Vietnam War - A Memoir - Guestbook

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10582 entries.
Robert Knutson from HERNANDO BEACH wrote on March 27, 2024 at 3:07 pm
Tuy Hoa 68 - 69 with the 39th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron (ARRS).
Shakiesha Nickerson from Green wood wrote on March 27, 2024 at 7:36 am
I got killed March 26. 1967
Richard Helmich from Delevan, NY wrote on March 27, 2024 at 6:24 am
I joined the Navy Sea bee program in 1968 and trained in Gulfport MS. First assignment with MCB12 as a builder 3rd class in Viet Nam camp Adnir 68 to 69. then assigned to MCB 121 and return to Nam Oct 69 to June 70. based again at Camp Adnir north of Marble Mt. and deployed to Dien Ban, Tien Phouc and lots of elsewhere.
Richard from Tonawanda wrote on March 27, 2024 at 3:30 am
I arrived in Vietnam in May of 1968 and was assigned to the Americal 196th LIB in the Chulai area. We covered the Que Son valley area. I remember LZ Baldy and LZ Gimlet. I left Vietnam and returned home to the Buffalo NY area July 10, 1969. [email protected]
WILLIAM D JAXHEIMER from LUTZ wrote on March 26, 2024 at 6:46 pm
Got to Vietnam 9/15/1968. Assigned to HHB 5/42 Field Artillery in Bearcat. We were a Battalion of 155 towed. MOS was fire direction 13E20. Spent a little time with C Battery in Thu Thua. Nha Be was my last place to be assigned. Flew home on 9/14/1969.
Richard Denne from Toluca Lake wrote on March 26, 2024 at 5:32 pm
I served in Vietnam in 1966-1967.
I was a Grunt in the 101st Airborne in 66 and as a Door Gunner on a Gunship with the 129th. Whew! It was scary!
Steven Bullard from Shelbyville wrote on March 26, 2024 at 4:00 pm
I arrived in country in time for the 1968 Tet Offensive. Don’t have much to say about my tour but remember if something came at you it was fast and furious. It didn’t come everyday like you seen in the movies. I always thought that the biggest fear was the boredom. Lot of guys won’t agree with me but just giving my opinion of my experience.
Charles Matthews from Lexington, SC wrote on March 22, 2024 at 6:02 pm
Served in Vietnam Jan-Dec 1970
544th Engr Co., 169th Engr BN, 20th Engr BDE
1st LT
Ramon Evans from yorba linda wrote on March 14, 2024 at 6:46 pm
As I write about my experiences in Vietnam as a Military Policeman in the Army after all these years, I realize that I was always on the move in a Jeep, working with different groups at various locations, and doing various duties such as guard duty, guarding prisoners, escorting convoys, village outpost liaison duty, river patrols, city security patrols, and maintaining route security.
The war was going full-bore around me in 1967-68. Wherever I had duty, nobody shot at me directly, although with TET in Nha Trang starting on January 30, 1968, several rounds hit the buildings we occupied. The camps I stayed in such as Camp Evans and Camp Barnes received periodic mortar fire, but they always missed our tent or building, although a mortar round damaged our outdoor urinal and shower (See photo in Camp Evans Chapter). When in a war zone, you are focused on your current duty and vaguely aware of the events surrounding you. This was especially true when most of my military police duty assignments, which seemed to be made daily, and 95% of the duty such as convoys and security patrols were completed in a Jeep. Thus, I have added some historical text that occurred at the time and locations when I was on duty. Basically, our unit was on duty 24/7 and we worked each day until the duty assignment was completed.
The status and missions of the MPs changed in Vietnam. In the initial attack on the U.S. Embassy in Saigon during the Tet Offensive of 1968, the first two casualties were MPs killed defending the embassy. Two more MPs were killed when responding to the fire fight taking place there. Twenty-seven MPs lost their lives and forty-five were wounded fighting in and around Saigon during the battle that raged for control of the city. The traditional duties of town patrol, base security, and POW security had been augmented with armed river patrols and convoy escorts, etc. Many MPs names appear on The Wall in Washington, D.C.
By the end of 1967, U.S. troop levels reached 463,000 with 16,000 combat deaths. By that time, over a million American soldiers were rotated through Vietnam, with length of service for draftees being one year, and most Americans serving in support units. An estimated 90,000 soldiers from North Vietnam infiltrated into the South via the Ho Chi Minh trail in 1967. Overall Viet Cong/NVA troop strength throughout South Vietnam during that time was estimated to be up to 300,000 men.
