Proper, Roger, Sgt

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS.
I was born in Dec 1940, one year almost to the day of the beginning of WWII. At age 6 my earliest recollections were of the neighborhood war veterans returning home, some missing limbs and I would ask them what was war like? No one would answer me however a

My Country......USA

while later they started giving me their war souvenirs. A steel helmet with liner, a green poncho, a small disabled German pistol, a plastic German Army cigarette case with flashlight built in, a large command Nazi battle flag and much more. And then it was 1952 and the Korean War veterans started coming home. They also would not answer my query's of "what was it like?" But I could see in their eyes they knew what I wanted to know.

It was during this period I organized all of my neighborhood buddies into two groups and every afternoon after school we played 'War' with our wooden guns. I had already acquired many books on WWII and Korea written by the survivors like 'Sands of Iwo Jima' and Battle Cry. and 'The Steel Helmet' . It was after the movie 'The D.I.' with actor Jack Webb that I decided the fastest avenue to experience my fascination with war was to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. I graduated May 30, 1958 in the middle of my high school class and on June 5 left for Parris Island, S.C.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
During the boot camp process after the platoon was formed and in training we were given what was called the GENERAL CLASSIFICATION TESTS to determine where we might be best used by the Corps. I found them not difficult and finished before most. Then a quick conversation with a clerk

1967 USMC Lima 3/7 calling card

who ask "what is your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd preference for a job?" I said 1st Infantry, 2nd Tanks, 3rd Artillery. He said "INFANTRY ?". "You have a GCT of 129 and can go to any school in the Corps including OCS". He leaned over and said "most of these guys are going to be assigned infantry because they have no choice, choose something else". All I said was "I want infantry". He shook his head and wrote down INFANTRY.

Strangely I did not work in my MOS of 0311 for the first 4 years as I did well in boot camp being awarded PFC , Blues Award and choice of duty station. Since it was a period of peace, now called the COLD WAR I was assigned to the Marine Detachment at the COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ATLANTIC FLEET HEADQUARTERS, Norfolk, Virginia. For 3 years I wore blues every day with a loaded 45 in my spit shined holster.

I had broken service as in 1962 there wasn't much happening however in 1965 when the Marines hit the beach in RVN I joined a reserve rifle company in Santa Monica as a sergeant. Unfortunate for me LBJ did not activate the reserves so I took a leave of absence until Sept 1967 and after the summer on Malibu Beach I went to see the recruiter in LA. After the war I just wanted to look for an island with a beach with nobody shooting at me.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
"Be careful what you wish for as you may get it" was going through my head as was "you may have bitten off more than you can chew this time" as I bounced around in the back of a 6-by truck along with a dozen other replacements headed to the

NOV 1967 OP Foster

7th Marine Regiment on Hill #55. It was Oct 1967, 29 days since I reenlisted in the USMC. A Sgt in my previous enlistment broken service had created the question of what rank I should be given in a conversation with the recruiter in L.A. When he said it would take several month's to get clearance from CMC to restore any previous rank I said "what rank would you give me to get me to a rifle platoon within 30 days?" He said PFC. I said, "Where do I sign."

As a 26 year old PFC with two hash marks I was assigned to 1st Fire Team, 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, my home for the next five months. It was the most traumatic period of my life. In the essence of time and space please refer to the FORUM STORIES OF COMBAT. I titled my trilogy MY BAPTISM OF FIRE IN ARIZONA TERRITORY. The stories tell of three experiences during Nov and Dec 1967 that changed my life. I had found the answer to "what was the war like?" and now I knew why they would never tell me. It took me 20 years to put it into words and 10 more years to talk about it.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
I will begin with my least favorite as it leads into my favorite assignment: By the fourth month as a rifleman with with Lima 3/7 I was certain I was not going to survive for the full 13 month tour. Even though I had not been wounded and had received

1968 S-2 SCOUT 3/7

a meritorious combat promotion for my performance in the bush there was that nagging feeling that my good luck was short lived. Out of the blue while in 3rd Battalion S-3 being debriefed on an action I had been a part of, a sergeant I had never seen before approached me and said, "Is your name Proper?" He continued, "I heard about what you did on Operations Foster and Citrus. You did good! Would you like to become an S-2 scout ?" Instantly I stammered yes and he said, "That 6-by over there leaves for Danang in 2 hours. Turn in your weapon and store your gear, be on that 6by, you are going to Vietnamese Language School on Okinawa." In my mind that Sergeant saved my life.

