking between rows of 103s. There cap with a short time fuse was all By Graham Nuttail – Government advisor to Tony Windsor its roadwheels). There was a sliding was a sudden and very distinctive that was needed to loosen a stuck Member of Parliament weight on the rod that the user would gunshot-like “Crack!” that rang — it bar. Sometimes it took two or three Australia, 5/12/2008 pull towards him “slapping” the scared the hell out of me! The tank I charges to break it loose, but this The other night I stood in a full room in our Parliament House. weight against the T-handle thereby was next to had suddenly decided to method worked every time. After the The blokes were all smiles and the women looked grouse banging on the torsion bar to pull it unload a torsion bar! The M103 was charge went off, the bar could often All wearing their best frocks, the men in coat and tie out. The tank crew used this tool for famous for consuming torsion bars in be found protruding a foot or two And I couldn’t help thinking. How lucky was I. over an hour with no luck. They had prodigious quantities — even while out of the tank. squirted what seemed like a gallon of sitting still. But there was one story that I The Prime Minister came into the hall to polite applause, penetrating oil into the little access Obviously Vietnam was anything would love to know if any of our Closely followed by the Opposition Leader without a pause hole on the other side of the hull in the less than “ideal” conditions under members could verify for me; I would And the clapping got louder as the two other blokes passed by hope to persuade its release. This was which to pull a T-bar. Battalion love to hear from anyone who might And I couldn’t help thinking, how lucky was I. always a long process but it was the Maintenance was often 10-plus miles have been there. The story has even The PM and his Opposite expressed the Nation’s thanks to all in the room way “the book” said to do it. Finally away. As part of a platoon that was found its way into Oscar Gilbert’s But it wasn’t till these two other blokes spoke that reality hit home. an acetylene torch was wheeled over spread between Con Thien, C4 and new book, Marine Corps Tank They spoke of a Battle that they had shared by and by and used to heat up the anchor well Oceanview, I had the luck of not Battles in Vietnam. It involved a And I couldn’t help thinking, how lucky was I. that held the torsion bar fast as the having the platoon’s 2141 in my second lieutenant (it’s always a second crew pounded away for another hour section. A supply run from Dong lieutenant, isn’t it?) that had tried the They spoke of Vietnam and the Battles of Balmoral and Coral to no avail. Ha brought a torsion bar all the way C-4 procedure with an ornery torsion Where Aussie troops fought a war while many at home questioned the moral Then someone got the brilliant idea up to Oceanview, the most northern bar. As the story goes, the crew These blokes in the room though knew they could die to chain the end of the slap hammer’s outpost on the DMZ — but without warned him about the prodigious And I couldn’t help thinking, how lucky was I. T-handle to an M51 Tank Retriever a slap-hammer! What did the idiots amount of the white putty he was and see if brute force could pull the think I was going to do with a new applying. When the charge went off Twenty-five of them did die and over one hundred were wounded bar out. The retriever was backed up torsion bar and no slap-hammer? I it was said that the torsion bar flew But all who took part were forever bonded. perpendicular to the side of the tank, resorted to something I had heard out of the tank like an arrow and was They fought off the enemy and could hold their heads high a chain was wrapped around the veterans talk about back on the ramp immediately followed by a rumbling, And I couldn’t help thinking, how lucky was I. slap-hammer handle and we stood at Pendleton. It was always spoken gurgling sound, like that of an oil As I looked round the room the looked like ordinary blokes enjoying a drink back. The retriever took up the slack of in the quietest of tones, always well about to erupt, followed quickly But they bore on their chests many medals