Enemy Deot! Top 900 In• Ops lrt! Dj, PFC. JOHN F. CLARK (Boston, Mass.) aims in on an enemy target as Pfc. Tom G. Coxey (Lilttle­ ton, Colo.) adjusts the 81mm mortar tube for a fire mission. The two H&S Co. 1/4 Marines operate from FSB Neville, northwest of Vandegrift Combat Base. (Photo'by Sgt. Ken Corbett) By Sgt. Bruce Smith and ssgt G. E. Brown DONG HA - Operation Utah Mesat a joint Ameri­ can and Army of the Re­ public of Vietnam search and clear operation, ended July 9. The allied thrust into the territory south of Vol. V, No. 29 III Marine Amphibious Force, Vietnam July 18, 1969 the old Khe Sanh combat base accounted for 309 NY A killed since it began June 11. The 9th Marines, participating in their last operation in RVN before leaving for Okinawa, Pllllnloms Cloul joined elements of the U.S. Army 1st Brigade, 5th 'Infantry Div. (Mech.), and two elements of the U.S. Army 1st Regt. to form Joint Task Force Guadal­ canal. NVA, j1-A' Guns At the outset of the operation, Charlie Co., 1/9 and Kilo Co., 3/9 By Sgt. John Tolarchyk coming in from the north rather both had significant contact. Af­ than the south to keep the ene­ ter a squad-sized patrol had. DAN A N G - Attacking my guessing." countered an enemy ambush, through a hail of enemy fire, two Marine F-4B Phantom jets Bryan, his Phantom armed the remainder of Charlie Co. with a 20mm gun pod, released joined in, and with fixed-wing recently killed six North Viet­ namese soldiers, destroyed their all his bombs on the 3rd pass. air and artillery support, ac­ He then streaked high into the counted for 35 NVA dead. antiaircraft weapons and left the sky and began an almost ver­ Kilo Co. got into the action enemy position in shambles. . tical dive on the enemy, firing when a night ambush team Keeping the enemy off guard the 20mm cannon as he closed foiled the enemy's plan to by changing the direction of at­ on the target. With the enemy launch a surprise ground attack. tack several times, the Phan­ fire suppressed by Bryan, the After initiating contact at the toms returned to the Da Nang (Continued on Back Page) ambush site, the "C" Co. Ma­ air base unscathed after braving rines moved back within their the heavy enemy fire four times. battalion perimeter. The NVA "We were scrambled off Ma­ followed and the ensuing battle rine Fighter Attack Squadron lasted three hours. The enemy 542's standby 'h 0 t pad' at 1 40 More' fled at dawn, leaving behind 29 p.m.," said Capt. Kenneth R. dead. Burns (Salt Lake City, Utah), a As the operation moved into radar intercept officer. "About its final stages the action de­ five minutes after we got the creased. On July 4, Golf Co. 2/9 word, we were airborne and Zapped; discovered a large bunker com­ headed for the target, 35 miles plex which had been destroyed south of Chu Lai." by artillery the previous night. The flight leader, Capt. Fred­ A fresh grave with three NVA THE RIGORS of combat show as Leathernecks of "C" Co., 1/26, erick T. Bryan (Watertown, VuGiaR. bodies and blood trails through­ return to their command post after -a patrol. The Marines are Mass.) contacted the aerial ob­ out the area indicated that the rnoting out enemy units on Barrier Island, 20 miles south of Da server about 20 miles from the By Pfc. Romeo Garza (Continued on Back Page) Nang. (Photo by Sgt. Mike Detherage) target. "He reported that an element DA NANG-"We've kill­ ../ of the U.S. Army's Americal ed over 40 enemy in the Div. was in contact with an NYA two weeks that we spent OIl-­ Veteran of Two Wars force," explained Bryan. "The the north side of the Vu fire fight was just north of a small airfield, so we had to be Gia River bordering the on the lookout for helicopters 'Arizona Territory,''' said and small fixed-wing aircraft." Capt. Brian Fagan (352 As the Phantoms arrived "on Salina Ct., Vista, Calif.), "and station," two Marine A-4 Sky­ we haven't lost one man." Thrash New 1st Wing CO hawks were making ' their last Delta Co., 1st Bn., 7th Marines strafing run on the target. When conducting search and clear op­ By Col. Joe Vaiksnis fellow Marines . . . despite the contributions to our efforts to­ they completedl their last strike, erations along the Vu Gia River aggravations of weather and the ward the advancement of free­ their controller banked into a 16 miles southwest of here, en­ DA NANG - Maj. Gen. Wil­ constraints of logistics." Gener­ dom in Southeast Asia. He cited dive marking the target with a countered some stiff enemy re­ liam G. Thrash assumed com­ al Quilter arrived in Vietnam in 1st Wing's "professional atti­ smoke rocket. sistance during a two-week peri­ mand of the 1st Marine Aircraft June 1968. tude, valor and combat effec­ Following close behind the od. Wing, the Marine Corps' largest Said Lt. Gen. Henry W. Buse, tiveness of which your country small observation aircraft, the "We were running squad and air wing, during change of com­ and Cor p s are justifiably Phantom pilots pushed their air­ platoon-size patrols mostly along mand ceremonies July 11, re­ CG, FMFPac, " ... you have my a p pre cia t ion and c 0 n­ proud." craft into a dive. the river," said Capt. Fagan. lieving Maj. Gen. Charles J. gratulations for your admirable After graduating from the "On the first run I could see a "We were also searching the Quilter. performance of a vital and' high­ Georgia School of Technology in lot of muzzle flashes coming area for bunker and tunnel com­ Gen. Quilter has been reas­ ly responsible task." The gener­ 1939 with a bachelor of science from the enemy position, so I plexes. signed to Headquarters Marine al said Quilter's excellent judg­ degree, Gen. Thrash was com­ asked the controller for a head­ "We stayed away from the Corps, Washington, D.C. ement, leadership and unswerv­ missioned a second lieutenant. ing change to keep the NV A open areas such as the rice pad­ Gen. Leonard F. Chapman ing devotion were "tangibly re­ He served his first tour with guessing where we were coming dies and open fields beyond the Jr., CMC, commended Gen. flected in Wing's combat per­ the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in from next," said Bryan. river. We concentrated more on Quilter for his "effective lead­ formance and contributions to 1942. Operating in the Pacific, The second strike direction the treelines, where we could ership," saying that the men of the cause of freedom." he earned the Distinguished Fly­ was at a different angle from move without being spotted. 1st MAW "have been resource­ LtGen. Herman Nickerson, ing Cross and five Air Medals. the first. "The controller said "The company ran a lot of ful, courageous and quick to re­ commanding general, III MAF, During World War II he saw ser- we were still taking heavy fire, night patrols that were quite ef­ spond in operations with their praised Quilter's "outstanding (Continued on Back Page) so we did a pattern reversal - (Continued on Back Page) July 18, 1969 Page 2 SEA TIGER FROM CG, ~' MAF If You Should But Don't Helping Them They Could But Won't Ue'rp TLem,re II~elr Nobody Does. Just the other guy. But suppose In ma~y contest.ed cases t.he courts h~ve held n ~ 1J I n ~ I 1r , ~ you were to die while in the military service. that a ,:",ill referrmg to children, relatIves or Do you know who your heirs are? other heIrs served well enough to show that the testator had his children in mind. If the testator In the 20 June issue of the Sea Tiger, I said that we have three Who will receive any money due you from gives these persons a nominal amount, even one main tasks facing us in I Corps, which are all facets of the One salary or annual leave? Who will receive your dollar, or intentionally disinherits them, as a rule life insurance? War we are fighting here. These are: first, to conduct c·ambat they will have no claim to the estate. A will One method for deciding these vital questions need not necessarily leave property to a child, operations; second, to assist in the improvement and moderniza­ is the designation of a beneficiary on your emer­ though to do so may prevent lawsuits. tion of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces (RVNAF); and gency data form in your personnel file. However, Some persons draft their own wills. 'rhese third, to pacify the countryside. I want to talk to you now about even though it is a requirement, most personnel "holographic" wills are often contested because tbis third task, pacificati-on. fail to keep this emergency data form up to date. a homemade will often is deficient in complying But the best way to assure that your heirs re­ with laws regarding the mention of children. In Pacification is an important word, as well as an unavoidable ceive their inheritance, according to your desire, one case the testator failed to mention a child, subject in any popular discussion of Vietnam. Yet, I believe is through a properly executed will. but said that "anyone who may contest this will" that many Americans, here as well as at home, do not understand Some factors to keep in mind when making a would receive one dollar. Too general and vague, fully the meaning of the word as it is used to describe our activities will are the "natural heirs of your bounty." A the court held. The will did not mention children man making a will should at least mention his or spouse, directly or indirectly, or show intent in the Republic of Vietnam. children and the children of a deceased child. to disinherit them. The work of pacification takes place behind a shield of Where the will does not mention his children, or Only when there is no other means available security provided by RVNAF and Free World Military Assistance provide for them by settlement, they are called should you write your own will, but it is better "pretermitted heirs." What is "mention" in a to write your own than to die intestate. Forces (FWMAF). In conducting large scale military operations in will may be a difficult question for a court to So if you plan on drawing a will, which should the least populated areas of I Corps, we create a buffer zone decide, especially in the case of a self-written be a must for everyone whether married or not, between the Vietnamese