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Dear Marine, |
As your new editor of the Breech Block not much will change. Last month we dropped some articles that we felt were not germane to the Historical Foundation's mission. We will continue to bring you the uniqueness of the personalized eNewsletter that allows real time access to videos and articles that would be cost prohibitive or difficult to do in a printed format. This month's Command Chronologies are a prime example of this ability.
We continue to add names to the Bio roster for the book. I have had a few inquiries as to why some are not listed in the roster. As you know we have sent out five separate requests for Bio information. We have also requested this information via the Breech Block in at least three issues. The simple answer is we don't know why some have chosen not to supply the requested information. If you know of someone who should be listed please contact them and encourage them to send in their information.
Note:
{IF YOU FILLED OUT THE INFORMATION UPDATE REQUESTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS eNEWSLETTER BUT HAVE NOT SENT IN A SEPARATE BIO AS REQUESTED WE CANNOT ADD YOUR NAME TO THE BOOK .} See updated roster
If you have question as to why you are not listed in the book please send me an email mcvthf@gmail.com
We are in the process of calling Foundation members who are on the USMC Vietnam Tankers Association roster that might not have email access. This Summer we will be sending out forms to those that do not have email access and have not sent in their Bios.
A lot of photos and great stories are coming in. Among those stories and events that occurred during and after your return to 'The World.' In the last issue we ran a story entitled "A Small World" by Bob Peavey. This is a good example of what we would like to have you send to us. Your stories prior to entering the Marines are of interest to us as well. Letters you received from your family and friends telling what was happening during your service in Vietnam is also wanted. Each of these topics will have a chapter in the book.
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| Corpsmen Left Behind | |
I've ran every lead to ground. There is no documented compilation of the work Navy Corpsmen did in Vietnam. Sadly, I think they're the only entity that's not been - or being - covered. Our book will have 5-6 stories (so far) and - except for a few individual articles found on the web - that's it!
Semper Fidelis,
Ray
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| A Tribute to the "Doc" of Bravo Company, 3rd Tank Bn | |
This is in response to your request for "Doc" stories. As you recall, much of our activities were in a support role to infantry units where we depended on their Corpsmen for any medical care. However, the following story is one where the Corpsman for Bravo Company really earned his keep!
A Tribute to the "Doc" of Bravo Company, 3rd Tk Bn
When it was requested that stories regarding the Corpsmen with whom we served be submitted, I had to clear a few cobwebs from my aging brain. Memories of my company corpsman when I commanded Bravo Co., 3rd Tanks from April - October 1966 came flooding back. Since I am not blessed with total recall, I have to admit that I can't remember his name; however, if he ever reads this he will know I'm proudly remembering him and his dedicated service to the Marines of Bravo Company.
Our "Doc" was a quiet, unassuming man who went about his duties to see to our medical needs, both in the CP and in the field, in a most efficient manner. In addition to his duties as the Company Corpsman, he took great pains to familiarize himself with tank crewman jobs, including driving, loading and that of the gunner. In fact, I often had to rein him in when he asked to go out as a crewman with a platoon leaving the CP for a few days to support infantry efforts in our area.
I did, however, make sure that he was included for any operation where the bulk of the company was committed, such as the initial phase of Operation Macon in the summer of 1966. We forded the Song Thu Bon to link up with the 3rd Bn, 3rd Marines, which had been heli-lifted into the Arizona Territory the day before. We then started a sweep for several days through the Eastern portion of the Arizona Territory toward the coast. The operation was relatively uneventful until the last night when we concluded the operation.
3/3 was to be heli-lifted back out of the area the following morning. With my tanks and some infantry support units from the 3rd Bn, 9th Marines out of An Hoa, we occupied the Western edge of the battalion perimeter for night time defense. "Doc" was with me in my CP located just to the rear of our assigned area. The 81mm Mortar Section of 3/3 commenced registration firing just before dark, using WP rounds. Whether it was a "short round" or a screw up by the mortar crew, one of their rounds hit just to the rear of one of my tanks on the perimeter. It set the camouflage netting in the bustle on fire and seriously wounded the crewman on turret watch. We heard the crump and saw what had happened. "Doc" and I took off at a dead run, jumped up on the tank and with the help of another crewman got the wounded Marine's flak jacket off, which was still smouldering from the explosion. "Doc" immediately treated some serious burns on the Marine's neck and arms while I ran to the Battalion CP, got the registration fires halted and had a call put in for a MedEvac.