and it made me think and then strained as it wound up its looking over one’s shoulder before by what sounded like an uncapped Of what they had gone through under that foreign sky engine. Anyone who ever doubted the mentioning it — C-4. They had fire hydrant as 375 gallons of diesel And I couldn’t help thinking, how lucky was I. power of an M51 was forever changed shared with me the secrets of how to fuel rushed out of the ruptured hull that afternoon as it began to drag the “blow” a T-bar. and fuel cell. I didn’t have to go to war and put my life on the line tank sideways across the concrete Keep in mind that the tanks in Think ya used enough C-4 there, As all the blokes did who I was now standing behind. ramp! Still that dam bar wouldn’t Vietnam had been there for years; L.T.?  I don’t know the pressure to come under fire let go. The entire platoon spent the they had endured monsoons, floods, And I couldn’t help thinking, how lucky was I. rest of the day beating on the bar, mud, and saltwater runs down the To see these blokes now as they’re getting a bit older adding more oil, and using up all the beach and occasional beach landings And hear stories of their times when they had to be bolder acetylene we could find until it finally through saltwater. The torsion bars in Was truly an honor, and as we said thanks, I gave a sigh, surrendered — and this was under the these tanks had become one with the And I couldn’t help thinking, how lucky was I. best of stateside conditions! hull, fused by rust better than any arc Then there was the night I had welder could achieve. The method of Submitted by our Australian correspondent, Doug Scrivner. guard duty on the ramp at Los Flores. removing such a steadfast bar certainly Editor’s Note: Balmoral and Coral were two firebases in Vietnam near Bien Hoa. A total of It was dark and I was walking between wasn’t taught in any tanker manual. 496 Australians were KIA and 2,398 wounded during their time in RVN (1966 – 1972). A the rows of Delta Company’s “Ramp Even if you had a slap-hammer, you little known fact: Australia actually sustained a higher percentage of casualties than U.S. Queens”. These were the M103 weren’t getting a rusted bar out with forces during the Vietnam War. Heavy Tanks that seldom left the one of those toys. It required field safety of the ramp as if too fragile to expediency — and was highly illegal. 26 Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 2008 May • June • July • August 2008 May • June • July • August Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 27 Human Resources Management Director for the town of Colonel Sams was awarded 22 combat decorations North Kingstown. including the Silver Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Colonel Sams served 24 years in the United States Marine Commendation Medal with 2 Stars & Combat V, 5 Presidential Corps, receiving many honors. He entered the Marine Corps Unit Commendations, 4 Navy Unit Commendations, 3 to the as a Second Lieutenant in 1960. During his three tours in Meritorious Unit Commendations, the Vietnam Service the Vietnam War, Col. Sams served as an advisor to the Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, and the National Great Tank Park Vietnamese Marines, a Tank Company Commander and a Defense Service Medal. in the sky Force Reconnaissance Officer. He served as Commanding Paul loved his God, country, the Marine Corps, his wife, Officer of the Marine Barracks, Quonset Point, R.I. from family, friends and his dogs; Duke, Dutchess and less we 1969 to 1972. He served tours at Headquarters Marine forget his new ‘man-dog’ Nicky. He loved to hunt and fish. Corps, Recruiting Station Chicago, and Marine Corps Base He loved nature and poetry. Paul served his country, his Quantico Virginia. state and his community with honor and integrity. He was a Colonel Sams also served as the Senior Marine Officer, consummate Marine: Semper Fidelis! All who know of him

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• US Army Tank & Engineer Command, Fort Knox Kentucky respected and loved him and will miss the joy, and smiles he

and as the Operations Officer, Marine Corps Base Camp bought into our lives, as well as his gentle wave.

