Mac (L) and Father (R)
Today marks the 35th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam war.
Occasionally I wander and this post has nothing about motorcycles. However, it has everything to do with appreciating veterans.
You may recall that the U.S. entered the war to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam as part of their wider strategy of containment. The southern city of Saigon – later renamed as Ho Chi Minh City – was surrendered on 30 April 1975 to Vietcong troops when several tanks smashed through the gates of what was then known as Independence Palace and the last of the Marines were evacuated from the embassy roof.
But I’ve gotten way ahead of myself. The year was 1962 in the hot dry desert of White Sands Missile Range and the Hawk Missile Training Program at the Air Defense School in Fort Bliss, Texas…
The 6th Missile Battalion (HAWK), 71st Artillery was activated by General Order 17, dated 19 February 1962, Headquarters, U.S. Army Air Defense Center, Fort Bliss, Texas. The HAWK – from the Latin name Accipter (birds that are known as hawks) – were made by Ratheon, and was an all-weather, surface-to-air, medium-range/medium-altitude missile system. All HAWK missile artillery battalions served under the 97th Artillery Group (Air Defense Artillery) — “Hoomau i Luna” (Always On Top).
Golden Dragon Voyage - 1965
It would be three years later in July 1965 that the Battalion received Alert Orders for overseas deployment to U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) South Vietnam. The alert order initiated a series of actions to qualify the crews and readied the equipment for deployment. In less than a month, the Battalion had multiple successful missile exercises and by 15 August 1965 the equipment was ready for shipment. The PRD (Personnel Readiness Date) was established as 1 September 1965 and all personnel were POR qualified. The Battalion’s personnel were alerted for movement from Fort Bliss, Texas to Oakland Army Terminal, Oakland, California.
The main body (including my father) of the 6th Battalion (HAWK), 71st Artillery departed Oakland Army terminal aboard the USNS General Hugh J. Gaffey (T-AP-121) on 11 September 1965. My father mailed me the above card which I’ve saved as a reminder of that voyage. And in a twist of irony the ship turned out to be the very same troop transport ship that he traveled to Asia when deployed to serve in the Korean War some twelve years earlier. Go figure. At any rate, on the card above (name intentionally blocked out) you’ll note that at departure my father wore a Specialist E-5 Insignia, indicating the rank of Specialist E-5, or Spec 5 as it was commonly called. It was phased out after the Vietnam War and today, all E-5’s are Sergeants, but during the Vietnam War, Spec 5’s were sometimes squad leaders or in charge of technical groups. Most E-5’s in a Hawk Battery were senior radar or missile technicians and they reported to an E-6 or above maintenance Sergeant. Interestingly an E-5 was the highest rank a draftee could receive without re-enlisting. The E-5 in charge reported directly to the Maintenance Warrant Officer and functioned as the Sergeant in their chain of command.
So, why were HAWK missiles in Vietnam? It turns out that in 1965 the U.S. significantly increased the scale of its air strike operations against North Vietnam, and in response the North Vietnamese were using Mig-17’s with a top speed of over 1300 MPH and could suddenly pop up on radar screens without much notice. In addition they deployed Russian Il-28 bomber aircraft which had the potential for first strike. The heightened air threat from North Vietnam and the lack of allied low altitude radar coverage in the region meant that if the enemy wanted to exploit this weakness it was estimated that the bases in South Vietnam and north-east Thailand would be open to decimating attacks in minutes. As a result, the 6th Missile Battalion men were deployed in various locations across Vietnam to defend their assigned air bases, fuel and ammo dumps, cities, major troop concentrations areas and free world ports in the Republic of South Vietnam.
My father along with rest of the 71st Artillery debarked at Qui Nhon after 17 days aboard the USNS General Hugh J. Gaffey (T-AP-121) on 28 September 1965. In November 1965, Battery C, 71st Artillery became the first fully operational HAWK unit in Vietnam. In 1966 the battalion relocated to Cam Ranh Bay where it remained until departure. During the first six-months my father served as an Engineer Equipment Technician and Supervisor, however, in the final six-months he was assigned to the 41st Signal Battalion as a M60 “Door Gunner” on a UH-1 “Slick” Huey. The “Slick” version was the configuration used for carrying maximum troops and other than the M60’s was not fitted with external weapons to save on weight. The unit received numerous Vietnam citations ranging from Defense; Counteroffensive; Tet Counteroffensive and Consolidation. My father returned to Fort Bliss, Texas in September 1966 and retired some ten years later.
Many of you know that the polished black granite of the Vietnam War Memorial is engraved with 58,256 names of fallen soldiers. It unfortunately includes my cousin “Mike” who was KIA on Saturday, 08 April 1967 along with seven other men in his squad from Co. F, 2nd Bn., 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. The following excerpt is from PFC James Popp’s Navy Cross which explained the situation:
“Private First Class Popp’s squad was conducting a squad-size patrol against the Viet Cong forces in Quang Nam Province. While moving along a trail in search of the enemy, the squad was suddenly taken under a murderous volume of small-arms, hand grenade and 40 millimeter grenade fire. The heavy volume of fire rained in from three sides,…continuation HERE…or HERE”.
But, what about that ship you ask?
It turns out the Admiral W.S. Benson-class troop transport – USNS General Hugh J. Gaffey (T-AP-121) – was built at Bethlehem Steel in Alameda, California and its history dates back to WWII where Admiral W. L. Capps made several trans-Pacific voyages to the Far East with troops between November 23, 1944 and August 4, 1945. Then from September 1945 to December 15, 1945, it made three trans-Atlantic voyages returning troops to and from Europe. In the 1950 – 60’s, the ship had a diverse service record where it spent almost two decades carrying men and material to American installations throughout the Far East and the Pacific Ocean during the Korean and Vietnam War support.