people and the main force VC and NV A will. see your legal officer. (AFPS) units which allows the agencies of government to function. These governmental functions involve providing local security, holding elections, and training elected officials in order that the reasonable wants and needs of the people can be fulfilled. DoD Plans New IIDI System; Briefly, this is the way it works. When an area is reasonably secure, the district chief mobilizes his assets to start the process l of helping the people to help themselves. Let us be clear on what a district is-namely a geographical area within a province. IOld Salt Days Numbered (Province could be compared with one of our States and District to a County.) A district comprises several villages. Villages are also WASHINGTON (HQMC) - At­ Number (SSAN) instead of a is that future service personnel geographical areas made up of several hamlets. The village of­ tention Old Salts. Plans are un­ service number upon arrival at will have one less number to ficials are elected as are hamlet officials. But it is the Village derway at Headquarters to sub­ recruit depots. Marines already bother with, thus eliminating ex­ Council (of elected officials) that is given the money for projects­ stitute the Social Security Num­ on active duty will retain their tra paperwork. and the authority to govern the several hamlets of the village. ber for the present military ser­ service number, but will use The SSAN has been a part 9f Popular Force (PF) platoons, wearing brown uniforms and carrying vice number as the primary their SSAN in all administrative the military pay records since M-16 rifles, are assigned to hamlets to assure continuing security. "ID" for all Marines, commis­ matters. The service number 1955, when military personnel At the same time, Revolutionary Development (RD) cadre, clothed sioned and enlisted. will be used only as a secondary were included in the Federal In­ in black pajama-type uniforms, move into these hamlets which The switch is servicewide, or­ means of identification. surance Contribution Act. Since are under PF protection. dered by the DoD to streamline The new system is expected to then, both the SSAN and service These 30-man RD groups have a fourfold mission: one, to record keeping. It will facilitate relieve the strain on computers number have been used for iden­ gather intelligence about the VC underground and the local direct data interchange between which are being standardized' tification of an individual. guerrilla structure; two, to organize the Peoples' Self Defense the services. It is being accom­ t h r 0 ugh 0 u t the U.S. armed The SSAN . .will not indicate Force, which is the arming of the people program; three, to help plished on a service-by-service forces. Since the length of the whether an individual is an offi­ conduct elections; and four, to organize self-help projects, such basis, as each service's data service number varies from ser­ cer or enlisted, male or female. as the construction of schools, mar1!:ets and wells. All of the above processing system is developed. vice to service, between officer Since the SSAN is not issued in is aimed at improving life in the hamlets. Although some phases of .the and enlisted and male and fe­ sequence, it also will not be pos­ switch have already started, in­ male, a uniform DoD data sys­ sible to determine the approxi­ The first two objectives, once accomplished, free the Viet­ dividual Marines will not be is­ tem was d~fficult to set up. mate length of service as with namese people from fear and coercion, while the last two objectives sued a Social Security Account Another favorable side effect the service number. assist the people to arrive at a more normal, independent, social and political life. Simultaneously with the introduction of the PF's and the RD 1111111111111111111 111111111111/1"1111111111 11"111111111111 1111 1111111111111111111 11 1/1111 11 1111111111111IIIllI llIIlIlIlIllIlIIllIIlIIlIlIlIIlIlIIlI HlIlIWIlIlIllIllIlIIlII lIl lIlIlIIllIlIIlIlIlIlIlIlI llIIlIlIIlIl1IIIIIIIII II IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIJII cadre, other Vietnamese governmental assets are employed. The Vietnamese Information Service dispatches representatives to those hamlets to provide information on matters of community interest. The National Police enter to maintain law and order; and other governmental services are provided. Sea -Tiger Mail Bag And finally, the newly elected village and hamlet officials, after having received instruction in civic administration and pro­ cedures at either the province headquarters or at national training Marilou Combs Joan Kiernan Linda Dexter centers, are installed and commence to govern their villages and 7313 Oakcrest Dr. 642 Ovington Ave . R.D. #2 hamlets. New Garrolton, Md. 20784 Brooklyn, N.Y. 11209 Age 19 Hannibal, N.Y. 13074 FWMAF and ARVN troops play an important role in this pro­ Laura Vick Age 18 cess. They, of course, are a major element in the security effort Cynthia Pierson 6309 N. Merrimac Ave. that is vital to successful pacification programs. Many of our 871 Sinaloa Chicago, Ill. 60646 Brenda Harris Free World Military Assistance Force units are engaged in Pasadena, Calif. 91104 1 Harris St. responsible civic action projects which not only enhance the well­ Age 11 Carol Eisenhauer being of the Vietnamese but which also bring about a closer work­ Fulton, N.Y. 13069 Box 27 Age 19 ing relationship and greater understanding between all the people Cheryl Claud Loganton, Pa. 17747 involved. However, no civic action project is undertaken unilateral­ 11500 Collingwood Ct. Age 17 (Continued on Page 11) ly-all are made to serve the pacification goals and the aspirations Clio, Mich. 48420 of the people. Age 17 Our American civilians, too, are much involved in these efforts, for many of the advisors in governmental functions are civilians Carolyn Hughes who transmit their knowledge and experience to their Vietnamese Rt. 1, Box 0669 counterparts. in order that this pacification effort can proceed ef­ Shingle Springs, Calif. 95682 fectively. This effort comes from the CORDS (Civil Operations Lieutenant General Herman Nickerson Jr. and Revolutionary .Development Support) side of III MAF. Tanya Farrington Commanding General, III Marine Amphibious Force Pacification, then, is the process whereby the Government 1014 E. Grand Ave . Major General Carl A. Youngdale of the Republic of Vietnam frees its people from communist domina­ Eaw Claire, Wis. 54701 Deputy Commander, III Marine Amphibious Force tion and wins their approval by assisting them to achieve security, Age 17 Brigadier General George E. Dooley economic opportunity and political freedom. Chief of Staff, III Marine Amphibious Force Maryann DiPillo FISO ...... Col. P. Moriarty A successful pacification program requires the close coordi­ 101 Bleecker St. OIC...... Capt. M.D. Deaton nation and integration of all our efforts, both Vietnamese and Persey City, N.J. 07307 Editor ...... ' Sgt. M.W. Starn free World Military Assistance Force perso!1nel, military and Age 18 Asst. Editor...... Sgt. J.W. Lasseter civilian. Published each Friday by the III Marine Amphibious Force. The SEA TIGER complies wilh Marine Corps Order PS600.31 and MCO PS720.44 and is printed with My purpose is served if you see the whole picture instead Peggy Siverling appropriated funds, by The Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo, Japan. The SEA TIGER R.D. 2 subscribes to and receives material from the American Forces Press Service (AFPS) of one small part. Many of you have not fought in all of the whose material herein may be reprinted provided credit and no other copyrights are DuBois, Pa. 15801 involved. All photographs are official U.S. Marine Corps Pholos unless otherwise parts of this One War. I believe we have a successful program cree:iied. Photographs submllled from other sources outside the Marine Corps for underway in I Corps. Your understanding and efforts will produce Diana Stout publication in The SEA TIGER become the properly of The SEA TIGER. Material submitted for publication in The SEA TIGER must reach The Combat Informahon even greater results. 2866 Forest Rd. Bureau, III Marine Amphibious Force, FPO San Francisco, Calif. 96602, on Tuesday of Da'venport, Iowa 52803 the week preceding publication. Statements, views and opinion expressed in The SEA LT.GEN. HERMAN NICKERSON JR. (has list of 50 girls who wish TIGER are not necessarily those of the Marine Corps and should not be Interpreted as dir~ctive In nature. Commanding General, III MAF to write Marines) Circulation This Issue 38,000 Copies July 18, 1969 SEA TIGER Page 3 Jets Brllve Ret! Lellt! in Chopper Restue By Sgt. David Butler . The c hop per pilot, still Dong Ha's air controller told mortar crew hidden on another enemy position with a smoke CHU LAI - The crew of a trapped inside the aircraft, ra­ the flight leader, Capt. Richard c l' i p pIe d Marine helicopter, dioed in to the Dong Ha air con­ ridge line running parallel to the rocket," he said. Once the jets downed by enemy fire in a troller for help, while North Gnazze (Terrington, Conn.) to LZ. were in pOSition, they began mountaintop landing zone, was Vietnamese mortarmen contin­ scramble to the scene of the "When we got there," said making low-level bomb runs on saved by pinpoint bombing from ued to pepper the zone with in- downed helicopter. Other Ma­ Capt. Gnazze, "mortar rounds the enemy. Both jets took small two Leatherneck jets. tense fire. rine helicopters were also sent The CH-46 Sea Knight trans- Nearest jet support to the LZ were still raining into the zone arms fire from the concealed port helicopter had been shot was two A-4 Skyhawks from Ma­ to evacuate the downed chop­ in and around the helicopter. ~VA, but the enemy mortar fire down after carrying Marine in- rine Attack Squadron 223, which per's crew. Some of the aircraft's crew, in­ in the zone ceased, allowing res­ fantrymen to a landing zone, were providing air cover for an­ A Marine OV-10A Bronco spot­ cluding the pilot, were still cue helicopters to move in and near the Rockpile in northern 1 other helicopter flight more than ter plane preceded the jets to trapped inside. Corps. 