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Vietnam 67 - 68

I joined the Marine Corps in 1957 and retired in 1978. I was with 3rd Bn. 9th Marines. We left Okinawa in Jan 1967 but I can’t remember how we entered Vietnam. If anyone who was with 3-9 at that time could e-mail me and let me know how we landed I would appreciate it very much..I’m starting to forget a lot of things and I don’t want to forget how I got to Vietnam.
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Comments

Bill 0331 - April 13, 2020

I have a weekly group meeting with other Nam vets and, one guy was with C 1/9 tell us that they were in and out of country a few times. He was there late 66 early 67. his Company was pulled out and sent to Oki. Camp Schab for a while and then loaded on the LPH Iwo Jima sent to Subic Bay then back to Mekong for a few weeks during Operation Deckhouse V . Back to OKI then home. It appears that all three Battalions were in and out during that time. I don’t know for sure just say’n Bill 0331 E 2/1 68-69

Lynn B Webster - April 13, 2020

Hello Fellow Marines,I am confused also about my time in Vietnam.I remember landing in Danang in late March of 1967,I then was transferred to camp carrol ?I then remember being told I was assigned to F/2/9 ?I ended up at DongHa,and from there I was sent into the field. I was wounded on July 5th 1967,I remember on the 4th looking toward the DMZ and watching the Napalm being dropped on the NVA,then the evening of the 4th we started getting mortared and some chicom grenades were actually being thrown into our perimeter,we then moved back to higher ground,On the morning of the 5th Whom ever I was with ,we got mortared and from what I remember hearing is we had 4 KIA,and 37 wounded?I don’t think I was with F/2/9.any help to clarify this?

Benny Skeldon - April 13, 2020

Please send info how to get my service record book.
Thanks.
I was a 0331, 3/3 arrived in Nam August 1968 left in August 1969.
bennyskeldon@icloud.com

Ronald Bostwick - April 13, 2020

Also interested in the contact info:
Official Military Personnel Files
A former Marine may request a copy of his/her records directly from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) by writing:

National Personnel Records Center
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, MO 63138
Telephone: 314-801-0800
Fax: 314-801-9195
E-mail: MPR.center@nara.gov

Is this the correct Department you addressed?

Richard Verderamo - April 13, 2020

I was with Lima 3/9 . We left Okinawa in January in a troop carrier and landed in mike boats,
my most was 0311. we traveled to the triangle just north of. Camp Carroll . hope this helps you, SEPRI FI

Bob Mauney 1381 - April 13, 2020

Ron,
I flew into Da Nang from Okinawa on a C-130. Was transferred from Camp Schwab in November 1966.
I just wanted tell you that I read your book and found it to very accurate and informing. There were two incidents that I vividly recall about Camp Evans that you wrote about. One was about the truck that pulled over near the 4th Bn Med. and hit a land mine and blue up. As it happened I was in the truck in front of the one that blew up. We were coming in on a convoy from a position just north of Camp Evans. We were to pull off where the said truck did but just before we pulled over the convoy commander moved us up one position to keep from isolating a truck outside the wire. The other was about the Ontose running over a booby-trap and 7 Marines were killed. I was in A Co. 3rd Shore Party Bn and, as I remember, we had body parts from those 7 Marines on only 5 stretchers at the LZ overnight and into the next day in the rain before a chopper could get in to take them out. They were covered with ponchos and we had to recover a couple of them a few times due to the wind. I will never forget that as long as I live. Also, I want to mention that you were right-on about the living conditions. Right now I cannot remember how long we went at Camp Evens without changing utilities and socks. I got sores on my lower shins due to my boots and socks being soaked so long without any dry socks to change into. I would encourage anyone that was at Camp Evans during the latter part of December 1966 into February 1967 to read your book TO HEAR SILENCE. Although I spent most of my time inside the wire I didn’t realize everything that went on just outside the wire until I read your book. Thank you Ron for the writing the book and letting people that were not there know just how bad living conditions were and the hardships the average Marine in Vietnam during that time period had to enture. Semper Fi, Bob Mauney 1381

Ed Gruener - April 13, 2020

I was also on the USNS Gen. Gordon for my trip to Nam. Left San Diego in Feb.,1967 and finally got off in March up at Red Beach or China Beach, one or the other. Like you said, started at the bottom of Nam dropping off Army and worked up to the north to drop the Marines off. Had to reply to you as you’re the first Marine that I have seen acknowledge that he went over on the Gordon. I was in Supply at Red Beach and Dong Ha with a few side trips to Phu Bai, Khe Sahn, and others.
Semper Fi
Ed Gruener, SSgt. 2304296

Ron Hoffman - April 13, 2020

I just did a little digging into the 3/9 Command Chronologies and here is what I found.
In Jan 1967 the battalion left the RVN and went to Okinawa for training, revamp their equipment and a little R&R.
On 23 Feb 1967 after during a landing exercise they headed back to Vietnam on board the;
USS Bayfield APA-33
USS Merrick AKA-97
USS Cabildo LSD-16
Upon arriving in Vietnam they set up their Command Post at Camp Carroll.
So it’s a good chance you landed at Dong Ha.

Ron Hoffman - April 13, 2020

I was with the artillery support unit (Charlie Battery 1/13) attached to the 3/26 when we went over in 1966. We went with a ship convoy; USS Valley Forge LPH-8, USS Lenawee APA-195, and the USS Belle Grove LSD-2. After being part of the Special Landing Force we then entered Vietnam on Dec 11, 1966 at Dong Ha. I ended up writing a book about our time in Vietnam called TO HEAR SILENCE. To do that I used the declassified Command Chronologies that were kept on each unit.
If you check the one for the 3/9 you may find the info you are looking for.

Jill Avery - April 13, 2020

Ken, my husband was with the HMM 363 Unit in Vietnam, serving from December 1967 till May of 1968 when he was wounded and transported to the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. He doesn’t remember much about leaving and would like to request a copy of his SRB from HQ Marine Corps. Would you please post the contact information? Thank you

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