The ship was placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register, 9 October 1969 and then transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet. The ship was then reacquired and reinstated in the Naval Register on 1 November 1978 and was placed in service as a barracks hulk in Bremerton, WA., to serve as a barracks ship for the crews of ships undergoing major overhaul. Later the ship was laid up in the NISMF Pearl Harbor, HI., and struck from the Naval Register on 25 October 1993. In the ultimate irony, her final duty was a missile target North of the Hawaiian Islands during the RIMPAC 2000 EXERCISE where she sank on 16 June 2000, at location, in a depth of 2,730 fathoms.
Sure I’m proud of our family’s military service, but this post is more than that. It’s about remembering the fallen of the Vietnam War. Many came back to a non-welcome committee and deserve a major shout out. There are Veteran Motorcycle Clubs and many independent riders across the U.S. who are dedicated to helping and honoring veterans. If you are one thank you. If not, then when you see a Vietnam Vet or any Vet for that matter, try and make a point to thank them for their service to our country. Believe me they’ll appreciate hearing it!
Research for this post courtesy of: Army; BBC; 6th Battalion, 56th Artillery; GruntsMilitary.com; Global Security Org; General Orders and Code of Conduct; Military Personnel Records; Wikipedia; Navy; and family history.
Note: Photo of me above taken in El Paso, TX., circa; 1969 or ’70 and I’m in a ROTC uniform.
Northwest Harley Blog 
Great read and gotta love that picture!
Thanks for a great article. I was the company clerk for HHCompany and was on the USS Gaffey when we deployed to Viet Nam. I will never forget dropping anchor off shore and seeing a vietnamese man in a wooden barrel bobbing up and down as he rowed towards our ship looking for free handouts. We slept in bunks five or six high on the USS Gaffey and what a ride. Only had 12 inches above the above bunk. Soon learned to sit in the center of the latrine so when the ship rolled you wouldn’t get splashed with all the waste in the trough. When we off loaded in Qui Nhon my 3/4 qtr truck was damaged when it was winched over the side and when they thought it was secured on the landing craft a wave came in and when they released the truck it fell 10 feet and bent the frame of the truck.
Thanks for the comment Ron. Good insight on the trip over.
Thank you for the incredible content. I was a USAF medic during the conflict. Was a rider during, and still riding now. God Bless America! Land of free…..home of the brave!
I was in the c/6th/71st and on that ship also. would like to hear from others who were in my unit
Hi James, I joined C-6-71 after it got to Vietnam. I think I was in the same tent as you in Qui Nhon. Remember the night the chopper almost landed on top of us? You can reach me at patbain@suddenlink.net!
that was a great write up, but we never set our equipment up at Qui Nhon, we set up tints in a spot at the edge of the jungle and waited for our equipment , which came in at Cam Ranh Bay. after we picked up our equipment in Nov 1965 we set up a few miles north of Cam Ranh Bay to protect the air force base at Cam Ranh Bay from air attack. Our unit C / 6th /71st was a cw hawk missile unit
I am interested in organizing a Hawk ADA group of all Hawk ADA Veterans who will join us. There is greater strength in large numbers. Any ideas can be brought up at the September 2011 Hawker Reunion in Washington DC.
Trapper
I was the Signal Officer for 2d Bn (HAWK) 71st ADA at Camp Red Cloud, Korea February 1969 – 15 May 1972 and served under four battalion commanders. Feel frre to contact me for photographs, etc…
I was in the signal platoon 2nd 71st at CRC from late Oct. 1971 on. I lived in one of the Quonset huts, and worked on Hill 468. I remember you.
Here is our Video on U-Tube. A Veteran’s Day 2010 tribute to the Veterans of the 3/7th.ADA (Hawk)
Our 35 year mission in Germany. 1961 to 1986.
SGT Calvin Bridges / C3/7ADA – 1978 to 80 / Spartanburg SC
Trapper
it is good to know that a reunion is going on. i missed the nam conflict. i served in korea in 61 and 62. b batty 2nd/71st arty. our site was on hill 32a. very high. i returned to bliss to help train nato forces. had great times at white sands firing the hawk. will i get info when and where the next reunion will take place. thanks, glenn
glenn i also served in 1960 -1961 b batty 71st arty . would like to chat with you.
I was looking for some info on the 6th msl. Bt 71st Arty and found this site. I was in D Batt. when it was first organized in 1962-1964. What was you father’s name and what batt. was he in?
Would like to hear from Sgt. Mc Eachen if anyone known is whereabouts.
I was given a yellow Ribbon (1st Calvary Division) loaded on the Gaffey in 1962. We left Oakland California stopped in Hawaii then Japan. On our way they asked for volunteers to work the kitchen since I was trained to be a cook by uncle sam I voluntered. We hit a Typhoon in the sea of Japan what a mess down below. The Typhoon lasted approximately 7 days. We had to get into the stairwells during the storm so the floors could be cleaned everyone was sick.
Life is good Tom
Great story. I love reading anything about HAWK. I have one correction.
The Marine Corps 1st Light Anti Aircraft Missile (LAAM) Bn was the first HAWK unit in Vietnam. A Btry arrived 8 Feb 1965 and was active 24 hrs later and the rest of the battalion arrived a few days later.