30 miles away. medevac the injured crew mem­ the zone and found the enemy "First the Bronco marked the bers from the downed chopper. I '---Fowl Play Suspected--~ Pets/rl Ducky But Somethin/s Cookinl By Sgt. Dennis Blair PHU BAI-Tired of "C" rations? Leathernecks of Marine Aircraft Group 36 plans and logistics section seem well on their way to at least a temporary solution. They recently purchased two small ducks, innocent little fellows named Gertrude and Heathcliffe. Ostensibly they are the section mascots and as such are receiving royal treatment. The have their own swimming pool (a large dishpan) and are moved constantly so that one half stays in the sun and the other in the shade. But the major concern seems to be that they eat well and grow to be large, plump, juicy ducks. Could there possibly be an ulterior motive? Another occurrence that has raised eyebrows is the number of people who just happen to stop by to feel a wing or leg, all the while muttering to themselves, "too thin, they must eat more!" When questioned about the possibility of a duck feast sometime in the future, all the Marines scowl in indignation and declare that Gertrude and Heathdiffe are mascots and will never grace a table. Despite the men's assertions and the care being taken with the pair, it seems strange that their friend and guardian, Ralph M. Lamaitis (Chittenango, N. Y.), Pfc.-in-charge·of-ducks, is ru­ mored to have prio~ experience as a cook. Gen Johnson New AsslWing CO By Gy Sgt. B.R. Finlayson duties as assistant wing com­ DA NANG - Brig. Gen. Wil­ mander, 1st Marine Aircraft liam G. Johnson has assumed Wing. The general was born May 29, 1920, in Tyler, Texas, and at­ Col. Simlik tended Tyler Junior College, Southern - Methodist University and George Washington Univer­ sity prior to entering the Corps New3rd in 1942. He re_ceived flight training at the Naval Aviation Technical TrainingCeriter; Corpus Christi, Texas, was designated a Naval Marines aviator in June 1942, and was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant in July 1942. Skipper D uri n g the remainder of My P'al Pa't, the Nose World War II, he served in a va­ By Sgt. Bruce Smith riety of duties. Cp), William Kehoe (New York, N.Y.) and his dog, Pat, take a breather at FSB Neville northwest of DONG HA - Col. Wilbur F. During the Korean conflict he Vandegrift Combat Base following a patrol with HC" Co., 4th Marines. Kehoe is a member of Simlik, holder of the Silver Star saw action with Marine Night Scout Dog Platoon, 3rd MP Bn., near Da Nang. (Photo by figt. Ken Corbett) Medal and the Legion of Merit Fighter Squadron 513. Returning with combat "V" has assumed to the States, he served with Ma­ command of the 3rd Marines rine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12 at from Col. Paul D. Lafond during Marine Corps Air Station, El 4th Marines Sgt. Mai. a ceremony at Dong Ha Combat Toro, Calif. Base. . In July 1961, he was aSSigned During the ceremony, Col. duties with the Joint Chiefs of Simlik told his new command, Staff. He was promoted to colo­ "This is the greatest honor of nel in August 1962, and the fol­ my life. The combat achieve­ lowing October ·became Marine Recalls Assault on Guam ments of the 3rd Marines have Corps liaison officer to Congress, By Sgt. Ken Corbett "I was wounded on the beach, Honor for heroic action on Fonte been truly magnificent." serving in that capacity until but 1 stayed with the unit in the Ridge. Col. Simlik was graduated December 1963. FIRE SUPPORT BASE NE­ Stacy was a seasoned combat VILLE - Sitting on a bunker at assault against enemy positions from Muskingum College in Con­ Col. Johnson served as com· inland," recalled Stacy. "Fonte veteran when he hit the beach at cord, Ohio, with a bachelor of manding officer of MAG-36 at a mountaintop fire support base Guam. His unit had just taken arts degree in social sciences. Marine Corps Air Facility, San­ in northern 1 Corps, Sgt. Maj. Ridge was where we encoun­ tered stiff resistance and after a Bougainville. After a brief rest Later he earned a masters de· ta Ana, Calif., and later com­ CUl't Stacy (Clemons, Ky.) took and some training on Guam, gree in business administration manded the group in Vietnam. fierce 18-hour battle when the Stacy went on to participate in time out from his duties as ser­ J a pan e s e launched repeated from the University of Chicago. In September 1966, he was as­ geant major of 1st Bn ., 4th Ma­ the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he The 48-year-old veteran of signed duty as assistant chief of Banzai attacks, we took the earned the Bronze Star Medal. rines to recall his role in ano­ ridge." World Wa'l' II, Korea and Viet­ staff, G-4, at the Marine Corps ther war. After Iwo Jima and 28 months nam, received the Silver Star Recruit Depot, San Diego, Calif. After the Marines secured of fighting in the Pacific, Stacy's Medal for heroic actions on Iwo He was promoted to his July 21 marks the 25th anni­ Fonte Ridge, the Battle of Guam unit returned to the United Jima during World War II while present rank in January 1968. versary of the Battle of Guam, a turned in favor of American States. serving as a company com­ Prior to assuming his present day well remembered by Stacy forces. On August 11, 1944, the The sergeant major is a veter­ mander with the 25th Marines. duties, Gen. Johnson served as because he hit the beach on island was secured. Stacy's an of nearly 27 years' Marine He later served as a company ·assistant deputy chief of staff, Guam that day as a machine com pan y commander, Capt. Corps service and is currently commander in Korea with the air, at Marine Corps headquar­ gunner with "F" Co., 2nd Bn., Louis H. Wilson, now a brigadier serving his second tour in Viet­ (Continued on Back Page) ters in Washington. 9th Marines. general, earned the Medal of nam. Page 4. SEA TIGER July 18, 19.69 Skyhawks '46 Mllkes Dllring Rescue

By Cpl. John- Ehlert Marine reconnaissance team down on the edge. On my first ringer's example, they got the Destroy QUANG TRI - A popular had made heavy contact with two tries we were blown off; the other five Marines out. song of the past told of belong­ the enemy and needed to be heli­ altitude made it very difficult to "Garringer was fantastic,'; ing to a "mutual admiration lifted out. hover. On the thfrd time in, still said Lt. Clayton. "All I had to do society." After a recent helicop­ " Recon pick-ups are often a relying on Garringer's direc­ was hold the bird steady while ter mission in the Ashau Valley little hairy," said Lt. Clayton. tions, I managed to ~et the rear he did all the work and got the Bunkers in northern I Corps, two Leath­ "But when we got this one it wheels on the two boulders. The Marines aboard. The only rea­ ernecks of Marine Medium Heli­ looked virtually impossible for front three-quarters of the bird son I even got in was on his di­ copter (HMM) Squadron 161 a minute. The 12-man team was was hovering precariously over rections. " By Sgt. David Butler have formed their own such in a position at the edge of a 4,- the 4,300-foot drop. Garringer, however, said that CHU LAI-Marine jet society. 300-foot cliff and was receiving "From then 'On it was all Gar­ he had the easy job. "All I had 1st Lt. Dennis C. Clayton enemy small arms fire and gre­ ringer - all I had to do was hold to do was direct Lt. Clayton in bombers played hide and the chopper there." and get the guys on board. He seek with a North Viet­ (Seattle, Wash.) is a CH-46D nades from three sides. There helicopter pilot with HMM-161; seemed to be no place for us to The 20-year-old crew chief lev­ did a helluva job, backing in namese field fortress north LCpl. Jan D. Garringer (Ben­ set down. eled' the rear ramp. By lying on ' there and , keeping the bird of here recently, and ended senvelle, Ill.) is his crew chief. "Then Garringer took over. it and leaning nearly completely steady. The sucess of the' mis­ up tagging at least two A recent mission left both Ma­ He said we could possibly set out of the aircraft, with only a sion and my life was in his heavily-fortified bun k e r s rines with nothing but praise for down the two rear wheels on two _gunners belt to hold him in, he hands. If the chopper had moved each other, and with good rea- big boulders at the edge of the reached the first two members at all, I would have fallen. And and four NV A soldiers. of the team and got them 4,300 feet is a long drop. The air attack was led by son. , cliff. Relying solely on Garri­ 1st Lt. Clayton was piloting his nger's directions, since the pilot aboard. At the same time he The crew chief has been with air and ground , controllers Sea Knight transport chopper can't see to the rear of the chop­ was directing the fire of the Sea HMM-161 for five months and operating with American, when he received a call that a per, I tried to back in and set Knight's two .50-cal. machine has flown over 400 hours in CH- Vietnamese and Korean forces guns on the enemy. 