•••••••••••••

Lejeune••••••••••••• when he retired in May 1984. • • Gy/Sgt. John C. Osborn Camp Del Mar, and in the deserts of California. He was a • Gunnery Sgt. John C. Osborn died March 28, 2008 in the founding member of the U.S. Marine Corps Tanker Assn. and Ottawa County Hospital. He was born June 14, 1934 in Fair- the Vietnam Tanker Assn. bury, NE. He and his brother spent their early years in Salina, His retirement life was dedicated to taking care of his and the west coast awaiting their fathers return from WWII mother, Sophia Osborn, in her Salina home for 16 years until Marine tank sergeant’s service in the U.S. Army as a dental surgeon in India. her death. He became totally incapacitated following sur- John and his family moved to Oakley, KS near the end of gery spending his final days in the Good Samaritan Facility. high school where he graduated and joined the U.S. Marine The body was cremated. i n n o v a t i o n Corps. He was trained as a combat tanker and served with His brother, Dr. Vernon Osborn and wife Sara Osborn and in c o m b a t his brother in the 3rd Marine Tank Battalion in Japan and their sons John, David and Thomas survive John. He was a saved day in Fallujah with the 1st Marine Tanks, FMF, during the Korean War. great man and a hero of this country. A memorial service During his career of 20 years, he also served in Vietnam was held on Saturday, April 5, 2008 at Ryan Mortuary, Fr. where he was wounded several times, rehabilitated and John Wolesky officiating. Inurnment will be in the Gypsum By Steve Liewer STAFF WRITER volunteered for another tour. He was trained by the State Hill Cemetery, Salina, KS. Memorials may be made to the Department and served as the Senior Staff NCO at the Marine Toy Box in care of Tri-Rivers Detachment, Marine November 9, 2007 American Embassy in Seoul, Korea, he served as a nuclear Corps League, @ Mr. Don Vineyard, 1016 Burr Oak Lane, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch didn’t like – an untested tactic at the time. Together, his tanks and weapons courier for the Marine Corps. He concluded his ca- Salina, KS, 67401. what he saw ahead of his tank in Fallujah, Iraq. It was the AC-130 cleared block after block of insurgents and reer as an instructor in tank warfare at Schools Battalion, The USMC VTA made a contribution. late afternoon April 6, 2004, two days into an offensive relieved pressure on the embattled infantry platoon. to retake the city and avenge the four U.S. contractors “(We were) just inflicting a devastating number of whose burned bodies had been hung from a train trestle. casualties on the enemy, and we did it in a way that no Popaditch commanded a pair of tanks sent to relieve an one had ever done before,” Popaditch said. The thrill of infantry unit. victory soon gave way to gruesome injury. As Popaditch ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• A tanker truck, probably booby-trapped, was blocking stood in the turret of his tank during a battle the next day, an alley. Insurgents had strung a spider’s web of electrical a rocket-propelled grenade exploded next to his head. wires across the entrance to a nearby courtyard. “(I saw) a really bright light, like a flash, and then SAMS, COLONEL MELVIN PAUL, USMC (RET.), and three step children he loved as his own, Richard Hoke, Popaditch knew he was moving into the kill zone of nothing,” he said. “It was like getting hit in the head with 65, of North Kingstown, R.I., died unexpectedly Michael Gates and Amy Gates. an ambush. He wouldn’t turn back and abandon the a sledgehammer.” at home on January 17 with his loving wife Colonel Sams retired as General Manager of RI Water grunts who needed him, but to bull forward meant Popaditch continued to guide the movements of his Mary by his side. Resource Board. He served as Vice Chairman of the Quonset suicide. So he called for an airstrike. An AC-130 blew tank and called for a medical evacuation despite being He was the son of Melvin and Eleanor (Cross) Development Corporation, Vice Chairman of the states up the tanker truck, the power lines and an insurgent blinded and temporarily deafened. Sams. He was born August 19, 1942 in Greensburg, PA. Planning Technical Committee, Interim director for the post packed with weapons. Shrapnel from the blast fractured his skull and lodged He is survived by his loving wife Mary Mudge Sams of Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, Executive With those obstacles cleared, Popaditch received around his eyes and nose. Physicians couldn’t save his North Kingstown and two children; Michael and David Sams, Director for the Blackstone Valley District Commission and permission to push forward with the gunship overhead right eye, and they barely salvaged the left. 28 Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 2008 May • June • July • August 2008 May • June • July • August Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 29 he said. “The military is not an revered in the Marine Corps. Platoon Reunion adaptive world, and it shouldn’t be.” Popaditch’s tank platoon was among Harvey “Robbie” Robinson had tried for years to track down his fellow members from 2nd Platoon, Alpha Com- So in 2005, Popaditch left the the first few to cross the Kuwait-Iraq pany, 1st Tanks. Beginning in 2003 he started calling around to Dick Carey for member information who directed Marines for college. He’s now a border and reach the Iraqi capital of him to Gunner Embesi. Between Dick and Bob, Robbie was eventually able to track down many of the 20 members junior at San Diego State University. Baghdad in March 2003. and then held a reunion this past April in Farmington, Missouri. Eight members showed up for the reunion. Robbie Inspired by his time as a Marine drill A news photographer snapped a says that the best time of his life is seeing old friends. instructor, he is aiming to become a picture of him smoking a victory cigar