Stan Buliszyn
Sgt USMC
B Btry 2nd LAAM Bn
Thanks for the writeup, and reminding me of some dates I’d forgotten. I was battery XO of D battery, 6/71 in Vietnam and remember the trip on the Gaffney well, including going through the heavy weather created by the typhoon. When we moved from our location southwest of Qui Nhon, we moved the bulk of the battery by C-130s out of the Qui Nhon airstrip. The plane I was on had an engine with a faulty starter, so we sat on the tarmac until the pilot was able to contact another C-130 flying back to Saigon, and convince him to land and help get the other engine started. He did land, and we taxied right up behind him where the wash of his prop gave the engine the necessary rotation speed for ignition. I was able to observe this as I was sharing the navigator’s seat with the battalion chaplain, whose name I no longer recall.
In the autumn of 1965 they trucked our batteries to an isolated section of the west Texas desert outside of Fort Bliss-away from all the protesters. There were no crowds or loved ones to send us off. The band played but there were no cheers or tears for the only present were the military band, four batteries, and the tumbleweeds. The band played on as we boarded a train to catch a troop ship in the San Francisco harbor destined for Vietnam. As we traveled the countryside we were given strict orders to keep our black window shades pulled so not to let the protesting world know who we were-just proud soldiers on a duty to fight for our country. (I later read that there were threats against us because we were going to Vietnam. As we arrived in San Francisco there were police and protesters at every crossing)
For those of us who were fortunate to return the homecoming was just as inconspicuous and barely discernible as the departure. Our plane landed at a private secluded section of the airport in San Francisco. Again, there were no cheers or tears, for the only ones present at this time were…the forgotten soldiers returning from Vietnam.
Time goes by and times have certainly changed, but one thing is certain, time will not erase those memories, feelings, the pent-up emotions of the Vietnam War. We, the forgotten soldiers, will not fail to remember those that have given their lives for our country.
Tom Fryer, Military Police unit assigned to D BTY 6th BN 71st Arty -1965-66
Glenn, I have a few questions for you: (1) Have you seen a roster of those who served with D BTY in 1965-66; including the names of the military police unit & the dog handlers? (2) Do you know who the unit member’s father was a known politician. If I remember this unit member would come and go at will.
Tom,
I can’t tell you the name of the MP unit. It joined us as a detachment in Vietnam, so until then, I had no contact with it. Although I was XO, it was not until we encamped out on Rt 1 outside of Qui Nhon did I have any contact with the unit. (Until now, I was not aware that the unit had come from Ft. Bliss.)
I do recall the ranking NCO at the beginning. He was someone who had spent a lot of years in Germany as I recall. We had some serious disagreements with him (Capt Ring and I), had to promote a Cpl or staff Sgt. and demote the other person. Arthur Williams I think was the name of your new Sgt., big guy from Black Mt. NC. (I did the orders for his promotion.)
I do recall the name of the Sgt. we demoted, but don’t want to post it on a public board out of respect for his privacy. If you want to email me directly at cosmos (at) triad (dot) rr (dot) com I will be happy to send it to you.
Glenn Strohl
Thank you for the info! my father was originally assigned to 6th BN 56th Arty, but he got in a little trouble (he had a smart mouth) and didn’t exactly get along with some of them so he was moved to 6th BN 71st Arty but managed to keep his E6. I barely remember him, my parents split not long after he came back from Vietnam. The soldiers were sent to Hawaii and the wives were sent to meet them. I was the result. I really hope to speak with you and learn as much as I can. Thank you again for your information.
Marie
E-5 technician for the Hawk missile and lauchers, 1967 and 1968. served all battery”s in camrahn and Natrang hon tra island. Served with a bucnch of great guys and think about them often. would like imformation on when there is a reunion for these years.
Paul I believe I was there with you, Bill Nelson, I was just a youngster ,18 at the time, but I was there with Buddy Gunderson, Jeff Nack, Bruce Gale, Rich Kish, Cliff Parmley, Bear, give me a E-Mail at bill_cyclenut@hotmail.com
Hi, I’m Pat Bain and I joined C: battery when it arrived in Vietnam. I came from a battery in Florida. Very interesting to read your blurb about the Hawks. Anyone else out there who was in C: battery?
Best — Pat
“In November 1965, Battery C, 71st Artillery became the first fully operational HAWK unit in Vietnam.”
Sorry to burst your bubble but the Marine Corps deployed 1st LAAM Bn from Okinawa to Da Nang, South Viet Nam in February of 1965. Alpha Battery landed at Da Nang during the night of 8 Feb./9 Feb and was operational within 24 hours. The rest of the Battalion (minus Charlie Battery) deployed by ship and landed at Da Nang several days later. Hell, by November of 1965 most of the original Marines that landed with 1st LAAM Bn had rotated. I landed in Da Nang on 31 Aug. ’65 and by November was on Monkey Mountain with Bravo Battery 1st LAAM Bn. I rotated in August of ’66.
One of my cousins was a generator operator with Battery ‘C’ of the 71st when they relieved 2nd LAAM Bn at Chu Lai in ’68 or ’69
Googled 71st Hawk Battalion and what did I find! Info of my friends from when I was with C Batt, 6th of the 71st.(Hawk) from Nov 62 to 15 June 65. 1st Sgt Bean was a life saver one time for me I served with Floyd Pasley, Bob Schaffer, Bennigman Harisson Smith in our commo section. Had a chanch for e-5 in D batt 3 months before my time was up if I would re-up. My wife promised to leave me if I did. Bob Schaffer got the stripes wearing my fatigues. A month or so after I left, the 71st was on its way. Damn, I wanted to go! And I remember you, James Leonard. Those were the best days of my life, in C battery, 6th oh the 71st (Hawk) Bn! (My wife is still with me)
I was in c batt 6/71 also during that time period. Several of those names are still familiar to me. Best wishes to you. – Charles D.