46D's. "I enjoy it immensely," sweeping the enemy-infested is­ After he had the first two re­ says Garringer. "It's always lands of the Hoi An River, south con Marines in, he found that lively, never boring. And when of Da Nang. they had been the two tallest, we can help Marines such as re­ Two A-4 Skyhawks from Ma­ and he could not reach the oth­ con teams do their job, it's even rine Aircraft Group 12, loaded ers from the ramp. He then got better. But the most rewarding wit h 500-pound bombs and out of the chopper and, straddl­ missions are the medevacs." armed with 20mm cannons, ing the two boulders, pulled up Garringer would know - he's were scrambled from the Chu five more members of the recon flown dozens of them. Lai airstrip when word came team. Clayton has been a pilot with that ground forces were meeting With seven of the Marines on '161 since Nov., 1968, and has resistance from one of the river board, Lt. Clayton lifted the flown many missions in nearly islands. chopper up and away. The other 800 flight hours. He also agrees Piloting the lead aircraft was CH-46 of the flight then went in. that it is rewarding and' exciting Marine Capt. Andre Novickis By following Clayton's and Gar- work. (Liverpoole, N.Y.), of Marine Attack .Squadron 311. "The air controller radioed l that the enemy was suspected to be at the eastern end of an is­ IWear This Jacket : land, concealed in bunkers hid­ den by tall grass," said the Ma­ rine pilot. "And we were asked to "prep" the area prior to a sweep by ground forces." Words to the Wise "Each of us had six 500-pound bombs, which we dropped one at By Cpt Frank Franzone a, time for greater effect. All our bomb runs were directed by a AN HOA-A single sentence has come to mean a controller, since neither of us great deal to LCpl. J.J. Courregas. The sentence, sewn could really see the enemy, " he NAVY LT. VAN AUSTIN (Salt Lake City), commanding officer, into the lining of every flak jacket, simply states, "Weal' added. ~ ' C " ., 3rd Medical Bn., c'onducts a thorough inspection of some newly this jacket-it may save your life." Following the bombing, the acquired surgical equipment. These instruments are a "special two jets strafed the area with Courregas (1747 N.E. 92nd St., Seattle, Wash.) and their 20mm cannons and then lot" and weren't obtained through regular channels. They were elements of "B" Co., 1st Marines were on patrol 15 miles left the enemy fortress to the as­ acquired from the North Vietnamese Army by the lst Bn., 9th northwest of here, when they came under intense small sault troops on the ground. Marines during Operation Utah Mesa. (Photo by Sgt. Ken Corbett) arms and automatic weapons fire. The young squad leader maneuvered his men to a van­ tage point and opened fire on the estimated' platoon of North Viet­ namese Army soldiers. "I came to my knees to throw a grenade," Courregas ex­ plained, "I was about to pull the pin, when something knocked me down. I didn't think anything about it at the time, so I just got back up and threw the gre­ nade." Courregas and the rest of Bravo Co. continued firing at the NVA force until the enemy broke contact. As the 20-year-old Marine was checking his squad for injuries, it was brought to his attention that his flak jacket has a hole in the right side. "I looked inside the hole, but I couldn't see anything, I started feeling around the lining and felt a hard lump on the opposite side of my jacket," Courregas con­ tinued. Courregas cut a small hole above the lump and reached into the lining to extract the mys­ terious object. What he pulled out was a slug , from one SKS rifle round. With the bullet came the realization as to what knocked him down during the encounter with the NVA unit. "That really shook me up. Then I glanced at the label and saw the part about how a flak jacket could save your life . All .;:: .' ...... ~~.• ": :51;.".~ \~ ..,' '-~ , :. I've got to say is that I'm sure # ~ ... - - ...... \ glad I was wearing mine. I LEATHERNECKS OF "C" CO., 1st Bn. 26th Marines roast a guess that it was the difference 20 miles south of Da Nang. ' , wild pig they butchered during Operation Bold Pursuit on Barrier Island between life and death," Cour­ (Photo by Sgt. Mike Detherage) regas concluded. July 18, 1969 SEA TIGER Page 5 'Busllmllsters' ClIttll NVA on Own LIHIII By Cpl. Hank Berkowitz Hawaii), commanding officer of monsoon-like rain squall set in After Castagnetti gave the sig­ Eight assault rifles were re­ AN HOA - Capt. Castag­ "B" Co., 1st Bn., 5th Marines, and I took the point leading the nal to fire, the "Bushmasters" covered along with one mortar netti's "Bravo Bushmasters" described the events that led up company up the side of a steep first burst of fire cut down 16 of tube and numerous packs of am­ stealthly pursued the elusive to his "Bushmasters" catching hill. Once we reached the top I the enemy soldiers. Three NVA munition. enemy · soldiers into what the the NV A off-guard. spotted a column of 25 NV A were left behind hiding in a enemy considers his own do­ "Earlier in the day we had bomb crater while the rest fled. "Our complete success was main, 10 miles southwest of here sighted mortar and recoilless moving below us alongside a One Marine removed his com· due to the fact that we were op­ and 19 North Vietnamese Army rifle fire coming from the moun­ small river. Not wanting to blow bat gear and swam across a e l' a tin g in enemy territory soldiers died under a rain of tains to our rear," he explained. a golden opportunity I assigned small river. While his fellow Ma­ where they didn't expect us~ to steel put there by the 1st Div. "In the afternoon we moved out each man a target," he contin­ rines covered him, he crept up be and that every man waited Leathernecks. and swept toward the suspected ued. "Then I brought up the ma­ and threw two grenades in the for his assigned target without Capt. G. E. Castagnetti (47- launching sights. chine gun team to cover the crater finishing off the tllree any premature firing," Castag­ 379a Hurnanu Rd., Kano~e, "As we moved forward, a whole column." NVA. netti concluded. Enemy Storage Located By Sgt. Dave Allen AN H 0 A-A Soviet­ made medical microscope, 100 brand new uniforms. 2,500 pounds of rice, 4 automatic rifles, 3 field radios, a pot of boiling rice and three North Vietnamese Army soldiers . . . When "M" Co., 3Td Bn., 5th Marines moved into the foothills near a region known as. "Alliga­ tor Lake," they found a lot more than they ·had expected. The enemy soldiers and gear where only a start. As the 1st Div. Leathernecks moved out of the suspected ene· my aid-station after picking up its contents, only half a day pas­ ses ,before they had another big' find. Com i n g upon a recently deserted small enemy base camp, the Leathernecks immEl­ diately commenced searching the 10 hootches that had housed LEATHERNECKS OF 3RD BN., 5TH MARINES, wade through waist-deep water in 1OO-degree temperatures during a search-and·clear at least 150 enemy soldiers. mission in Phu Loc Valley south of An Hoa. (Photo by GySgt. C.E. Lane) The first thing found was about 50 pounds of blank paper and 50 pounds of propaganda leaflets. "After we found the papers, we really began searching. We turned the place inside-out," re­ Pic. Takes On Sergeant's Job ported Capt. T.P. Burns, the company's commander. "After By Sgt. Chuck Lane Although having only three Realizing the seriousness of safety and crossed the path of looking around, he found a com­ DA NANG - A young Marine m 0 nth s combat experience, the situation, Roseberry strate­ enemy fire to the side of the fall­ mercial AM/FM radio and a with "M" Co., 3rd Bn., 5th Ma­ Roseberry has proven his ability gically located his two machine en Marine. He picked-up the to analyze battlefield situations guns where they could effective­ wounded Leatherneck and car­ tape recorder that had a North rines has proven that years of ried him to cover. Vie~namese language tape on combat experience is not always and take positive steps under ly fire on the enemy positions. it." necessary to accomplish a mis­ fire at highly critical times. During the organization phase Returning to his gun position, Further probing revealed 300 sion. During a recent encounter for an assault on the enemy po­ Roseberry continued directing rounds of AK-47 rifle ammuni­ Arriving in Vietnam in late with North Vietnamese Army sitions a platoon member was a heavy volume of fire as the tion, sacks of tea, beans, salt, February, Pfc. George J. Rose­ soldiers while on a routine felled and critically wounded by Marines assaulted and overran several entrenching tools, pon­ berry (1010 Watkins St., New search and clear mission near enemy fire. the enemy pOSitions. chos and hammocks. Castle, Ind.) has risen from a Liberty Bridge southeast of here, the unknown size enemy Although the wounded Marine As a result of the young Ma­ "Obviously, they found out machine gunner, through team rines initiative and aggressive­ that we were coming and leader and has just recently force opened up from well con­ was in an extremely vulnerable cealed bunkers and spider holes. position with enemy rounds im­ ness the enemy force was com­ couldn't afford to hang around been aSSigned as a Weapons pletely demoralized and one Ma­ Platoon Squad Leader, a job The Marines were forced to seek pacting all around him, Rose­ to protect their property," said berry left his position of relative rine's life was saved. Burns. normally held by a sergeant. cover immediately. NV A Attack Turns Marine Phantoms Destroy Into Death Trap \ By Sgt. Doug Penningt~n quit," explained Pfc. Jimmie B. Enemy Field Fortification AN HOA - When the whis- Welch (Birmingham, Ala.). "No­ tHng of enemy bullets breaks the body could tell where the fire almost solemn night, the first had come from." By Cpl. Ed. Willis nate the suspected enemy position. Meanwhile, reaction of a combat Marine is When the NVA soldiers fired the Cobra pilot marked the enemy position with CHU LAI-Two Marine F-4B Phantoms and an a smoke rocket. to grab his rifle and return the again, Welch was the first to see Army AH-1G Cobra gunship teamed up near here "Coming in on target my wingman and fire. their muzzle flashes. Imme· to destroy 10 enemy occupied bunkers. I dropped two 500-pound bombs apiece," said But this was a bit difficult one diately jumping from his foxhole While flying security for a troop lift 15 miles Hale. "Our ordnance revealed even more enemy night for Marines of the 1st PIt., with a magazine loaded with west of Chu Lai, the Cobra spotted a North Viet­ positions. "C" Co., 1st Bn., 5th Marines tracer rounds, Welch fired in the namese soldier near a thickly-wooded area and "On our eighth pass we hit a structure that when approximately five North direction of the enemy positions, killed him with a burst from its minigun. Vie t n am e s e Army soldiers thus giving his comrades an set off two secondary explosions and killed two Further investigation of the wooded area North Vietnamese troops." opened fire on the Marine unit in idea where the enemy fire was With the help of the Cobra pilot, the Marine the "Arizona Territory" three coming from. "The rest of the where the Cobra had killed the enemy soldier showed signs of an enemy field fortress. The Aircraft Group 13 airmen were credited with de­ miles northwest of here. platoon opened up on the NV A stroying seven enemy fortifications and three "They hit us real hard with and after about fifteen minutes Army chopper then called for nearby Marine bombers, led by Capt. Steve Hale (St. Louis, Mo.) bunkers. They also caused two secondary ex­ B-40 rockets and AK-47 rifle fire the enemy was finished," Welch plosions and three secondary fires. for about three minutes and then continued. of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, to elimi- 25 YellfS Ago •.