Where ever you are "Doc" and you happen to read this, thanks again for your dedicated and professional service to your Marines of Bravo Company.
LtCol Everett Tunget, USMC (Ret)
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| In Coming! | |
... THANK YOU for keeping the organization (Foundation) going. I always look forward to every piece of mail from USMCVTHF...not many of us left, but we still are a band of brothers. I feel I should have done more to support our organization...things have been a little rough last few years ..but I'm back.
Love you all
SEMPER FI
Robert Mila
RMila92495@aol.com
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Steve - Please accept my apology for the delay in thanking you for your most generous donation to the "Marine Corps Vietnam Tankers Historical Foundation." Without the loyalty and dedication of Marines like you, Steve, we would not be able to support our brother Tankers and Ontos crewmen. As you are aware, we're writing a book that will feature stories by and about our brothers. Your continued generosity will help us reach that goal.
Semper Fidelis,
Ray
Thank you Sir, I intend to continue to support. I also believe in what you are doing.
Steve Arnone
cap1steve4@aol.com
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| 1stLt Richard Peksens' Video |
 | | Tanks for the Memories |
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| Heroes Corner | |
ASHLEY, MAURICE C., JR.
 Synopsis:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Maurice C. Ashley, Jr. (0-45707), Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Commanding Officer, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on November 17, 1968. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Lieutenant Colonel Ashley upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Home Town: Poughkeepsie, New York
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| Command Chronologies |
April 1965 to 1970 - Marine Tanks & Ontos Action
This is second of what is intended to be a monthly feature of abstracted Tank and Ant-Tank Command Chronologies. This Breech Block - April 2013 - will give you a brief overview of what the 1st, 3rd Tanks and Anti Tanks were involved in during each April they were in-country. For the full meal deal, please visit our Foundation website where Pappy has posted the Tank and Anti-Tank CCs. Most of the CCs are 100-300 pages in length with lots of stuff that is not of great interest to many. I will attempt to feature that which is of most interest. If we've omitted areas that you would like to see included, please let me know. If you served in any of these units during an April and have a story to tell to help flesh-out the history, please send it to us.
Please note that, the Command Chronologies (intend to) list all the battalions' principle staff officers, which may be of little note nor long remembered. I will routinely list just the Bn. C.O.'s, X.O.'s, Operations, and Logistics Officers of the battalions and the Company Commanders. I will depend on readers who knew their Platoon Leaders and Platoon Sergeants to let me know and I'll fill in those names as a part of our history which needs to be made known. So far I've not heard from a single Tanker or Ontos Crewman from the March readership.
Also, you are encouraged to access the Foundation's Map Chronology that Pappy Reynolds has created. There you may find out exactly where your unit - battalion, company, often platoon, and occasionally section-size - was located at any given time.