NADIA BOROWSKI SCOTT / Union-Tribune high school teacher. in his tank turret in front of a statue Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch’s “You do a lot of teaching when of then-President Saddam Hussein prosthetic eye is etched with the you’re a DI, along with everything just as it was being toppled. The Marine Corps’ eagle-globe-and- else. (At a high school), you may be photo became a symbol of the heady anchor emblem. teaching algebra or the War of 1812, early days of the war. Popaditch’s unit but it’s all teaching,” said Popaditch, returned to Twentynine Palms in July For his innovative combat tactics 40, who lives in Linda Vista with his 2003. He then volunteered to go and leadership even when wounded, wife, April, and son, Nick Jr. His back to Iraq the following winter. His Popaditch received the Silver Star, Marine Corps career began nearly battalion took responsibility for the the military’s third-highest award 22 years ago, when a recruiter talked Fallujah area a couple of weeks before for valor. him into enlisting after high school the attack that wounded him. Though legally blind, Popaditch graduation. Popaditch quickly took to Popaditch now speaks frequently has learned to use the 8 percent of the life of brotherhood and discipline, to military groups, and he has sight he has left. He’s aided by tools even though he describes himself as joined SDSU’s student veteran’s such as a video screen that enlarges having been bookish and shy as a boy organization. printed materials and a pair of what growing up in Indiana. What will he do when he graduates? he calls “telescope glasses.” He commanded a tank in the Maybe smoke a cigar. But as much as he loves the Marine Persian Gulf War. By the time of the Corps, he found he couldn’t stay in. Iraq war, he was serving as a gunnery Reprinted with permission from “I didn’t want to be a straphanger,” sergeant – an elite enlisted class that is The San Diego Union-Tribune.  From L to R: Danny Martin, Herb Steigleman, Jim Hobson, Robbie Robinson, •••••••• Paul Emmitt, Gary Gibson, Gary Crutchlow, Larry Roalson, Randy Conrad Short Story out in body bags with names you don t want to haven t been hit pushed over the edge into •••••••••••• remember and at the ones that are screaming the pits, where insanity sits. Some never to as the medics attend them. Then the shells come back while others are ravaged for life in start to fall again, sending you back in your one way or another. I consider all of them my Incoming hole curled into a little ball holding on to your brothers. soul and fighting the fear with all your might. The shrapnel hums a deadly song that sounds The fear never ends you can see it naked and Written from the heart by Harvie Lance Pickup Art like a crazy boomerang that won't return home. haunting in the eyes of your friends. They have Purple Heart Marine S-2 Scout 1/9 68-69 I try to make my body small my hands clasped that 1000 yard stare as if everything inside has Harvey “Robbie” Robinson used artwork of Bruce over my head to protect my ears and neck. got up and went leaving Van Apeldroon and Bob Peavey that was originally Hot waves of concussion blow overhead you a empty husk of a person created by Roland Castanie to customize his new keep your mouth open so it won t explode your with one desire, for the truck. Robbie says he wants to give Marine tanks head. You want to scream or shout but the fear shells to stop or maybe their due. There is also a picture of his tank platoon and dust won t let the words come out. Each live for a few more hours. on the rear window. Robbie was with A Co., 1st. explosion pushes you ever closer to the bone We lay here and endure Tanks, 1965 - ’66. deep terror that comes back in your dreams this hell for a piece of Art was done by Service Graphics of Beaumont, long after the war is over. Each man is in his muddy ground just so TX (409-860-4005). own private hell. After each salvo you dare to we can give it back when look around the ravaged ground to see which we think we are finished. friends went down. You look at the ones going Men are screaming that 30 Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 2008 January • February • March • April 2008 May • June • July • August Sponson Box / USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 31 USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 5537 Lower Mountain Road • New Hope, PA 18938

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