• Mllfines Assllult 'Gullm, Tinilln; Beginning 01 the Entl WASHINGTON (USMC) - Three days after the WASHINGTON (USMC) - Twenty-five Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, Commander of the 5th A large Japanese counterattack during the night of initial landings on Guam, U.S. Marines assaulted Jap- - years ago on July 21 U.S. Marines began liberat­ Fleet, landed Marines and soldiers on Saipan, north of July 25·26 was the campaign's most intense action. anese defenders on Tinian, the final objective of the World ing Guam. Guam, in mid~June 1944. The counterattack-which hit both Marine units­ War II campaign for the Marianas Islands. The 3rd Marine Division and the 1st Pro­ The Marine assault on Guam followed a 13-day naval scored initial successes, but was halted by the morning The move was an important step toward ending the visional Marine Brigade pressed home the as­ bombardment. Though the heavy Navy airs trikes and of July 26. Marine firepower killed 3,500 Japanese in war. sault to end Japanese occupation of the Ameri­ gunfire softened the enemy, Marine units still faced this action. - Tinian became the base from which nuclear weapons can-owned, mid-Pacific island. strong opposition when they hit Guam's western coast. During the attack on Guam, the landing force, the were delivered to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Many of the other III Amphibious Corps, was commanded by Major final air strikes of the war were also launched from Tinian. Shortly after the Marines stormed ashore on two The 3rd Division had to fight for every inch of the beaches. soldiers of the 77th Army Division joined the ground north of Apra Harbor and Orote Peninsula­ General Roy S. Geiger, USMC. The task of taking Tinian fell to the 2nd and 4th Marine Divi­ fight against 18,500 Japanese. Later, Marine Air Group site of the major Japanese installations. The 1st General Geiger's subordinate commanders were: sions. 21 landed to support the ground troops. Fourth Marine Div. elements led the attack by landing over Brigade had the same experience to the south. Both Maj. Gen. Allen H. Turnage, USMC, 3rd Marine two tiny, lightly·defended beaches on Tinian's northwestern coast, Organized Japanese resistance lasted until August units had to repulse frequent counterattacks. Division; Brig. Gen. Isaac Spalding, USA, 77th Army far from the island's major defenses. 10. It was overcome at a cost of 1,350 Marines' and The tactical plan was a simple one. After landing, Division; Brig. Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd, USMC, 1st While the 4th Division was landing, the 2nd Division and Naval soldiers' lives and the wounding of 6,450 more. the two Marine units joined up to isolate Orote Penin­ Provisional Marine Brigade; Brig. Gen. Pedro A. del units diverted the enemy's attention with a feint at the main Japa. Guam's recapture returned a major naval base to sula, while the 77th Army Division overcame scattered Valle, USMC, Corps Artillery; and Col. Peter F. nese defenses. U.S. control and provided bases from which strategic Japanese resistance in southern Guam. .. Schrider, USMC, Marine Air Group 21. The 2nd Division landed the next day behind the 4th Division. bombers could strike the Japanese homeland. Later, the 3d Marine and 77th Army Divisions Maj. Gen. Henry L. Larsen, USMC, headed the The two divisions, in nine days, overcame 9,000 Japanese It also freed more than 2'0,000 Guamanians who had joined and drove north while the 1st Marine Brigade military government which was temporarily installed on defenders in actions costing the lives of 384 Marines. Another been under Japanese control since December 10, 1941, ' reduced enemy elements on the Orote positions. Guam. 1,961 were wounded. The Japanese lost nearly all their me:n. when a 6,000·man Japanese force overwhelmed a tiny Marine Air Group 21-which began operating from Rear Admiral R. L. ("Close In") Connolly led Task garrison of Marines, sailors and Guamanian militia. Tinian's landing force fought under the command of Maj . Orote Peninsula as soon as the Brigade captured it on Force 53-the naval unit which put the landing force Gen. Harry Schmidt, USMC, whose command was a part of the V Guam's liberation was the second phase of an of· August 30-supported the ground units in the final ashore. He also directed the 13-day pre-assault Amphibious Corps commanded by Lt. Gen. H.M. Smith, USMC. fensive against the Mal"ianas Islands which began when p.hase of the drive north. bombardment. Gen. Smith was in overall command of the Marines and Army troops who took Saipan and Guam as well as Tinian. During the Tinian fighting, the 2nd Marine Div. was commanded by Maj. Gen. Thomas E. Watson, USMC, while Maj. Gen. Clifton B. Cates, USMC, led the 4th Division. The Marine commands were backed by two U.S. Army (ORGANIZED RESISTANCe: ON GUAM units-the 27th Infantry Division and XXIV Corps Artillery. ENI)EO IN THIS AREA ON 10 AUGUST 1944) The Division was commanded by Maj. Gen. George W. Griner, USA. . Brig. Gen. Arthur M. Harper, USA, and his XXIV Corps 11 J." " •• j ~J" Artillery also actively participated in the Tinian fighting. VSMC t The command supported the Marines from firing positions . ~ on nearby Saipan during the early stages of the Tinian action. As the range increased, some units moved to Tinian. ~~vP POIN~/. Termed "the perfect amphibious operation of World War II," ASAN POINT~P .$TIYAN AIRFIELD !yY =.~'V/..I MANA the battle for Tinian lasted only nine days. The combination of i:-,.; surprise and effective logistical support was responsible for Tinian's OReTE POI~pOJt recapture with a much lower casualty rate than had been experi­ AJ':?LOI\) enced in previous landings. Almost a year after its capture from the Japanese, Tinian ,,;' Ju l,)' ~~:.. played a final role in the defeat of the Japanese when a B-29 named [8]17"" ~Iw Provo US" USMC the "Enola Gay" left Point Ushi Airstrip, carrying the atomic bomb ISLAND to be dropped on Hiroshima. of Elements of -the 4th Marine Div. launched the 1st assault wave against Tinian's beaches. The battle was later termed the perfect amphibious operation ()f World War II. (USMC Photo) GUAM 24 July 1944

r, :;J~=- American colors were ~ain raised at the old Marine Barracks on Guam July 29, 1944. Generals H.M. S~ith, -R.S. Geiger, L.C. Shepherd and Adm. R. Spruance led the ceremonies. ' /'(Photo by TSgt. G.R. Gass) ISLAND of TINIAN

,AIRFIELD No. 4

TOWN / \ \ ,- (ORGANIZED RESISTANCE ON TINIAN ENOED IN THIS AREA ON '\:1ST 1944)

War was forgotten by these Marines on Tinian when mail - -.: call came. This was the first mail since they landed .on 3rd Marine Division Leathernecks re-take Agana, Guam, the first American city of any size. The wrecked capital was full of land mines planted Marin~s advance under close coverage of medium taanks during the July 1944 assault on Tinian island. the island and morale went up as fast as letters were by the Japanese as they retreated. - (Photo by SSgt. J. Heiberger) (USMC Photo) given out. (Photo by SSgt. R.E. Olund) Page 8 SEA TIGER July 18, 1969 Enemy Engineers Deathly III With A·4 Skyhawkitis By Sgt. David Butler CHU LAI-If you're keeping score, it's Marine jets 17, North Vietnamese engineers O. The latest score in the battle between the NVA construction teams who build their field fortresses and Marine jet pilots who eliminate them, came recently when two A-4 Skyhawk pilots from Marine Attack Squad­ ron 311 ripped into 17 Communist positions, destroying 12 fortifications and severely damaging. ~ive others. . the fortress as a complex of I~ addltlo~, the two pdots, large, well-built and protected Maj. A. Davld Thompson (J-ef- con c I' e t e fortifications some fersonville, Ind.) and Capt. nearly 50 feet long. . ' Charles R. Sorensen (San Car­ los, Calif.) caused two secon­ Arriving above the enemy po­ dary explosions and five secon­ sit ion s, the two Skyhawks dary fires. maneuvered for their bomb Both jets were scrambled runs. from the Chu Lai "hot pad" "We -began getting secondary when word came that U.S. Army explosions on our first pass," ground troops were meeting re- said the flight leader, Maj. ...sistance on the coastal plain Thompson. "It was really beau­ about 20 miles north of here. tiful. In all, we made about 14 Heavy enemy fire com i n g passes {)n the fortifications, from a fortified Communist area dropping all our ordnance. By hidden amongst the trees near the time we were through, the Tam Ky. Both pilots described area was in ruins." ASC Dedit.tet/, Speeds Supplies By MSgt. Don Haley DA NANG-One of the most advanced computer in­ stallations in the U.S. Marine Corps has gone into full operation following its formal dedication by the com­ mander of Leatherneck forces it was designed to serve. At a traditional dedication ceremony Lt. Gen. Her­ man Nickerson Jr., commanding general, III Marine Amphibious Force, pushed a button that activated a multi­ million dollar system of elec- tronic components deSigned to PFC. W. ARROW WOOD (Riverside, CalH.) scans the surrounding brush for signs of enemy movement aid Force Logistic Command 80,000 Marines in the Republic of during a sweep mission. Arrowwood, from "I" Co., 3rd Bn., 5th Marines, was on patrol trying to (FLC) Leathernecks in main­ Vietnam. net enemy troops fleeing from Operation Pipestone Canyon northward to his patrol area. taining a reliable, efficient and The new TBM Model 360 50-1 (Photo by Sgt. D.E. Kramer) rapid means of supplying some computer system, operated by FLC's Automated Services Cen­ ter (ASC), r,eplaces an earlier, smaller