Read the chronologies
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| Causalities (All Battalions) |
Tuesday, April 5, 1966
MICHAEL R CUNEEN, LCpl
Age 20, Bradford, PA
Friday, April 7, 1967
BRUCE W CADE, LCpl
Age 20, Detroit, MI
Wednesday, April 12, 1967
JACK H ANDERSON, 2ndLt
Age 31, Livingston, MT
Thursday, April 13, 1967
MICHAEL L SCISNEY, Pfc
Age 20, Indianapolis, IN
ROBERT A TAYLOR, LCpl
Age 20, Atlanta, GA
Monday, April 24, 1967
GARY T COWLES, Pfc
Age 21, Hastings, NE
PHILIP H SAUER, 1stLt
Age 24, Coronado, CA
Tuesday, April 9, 1968
RAY L FERRY III, LCpl
Age 18, Waterbury, CT
Thursday, April 11, 1968
DENNIS R DAVIDSON, Pfc
Age 25, Dayton, OH
JAMES R MC CLELLAND, GySgt
Age 36, Irwin, PA
Thursday, April 25, 1968
JAMES O JAYNES, LCpl
Age 19, Chuckey, TN
Monday, April 29, 1968
PAUL THORIK JR, Cpl
Age 20, New Britain, CT
Saturday, April 26, 1969
FREDERIC L SCHRECONGOST, Pfc
Age 22, East Grand Rapids, MI
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Khe Sanh - Before, During & After the Seige...�
Please post your personal/sea story:...�
Leave a personal story if you served with: ...�
Post here for this 1968 operation...�
Post here for this 1967 combat operation...�
Post here your comments for this 1967 combat operation...�
Post here for Opertaion Hastings 1966....�
Before there was the Siege of Khe Sanh there was Con Thien....�
Post comments for Operation Starlight, 1965....�
Battle for Dong Ha, late April, early May 1969.By Permission of the Ohio State University: Battle of Dong Ha...�
This post is dedicated to the Battle of Hue City during the 1968 Tet Truce Offensive....�
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Secure Credit Card Donations [ IRS Tax EIN 91-2111544 ]
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2013 Donors: Thank you for your support!
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Platinum Plus
Lloyd 'Pappy' Reynolds*
LtCol Phil Weigand, USMC (Ret)
Guy Wolfenbarger
Platinum
Bobby Joe Blythe
Peter Brush*
Dick Carey*
Kyle Decicco-Carey*
Brian Carroll
Jim Raasch**
Pappy Reynolds*
LtCol Ray Stewart, USMC (Ret)**+
LtCol Ev Tunget, USMC (Ret)
Jerry Wahl
Gold
Maj Frank Box, USMC (Ret)
Sid Ferguson
David 'Doc' Forsyth
Glen Hutchins
Thomas Kelly
Carl Lemon
Robert F. (Bob) Singer
LtCol Frank Slovik, UISMC (Ret)
Maj Ed Stith, UISMC (Ret)
Silver Meyrat Francis-Michael
Brian Jefferies John Lange
Robert Peavey
Bronze
Stephen C. Arnone
Bobby Joe Blythe
John Lange
Robert Fornwalt
The Foundation is proud to announce that there has been quite a positive response to our e-mail asking for your help; financial assistance, submission of your personal stories, and recollections of your "Vietnam Days," adding to the Foundation Library, and volunteering to carry some of the day-to-day work load. The level of financial contributions are recognized with an Award Certificate as follows:
CertificateDonations Platinum Plus ~ $1,000 Plus Platinum ~ $250 - $999 Gold ~ $100 - $249 Silver ~ $50 - $99 Bronze ~ $1 - $49 There is a parallel process for rewarding your in kind, non-monetary (books, documents, articles for the Breech Block, etc.), and volunteer effort (assisting with Command Chronology research, Oral History summary report writing, etc) as well. Just contact me and we'll agree on where your work would be most meaningful for you in the context of our day-to-day goals attainment effort, the type of non-monetary donation you would like to make, and/or your planned article. Each Breech Block will cite donors and the VTHF web site will periodically post the up-to-date cumulatives. If you desire to make your gift specific to our Book Project, please so indicate. Unless you specify otherwise, we will apply your donation where most appropriate. Of course, should you desire to remain anonymous, we'll honor that wish as well. Thank you for your assistance. Ray
+Additional Donation
*In-Kind Services
**In-Kind & Monetary
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Your continued support is appreciated.
Please send your Tax Deductible Donation to:
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MCVTHF, 707 S.W. 350th Ct., Ste. #1
Federal Way, WA 98023
Thank you!
IRS Approved Tax EIN 91-2111544
A 501(c)(19) Non-profit Historical Foundation
Established 2001
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| Official United States Marine Corps Playbook | |
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 USMC Vietnam Tankers Association
October 31 to November 5, 2013
San Antonio, Texas
We have contracted with the Crowne Plaza Hotel on the River Walk for a $99 per night room rate.
Free daily self-parking.
We will also get a 20% discount on food and drinks (not alcoholic drinks) in the hotel restaurants and bars.
We will be allowed this same room rate for three days prior and three days after the reunion if you want to spend more time in the city.