Tom Reed from Nashville, TN wrote on March 14, 2024 at 8:19 am
I entered the Army at the Nashville AFEES (induction center) 11/22/66 and took BCT at Fort Campbell. AIT was at Fort Knox at the Personnel School. Following AIT, I was assigned to the 401 Pers Svc Co that supported the 7/17 & 8 /1 Air Cav at Fort Knox . In 11/22/67, I arrived at Bien Hoa AFB in Vietnam, and 4 days later was assigned to the 222nd Pers Svc Co of the 44th Medical Brigade. We provided admin and personnel support for the 44th. Promoted to SP5 in mid-1968. During the last couple of months of my tour, I was assigned to the Nashville AFEES, arrived home on 11/22/68 in Nashville to begin my last year of service. My tour in Vietnam was relatively benign except for TET and a couple of other incidents during the year.
Wayne LeBlanc from New Minas. Nova Scotia wrote on March 14, 2024 at 5:22 am
Served in Vietnam at Danang Base from 69-70. Assigned to the 20th Tass as an aircraft mechanic on the O2's.
Jack Makemson from West Liberty wrote on March 14, 2024 at 5:03 am
Drafter 1967,assigned to C/5th/60,9th Infantry.Last big firefight for me was at Cai Lai,Mekong Delta,November 18th,1967.Attacked by a battalion size force of Viet Cong,firefight lasted very long time,we were eventually overrun.Artillery lowered fire to bee hive rounds.I lost my machine gun boots,wallet and my right eye.I received the Purple Heart and the Silver Star.Good bye Vietnam
Sp/4 Donald Doke from North Port , Fl. wrote on March 13, 2024 at 6:22 pm
Entered army basic at Fort Bragg Nov 67.Did advance tng. at Fort Jackson then to Vietnam in May 68.Assigned to First Cavalry Div up in I Corp at Camp Evans with Hq 2/7 until the division moved to III Corp and operations out of Phouc Vinh , Bien Hoa and to finally end up at Quan Loi. Extended stay and transferred to Hq 3rd Bde 1st Cav aviation plt as a scout observer gunner on an OH6A LOH.Went home on special leave in Jun 69 and returned to Quan Loi and did operations out of there until Dec 69. Went home to Maryland and from there did the rest of my army obligation at Fort Hood, Tx until Dec 70. End of army obligation.
LaVerne Barry Arndt from Jim Thorpe wrote on March 13, 2024 at 3:40 pm
Served on the USS Independence CVA-62 Marine Detachment in the Gulf of Tonkin June through November 1965, 5 months combat service. Off to OCS at Quantico, VA. Commissioned a 2/Lt. and then to The Basic School for 5 months of Leadership and Marine Officer training in the military arts. I selected Infantry MOS and was assigned to Vietnam duty May 22,1968. Upon arrival, I was assigned 1st Platoon Cmdr, Golf Co., 2nd. Bn., 5th Marines, located at the An Hoa combat base, about 25 miles SW of Danang. We conducted base perimeter duty, search and destroy and ambush missions through-out the area. Wealso had aCompany size outpost at the Nong Son coal mine located 8 miles SW of An Hoa. From there we conducted base security and ambush patrols in the immediate area. Left Golf Co. 2/5 after 7 months on Dec 15, 1968 and then served as an Aerial Observer with the 1st. Mar. Div. AO Unit at Marble Mtn. This was also a 7 month tour. We conducted aerial reconnaissance and infantry air support from the O1 and O2 reconnaissance aircraft. I flew with Marine, Army and Air Force pilots in the Danang are and north to Phu Bai, Hue tactical areas. July 1, 1968 I was lucky to be afforded a ride in an F4 Phantom to cover for an ilI RIO. A former O1 pilot, Capt. Larry Nowak gave me the ride of a lifetime!
l left Vietnam on July 13, 1968, after 14 months in country. I wass then assigned to Camp Pendleton as the M Company Commander at the base ITR. We processed 13 companies of new recruits through ITR in 15 months time. The remaining 3 months of my time in the USMC was as the Bn. S-3 Officer. Welcome Home my fellow Marines, and other Vets! God Bless you all! I got my captain bars on Nov. 01, 1969.
Robert V r VanDyke from 84404, Ogden, UT wrote on March 13, 2024 at 2:39 pm
chu lei 1965-66 usmc , deck house 1, deck house 2 was the strart of my 13 months
Ted Winkelman from Stockton, Ca. wrote on March 13, 2024 at 2:34 pm
Way back in March of 1968, I was with the Air Force. Now you may say, He got easy duty. Not knowing what Viet Nam was. Only knew what I head on the news. I was 3 weeks in country and my butt was sent to Khe Sanh on a short TDY. Now my short TDY was to be 2 weeks. Turned out to be tell the base was closed in July of 68. Now what is an Air Force guy doing in Khe Sanh you ask. Well , I was sent up there because the Marines did not know how to load or unload the air craft as they came in. So there I was, doing just that. What an experience it was. Meet some great guys and lost a few as well. But that was an experience I well never forget. I was with the 15th aerial port squadron out of Danang and was attached to the 29th marines. Again you say, what an easy duty I had. Well , when the birds landed I was out on the tarmac open to the world while everyone else was cozy upped in their bunker doing what I was sent up there to do. I made a great target setting on that stupid forklift. The hardest part of my job was loading bodybags. But I made it home thank God. I would love to chat with anyone who was up there when I was.
