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HERE
Volunteer with the National Park Service at the Marine Corps War Memorial for the past 13 years and also volunteer at Henderson Hall, HQMC as the Retired Affairs Officer for the past 9 years. Proud to be a MUSTANG of Marines and a Life member of TWS An Irish Blessing; May you be in Heaven a half hour before the devil knows you're dead!!! The recruits listed below are Fallen Marines that I put through PI when I was an SDI and they were the 20 Marines that were KIA in Vietnam that I know personally. God Bless them all and their families. Also listed there are other recruits that I had the pleasure of knowing when I was a SDI while at PI that were not KIA in Vietnam. Marines one and all. When I was commissioned a 2ndLt at the 1st Engineer Bn in Nov 68 I assummed a title that was unknown to me at that time and it stayed with me as long as I was a butter bar. I became the SSJO or SMALL SHITTY JOBS OFFICER which included doing every thing that no other officer wanted to do in the Bn or Battery I was assigned to. They were indeed the worst you could imagine and the most time consuming things I ever dealt with.
Other Comments:
My wife, Anne and my sister-in-law Susan each had a brick installed for me at the DI Memorial in Parris Island. My children Cheryl, Kevin and Tim laid a brick for me at the USMC Museum as a Christmas present in 2007. Two of my former recruits, Sgt Ray Edwards and MGySgt Simon from Plt 3086 and I had bricks laid at the DI Memorial for SSgt Driver one of our JDI's from the Platoon and nine of the recruits from Platoon 3086 that were KIA in Vietnam. We want to thank the DI Association for the exception to the rule in allowing us to lay the bricks in their honor at the Memorial. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BROWN NOSE AND A SHITHEAD IS DEPTH PERCEPTION. TACT: THE ABILITY TO TELL A PERSON TO GO TO HELL AND MAKE THEM FEEL HAPPY TO BE ON THEIR WAY. Other MOS's held: 0311/0331/8511/5711/3001/3002
Friend1 posted by 13 Edwards, Raymond (eddie), Sgt65
Da Nang Combat Base
From Month/Year
March / 1965
To Month/Year
August / 1972
Description During the Vietnam War, the city was home to a major air base that was used by both the South Vietnamese and United States air forces. The base was considered one of the world's busiest airports during the war, reaching an average of 2,595 air traffic operations daily, more than any airport in the world at that time.
On March 8, 1965, The USS Henrico, Union, and Vancouver, carrying the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade under Brig. Gen. Frederick J. Karch, take up station 4,000 yards off Red Beach Two, north of Da Nang.
First ashore was the Battalion Landing Team 3/9, which arrived on the beach at 8:15 a.m. Wearing full battle gear and carrying M-14s, the Marines were met by sightseers, South Vietnamese officers, Vietnamese girls with leis, and four American soldiers with a large sign stating: "Welcome, Gallant Marines." Gen. William Westmoreland, senior U.S. military commander in Saigon, was reportedly "appalled" at the spectacle because he had hoped that the Marines could land without any fanfare. Within two hours, Battalion Landing Team 1/3 began landing at Da Nang air base. This began the build up of the Da Nang facilties.
The final U.S. ground combat operations in Vietnam ceased on 13 August 1972, when a residual force of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade stood down in �?à Nẵng. B Battery 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment fired the final U.S. artillery round and the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment finished their final patrols. This residual force was known as "Operation Gimlet".
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
March / 1965
To Month/Year
August / 1972
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
People You Remember Maj Douglas, Maj Levy and Personnel of the 1st 175 Gun Battery.
Memories Zips shooting rockets at Danang air base and Marble Mtn. Hill 34 took several close hits along with hill 55 and 65.