Anyone serve in A Battery 6th Battalion 71st Artillery Fort Bliss Texas from june 1962 to march 1964? I’m having breakfast with my dad Rick LeNoir and he was there during this time. We would love to get in touch with anyone from this unit!!
My father was there. SST Thomas “Ed” Davis
Hello,
I was in c battery 6/71 At Ft Bliss during that time. – Charles D.
Charles do you remember my father? In my post above.
Thanks for the re-post Charles D.! Do you have a last name?
Hello Dick,
My last name is Dolcimascolo, most called me “alphabet”. I arrived at the 6 6/71
shortly after it had formed, around 4/62. was with them until it broke up, around
late ’64. I remember a Schaffer & Paisley. Lots of memories from that time, some good, some not so good. Crazy times. I should remember you, but do not. What was your Job? Best to you. – Charles.
Hello A;phabet, I was in the commo section of Chuckling Charlie from November 62 til 15 July 65. What did you do in C Battery?
That big guy was an E-6 in C Batt. that also loved to play baseball Began with an ‘A’ but damned if I can remember the name now. (there were two E-6’s, big guys, with the same first letters).
Hello Dick,
Wow!! This is all taking me back a log way. The Paisley I knew was a red headed boisterous Texan. He was not one of the early c personell. The schaffer I knew had re-upped at Bliss and had a nice chevy convertable,
I think. My jobs during that time were in the missle assembly & test shop
and generator operator. I have a special connection to the commo section.
We had little interaction with that group. Most everyone of us was on a
last name basis, never got to know their firsts. Did you have an african american e-5 in your group ? I think this blogosphere is getting a little
wonky, possibly mixing up this reply/comment with another I made earlier.
So, if messages start getting lost or going astray, my email is chrdolc@aol.com
This has been a great surprise, Thank you. – Charles.
Yes, WOW is right Charles! Pasiley, or Pasley, was a redhead, and a personal buddy-we did a lot of foolishness behind the beer. the’ Last Great Train Hold-up ‘ a classsic, was one memory I’ll never forget. My wife had her bags packed and were on the floor when I got home the next day,over that one, Floyd and I spent the nite in the El Paso lock up. Someone should have made a movie out of it! First sgt LaCroix had us on his crap list for the rest of the time he was there. And Bob Scheaffer was a neat laid back guy, but a bit unlucky He bought a 64 MGA we raced -it later on he bought a 64 Austih Healy, silver blue it was. He totaled it at the corner of my street.and after that he bought the convertible. then he went drinking in Juarez, got himself arrested, they impounded his car and since they intended to keep it, set the bail on it very high. So Scheaffer had to re-up, to get the bonus, to rescue his car. Drinking the same day, right after getting the car back, he totaled it. Three months before I et’ed, I went before D Batt’s CO for E-5 to take over their commo section. Asked if I was going to re-up, I said I’d do my best to talk my wife into it, and he gave my a day to do it. It could’nt be done. So Scheaffer went before him, wearing my guard uniform. (his was in laundry), The Co thought it was funny, anyhow my uniform made E-5, And yes, I had a AA for a sgt., a hell of a nice guy. Name is on the tip of my tongue. He had a beautiful lady for a wife. I was sorry to see him leave. I was the 6’ 165# blonde guy in those days. I remember those days fondly. Peace.
Hello Dick,
There are many tales from Ft Bliss days. Can we go off the Harley blog ?
Some of these might best shared in a different forum. My email is
chrdolc@aol.com. Thanks. – Charles
Hello Marie,
I do remember one ssg Thomas from that time period. He was a big guy
that loved pinochle, tried to get us interested in it. Very pleasant, congenial
person. Don’t know if he was in my (c) battery, but do remember seeing him out in the desert for several days with us. Best wishes, Charles.
Hello Marie,
Just reread your post & realized your dad was a Davis, not a Thomas.
Sorry for the error. Do you know what his battery or job was ?.- Charles.
Hello Charlie,
I know from Military records that he was in Fort Bliss in 1963 serving in Btry D, 6th Msl Bn, 56th Arty. However right before he left for Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam he was switched to Btry B, 6th Bn, 71st Arty. He served as Battery Motor Sergeant till 1968.
Hello Marie,
Sorry to say I would not have known your dad. The original c battery 6/71
was broken up before your dad’s time, somewhere oround mid-late ’64.
We were scattered/ reassigned to all parts of the world. I’m quite sure
the new c 6/71 he joined was made up of all new members, and very few
if any remnants of the original group. It is wonderful to hear that you are
wishing to rekindle memories of your dad’s hawk years and keep them
alive. To your dad: Hawks always! To you, daughter, best wishes and God
bless always. – Charles.
I found some online film footage of Hawk units in Vietnam that should be of interest. You can download it from this site:
http://research.archives.gov/description/31448
.After downloading, you will have open it to view. It’s about 15 minutes long, so it’s a big file. It shows a PAR being adjusted, as well as ROR’s and CWAR’s, etc. (If I recall the names we used.) Finally it shows crew drills as the birds are prepped for firing.
I think some of the footage may be at Cam Ranh, and then on Hon Tre Island. (As XO of D battery, I participated in the recon of Hon Tre when it was mostly jungle out on the top of the island, going out by Huey.