Dan Rodenbaugh from Orleans wrote on March 13, 2024 at 2:09 pm
Sep 1969-
My best friend Eudell Leo Kotrous from Nebraska, and I were drafted and boarded a train in Holdrege Neb., traveled to Omaha, Neb. for physicals and induction, from Omaha to Ft. Polk, La. we arrived at dark met with several drill instructors, together we attended Basic, AIT, and Nam.
• Was given an award by basic training CO for being only one that had a perfect score and maxed the proficiency test, and cognitive test for graduation.
• Was nominated and graduated top of class LPC Academy
• Attended AIT at Fort Polk Tiger land was made Platoon Guide
Travel orders were for Vietnam reported to
• C-3-22, 25th infantry arrived in country June 1970
• Eudell Leo Kotrous and I shared a last cigarette together before traveling in country to our assigned units, learned he was KIA Apr 26, 1970
First week of assignment took choppers to hot LZ, we had combat with 6 Vietcong, chased them across rice paddy, being new, gung-ho, I took lead as still under impression and mindset I was invincible.
Landed in hot LZ to engage NVA / Vietcong training area, we quickly moved to support and assist the battle already going on with another 25th unit. Numerous battles and stories until rotation.
John Palmieri from Smithtown Long Island N Y wrote on March 13, 2024 at 2:08 pm
I will never forget Jan 10 1969 at Binh Thuy
AB in the Mekong Delta may Peter rest in peace. I was in the 22 Tass 01 Bird Dogs.
Seen a lot for being in the AF they say time heals I still do not feel it.
Michael A. Hull from Jacksonville Florida wrote on March 13, 2024 at 1:56 pm
86th Maintenance Bn. 98th Light Equipment Maintenance Company (LEM). Cha Rang Valley October 1969 to November 1970.
Stewart Edward Rawlinson from Springfield, MO wrote on March 13, 2024 at 1:29 pm
Served in Vietnam with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade from 2/1/1968 thru 2/4/1969. Most of the tour in and around Cholon and then in the Pineapple Groves. Charley Company, Fifth of the twelfth.
Fred P Deckert from Gardner wrote on March 13, 2024 at 1:27 pm
Served in CBMU-302 3/70 - 5/71 in Hon Khoi then Saigon Block Mfg plant. We were next to an MRKJRB rock-crushing plant. Best duty station. Worked nights adjacent to an ARVN training camp. Long Binh USA base was down the road a bit.
Dennis Hanson from Lansing wrote on March 13, 2024 at 1:26 pm
Served in Saigon 1969-1971 and returned five times with VWAM
Chuck (Woody) Woodruff from Semmes Alabama wrote on March 13, 2024 at 1:22 pm
Thanks and Semper Fi 2 yours 2/1 south of Danang tour2 Quang Tri. 1371 combat Engineer. 1st Engineer Bn. 🇺🇸
Martin J Platt from Woodbridge wrote on March 13, 2024 at 1:10 pm
Served with the 528th in Cha Rang Valley 1970-71 and would like to reach out to my captain.
Don Stille from Grand Rapids wrote on March 6, 2024 at 10:48 pm
Served in Qui Nhon, Cheo Reo, Ben Tre and Saigon 1967-68
Eric Rueder from Paris missouri wrote on January 27, 2022 at 7:20 pm
I was with the 628th 1967-1968. Radio Repair
Richard W Magner from Glastonbury, CT & Bradenton, FL wrote on January 27, 2022 at 3:59 pm
Tiger 38, D/229th (Smiling Tigers), 1st Cav 68/69
Fitzsimons Army Hospital 69-74
Air Methods Corp. 1979-2016
Robert Zerby from McLean, Virginia wrote on December 11, 2021 at 12:57 pm
I served with the 1st Marine Division, near Hill 327, in 1971 as a 2nd Lt. I will never forget that tour.
Robert William Zerby
[email protected]
J C Wile from The Villages Florida wrote on December 11, 2021 at 10:34 am
Looking for anyone H&S supply 2/7 from March 68 - November 69
Gary Layne from TEN MILE wrote on November 27, 2021 at 9:39 am
I was there from April 1968 to Nov 1968 Tuy Hoa with the 577th Engineers Co A