data processing system and is housed in a new dust-free, air conditioned building at Camp Party Books, headquarters of FLC, 3rcl Shore Honors Deacl eig.ht miles northwest of here. By Sgt. Dave Elsworth The Model 50-1 system will be QUANG TRI - "This me­ used to monitor the entire sup­ morial was built and is now ply chain for FLC in its mission dedicated in the memory of of supplying and supporting two those men in the 3rd Shore Par­ reinforced Marine divisions and ty Bn., who paid the fullest mea­ a reinforced Marine aircraft sure in the service of their wing operating in I Corps, the country." republic's northernmost taotical zone. These words were spoken by M a j . J.B. Knotts (Virginia The Model 50-1, a third-gener­ Beach, Va.), commanding offi­ ation data processing system, cer, 3rd Shore Party Bn., 3rd has the capability of completing Marine Div. during the dedica­ work programmed into it four tion of the battalion's new me­ times faster than its smaller morial park, on June 20. predecessor, the IBM Model 30. To the Lea,therneck rifleman Maj. Knotts added, "May this in the field, this means that all memorial daily remind us all of his supplies, from rations to am­ their sacrifices so that our living munition will be monitored fas­ might somehow reflect their ter and closer to insure that sacrifices. " s toe k p i I e s are maintained Attending the ceremony was throughout the entire supply Col. Martin J . Sexton (Balti­ chain back to the United States. more, Md.), 3rd Marine Div. The ASC will also use the com­ chief of staff, who said, " Ma­ puter system to handle person­ rines who have given their lives nel accounting for the entire III have done it for the greatest Marine Amphibious Force. At cause possible - to give the any given time, the computer South Vietnamese people hope can show what men are needed for a better way of life." in what units, who are rotating The 3rd Shore Party Bn. Me­ back to the United States, and morial Park ceremonies ended MAJ. KNOTTS ADDRESSES members of the 3rd Shore Party Bn. during the dedication ceremony. who have voluntarily extended with taps. (Photo by Cpl. G.K. Maddeaux) their tours here. /

July 18, 1969 SEA TIGER Page 9 2/7 Stout Dog Assumes Burden Of Walking Point By LCpl. Joe Kinney "I was scared of Colonel when DA NANG - Ninety pounds of I first saw him," said Morrison canine radar with nearly four (300 Lakeview Dr., Pell City, years of combat experience in Ala.). "He sure was big. Now 1 the Republic of Vietnam is help­ wouldn't go anywhere without ing to make life easier for the him. He's all a scout dog could point-man of "E" Co., 2nd Bn., be." 7th Marines working from Hill 22, eight miles southwest of Morrison justifies his walking here. pOint. "Colonel and 1 working to­ gether can find any booby trap "Colonel," a 5~-year-old Ger­ man Shepherd scout dog teams the enemy can make. Colonel up with Pfc. Frank B. Morrison has found tunnels, bunkers and to take over the foremost ex­ quite a few other things. Once posed position in a tactical col­ we were walking through an umn. The pressures of being a open area and he saw an enemy point man are enormous. No one squad leave their position about wants to risk stepping on a 300 yards up the trail. booby trap or leading a unit into Without the dog we could have an ambush. Colonel and Morri­ walked into an ambush. The son make an unbeatable team enemy knew that Colonel had when it comes to handling these picked up their scent and had prlJblems. alerted me. They were forced to "He's always at the point with abandon their plan and seek es­ his dog," said an Echo Company cape. poi nt-man about the com­ Colonel's record justifies any biRation. "Normally, a scout dog com p lim en t s that Morrison would be second in a column but might have. "He·s never had a Morrison and his dog always handler wounded. And he's lead the way. And they definite­ worked with many units in ly .find their share of booby many hot spots in the years that traps and everything else." he has been in Vietnam. Let/s Be frank Now, Sinatra A Marine?? By Pfe. Joe Doyle DA NANG-One might expect to see John Wayne in Vietnam but Marines at Maintenance Bn., Force Logistic Command have no such luck. They must settle for Frank Sinatra. MEMBERS OF 3RD BN., 9TH MARINES attend church services ·in the "bush" during recently con­ Named after his grandfather rather than the enter­ cluded Operation Cameron Falls. Conducting the services was Navy Lt. Cmdr. C.R. Spencer (Clear­ tainer, Cpl. Frank P. Sinatra (1422 Woodland Ave., Pitts­ water, Fla.), chaplain for the battalion. (Photo by Sgt. Ken Corbett) burgh, Pa.) is a tank mechanic in the battalion's Ordnance Maintenance Co. f "At first, people don't believe I'm telling them my real name; Views on Redeployment they think it's a put-on," the cor­ poral says quietly. "When they finally believe that Sinatra is my real name, they will always ask if I'm related to him. I'm not." Emotions DiNer in 9tll Mllrines It might be nice if confusion over his name were the only By Cpl. Franklin Delong soned Capt. John Kelly (New Just two days after the news ried off their choppers and head­ problem facing Frank, but as a VANDEGRIFT COMBAT York, N.Y.), commanding offi­ reached the field, "C" Co., en­ ed for their areas at Vandegrift tank mechanic in a combat BASE - When the news first cer of "C" Co., "The men are gaged North Vietnamese Army Combat Base. To some it was a zone, he definitely has his work reached the Leatherneck 1st Marines and I've made it a point elements in a fierce battle south­ time for rejoicing, to others a cut out for him. Bn., 9th Marines that they would to tell them everything that e.on­ west of Khe Sanh and won the time to write home and tell ev­ Sinatra's outfit is responsible be 'part of President Nixon's an­ cerns them. I have gone to them battle conclUSively, .as 45 enemy eryone about the latest news. for major repairs to Marine nounced 25,000-man troop rede­ before with good news as well as soldiers lay dead following the For all it was an emotional feel­ tanks. The mechanics must do ployment from Vietnam, they bad, and in every case they've contact. ing to know that the 1st Bn., 9th their work quickly and ef­ didn't believe it. But after the responded like the true profes­ Returning from the field for Marines had seen their last op­ ficiently and return the rolling word was passed from their sionals they are." the last time, the Marines hur- eration in northern I Corps. hulks of steel back to the field. company commanders, the Ma­ Although he admits he cannot rines began to realize that it sing, Sinatra the Marine is just wasn't just a rumor, but the real as professional at his job as Si­ "scoop." natra the entertainer. LCpl. Albert Lambert (An­ , , H a v i n g a famous name drews, S.C.) summed up his doesn't bother me at all," Si­ emotions this way, "I've been Capt. Chapman to Ofti natra says. "In fact, it's been to here 'for 12 months and it would my advantage - especially in have been hard leaving these By Cpt. Franklin Delong Capt. Chapman, on his third C hap man led his company meeting girls." guys behind. I think it's great tour in Vietnam, is redeploying ,through five operations in north­ "They hear my name," he that we're aU going to Okinawa VANDEGRIFT COMBAT continues, "and right away they together." Lambert has served BASE - Capt. Leonard Chap­ to Okinawa with his battalion. ern 1 Corps. "These are good want to see what I look like." with an S1mm mortar platoon man (Orlando, Fla.), command­ In speaking of his company, troops, each one of them," he Upon completion of his Marine ing officer of "D" Co., 1st Bn., sin<:e coming to Vietnam. ' Chapman commented, "I've en­ exclaimed. Corps tour, Sinatra hopes to re­ For the most part there were 9th Marines, grabbed the bas­ turn to the Republic of Vietnam ketball, pivoted and sank a 15- joyed working with this com­ C:{pt. Chapman is the son of mixed emo~ions among the as a civHian. foot jump shot. pany. It's been the most reward­ Leathernecks. Some were hap­ ing thing I've done since join­ Gen. Leonard F. Chapman, Jr., "I've enjoyed knowing the py, a few were indifferent and The basketball court Capt. ing the Marine Corps." Commandant of the Marine Vietnamese," he observes, "and others talked of trying to switch Chapman was playing on is one Corps. I'd like to come back and do On Operation Utah Mesa, con­ more to help them." to another unit so that they of several recently installed at ducted by the 9th Marines south­ In discussing his unit, Capt. could Temain in Vietnam to this combat base to provide rec­ The accomplishments and ad­ ·complete their tours. reation for Leathernecks return­ west of Khe Sanh, Delta Co. Ma­ Chapman remarked, "I believe bitions of Marine Cpl. Frank Si­ In telling their men of the 9th ing from the field. The 1st Bn., rines accounted for more than 30 the real rewards are to be found natra, Ordnance Maintenance Marines' redeployment in the 9th Marines have returned from North Vietnamese soldiers killed here in country as 1 have found Co., Maintenance Bn., Force Lo­ middle of the operation, com­ the field for the last time in and they didn't lose a man to them in three tours over here, gistic Command have proved enemy fire. pan yeo m man d e l' s never Vietnam, and are now utilizing especially when there is an op­ him to be a star in his own right doubted their troops' ability to these facilities during their off- Since assuming command dur­ pOl'tunity to work with Marines - even if he isn't as famous as adjust to any situation. Rea- duty hours. . ing Operation Dewey Canyon, like Delta Company." the "other" Sinatra. SEA TIGER July 18, 1969 Recons Endure 6-hour (ontact Cpl. Frank Franzone DA NANG-A recon patrol from 1st Force Recon­ naissance Co. battled extreme heat and a determined enemy for six hours before being heli-lifted out of the jungle, their mission completed. The eight man long range reconnaissance patrol, led by Sgt. Theodore Ott, (2506 17th St., Monroe, Wise.), was dropped off in a densely forested area 43 miles south­ west of Da Nang, They were c h a r g e d with reconnoitering three NVA they