Econ Marines Use Practical Way O Reach Observation Post 'Copter Ticular Day Was to Les" Six Miles Away

MARINE CORPS HISTORICIL Corps Bay, August 6, Vol. 14 -No. 31 Marine Air Station, Kaneohe Hawaii 1965 econ Marines Use Practical Way o Reach Observation Post 'Copter ticular day was to les" six miles away. By PFC. W. F. Costello "build out" from the crest to enable heli- As darkness set in, the Ma- DA NANG, VIETNAM, copters to land in all wind di- rines established a guard at e:',,,er. July 27 - They approached each Den fortress the rections. SSgt. Walter A. bunker. The guard the Dong wasn't alone, though there only practical way it could Zawistowski who has been - LIKE A HUMMINGBIRD-What may be the smallest helicopter land- nominated are always the screaming be by heli- for the Bronze Star ing zone in Vietnam is atop a Marine outpost nine miles northwest approached - monkeys, Fifteen jungle vet- Medal for an earlier patrol swarming insects of Da Nang. Choppers which resupply the mountaintop three times copter. action, chose and whistling wind from "A" Co., 3rd to extend the through weekly set the two flora wheels down and hover with the rear wheel erans western slope the jungle foliage. Bn., land- with logs and dangling over the hill's slopes. ( Photo by SSgt. R. W. Savatt Jr.) Reconnaissance sandbags. ed on the 10-by-30 meter mountaintop, relieving Eight recon Marines with dripping brows began tear- another group which had MSgts. Brown, Hicks, Pendzich the last six days at the ing timber from the jungle spent growth. "castle in the sky." Harassed by bees, mosquitos, Nine hundred meters up dragonflies and the penetrating heat, their Dong Den Mountain, these To Receive work progressed. The clear MGySgt. Promotions recon men of the 3rd Marine ring of axes Division are the "eyes and steel cutting Selection of three K-Bay and the NCOIC, MCB, Photo timber echoed through the here September 1962, and was ears" of the Da Nang area. Marines for Master Gun- Section. He has been mountain stillness. in the assigned duties as MACS-2 The site is almost a month nery Sergeant has been ap- photo field 12 years. Services Straining through the un- Chief. In Septem- old now, boasting several proved by Headquarters Sergeant Hicks, Station ber 1964, derbrush, the recon woods- was reassigned bunkers and auxiliary obser- Marine Corps this month. Training NCOIC, arrived from as Brigade Supply NCOIC. vation posts down the slopes. men dragged the logs up the Camp Lejeune, North Caro- The steep cliffs are thick with steep terrain. Log upon log, lina, prior to assuming his jungle vegetation. sandbag over sandbag, the job present duties. The jungle completely was completed. But not with- While stationed at Camp surrounds the isolated obser- out several scars from the Lejeune, Sergeant Hicks serv- vation post. The tall, rugged razor-sharp elephant grass, ed as First Sergeant of B-1/2. walls of the tropical forest the thorn thickets, the net- Sergeant Hicks will de- are entangled with inter- work of inter-woven branches. part K-Bay next month for meshed hanging vines. The It took five hours, 50 further assignment at Cher- dark jungle shadows are logs, 100 sandbags and eight ry Point, North Carolina. alive with screeching feath- rugged Marines to finish the ered refugees, squirming job. There was pride in the snakes, armies of ants and voice which radio-relayed an occasional butterfly, "job completed" into the whose fragile, multi-colored battalion command post 15 Powir wings seem out of place in miles to the southeast. MSgt. W. V. Brown MSgt. Anthony Pendzich the cruel, humid habitat. Those selected were: MSgt. The prime mission of the He will depart the Air Sta- The first mission that par- W. V. Brown, MSgt. D. watcher perched in the auxil- I. tion shortly for duty with Hicks and MSgt. Anthony the IstMarDiv, Camp Pendle- iary observation post is sight- Pendzich. ing suspected Viet Cong. ton. California. Station Establishes Sergeant Brown, Photo Lab From his nest he can scan NCOIC, arrived aboard the terrain from the coast of the Major 1. Watson OFF LIMITS Air Station in August 1964, China Sea to the border of from Camp Lejeune, North Office spaces, barracks:::: Laos. Carolina. Command and storage areas formerly On the crest, a periscope- While being stationed at Takes used by Brigade units trans- type set of binoculars surveys Camp Lejeune, Sergeant MSgt. D. I. Hicks ferred to the Far East which the terrain. Some say the Brown was a combat photo- Sergeant Pendzich, Brig- Of HqBn 3dMarDiv are not currently being used 'scope can spot a VC's "freck- grapher with the 2dMarDiv ade Supply NCOIC, arrived by units aboard the Station By GySgt. H. H, Haeberle have been declared "OFF;; And Uniform of the Day_ DA NANG, VIETNAM. LIMITS" to all personnel. July20-AMarine who-won