By: Doug Lennon
The black market had a lot of the MPC in their hands so it was time to change it. It was in 1969 and we were stationed at a little outpost just outside Danang. We knew a lot of the girls in the surrounding Vills had a lot of MPCs from a little boom booms. So myself and 2 of my buddies decided we would go out to the bills and tell the girls we would take their MPCs and exchange them for 50 percent. Our idea was good but we had to find out a way to get off the base. The Guards wouldn’t let us out the front gate , so we decided to sneak out of the base, but it was surrounded by contstitena wire so we had to find a place where there was no trip flares. We managed to get out OK but I ripped the ass out of my fatigues on the way out. We got to the Ville and told them our plans. One of the Papasans didn’t like it. We told him 1/2 is better than nothing. He finnaly agreed and us three nuts headed back to our base. We couldn’t find the opening where we got out. While doing this a jeer was coming down the road shining the spot light. They seen us and stopped (thank God they didn’t shoot us). They loaded us into the jeep and took us into Danang. There they put each one of us in what looked like dog cages. They called our unit and told them to come and get us. Un be known to us the phone call was answered by a Corporal and he told them he was a Major and he would be right there. After about an hour one of the MPs let us out of our cages and turned us over to the “Major””. When we all seen who it was, our buddie had a cover on with the Major insignia on it, we had all we could do trying to hold our straight faces.We made it back to camp and when the keep came through the gate, the guard stopped us and saluted the Major. We all had a good laugh and we kept the end of our bargain and gave the Villes Papasan his 1/2.
Sgt Grit wants to hear from you! Leave your comments below or submit your own story!
62 comments
Did you go to the DAV in PITTSBURGH PA??S
Thanks for the information. I have been dealing with this lady at the VFW since 09 and am still waiting. Then the cancer came back in 14 and I really got pissed. They said they were going to set up a face to face with someone from the VA and I am still waiting. I never even knew about the water at LE JEUNE until a friend at work told me after the first bladder cancer I had. I will go to the DAV next week. I have a good friend who was in the same area as I was and has had prostrate cancer and he got 100% right away. The lady at the VFW office told me bladder cancer was going to be put on some list for agent orange and I would get back money for all this time back to 09. I’ll believe it when I see it. My friend told me since I have the COMBAT ACTION Ribbon I should not have any problem.
Robert, I had the DAV sponser me, It took a little time but they got the VA to finaly give me my 100 percent disability. You also get your claim retroactive to date of original filling. So get ahold of your nearest DAV office and get started. Good luck and Semper Fi Doug
I GO TO MINGO CREEK PARK ABOUT 5 OR 6 TIMES A YEAR. THIS MORNING WE ARE TAKING A RIDE TO OHIOPYLE. I THINK MY FRIEND IS OUT OF HIS MIND. WE WILL SEE IN 30 MINUTES. HE JUST BOUGHT A NEW BIKE AND WANTS TO PUT SOME MILES ON IT. SEMPER FI HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
I live in the little town of Marianna off I-79 south.I will be at a football game just south of Claysville (West Liberty) WVA
AS A MATTER OF FACT MY COUSIN AND I WILL BE ARCHERY HUNTING AROUND CLAYSVILLE AT THE GAME LANDS THIS SATURDAY.
I LIVE ABOUT 10 MINUTES FROM KENNEYWOOD. I WORKED FOR U.S.STEEL NOT 10 MINUTES FROM THE PARK. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE TOWN YOU ARE FROM???
That is so cool !! I am from a coal mine town just south of Wash Pa. been to Kennywood many times.
YES I AM FROM PITTSBURGH. REALLY OUT SIDE PITTSBURGH A BORO CALLED WEST MIFFLIN.
OK Doug Give me a brake !! A red flag . Anyone that was ever a duty nco would always answer stating unit and rank who in their right mind would say they were an officer without knowing who was on the other end of the line !!
First of all, if you were in Nam you knew that we were paid in MPCs on pay day When the black market got too much of this, our government always decided to change the currency, sometimes different colors and other ways. When they were going to do this they put all bases and out posts on lock down. Anyone that had any old military currency could turn it into the new ones . Now picture this there were a lot of prostitutes in the surrounding villages that had a great amount of old MPCs. There was no way they could come on bases and exchange theirs. So we decided to try and go to the villages and get their currency and exchange it, and make a little profit for us. The outpost that we were stationed was probably about 2 miles outside of Danang.And yes the MPs patrolled the roads at night outside of Danang. So Danny six gun believe it or not, I don’t give a rats ass at what you believe. For all I know, you probably didn’t even serve in Nam
Sgt Sisson are you by chance from the Pittsburgh Pa area ? There are a few Sisson,s in my area . Just asking. Harry
WERE YOU AT GIO LINE AROUND SEPT OR OCT 1969? DO YOU REMEMBER SGT. D. L. KING???? RON SIZEMORE, MARTY BALLARD.
Go to the attached website & then down to 1st Bn, 13th Marines. They were obviously in RVN. This is an excellent historical site with tons of official information. Check out your unit and see what you may have forgotten by now. Happy reading. http://www.recordsofwar.com/vietnam/usmc/USMC_Rvn.htm
I know where I had seen your name before. You made a comment about my 54 Ford F100 in an old post in the newsletter. Go to page 31. I knew the rust on my brain housing group was not that bad.
THANKS. I HAVE THE VFW FIGHTING FOR ME. AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT THEY SAY THEY ARE DOING. A COUPLE OF THE GUYS I HAVE MET ARE GOING THROUGH THE VA HOSPITAL FOR THEIR TREATMENT I AM NOT. IT IS A LONG STORY BUT I AM RETIRED FROM THE AIR FORCE RESERVE. SO I HAVE GOOD MEDICAL ( TRI CARE ). I HAD TO GIVE UP MY 10% (HEARING LOSS, BUSTED EAR DRUM) WHILE IN THE RESERVES BUT IT PAID OFF IN THE LONG RUN. SO FAR WE HAVE SENT THE VA A TELEPHONE BOOK OF INFORMATION. NOW I AM WAITING FOR A HEARING IN FRONT OF A BOARD. THEY WANTED ME TO DO IT BY TELEVISION BUT I WANT IT IN PERSON