saw, killing the enemy positions and strengths. trio. The first day was uneventful Ten minutes later the patrol - the Marines were only able to heard some more movement in travel 25-38 yards an hour due to the nearby brush. The patrol the thick foliage. At 8: 38 the sec­ fired again, wounding one NV A ond day, they made contact with and taking him captive. As a an unknown size enemy force. medevac chopper Was called for " We were checking out a trail the wounded NVA, the Marines' when three or four North Viet­ position came under heavy fire namese soldiers tried to walk up from three sides. on the rear of our patrol. Our "We were returning fire when rear man opened up and killed an enemy grenade landed in the two of them," stated Ott. middle of us. Pfc. Robert Castle The Leathernecks then moved (24 Onieta St., Battle Creek, 25-38 yards down the trail and Mich.) dove for it and threw it set in. They were there only 18 out of the perimeter we had set WHEN MARINES are in the "bush" and away from the luxuries such as showers, they improvise minutes before they heard ene­ up," Ott explained. with ,whatever is available. In this case Marines of "C" Co., 1st Bn., 26th Marines take their my soldiers breaking brush to Ott rose to his knees and yel­ showers with -cool -water from a deep well during Operation Bold Pursuit 28 miles south of Da their west. Ott and another Ma­ led instructions to his men when Nang. (Photo by Sgt. Mike Detherage) rine opened fire on the first he was wounded by a small arms round. Despite his wound, Ott continued to direct his patrol for the remainder of the day. He ra­ Home Remedies Fading dioed for Marine air support against the mounting enemy fire. Jet aircraft from the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing flew cover for the encircled Marines from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Viets Seen Accepting Meditine "The jets and aerial observers (AOs) were always up there By Cpl. Dick Frankovich "I've seen a marked attitude change resettlement area just northwest of Da when we needed them. The AOs DA NANG-Modern medicine is begin­ since I've been here. The people seem to Nang are bringing their children to the really knew their job and the ning to cope with disease in the Republic trust us a great deal more now," beamed hospital with a growing sense of confidence. support we got was great. Those of Vietnam, even though the country is at the young doctor. The American doctor has moved from a jet pilots were outstanding," war. The local citizen is beginning to trust But western medicine has had to adjust "last resort to a first resort" in many commented Ott. modern medicine as his fellow countrymen to the requirements of the South Vietnam­ households. Two hOllrs after the initial learn the techniques American , military ese. Military doctors have had to apply Along with volunteer help from Navy contact, Hie NV A force tried to doctors are sharing. modern drugs and diagnostic skills to doctors and corpsmen, the Hoa Khanh overrun the Leathernecks. Dur­ Daily at the Hoa Khanh Children's Hos­ seldom seen tropical diseases. Children's Hospital is staffed with Viet­ ing the attack one Marine was pital, eight miles northwest of here' at the "The textbooks in America told us that namese nurses and medical technicians. s e rio u sly wounded outside headquarters site of Marine Force Logistic we'd probably never see Melliodosis, and These people have learned how to work with friendly lines. Not knowing if the Command, wonders of modern medicine are here we've come in contact with it. So modern medicine and have become pro­ man was alive or dead, Ott reaching the villager and farmer. we've had to come up with a treatment," ficient at recognizing the appropriate treat­ moved outside the perimeter un­ Today.'s encouraging situation is the said Margolis. ment for diseases such as plague and der heavy fire and brought the result of efforts by U.S. Navy doctors who This often fatal lung disease at first malaria. Marine back. are leaving a priceless array of techniques disguised itself with the symptoms of tuber­ Margolis said one thing that is helping Mar i n e jets continued to and cures to their Vietnamese counterparts. culosis until a joint consultation between to overcome many roadblocks on the p~th pound the enemy posifions and Joining in this effort is Navy Lt. Marvin FLC medical officers and internal medicine to better health here is the adaptation of at 3: 30 p.,m. a helicopter was Margolis (Rockford, Ill.), who has spent experts at 1st Medical Bn., 1st Marine standard cures for tropical disease to the able to drop a recovery net to almost a year working on a volunteer basis Division, was able to arrive upon a method Vietnamese situation. the patrol. The Marines and at the children's hospital in addition to tak­ of diagnosis. Modern medicine has a strong foothold their NVA captive hooked up to ing care of the medical needs of FLC Since summer 1968, Navy doctors treat­ around Da Nang. And it's medical per­ the net and made their exit. Marines as their command medical officer. ing patients at the Hoa Khanh Children's sonnel like Navy Lt. Marvin Margolis who After six hours.., of fighting in Many Vietnamese now trust the germ Hospital have saved 28 youngsters who con­ are helping to assure a better standard of Charlie's backyard. Ott and his approach to medicine, as opposed to local tracted this exotic disease. health for the people of the Republic of men headed for An Hoa and a folk cures. Vietnamese in this fast growing refugee Vietnam. well deserved rest.

MARINES OF "A" CO. , 1st Bn., 5th Marines, take time to rig up improvised shelter against the rain and sun as they guard the command post perimeter of Battalion Landing Team 1/26 during Operation Bold Pursuit. (Photo by Sgt. Mike Detherage) 7

July 18, 1969 SEA TIGER Page 11 Sea Tiger Mail Bag

(Cont. From Page 2) Debor ah DuLaney Jean Strother Kathy Daniels Box 1 Box 2934 61 N. 6th St. Mantachie, Miss. 38855 Shirley Heath Fulton, N.Y. 13069 Box 2664 Sue Hicks Age 18 Linda Robonson 1701 Hutchinson Ave. N. E . Box 3142 Lynn Hall Apt. 16 Jean Lee RD. # 1 Rathburn Rd. Knoxville, Tenn. 37917 Box 3592 Fulton, N.Y. 13069 Sandy Coffman Dona Leecraft Age 16 Sundial Trailor Park Box 2501 Okla. College of Liberal Arts Diann Hall Rd. #3 Chickasha, Okla. 73018 R.D . #1 Rathburn Rd. Blairsville, Pa. 15717 Fulton, N.Y. 13069 Marilyn Schack Patsy Strother Age 17 1215 S. Valley Center 324 North "E" Duncan, Okla. 73533 Cecelia Wolfersburger Glendora, Calif. 91740 RD. #1 Patricia Cappello Jo Anne Kline Fulton, N.Y. 13069 189 Stevens Ave. 244 East 7 St. Age 16 Mt. Vernon, N.Y. 10550 Oswego, N.Y. 13126 Linda Bargam Age 22 Maureen Mixon RD. 1 Cherly Reinfeldt 17 Hillside Rd. Hannibal, N.Y. 13074 512 Ellenwood Ave. Pinehurst, Age 17 Reedsburg, Wis. 53959 - Billerica, Mass. 01866 Age 18 Richard Murphy Clare Serbus _ 114 West Broadway St. 608 West 3rd Sf. Mary Ellen Hassler Fulton, N.Y. 13069 Willmar, Minn. 56201 125 East Mountain Rd. Age 20 Age 20 Allentown, Pa. 18103 Marilu Goddard Laura Talbot Gail Hobbyshaw 15 Yates St. 7031 Tandem Court. 515 East Market St. Mechanic Falls, Maine 04256 Citrus Heights, Calif. 95610 Mercer, Pa. 16137 Age 17 Pen-pal club Age 15 c/o George Larrabee Donna Hathaway Linda L. Cross 94 Derly St. 5746 W. 76th St. 5729 29th Ave. Salem, Mass. 01970 Los Angeles, Calif. 90045 Apt. 202 Hyattsvil.le, Md. 20782 Brenda Lassalle Janice Brooks "22 & up" 1005 Division St. RFD #1 Metairee, La. 7001 Kim Daly Biddeford, Ma. 04005 LCPL. C.I. HARRIS (Clncbmati, Ohio) adjusts an antenna used as 285 W. 16th St. Beverly Hammond part of a long-distance radio relay system between major Marine Linda Goidwin Chicago Heights, Ill. 60411 units in Vietnam. HarriS, a member of Sth/7th Communications Bn., 364 Hamilton Blvd. Northwood Narrows is part of a team that furnishes communication support to all Kenmore, N.Y. 14217 Route 4, New Hampshire Veronica Fendorak U.S. and Republic of Korea Marines and Free World forces 115-61 224 St. operating in I Corps. (Photo by Capt. D.G. Menely) Heike Foster Dolores Rundlett Cambria Heights, N.Y. 11411 2936 N. Marengo 1 Webb Brook Rd. Age 19 Altadena, Calif. 91001 Billerica, Mass. 01821 Kim Rogers New Taste Comes Rhea Darnell Dieu Rundlett P .O. Box 133 5628 Nokomis 1 Webb Brook Rd. Dover, Fla. 33527 La Mesa, Calif. 92041 Billerica, Mass. 01821 Age 18 -From Viet Produce Evelyn C. Lee Maureen Peake Mildred Depoal Age 21 34 Broad St. Yndependencia #35 By Sgt. Bruce Smith Anna C. Lee Pinehurst, Mass. 01866 Santiago, Rep. Dominicana DONG HA-A three-fold Civil Affairs program is Age 18 presently in full-swing in Quang Tri Province. 49 Fort St. Ann Churchill Nancy Saltzer The program has as its goal improving the diets of 8388 Stewart Ave. 819 Coronado 3rd Floor Arcadia, Calif. 91006 the Vietnamese people, stimulating their economy and North Point, Hong Kong Los Angeles, Calif. 90045 providing fresh fruits and vegetables for the fighting forces Jackie Hagnese in northern I Corps. Jo Anne Marie Monterosso Delores Crafton 566 Archard Ave. Under the supervision of ,John Swanson, Quang Tri 1777 Camp Baker Rd. Age 21 Pittsburgh, Pa. 15202 Province agricultural advisor .. Medford, Oregon 97501 Marilyn Crafton for Civil Operations Revolution­ tremely sandy soil, the village Age 23 Age 17 Karen Franke a I' y D eve lop men t Support has always been held to a limit­ 5426 W. Cortland St. (CORDS) , the local villagers are ed number of crops. At the rec­ P.O. Box 13 Chicago, Ill. 60639 being shown how to grow a wide Eleanor MacLean Odessa, Fla. 33556 ommendation of Swanson, hy­ variety of fruits and vegetables, dromulch was mixed with the 36 Fairview Ave. Jill Ruckhaber many of which have never be­ New Glasgow, Nova Scotia Mary Fell soil to retain water and prevent 3885 Yellowstone Ln. fore been grown in this area. erosion. As a result, the people Canada 2388 Renfrew El Dorado Hills, Calif. 