This is how we see the book coming together: we need your personal stories. No matter how long or short, funny or sad, heroic or "Forrest Gump", first person or overheard in the slop chute, day-to-day routine stuff or one-time terrifying, pictures or not, e-mail or snail mail, over the phone or UPS. Whatever you send us, it is understood that we have your permission to include an (edited) copy in the book. We will give credit to each author; however, if you prefer to remain anonymous, just let us know.

     As we receive your story - and the stories are not limited to just Tankers and Ontos Crewmen but family stories as well - we'll lay it into the chronology of the Vietnam War. Where there are gaps of personal stories, we'll provide fillers. When the determination is made that we're ready to "go to press" we'll do that. We're looking for a publisher now but, if we don't find one, we'll self-publish.

     As well as the stories, we plan an appendix and are considering that it comprise four parts 1) Marine Jargon 2) Acronyms 3) Sayings about Marines 4) Sayings by Marines. Here, once again, you are invited to weigh in with the stuff you know. There will, of course, be editing to remain professional. For example of Marine Jargon: C-ration Ham and Lima Beans, better known as "Ham and M----- ----ers".

     We are advised that this heady project should have a monetary seed money cushion of $10,000. The Foundation is "a few dollars" short of that but, with the continued generosity of our constituents - both funds and "sweat equity" - we will acquire what we need on the fly

     Thank you for your support and we trust there's not one among us who does not have a story he wants to share - and/or a family member who does not have something to add - to make our first foray into the book production world a success..

     And finally, though historical foundations do not traditionally get into the business of helping their constituents in obtaining "past due" personal awards for valor, with Jackie on our team, we are offering to work with any Ontos Marine or Tanker in his quest for an award he feels he deserves as a result of his service in the Vietnam War and - for whatever reason - he has not received.

Ray Stewart

 For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Corpsman with Battery K, Fourth Battalion, Twelfth Marines, Ninth Marine Amphibious Brigade in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 19 September 1968, while occupying a fire support position at the Rockpile in Quang Tri Province, Petty Officer Wean's platoon came under a heavy volume of North Vietnamese artillery and small arms fire. During the ensuing attack, several rounds impacted int he powder storage area wounding numerous Marines and igniting an intense fire that spread through out the platoon area. Responding instantly to a call for medical assistance, Petty Officer Wean unhesitatingly left his position of cover and rushed across the fire-swept terrain to the side of a wounded comrade. Ignoring the fragmentation of exploding ordinance and the enemy small arms fire aimed at and impacting near him, he shielded the wounded Marine with his own body while calmly administering medical care to the casualty. When the wounded Marine was evacuated from the field of fire, Petty Officer Wean fearlessly moved to another wounded casualty and skillfully treated his wounds, until he was extracted from the combat area. His heroic actions and sincere concern for the welfare of his comrades, inspired all who observed him and was instrumental in saving the lives of two Marines. By his courage, resolute determination and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of great personal danger, Petty Officer Wean upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. on Okinawa and then deployed to South Vietnam from January to June 1968. His next assignment was as a Corpsman with K Battery, 4th Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment of the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade in South Vietnam from June 1968 until he returned to the United States in January 1969. While in Vietnam, he served during the Tet Offensive and Tet Counter-Offensive in early 1968, Operation Buffalo, Operation Thor, Operation Lancaster II, Operation Scotland II, and Operation Dual Blade V in the Northern I Corps area along the DMZ. He was wounded in action on July 6, 1968, during the battle of at Con-Thien, and again on September 19, 1968, at the Marine outpost called the Rockpile. HM2 Wean served on the staff at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Great Lakes, Illinois, from January to July 1969, and then served with NATO Forces, U.S. Navy Security Group Activity in Edzell, Scotland, as part of the Embassy Staff for Great Britain from August 1969 to February 1971. He received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy on February 2, 1971.

