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HQ Btry 1/13

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.

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Comments

D Huntsinger - June 17, 2020

Sgt Sisson, were you ever at MCRD San Diego, Camp Pendleton, El Toro, MCAS Santa Ana, Iwakuni?

Mick - June 16, 2020

We didn’t wear skives in the bush in I Corps, just our utilities with no socks in our boots ! Thanks for serving.

Doug Lennon - June 16, 2020

Sounds like you really had it hard in Nam serving at some beach, going to AirForce and SeeBee bases to get what you want. What did you do during your tour stay in swim trunks all day

Doug Lennon - June 16, 2020

Where did you serve know it all, probably some cushy protected base as a company clerk. Don’t ever go around calling another Marine a wanna be with out knowing the facts first. There are easy ways to find Marine units and where they served. We had bigger rats at KheSanh than you are. I don’t care one bit about whether they were utilities or fatigues .What did you call your skivies? Tightly whites. In closing don’t ever call another Marine a wanna be unless you know. I stand behind my story as true

artymgysgt - June 16, 2020

The 13th Marines were part of the 5th Marine Division and 1/13 fought at Khe Son during Tet 1968

SGT ROBERT L SISSON - June 16, 2020

YOUR NAME SURE SOUNDS FAMILIAR TO ME TO. I JUST CAN’T REMEMBER FROM WHERE.

SGT ROBERT L SISSON - June 16, 2020

YES MY WIFE AND I LIVED AT GEIGER TRAILER PARK. I WAS IN 10TH MARINES. I HAVE BEEN TO THE VA ABOUT IT WITH OUT ANY LUCK, THERE ARE ABOUT 3 OTHER GUYS I KNOW OF THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP. I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH THEM SINCE 09 WHEN I GOT THE CANCER THE 1ST TIME AND 2014 THE SECOND TIME.

Harry - June 16, 2020

Sgt Sisson were you ever stationed at Lejeune ? Bladder cancer is listed as one of the illness associated with the “BAD WATER” at the base. If you were, contact DAV or other service org to start a claim Good luck & SEMPER FI Harry

D Huntsinger - June 16, 2020

I was in country March 69 through May 70. Your name sounds so familiar to me. 11th Marines was across the street from 11th Motors and around the corner from Division Recon. 1/13 definitely existed and I am in the process of checking to see if I have their call sign someplace in my old stuff. Definitely always were called utilities. Fatigues were Army.

2438835 - June 16, 2020

I rescind my prior submission, as there’s no way to retract or delete. FIX THAT!

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