Glenn S. (D Battery, 65/66)
Hah! A CW Acq or ROR that actually worked? That would be a first. There were three pieces of equipment in a HAWK Battery that worked sporadically if they ever worked. The CW Acquisition Radar, the Range Only Radar and the IFF box. I was a CW Tech and we worked on our CW Acq off and on for the entire time I was in Viet Nam. Never got it to work for more than a day at a time. The BCC boys worked on the IFF box and I don’t remember it ever working but at least it was air conditioned in there.
One of my cousins was a generator operator in the 6th of the 56th in about 1968 or so. First down near Saigon and then took the place of 2nd LAAM Bn at Chu Lai when they left the country. Sorry, I don’t remember what Battery he was in.
Jerry D. USMC
CW Radar Repairman
Bravo Battery 1st LAAM Bn
Da Nang – Monkey Mountain – RVN
USMC 1962-1966
RVN 1965-1966
CW Radar School, Ft. Bliss Texas March 1964 – Sept. 1964. Best duty station of my entire enlistment.
I served as XO with B/6/71 on the north edge of Can Ranh, Aug 66-April67. I had a squad+ cutting a road to the top of Hon Tre maybe in the spring of 67. As pay officer I had to pay the troops so I jeeped up from Can Ranh, PT boat to Hon Tre and paid the troops from a big rock with a paper bag with $50K of scrip. My troops were complaining about the big cat footprints in the mud. Rumor had it that Madam Diem had Hon Tre stocked with exotic cats for her personal hunting. Our rumor was that the Air Force was going to occupy Hon Tre. Bert L
Thanks for visiting Bert and providing your comments.
“In November 1965, Battery C, 71st Artillery became the first fully operational HAWK unit in Vietnam.”
Army maybe but the Marine Corps deployed the FIRST fully operational HAWK unit in Vietnam. On 8 Feburary 1965, Alpha Battery of 1st LAAM Bn was deployed to Da Nang, Viet Nam. Battery A was set up on the northwest side of the Da Nang Airfield runway and prepared to fire less than 12 hours after the arrival of the first aircraft. On 8-9 February, the Air Force transports had lifted 52 loads of LAAM personnel and equipment, carrying 309 passengers and 315 tons from Okinawa to Da Nang.
On 16 February, the remaining units of the battalion, with the exception of Battery C, which remained on Okinawa, arrived at Da Nang on board the attack cargo ship USS Washburn (AKA 108), and the dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 5). Battery B, under Captain Everett L. Cowley, set up a HAWK site in the southwestern sector of the airfield complex in an old bunker area which the Japanese had built during their occupation of the airfield in World War II. Lieutenant Colonel Cook housed the battalion’s command post in an abandoned
French military compound adjacent to the airfield located midway between the two firing batteries. The Marine LAAM battalion and Air Force detachment established a communication network, linking the two batteries, the battalion CP, and the AAOC/CRP. On 18 February, Company C, 7th Engineer Battalion, a Force Troops unit of FMFPac, arrived on board the amphibious tank landing ship USS Vernon County (LST 1161) at Da Nang from Okinawa to provide construction support for the LAAM battalion. The HAWK deployment to South Vietnam was complete.
U.S. MARINES IN VIETNAM
THE LANDING AND THE BUILDUP
1965
Click to access U.S.%20Marines%20in%20Vietnam_The%20Landing%20and%20the%20Buildup%201965%20%20PCN%2019000307600_1.pdf
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.
Hello Dick Fuller,
I would like to hear from you and continue our c 6/71 remberances. Between us, we might fill a book. Rereading your post about first sgt Le Croix reminded me about one particular incident. Standing inspection for guard mount, I looked
down the barrel of my M1 and saw a piece of lint. Just before the OG got to me I blew down the barrel. The OG said I had a dirty weapon, very dirty. When I
had a chance to look down the barrel, there was a (breath) haze area which looked just like dirt. Le Croix pulled my pass for a week and had me hand sanding scratches off wooden doors. Le Croix replaced F sgt Spivey who had
retired. Hope I didn’t give a bad impression on the last post. Just wanted to protect the innocent (which I’m not) from those wild wild west days. Loved the
re up story of your fatigues. I’m 71 now and would like to pass on some of
those stories. This forum is fine, but at some point I’d like to give you a call
and pass on stories for your ears only. You have my email. I confirm your
opinion on the aa commo E-5. He was a great guy. Risked his stripes to save
my rear and probably kept me from visiting the green grass hotel. Hope to hear from you again. Till then, merry xmas, to you all , God bless. – Charles D.
Hello Charles! Good to hear from you again. Once upon a time Pasley and I grew tired of the routine of just hanging around Ft Bliss. Posted on the wall going into the OR, was a notice that the Army was looking for guys that craved adventure. Bottom line said that if you requested airborne duty, no first sgt could refuse to let you fill out the request for transfer. So Floyd and got to talking about it, the extra money, wings and neat uniforms, CIB’s, and getting to be real ass kickers. Our mos’s were 051’s- intermediate speed radio operators- and were needed by the Army. So we go in the OR to fill out the papers. ‘!st Sgt Bean, I say’. ‘We’d like to transfer to airborne,’ says he, ‘I’m not filling out the papers for you. Denied.’ Says I, ‘says you can’t refuse to let us fill out the papers to transfer’. So he gives us the paperwork, we fill them out and hand them to him. He takes them and tears them up in front of us, saying ‘it doesn’t say I have to forward them’. To this day, I thank him for his wisdom, Charles, RTO’s usually were the first to get dropped, Sergeant Bean probably saved our asses. Christ, I’m 76 now, and it seems like only yesterday I was 23! So lets keep in touch ‘ol buddy. And the best of the Holidays to you and yours, hear! p.s. Bean replaced LaCroix as first shirt. Dick Fuller.