the In a joint agreemenq nation's second highest reached this week between Two Uniform Changes; award for heroism-the the commanders of tenant CMC Authorizes Navy Cross-during the Ko- units aboard the Station and rean Conflict, today took the Station CO, it was an- over the reins of Head- nounced that all violators May Wear Short Sleeves on Leave, Liberty quarters Battalion, 3rd Ma- would be subject to strict The Commandant of the cotton material:, may be worn Corps insignia in the eyelets rine Division here. disciplinary measures. Marine Corps has made two with all types of summer serv- provided on the service coat. Maj. John E. Watson re- According to the an-:]: modifications in the uniform ice trousers. However, cotton Insignia of grade shall be lieved Maj. C. W. Abbott as nouncement, this restriction::: regulations which have a trousers may not be worn placed nil each shoulder Aran commanding officer during an ill apply to all buildings direct bearing on personnel when the shirt is manufac- of the coat in the prescribed informal ceremony at bat- witch are not presently oc- stationed at K-Bay. tured with polyester-cotton or manner. talion headquarters. cupied or being used. polyester-wool materials. When wearing the Major Abbott is slated to According to MCBuI 1020, service buildings will be marked:::.::. The modification permits or garrison cap, the minia- report for duty to Marine with appropriate signs the modifications pertain to Corps Headquarters in wearing khaki shirts with wearing the shbrt sleeve ture Navy cap device will eating that the building or shirt as part of the Uniform be worn in the eyelets pro- Washington, D.C. area is OFF LIMITS. Other::: quarter length sleeves and in- Prior his new assign- structions for wearing the of the Day and for leave or vided. Insignia of grade areas which are occupied liberty when prescribed by shall be worn on the rigt-t ment, Major Watson was ex- living, or working, or stor- Marine Corps insignia by ecutive officer of 3/4, in the the local Commander. It side of the garrison cap. age spaces that are not: Navy officers attached to Ma- Hue/Phu Bai sector of Viet- may also be worn in forma- When wearing khaki shirts, marked are restricted to the rine Corps units. nam. tion at ceremonies and pa- utility shirts and personnel assigned to live or::: The shirt is now an item of field jackets, He earned his Navy Cross rades on and off Station, if cork personnel Navy officers will wear the and a Bronze Star medal in them and should not::: uniform for male prescribed. be visited unless accom-ii: and may be worn as part of insignia of grade on the collar with Combat "V" in Korea . panied by an authorized per- the summer service "C" Navy officers attached to points. while serving as a platoon son. uniform for officers and as Marine Corps organizations However, staff corps of- leader in 3/1. Parents are urged to in- part of the summer service may wear the uniform pre- ficers and warrant officers The Major's wife, Mary struct their children about "A" or "B" uniform for scribed for officers of the Ma- shall wear the insignia of Alice, daughters Allison Rehe these restrictions to help enlisted men. rine Corps. When wearing the grade on the right collar and and Valerie Lynn and son Navy avoid violations. Shirts with quarter length Marine Corps uniform, the staff corps insignia on the Butch reside at 1503 Uluhaku sleeves manufactured of all officers must wear the Marine left collar. Place, Kailua. windward Marine August 6, 1965 `HeliPadre' Accompanies Whimsical Signs Break Airborne Assault Strikes Combat Zone Monotony By GySgt. Torn Segel mates. So can reminiscences slivers of steel chewed into DA NANG, VIETNAM, DA NANG, VIETNAM, of a female society thou. July 23-They call him the his right leg. July 24 - Perhaps to break sands of miles away. A sigh "Heli Padre" because He stopped long enough to the monotony which per- over the door of a concrete- he spends most of his time dress his own wound, then con- vades combat zones is the and-mud shack which tfas in helicopters, accompany- tinued to aid the ARVN's and reason hand-lettered, been converted into an of- ing crews on air-borne as- civilians for another hour and break out ficers' club: "No coats. No sault or whimsical signs strikes medical a half. in Marine command posts. ties. No wives after 7 p.m." evacuations. He carries a There's never any argu- Dr. Seido Ogawa A Marine infantry company chaplain's kit on his left hip, Whatever the reason, MAG- located on a sun-baked, sandy a bag on his ment around MAGAS about 11, has been here for less than corpsman's acre of ground adjacent to right beltline and faith the chaplain being qualified Ogawa a month and already satire is to give emergency medical Dr.

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