As a scout on operations I traveled as part of the command group, a good hundred yards behind the grunts. A scout just does what the C.O. tells him to do. No more assaulting in-placed machine guns. I liked the job so much when it came time to rotate home I agreed to extend my tour by 6 months with one caveat. I wanted to be transferred to the air wing and fly as a door gunner. It happened and that is my fondest memory. One hundred combat missions and only shot down once to a soft landing on a friendly LZ. Sgt's club every night, sleeping on a 6" mattress every night after a hot shower. I valued my experience as a 'grunt' but not something I want to do again. Going flying I looked forward to every day. Marine Corps pilots are the best in the world.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
For 3 years of my first 4 year enlistment I was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia at the COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ATLANTIC FLEET HEADQUARTERS (CINCLANTFLT HQ) Marine Detachment. The second year there I was selected to be Admirals Orderly to Admiral Jerald Wright. My job was to follow him every where he went

1968 3/7 Warriors coming home

when he left his cabin 7 paces to his left rear. I was in dress or modified blues with a loaded chrome plated 45 on my hip. I was his first line of defense in the event someone approached him uninvited. I was 19 years old PFC and a dedicated United States Marine.

The third year there I was selected to be driver for Vice Admiral Dutch Duterrman, Deputy CINCLANT/SACLANT. He often suggested he could easily get me an appointment to Annapolis if I was interested. And each time I told him I just wanted to be a Marine Corp sergeant. He was one of the most remarkable men I ever met. On my third enlistment I went directly to Vietnam as a PFC and assigned to a Fire Team in the 7th Marines. On the afternoon of 25 November 1967 my platoon of 40 men and one corpsman went on-line to assault an enemy force set in interconnecting trench lines with automatic weapons. As we swept across the dry paddies they took us under fire about two hundred feet out. The entire platoon dropped behind a minor dike and returned fire. The word was passed that we assault in one minute. I heard the Lt shout loudly "Charge!" and being on the extreme right flank looked down the line and saw every man come to their feet firing from their hip assault the trench line. I went from 1st Fire Team rifleman to 1st Squad Leader in 15 minutes. 5 KIA,Many WIA.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
In 1967 in the Marine Corps I was in you didn't get a medal for doing your job. As a rifleman with 2nd Plt. Lima our job was to seek out the enemy, engage them and kill them. In the five month's I was there (Oct '67 to Feb'68) I

1969 S-2 HMH462 INTEL ASST.

saw only two medals other than Purple Hearts awarded. A Silver Star to a PFC in the 3rd squad and a Bronze Star to the platoon leader. Both were for the November 25, 1967 encounter (later to be called the Battle at the Graveyard). Both were well deserved. The Silver Star was a posthumous award. He was credited with 5 enemy KIA including the machine gunner that had us pinned down before he was killed. Also for that same action the Lt put me up for a meritorious combat promotion for taking command of 1st squad after the squad leader was WIA and the fire team leaders were KIA.

At the time and for some years after it did not mean anything to me as all of my previous and later promotions were meritorious. And then 15 years later as I was preparing to go to the dedication of 'The Wall' on November 11, 1982 I dug my Vietnam War box out from underneath my bed and in going through the paraphernalia found the Meritorious Combat promotion warrant and accompanying letter describing the event. It was signed by Maj. General Donn Robertson, CG 1st Marine Division. It was then I realized the honor the Lt had bestowed upon me. To be recognized for my leadership in combat with the premier assault force in the world was humbling and the culmination of my childhood dreams.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
The most unusual and meaningful for me was the Combat Aircrew Wings with three Gold Stars awarded to me by helicopter squadron HMM 364 (The Purple Foxes) along with my first Air Medal. The first week of December 1968 on Operation Meade River flying in a CH 46 B the

1969 HMH462 'THE FLYING GRUNT'

aircraft I was flying as gunner in received incoming fire on three separate occasions qualifying me for the three gold stars displayed at the top of the device. It was unusual in so far as my MOS was 0311 and that puzzled the airdales so they gave me a new MOS: 8071 Aerial Gunner (Helo). For the rest of my time with The Purple Foxes I flew most every day. I liked flying with HMM 364 however near the end of December the entire squadron moved to MAG 16 in Danang. Since my parent organization was MAG 36 in Phu Bai I could not go and had to scramble for another flying job in Phu Bai.

Luck would have it that HMH 462, a CH 53 outfit called (The Heavy Haulers) needed an 0231 (Intelligence Assistant) in their S-2 and I happened to have acquired one as a secondary while working as a scout for 3/7. My primary function at HMH 462 was to do the morning intelligence briefing for the pilots in the ready room after which I would suit up and go flying all day if I was scheduled. By June of 1969 when I rotated back to 'The World' I had acquired 4 more Air Medals with 240.6 hours of air crew flight time. They called me 'The Flying Grunt.'

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?

NOV 1968 'LEST I FORGET'

The Admirals I served; the commissioned and staff non-commissioned officers I was assigned to and I were never on a first name basis. They did their job and I did mine. The men I hold in my heart are those friends who gave their life for the Corps in combat from my unit during the Vietnam War. Ten in all, 5 were within ten feet of me when they were hit,the others nearby. None of them received a Legion of Merit or Silver Star or Bronze Star. There families received only a Purple Heart medal and a letter of thanks from the government. They are eulogized by 'The Corps' and remembered by their mothers and me for our 'duration.'