Hi Dick!,
This is too much like deja vu all over again. You are right, your whip antenna would have been like a big red bullseye. Despite all the adventures El Paso
and JZ offered, one of my rarely sober drinking buddies told me about his
korean tour. It sounded like a GI’s paradise. I went to the orderly room and requested a transfer. Where was my brain? It was awol. I was told It was approved & I would be going in about 1 month. About two weeks later at
revielle / morning formation, they had done all the present & accounted for’s,
and I could hear some yelling that didn’t make sense to me. I’d hear a name
and then what sounded like a country. “Kazunaga – Korea”, etc, etc. Being in the back of the formation & short, I had no idea what was going on. I was told
that our c 6/71 (and possibly the whole 6/71) was being broken up, and these were our names and where they were going. I got Germany. Couldn’t believe it.
All these guys I had gotten to know after 1 1/2 years or so, were all being split up. Someone, somewhere had pressed a button, and poof! they would all be
gone now. Looking back, I would have hugged my 1sgt, also. I don’t guess
the military teaches morse any more, do they? Best wishes to you and yours
for a nice Christmas, and a very happy & healthy new year. – Charles.
I was reading some things about Floyd Pasley, we married sisters, he was from Amarilla but moved to Houston shortly after he got out of the army, he passed away last year, I live in Brownwood,Texas
Jerry D ,I also was a radar mechanic, went to school at Ft Bliss in 1963, in the army and was stationed there until the whole unit went to Vietnam Nam in 1965
I went through CW school at Ft. Bliss, March of ’64 – September of ’64. Three Marines, six Israelis, one German and the rest of the class was Army. The only Army dude whose name I remember was PFC Victor Greene from Wichita Kansas. Ft. Bliss was the best duty station of my four + year enlistment.
We went to Viet Nam as a complete unit out of MCAS Cherry Point, NC. I took 40 days leave and then we mustered at Treasure Island San Francisco and flew out of San Francisco airport on Western Airlines, IN UNIFORM, on or about 26 August 1965. Changed planes in Seattle Airport (Sea-Tac) and continued to Tokyo Japan on Northwest Airlines. Changed planes again in Tokyo and continued on to Okinawa. Spent approximately three days on Okinawa. Flew out of Okinawa 31 August 1965 on a C-130 and landed at Da Nang South Viet Nam around noon or early afternoon of the same day. Received hazardous duty pay for the entire month of August because we got there on the last day of August.
No protesters at any point during our movement. None. Nada. Zero.
I caught my freedom bird on 22 August 1966 and flew to Okinawa via Braniff Airlines. Departed Okinawa on 26 August 1966 at noon (I don’t remember the airline) and after stopping on Oahu Hawaii for approximately an hour to refuel we landed at MCAS El Toro, Ca at 1000, two hours before we left Okinawa. Ya gotta love that International Date Line.
Two weeks later on 9 September 1966 I was released from active duty and IN UNIFORM, flew military standby out of LAX to Chicago, IL. No protests and not a cross word was spoken to me during that entire trip. None. Nain. Nada.
That was my experience.
Floyd was a very colorful person. Never a dull moment. If there wasn’t any laughing or joking going on, then Floyd wasn’t there. He was in commo & I was in the Missle test shop, so we didn’t interact much. But I remember him as if it was yesterday. Bless him & his family. – Charles D..
Before I married in 1965, I ran around with Jerry Zeschin and Billy Jones, Jerry was transferred to Denver in 1965 because when he went for his 90 day pre discharge exam they found out he had Hoskins on his neck. He was from Brighton, Colorado so that was close to his home, I kept up with him when I got out and found out that he beat the cancer in his neck, but it showed up again in his stomach in 1976. My family went up to see him in the summer of 1975, he had just had another operation and was pretty weak, he still had his 1958 corvette and his 1933 Chevy , we went riding in his 33. He passed away in 1976, was a good friend, I named my first son after him.
James, My wife and I are very sorry to learn of Floyd’s passing. Never expected it. I hope he got away easy, no suffering. We visited him some time back, north of Houston, for two, three days. Played golf, and he whipped me. Nipped a few beers with him, too. It was good to see him. Damn, I can’t believe he’s gone.
As sure as the sun will come up tomorrow, we will see him again.
it’s goodbye only for now.
Been thinking about him all morning Charles. The times and fun things we did , the troubles we got into, the beer joints up on Dryer (?) rd (?) (Main St ), desert duty we pulled, people forgotten, and remembered, all on the back side of time.
Yeah, it will be good to see that redhead again!
Hello Dick,
Some say one way to greive is to celebrate the memories, good times, bad times, scary times we had together. As we both know, there are some tales from those wild, crazy Bliss years that can be told and some that dare not be told. In honor of that red head’s memory, I’ll tell you a couple.