MCVTHF, 707 S.W. 350th Ct., Ste. #1 

Social Security Increase for Veterans

Vietnam Flashbacks

By LtCol Raymond A. Stewart, USMC (Ret) 

     For light reading during my recent trip to Hawaii, I packed three books - "The End of the Line: The Siege of Khe Sanh" by Robert Pisor; "The TET Offensive: A Concise History" by James H. Willbanks; and "Close Air Support and the Battles for Khe Sanh" by LtCol Shawn P. Callahan, USMC. Reading these I was pursuing in the usually fruitless search for even the slightest mention of Marine Corps Tanks and Ontos participation in the Vietnam War in general and the Siege of Khe Sanh in particular. In the case of the latter publication - Callahan's, which is called an Occasional Paper published by the History Division, United States Marine Corps - I expected zero to be mentioned. My expectations were met. However, the Siege of Khe Sanh did look a lot different from the cockpit of an air plane than from the turret of a tank. So, in that respect i.e., to attain a different perspective of the siege, it was an interesting, even valuable, read but alas, no mention of Marine Tanks or Ontos.

     (As an aside, I have a retired Marine BGen Aviator friend who, flying his A-4 low and slow through intense NVA anti-aircraft from bordering Laos and for which he is a Silver Star recipient, destroyed 3 enemy tanks!)

    Before leaving CONUS I'd asked our Historian/Archivist/Author Peter Brush his thoughts on Pisor's and Willbanks' books and he offered "Pisor's book was the first book I ever read about Khe Sanh. It stimulated my interest in the topic. Keep in mind it was written a long time ago, with access to limited resources, and the author was a journalist and not a historian. Given those limitations, I'd say it is an excellent book. It's easy to read. I haven't read Willbanks book, but he has a good reputation as a historian. I'd say you made two very good choices." Peter was right- on with Pisor's "End of the Line". The author does not limit the scope of his book to the siege itself but, rather, he puts the "most famous and controversial battle" in the context of the entire span of the Vietnam War. He is very supportive of COMUSMACV, Army General William Westmoreland's decision vis-�-vis Khe Sanh. Peter stated that the book "was written a long time ago" (1982) and many of the resources that are available to writers today were not so 30 years ago. (Re: December's Breech Block). In light of this, one has to wonder how Pisor may feel about "Westy" and the siege today.

     Back to the point of this whole exercise i.e., the Foundation and our mission. While the 40+ years since we left Vietnam has seen hundreds of books and articles penned about the Vietnam War, there's been - as the Oman-serving British mercenaries used to say - "4/5s of F--- all" written about Tankers and Ontos Marines. And, Willbank's book is cut from the same cloth. The title includes the word "Concise" Change that to "Abbreviated" and you may be better alerted to its content And again, no mention of tanks, Ontos or even Marine unit designations, for that matter. 

     So, making the Foundation's case for a book - now, possibly two - that details the history of what Marine Tanks and Ontos did in the Vietnam War and how it was accomplished, remains a goal - a mission - for which we will continue to devote our time, talent, and fortunes.

TRICARE Prime fee increases, limited access to military treatment facilities, and fewer civilian care providers are likely to be an issue in 2012 and beyond.

Read more...  

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Source: Military.com     

Bravo Company, 3rd Tanks, 1965/1970 ~ Cape Cod, MA

Tentitive dates September or October 2012.

For more information.

USMC ONTOS REUNION ~ May 2013, Details to Follow.

James A. Slane

BATAVIA, NY - James A. Slane, 76, of Batavia died Friday (Feb 3, 2012) at New York State Veteran's Home in Batavia.

Mr. Slane was born June 9, 1935, in Warsaw, the son of the late James and Mildred (Johnson) Slane.

He served as a tank mechanic during Korea and Vietnam wars with the U.S. Marines and taught his trade to other Marines. He was a member of Byron Presbyterian Church and Glenn S. Loomis Post No. 332 American Legion. He supported his great-nieces in their school and extracurricular activities.

Survivors include his sister, Ruth McCracken of Batavia, nieces and nephews, Daryl McCracken of Florida, Deborah Kreienberg of Pittsford, Darlene (Edward) Koubek of Houston, Texas and Jerald McCracken, Jr. of Chili; five great-nieces, five great-great-nephews and several cousins.

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