I still often stop and think I am living my life for them and can still picture them in my minds eye.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
It was December 21, 1967 on Operation Citrus in the Arizona territory of Quang Nam province I Corps. I was squad leader of 1st squad, 2nd Platoon Lima 3/7 and tasked with being the point squad for a mass movement of Marines to a night position to set in. The

17 JUNE 1968 OP MAMELUKE THRUST

C.O. was in a hurry. We came up on a graveyard about 100 yards across and 200 deep with a stream along our right. The Lt wanted to recon by fire the tree line along the stream but the C.O. says, no time, move out. The Lt knows he is about to lose his point squad so he tells us to break the tree line we are concealed in at a dead run at high port and run across the graveyard to the ditch on the other side.

Point man went first, I was second and the rest of the squad was behind me in a dead run with maybe 10 feet separating each of us. They opened up on us when we were in the middle of the mess of burial mounds. Everyone took cover behind the nearest mound and no one was hit. After catching my breath I eased up the mound I was behind to return fire. To my right front and slightly below me I saw Smitty, a short dude who was always telling jokes, scrunched behind a mound, his left hand on his helmet still holding it on, his right hand on the pistol grip of his M-16 which he had placed on top of the mound muzzle pointing about 10' in front of the mound on full automatic. I started laughing and still laugh to this day when I think of that day those many years ago.

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
During my 11+ years of military service I acquired 4 military occupational specialties, all OJT. After boot camp and ITR I never went to another school. My fault, I never ask to go. I tried college immediately after returning home from Vietnam and only lasted one semester. At 28 I

1994 MAUI HAWAII 'CHAMPION'

did not fit in with high school kids at a local junior college. I had returned to my home town in Florida and rented a beach house on the Gulf of Mexico on an island called Longboat Key. In 1969 there wasn't much there.

I bought a Ford 4000 tractor with a bush hog mower and contracted with the city to mow all easements and vacant building sites on the island. In the winter when the grass wasn't growing I bought a striping machine and painted car parking lines in parking lots all over Manatee and Sarasota Counties. By 1986 my little enterprise had grown into a full service asphalt paving company with 25 full time employees grossing $1,818,000 annually. Relocating to South Sarasota County, FL in 1973 it was a matter of being at the right place at the right time. During this period I also went through two marriages and two divorces not to mention some really hard partying.

In 1986 I put everything up for sale: the businesses, industrial real estate, residential real estate, cars, everything and bailed to the island I promised to myself if I survived Vietnam. I was 45 years old and I went to Maui, Hawaii to become a windsurfing beach bum. I haven't worked since unless you call winning the Hawaii State Slalom Windsurfing Championship in the Grand Masters division twice...1989 and 1994. In 2001 I went traveling and ended up in Northern Thailand, married to a beautiful Thai woman who accepts me as I am, warts and all. I'm here 'for the duration'.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?

1968 'Kit Carson' scouts S-2 3/7

I am a Life member/Charter member of VFW Post#12074 Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is the only U.S.military based organization in Northern Thailand. My interest in being part of the group that started this Chapter is to provide representation with the VA in America for my family upon my demise. They also have an excellent newsletter sent out monthly to all members keeping us abreast of all current events as we are all living as an ex patriot American veteran in a foreign country. We have our own forum to exchange information. A good support group.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?

1968 3/7 S-2 Scouts and Speedy (interpreter)

Serving in the Marine Corps in a 'hot' war definitely influenced the way I approached my life. I learned that life can end 'in the bat of an eye.' I learned not to procrastinate if I want to do something 'do it now' for I may not be here tomorrow. I never had a career. I always described my working life as being a 'self employed laborer. I had a job and a mission; to accumulate as much money as possible so by the age of 45 I can just sit on a beach on an island and watch the sunset. And it happened.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE MARINE CORPS?

CH53B Doorgunner 1969

"Keep your head down and stay off the ridge line!" Just kidding, old joke. As an FNG (we were all there once) find your place in the unit you have been assigned to and when you have some time on your hands, go to your C.O. and tell him you want to go to a school. He won't have time to help you but he will refer you to someone who will. They will advise you as to what's available and show you the path to get there.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.

1969 HMH462 Hvy Lifters (Phu Bai tower in background)

I am very indebted to MARINES: TOGETHER WE SERVED for providing to me a FORUM to record for posterity the highlights of my life in the United States Marine Corps.As well a marine I was stationed with in 1960 at the Marine Detachment CINCLANT assigned to Flag Allowance showed up after 50 years. A good reunion by email. Semper Fi.

DS 9/20/2016