Call the hotel at 1-888-623-2800 after 10/1/12 but before 10/1/13 to make room reservations.
Our hospitality room (that we call "The Slop Shute") will be the same size as the one that we had in San Diego in 2011.
There will be lots to do while we are visiting this San Antonio. We are formulating activity plans that will be announce as they are completed.
Please mark your calendars and start saving your money to meet and greet with your brothers in arms.
We encourage you to bring your wives or your girl friends and as many of your family members as you want to attend.
___________________________________________________
USMC ONTOS Reunion
May 8 - 11, 2013, Quantico
Details: Final agenda
Contact: Louis Nafjus,
______________________________________________________  Muster 2013 Branson, MO September 4 - 8, 2013
Clarion Branson Hotel
2820 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616 Call for room reservations: (800) 725-2236 Mention you are w/the Marine Corps Mustang Reunion Marine Corps Mustang web site if you have any questions or concerns please contact Joe Mouton, Roger Speeg, or Dwayne Dupeire. |
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We Really Need Your Assistance
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One of the toughest job in any organization is keeping membership information up-to-date.
You might believe we have all your information since you are already receiving the Breech Block newsletter but, the simple facts are we do not. Even though your membership in the Historical Foundation is free when you join the USMC Vietnam Tankers Association that information is not automatically shared with the Foundation.
From time to time we send out pertinent information to those that served in the various Tank Battalions, i.e. 1st Tanks, 3rd Tanks, Ontos, etc.
Please take the time to go to the bottom of this newsletter and click on "Update Profile/Email Address."
You guys are terrific; we appreciate your support.
Semper Fidelis,
Dick Carey, V.P.
Editor
Director Public Relations
Email: MCVTHF@gmail.com
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Can't Access Links
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With each issue of the Breech Block and other important emails sent to you there is a wording at the top of each email that states: "Having trouble viewing this email? Click here." If you are having an issue such as this be sure to click on the aforementioned link. This should resolve any problem, if not let us know. |
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THE BREECH BLOCK
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Publisher
Marine Corps
Vietnam Tankers
Historical Foundation
Staff
Vice President & Editor
Marketing & Production
Richard "Dick" Carey
Contact
mcvthf@gmail.com
President
LtCol Raymond A. Stewart USMC (Ret.)
Contact:
usmcvthf@comcast.net
Jackie Hunter
Administrative Assistant
Archivist in Residence
Kyle Decicco-Carey
Harvard University
BA in History, MLIS
Author in Residence
Dr. Oscar "Ed" Gilbert
Historian in Residence
Peter Brush
Vanderbilt University
BA and MA in History
Web Master
Lloyd 'Pappy' Reynolds
www.mcvthf.org
Contact:
____________________
Board of Directors
LtCol Raymond A. Stewart,
USMC (Ret.)
President
Charter Director,
USMC Vietnam Tankers Association
Richard 'Dick' Carey
Vice President
Public Relations
Founder, USMC Vietnam Tankers Association
President Emeritus
James Raasch
Secretary
Oral Historian
Charles 'Chuck' Garrison
Treasurer
Charter Director,
USMC Vietnam Tankers Association
Richard Tilden
Recruiter
LtGen Martin R. Steele,
USMC (Ret.)
Director
Charter Director,
USMC Vietnam Tankers Association
Col William 'Bill' Davis,
USMC(ret.)
Director
Robert 'Mike' Flick
Director
David 'Doc' Forsyth
Director
Dr. Ken Estes,
LtCol, USMC (Ret)
Director
Rick Walters
Director
Guy Wolfenberger
Director
MGySgt Donald Gagnon,
USMC (Ret)
Director Emeritus
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In Memory Lance Corporal Robert Hugh Gage
1st Marine Division
1st Tank Battalion
1st Anti-Tank
MIA/POW
03 July 1966
PP/ Staff Sergeant
30 September 1974 ____________________
Disclaimer:
"Marines" and the Eagle, Globe and Anchor are trademarks of the U.S. Marine Corps, used with permission. Neither the U.S. Marine Corps nor any other component of the Department of Defense has approved, endorsed or authorized this newsletter.
Contact Us
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