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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 16, 2020

I was a radio operator (2533) with Hq Btry, 11th Marines. 1/13 was part of the Northern Artillery Contonement. So was 1/11, 2/11, 3/11, 4/11, 1st guns, 3rd guns, 8″ SP’s.

Not to be argumentative but I am not a state side Marine and they were always called utilities. You may want to back that down.

L. Gore - June 16, 2020

STAND DOWN on this one Marines. After 3 tours in RVN believe me I can tell you 1/13 was a very real artillery unit and one of the best. Yes, not only did they support us (26th Marines) at Khe Sanh when we were OP CON to 3rd MAR DIV on the DMZ but also when we were OP CON to 1st MAR DIV in southern I Corps. Yes, there was a 1/13 HQ battery that controlled not only the artillery but also 4-dueces, heavy mortars. Being an FO for 3/26 and 2/5 I know of both 1/13 Charlie Battery and 11th Marines. BTW 1/13 was actually a 5th MAR DIV unit as was the 26th Marines that fought in only one battle before being reactivated for Viet Nam That was a small Japanese held island in WW II called IWO JIMA, Ever heard of it?

Doug Lennon - June 16, 2020

My story was all true just the way I told it.For those of you who doesn’t think there was a Head quarters battery that was 1/13. We supported the 26th marines. HQ battery consisted of Marines with the mos 0844, this stood for fire direction control men. When the grunts called in the artillery mission, it was us who worked up all the info for the howlitzer to use to fire at. Hq battery also consisted of FSCC which stood for fire support command center. They had to get all the clearances so no friendlies or air craft was in the area I don’t really care what any of you think. I was in Nam from Jan.1968 till March 1970, my unit also was at the siege of Khe Sanh. Maybe all you state side Marines called your work clothes utilities but we called ours fatigues . So for all of you know it alls you can kiss my A–

SGT. ROBERT L SISSON - June 16, 2020

YOU ARE RIGHT THEY WERE CALLED UTILITIES NOT FATIGUES. I STILL NEVER HEARD OF 1/13. I’ll ASK A BUDDY THAT RETIRED TO THIALAND. MARTY WAS OVER THERE 2 YEARS. I THOUGHT MORTARS WERE IN THE GRUNTS.?

John Black Gray IV - June 16, 2020

In the MPC exchange in 1969, I had a Lance corporal who took menopoly money into the Quan Triple & told the locals that it was the new MPC & exchanged it dollar for dollar. That took more guts than I had.

John - June 16, 2020

from 61 to 65 we wore Utilities . Think the Army called them Fatigues.
Agree with most everyone else the new format SUCKS. Go back to what was working.

Cpl Hogue - June 16, 2020

Still have some MPC. Looking for anyone interested in a reunion of Mortar Btry 1/13 this summer in Branson Mo.

Corry Blount - June 16, 2020

This is so lame. I was at Red Beach and if we wanted out of the base we get my M-37 and grab a trip ticket and head to the Air Base to our ice plant or to the NSA or across the road to the Sea Bee base. I had a buddy that had a yen for fun at a local skivy house. He would load is utility pockets with fruit and go thru the wire between guard posts that everyone knew about probably VC too. No muss no fuss!

Sgt. Robert L. Sisson - June 16, 2020

I never heard of 1/13. There was a HQ BATTERY 11th MARINES in DaNang. I was over there 18 months and never heard of HQ BATTERY 13TH Marines I was in 12th Marines and after my extension 11Th Marines at An Hoa

MIke Mc - June 16, 2020

Exchange the MPC’s for what??? I knew of some guys that would exchange “greenbacks” (US currency) for MPC at a favorable rate in Dogpatch. You could change your MPC for greenbacks within 24 hours prior to going on R&R or rotating back to the land of the Big PX.

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