95630 When grown for personal con­ of Chieu Hoi Village now grow sumption, these fruits and vege­ Age 17 Pontiac, Mich. 48053 watermelons, tomatoes and OU1- Maria Sanchez tables provide a valuable addi­ er fruits and vegetables which Almedieth Workman Kathy Adams 1115 Tyler St. tion to the diet of the farmer and they had been unable to grow St. Louis, Mo. 63106 his family. When grown for mar­ 600 21 St. S.W. 613 Anthony Ave. before. In addition, they enjoy ket, they provide a stimulus for more healthful diets and pro­ Barberton, Ohio 44203 Toms River, N.J. 08753 Judy Gibson the economy because they are Age 16 duce fresh items that have a 3210 University St. always in strong demand. greater market demand. St. Louis, Mo. 63107 Second Lt. Robert O. Dillender Karen Robinson Patricia Hodges The U.S. Marines also receive 454 Ainslie St. (St. Louis, Mo.) of the 29th Civil 556 Logan Ave. Debra Andrews Affairs Co., is serving as the 3rd benefits from the program. The Winnipeg 12, Manitoba Bronx, New York 10465 4595 Cote Brillante Marine Div. agricultural coor­ fresh tomatoes, corn, water­ Canada Stamford, Conn. 06902 St. Louis, Mo. dinator. "Out of every 32 cents melon and cucumbers now being that goes into the project in the served in 3rd Marine Div. mess Helen Kemp form of seed and fertilizer dis­ halls were grown by local farm­ Rt. 1 tributed to the farmers," says ers. Marietta, Miss. 38856 Dillender, "27 cents is returned When asked which fruit or * * • to the farmer in the form of vegetable seemed to be the most Bernice Sekula cash proceeds from his sales. popular with the Marines, SSgt. 2052 N. Whipple This is only one of the strong W.F . Frehe (New Milford, N.J.), Make Saving Easy mess sergeant at one mess hall Chicago, Ill. 60647 points of the program, how­ * * ¢ ever." in Dong Ha said, "Well, the men Gail Muckey Chieu Hoi Village, located two eat a lot of corn, and the green RD. #1, Rathburn Rd. miles south of Quang Tri City, is onions always go over big, but With Savings Bonas Fulton, N.Y. 13069 a good place to see the program I'd say the watermelon is their 17 in operation. Because of the ex- favorite." Page 12 SEA TIGER July 18, 1969 'Frags' Greet Startled Marine Enemy Dead• •• (Continued From Page 1) to push the enemy toll higher. NV A had recently used the com­ Between May 1, when the oper­ plex. A search of the bunkers ation began, and July 6 more or 2's Comp'ny, l's a Crowd produced 200 pounds of rice, two than 500 North Vietnamese sol­ bangalore torpedoes, 82 gre­ diers were killed. By Cpl. Frank Franzone coming in. I didn't want them thinking I was an nades, -medicine, rations, as­ The mission of the 3rd Ma­ sorted clothing and combat AN HOA-The closer Cpl. Donald Spoon got to NV A," Spoon said. rines during the operation is to No sooner had Spoon yelled, "I'm coming in, " gear, and explosives. destroy or capture enemy instal­ the lines, the more cautious he became. In the In addition to the heavy casu­ distance he could see the tracer fire coming from than he was at the entrance to the bunker. He lations and materials, and to expected a welcome greeting from the Marines alties inflicted on the enemy, the stop enemy soldiers infiltrating the Marines' positions along the lines. An AK-47 allies captured seven prisoners, round whizzed scant yards above his head. "Wow, inside. Instead the "greeting" came in the form into the republic. of two Communist grenades. and 114 individual and 31 crew­ In addition to the NVA sol­ only 75 more yards and I'll be in the safety and served weapons. comfort of a bunker," he thought. Spoon ducked around the corner of the bunker diers killed, the regiment has just before the two grenades exploded. Virginia Ridge also taken 9 prisoners, seven de­ Spoon (48 Michael PI., Levittown, Pa.), a mem­ The 3rd Marines, participating ber of Headquarters and Service Bn., Force Somewhat confused, he yelled again. Two tainees, 139 individual and 31 more grenades. in Operation Virginia Ridge crew-served weapons. Logistic Command working with the 5th Marines north of the Rockpile, continue here, was responding to an all-out alert sounded "That really convinced me. It took me a Herkimer Mountain throughout the base. An estimated platoon of while to get the point, but I finally figured out North Vietnamese Army sappers were attacking there weren't any friendlies in there," Spoon Operation Herkimer Moun­ the perimeter defense wire in several places. As added. tain, an operation being con­ soon as the alarm was sounded, Spoon grabbed Spoon grabbed two fragmentation grenades Simlik ... ducted by the 4th Marines in the his rifle, helmet and flak jacket and headed for out of his utility pockets and crawled around to mountainous jungles northwest the lines. the front of the bunker. With a pull and a flip (Continued From Page 3) of Vandegrift Combat Base is of his wrist, Spoon lobbed the two grenades 1st Bn., 5th Marines where he now in its ninth week. As of July With about 75 yards yet to go, the 20-year-old through the opening. Seconds later the grenades Marine stopped to catch his breath. "I was think­ earned the Legion of Merit with 6, the operation had accounted exploded, killing the two NV A sappers hiding combat "V." for 118 enemy soldiers killed. ing what a good target I made there, so I de­ inside. cided to make a run for the nearest bunker," B e for e departing for the The operation's goal is to Spoon explained. "All the time I was running for the bunker, United States, Col. Lafond had a search out invading North Viet­ I kept thinking about how nice and safe I would special message for his former namese Army forces and to "I was running at top speed when I approached be once I got inside. What a miscalculation! infantrymen in which he com· deny them entry into the repub­ lhe bunker near the wire. I decided I would The hardest part was just getting inside," Spoon plimented them for their accom­ lic. The operation is also de­ shout a warning to them and let them know I was concluded. plishments on the battlefield. signed to prevent enemy forces He concluded his farewell ad­ from maSSing attacks against dress by adding, "It is time now allied fire bases. for me to say goodbye. Good Eleme~lts of the 4th Marines hunting, 3rd Marines, good luck are continuing their patrols and may God keep you from from mountaintop fire bases. harm's way." Using artillery and close air - Col. Lafond will attend the support to enhance the effective­ Naval War College, Newport, R. ness of their patrols, the results I. in Operation Herkimer Mountain have been termed by Col. Wil­ liam F. Goggin, commanding of­ ficer of the regiment, as "very successful. " Vu Gia ... In addition to the enemy sol­ (Continued From Page 1) diers killed, the Leathernecks fective. At one time one of our have taken 66 detainees and cap­ patrols was followed by an ene­ tured 20 individual and four my force of unknown size," con­ crew-served weapons. tinued Fagan. "We set up a hasty defense along the trail and when the NVA patrol closed, we opened Clout ... up and killed four of them. "Almost all of our contact was (Continued From Page 1) along the river. The enemy must second Phantom screamed low not have known that we were in over the target dropping his re­ the area because we got most of maining bombs. them there within six days. In addition to the dead NVA "The men used their military troops, the flight was credited skills and tactics in an ' out­ with two antiaircraft weapons, standing and professional man­ three bunkers, three fortified po­ ner. They used the key terrain sitions. They also caused- six to their advantage and com­ secondary fires believed to be pletely tore the NV A apart. burning ammunition supplies. "Our company-size operation was a success in more ways than one, and I can't Single out anyone special," continued Fa­ I Corp,s gan. "The aggressiveness during our patrols - using the treelines and being alert at all times - Logistics helped us catch the enemy when they tried to make any river By PFC Richard Carroll crossing or tried to slip through DA NANG - Ammunition Co., our lines into the Arizona Ter­ a unit of Supply Battalion, Ma­ ritory and onto Charlie Ridge." rine Force Logistic Command, COLORED SMOKE billows up to show wind direction as a lst MAW CH-46 helicopter approaches a "These Marines showed me issued 588,035 tons of ammuni­ mountain-top fire support base in northern I Corps with supplies from Force Logistic Support Group that they know how to fight, and tion and 127,607 tons of avia­ I'm proud of them," concluded tion ordnance to Marine units Bravo at Dong Ha. (Photo by Cpl. Watler Leetch) Fagan. in I Corps during 1968. Mail The Sea Tiger Home FIOM: ..•••••..•••••••••...••• ~ •••• Polla•• New 1st Wing CO ••...... 3rd Cia •••~ Alrma" 20f! (Continued From Page 1) the Chinese Communists in De­ signed as legislative assistant to FPO San FrancIsco, Cali' 96602 l~t CI ... 1~ vice at Pearl Harbor, Saipan cember 1951. He earned a sec­ the Commandant. For his ser­ ond Legion of Merit for merit­ and Okinawa before he was as­ vices in this capacity, he was orious conduct as senior United a war d e d the Navy Com­ signed to the Division of Avia­ Nations officer in a Chinese mendation Medal. Prior to as­ tion at Headquarters Marine Communist prisoner of war suming his present duties, Gen. TO: , I Corps in January 1946 . camp. Thrash served as commanding ,. .. In August 1962, Gen. Thrash general of Marine Corps Air Sta­ . Assigned the 1st Marine Air­ tion, El Toro, Calif. craft Wing in June 1951, he again joined the 1st Marine Air­ earned the Silver Star Medal for craft Wing in Iwakuni, Japan as The Commandant and Gener­ gallantry in action Oct. 25, 1951, chief of staff. The following als Buse and Nickerson further while serving with Marine Air­ June, he arrived in the United expressed confidence that 1st craft Group 12. He was also States and served at Norfolk, MAW, under Gen. Thrash's lead­ NOtE: Fold paper three times, secure edges with Va ., as assistant chief of staff ership ". . . will continue to awarded his first Legion of Mer­ achieve new laurels," citing the it with combat "V" and his sixth G-3, Fleet Marine Force Atlan­ Staple or Tap. and 'mail home. tic. new wing commander's "broad - and seventh Air Medals prior to experience and outstanding pro­ being captured and interned by In March 1964, he was as- fessional qualifications."