At McGregor range, once we had assembled & tested our hawks
we would be allowed to go on site & watch the shoot. It was a small reward for our effort, a mini 4th of july. Then, someone decided for safety reasons only the essential personnel would be allowed at the shoot. (I think several Egyptians had been killed by a premature detonation at a nike hercules shoot)
So, we assembled & tested our birds & waited, unhappily over being deprived of watching. Then, one of the brass maybe feeling sorry for us said that
we could watch the shoot, but would have to wait & get on the end of the convoy which was going downrange at 5 mph, and spaced about 100 feet apart (for safety). It was about 100 deg typical bliss summer weather. Me and my Texan partner at the test shop were sitting out in the blazing sun just cooking whilst watching the convoy going by, waiting for the last truck so we could join it. It was like watching a caterpillar race. Across the road I noticed a water tower, the kind that deuce and 1/2’s used to pull under with a towed water tank, pull a lever, fill the tank, then drive under and out. I said Hey! how about if I drive across the road (cutting through the convoy which was considered taboo), we’ll park under the water tower, wait in the shade, then join at the end of the convoy & watch the shoot. Sounded like a stroke of genious to both of us. Waited for a gap, drove through it, and parked in the shade of the tower. Instantly about 10 degs cooler. We smoked, listened to my transistor & bs’d about this & that. Time went by so fast that we realized the last vehicle had passed. Excited, I started up my old 2 1/2 ton number c43 (yes, I still remember the number), and went forward. Well, not very far forward. I neglected to realize that the 2 1/2’s towing trailers under the tanks had no canvas or the wooden bows on their trucks, and therefore fit easily under the tower. My truck also had no canvas on but DID have the wooden bows on. It was like Armageddon. Water, metal bands, wood came crashing down upon us. I was stunned. Not getting what had happened, I asked tex what in the **** had just happened. He said the obvious – we just knocked over & destroyed the tower. SPLAT!. Miraculously we were not injured. Still recovering my wits about me, he had just started lifting all the debris off us. Bad stuff !. BUT, the good thing was that no one had seen us.
EXCEPT for one guy who had been looking in his rear view mirror. We got to the assembly tent, sitting very quietly & cautiously knowing what a close call it had been. After about five minutes of unusual quiet, all eyes turned towards us & bust out with crazy laughter. Dick, that one was for you and Floyd. I know he’s listening. God bless his memory. More stories to follow. – Charles.
Good morning Charles—Yup, its time for remembering good old times, the good ones anyway. I have some good tales concerning the Redhead, too.
Hollywood would make a fortune out of one that happened behind Floyd and the’ Last Great Train Hold-up’ we pulled after an Easter party/picnic C batt threw at a park up off Dywer St someplace. That alone was some ‘pick nick’ party! (–Dwyer–Dywer? main rd above Bliss, pawn shops, bars, etc- What’s the spelling?), any how Floyd made me promise to get him to the down town train station by 3 pm, before we left my house, with a bottle of hooch he had brought with him.
Ann, (wife) did not want to go for the pic-nic, but said I could take our puppy.
So red head and I jump in my car, a 51 Pontiac 2dr hard top, that only had two gears that worked, first and reverse (automatic). And it would over heat.
So, party we did, kegs of beer, and his hooch made the time go by fast, when he realized we would be late getting to the station if we didn’t leave at once, all at once. I did forget about him wanting to meet the train, because, he said, a girl he loved was going to be stopping in El Paso from Califorina, and he was going to get her to stay over and hotel her, That was his plan, and where it gets sort of funny.
So we whizzed to town, (we were way the hell out of town) gas it, let it up, gas it, let up, we JUST made it! She was paceing the dock when we got there Charles. Floyd goes up tp her, tries to plant a kiss on her, and I hear her say,’ you’re drunk!’, and I knew the crap was about to hit the fan, because Floyd had asked me to hold her purse when they started to talk, and I still had it , when she bolted from him and jumped back on the train, just as the conductor hollered ‘board’. Floyd was right behind her. And I was behind him. She ran through two cars, kinda yelling something, A Marine in uniform tries to grab Floyd, I stop him, telling him to hit a brace against the wall, and damned if he didn’t do it! By this time, the conductor was chasing us. He got me on the second car, from behind. ‘What the hell is going on’,he asks, I try to explain that I had the lady’s purse, and was just trying to get it back to her, by this time they were a couple of cars ahead of me. So he tells me to get the hell off the train, that he would give the purse to her. I got off. Its drizzling now, wheh I see Floyd, and he is not very happy. We start walking and I’m asking him what did she say about staying with you? He said she said she would have, if he hadn’t been drinking. I said something else and he doesn’t answer me. I look back at him and two cops have him in a hold, and two more were sneaking up on me! I just had time to stiffen my arms to my side when they grabbed me. So I’m on my tip toes refusing to be put in an arm lock, finally hand cuffed, thrown into the cop car, and taken to the pokey, cussing the cops all the way, and thrown into the drunk tank. ‘ You’re both charged with holding the train up 15 minutes’ , we’re told.
Rest of the story goes like this: In the tank, I bum a butt, then fall asleep, waking to an up roar..Another drunk had taken off his shoe (we had to take the laces out of them). and threw it against the light in ceiling, breaking it and with the glass, cut his wrist. I was covered with blood. it was light out when it was over, and two MP’s came walking through, looking for us. They make us get into the car, when I remember about the puppy and I ask them to drive by my car so I can get him, which they did.
They drop us off at the barracks. Floyd dissapears, and I am almost at the doors carrying my dog when I hear, ” get back here, you S,O, B’ .’.Clean up this mess ‘ they tell me. The puppy had shit all over the back seat. I thought I was going to get away before they noticed it.
Strange, I don’t remember how I got my car back.
When I got home, Ann had two suitcases packed in the middle of the floor, and a picture of me smashed laying on the floor, and she was waiting for the cab. She was VERY pissed off. I had a hell of a time explaing where I was all night, and what had happened.
She still doesn’t think there was anything funny about the ‘ Last Great Train Hold-up.’
BTW, someone must have seen the humor in it, because we were never charged with anything. Except La Croie! He had me on ‘first sergeant’s punishment’ ( choice of that or article 15, he tells me). I was to be out in the desert digging holes for the crappers on a Sunday week end. Knowing who was in charge of the detail, I got a case of beer, and the holes never got dug.
Floyd, you were a beaut! I remember this like it was yesterday!
RIP my buddy.
Dick,
That is priceless, way beyond too funny!. At first I thought this is too hard to believe. Then, I thought Knowing Floyd it had to be true. I don’t ever remember laughing that much sitting here by myself in a very long time. I doubt a playright could ever come up with a story equal to that one. Well, we could’nt ever afford anything as nice as your 51 pontiac automatic. But 3 of us got together and bought a 49 ford v-8 straight drive. The front seat was fastened
in the back, but not the front. From a dead stop, in first & second gear the seat rocked backwards like we were in a dragster. Also, it burned about as much oil as it did gas. Smoked beyond belief. I remember one night stopped at a light downtown El Paso and the car in the next lane watching us wide eyed as we became totally enveloped in smoke – dissapered like Houdini. $90 a month
couldnt buy much. During one of our field exercises we had set up our test shop tent and had slack time while Sgt Blaydes had the fire control guys putting together cables, radars, etc. I was smoking , looking at the beautiful blue sky while twisting and letting go one of the three turnbuckles holding up what looked like a 40 or 50 foot vertical antenna of about a 4 inch diameter. I believe it was some kind of anti – jamming omni directional antenna.
Wasn’t really paying attention. The turnbuckle had a flip lever which locked the swivel threads in place. Every time I twisted the turmbuckle just a little more then let it go watching it spin. Well, centrifical force took over, the lever came unsnapped, the turnbuckle came undone, and the antenna came crashing down. There was a big commotion going on trying to figure out how & why
this vertical antenna came to be a horizontal one. I offered no opinion.
I’ts not as if I went looking for trouble, it just seemed to find me. My two
E-6 section chief nco’s were Knight & Lee. Both great guys. Lee had been an officer in ww2, I believe and gotten riffed at the end – too many officers. I believe the military gave them the option of leaving or accepting a lower rank
(E-6) and staying in. I ran into my fellow test shop guy in Germany – the water tower Texan, and he told me that when Sgt Lee retired they had a parade for him and he was dressed in a Lt col’s uniform. Wished I could have seen that.
By the way, I think your wife is a saint. Till next time, best wishes and many more good fun memories. – Charles.
Hi Guys,
My daughter found your web site and sent me a print out. Very interesting reading. What I found to be most interesting was the fact that there were Hawk Units in Vietnam. I was stationed in Korea with a Hawk Unit (Battery A, 6th Missile Bat, 44th Artillery) for 13 months. Unlike Glenn Cheek I don’t remember what hill we were stationed on other than it was in the middle of nowhere surrounded by mine fields, razor wire and rice patties.. Only a small village of about 30 Koreans were at the base of the hill.” Not A Fun Tour”
I’m 70 years old now so I don’t remember any of the guys names with my unit.
I do have a question for you guys. Are any of you familar with that Hawk Unit and if so any of the guys names. Also, did any of you who did served in Korea in 65 & 66 go through Vietnam on your way back to the states? For whatever reason my plane stopped in Nam for a few days and than we returned to our new assignment in the states. I know that some of the guys from my Hawk Unit were assigned to Vietnam. Dog handlers and MP’s. Now that I know there were Hawks Units in Nam it may explain why we stopped there. No reason was ever given nor is there any record of that stop .
If anyone can help I would appreciate it. I want my military record to show that I was in Nam even if it was only for a short time.
My e-mail Address is: wrnewman2@gmail.com
Any help is appreciated. Thanks again for your quick response
William (Bill) Newman
Just re read this whole post, and it was good to remember those days in C Batt 6 of the 71st. I was there in Nov.of ’62 till 15 June ’65, in the commo section.
Turning 83 this April. and I realize most of my old buddies are not around any longer. God bless them, and the ones that are still breathing today. Going to say ‘so long, its been good to know you’ now,
I hate to bust your bubble but the Army HAWK unit was not the first one in Viet Nam. In February of 1965, Alpha Battery and Bravo Battery, 1st LAAM Bn, 1st Marine Air Wing landed at Da Nang and set up on the East side of of the air strip. Alpha Battery was set up just north of the old French fort. Bravo Battery set up temporarily south of the old French fort and stayed there until the Seabees finished preparing their new position east of Panama on Monkey Mountain. Charlie Battery had stayed on Okinawa but sometime that summer came on down to Da Nang and set up on Hill 327.
I was trained on CW Radar at Ft. Bliss TX in the summer of 1964.
I was a CW Radar Repairman in Bravo Battery 3rd LAAM Battalion, 2nd Marine Air Wing at Cherry Point, NC when we got the word we were deploying to Viet Nam which we did in August of 1965. We landed at Da Nang on August 31st, 1965 and replaced Alpha Battery. 2 months later on November 3rd several of us were transferred to Bravo Battery 1st LAAM Bn up on Monkey mountain. I stayed there until I rotated 22Aug66.
2nd LAAM Bn landed in Viet Nam in about August of 1965 and set up down at Chu Lai.
One of my cousins was with an Army LAAM Bn down south someplace and they came up and replaced 2nd LAAM Bn at Chu Lai sometime in ’68 or ’69.
Once a Corporal. Forever a Marine.
Jerry D.
Please accept my sincere apologies for posting the same stuff three times. The older I get the more frequently this kind of thing happens.