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Dear Marine, |
This past month has been filled with many surprises and a few twists with changes of leadership and staffing. The articles which follow will help explain.
Ray Stewart.
Two weeks ago I sent the following letter to the Foundation's Board of Directors:
To: Marine Corps Vietnam Tankers Historical Foundation Board of Directors
Subj: Selection of Vice President
Gentlemen,
A couple of weeks ago - first by a telephone call and then followed by an e-mail - our Foundation's Vice President, Dick Carey, expressed his intentions, arrived at after advice from his doctors' concern for his health, to terminate continued association of any kind with the organization he founded, developed, and grew a decade and a half ago - the "USMC Vietnam Tankers Association". At the same time, expressing praise for the Foundation, he resigned from it as well.
Without going into detail, suffice it to say that Dick's been fighting the good fight with his several serious health issues. At times over the years it has been a Herculean effort for Dick to rise to the occasion in support for his Brothers but he's never missed a beat. He will now be turning his attention to maintaining his health and the hours he's spent in support of his Veteran Tanker Brothers he will be devoting to his family and personal life.
And, while Dick will no longer have to carry the day-to-day burden of his office, he has magnanimously agreed to be available to the Foundation for advice, guidance, and good counsel. We agreed that besides being our newest "Board Member Emeritus", we'll feature him as a "Technical Adviser to the BoD".
Dick suggested that Guy Wolfenbarger a long-time friend who, as a Charter Member of the "USMC Vietnam Tankers Association" and an active member and contributor of and to the Foundation, would be a prime candidate to replace him. Long story short - after several days of careful consideration of our offer, Guy called me the day before yesterday to accept the position.
I'll not innumerate Guy's qualifications or present his biography here but both will be posted in the Breech Block.
We fully expect that the organization will continue to support our members, follow our path towards our book's completion, and the
Breech Block
will be posted each month. And, by the way, both The Book and the
Breech Block
are Dick's creation as is the VTA's
Sponson Box
and will be the cornerstones of his legacy. Please join me in wishing Dick a most enjoyable retirement and in welcoming Guy to the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.
Ray Stewart
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A decade and a half ago, after Dick Carey founded the "USMC Vietnam Tankers Association", he was the ramrod of the Association building it to its membership peak. He was the originator, editor, and publisher of the Sponson Box News Letter. Later, for health reasons he stepped down from the Association but was not out of the mix for long before he agreed to join the Board of Directors of the "Marine Corps Vietnam Tankers Historical Foundation" and immediately, following the example he set when running the Association and publishing the Sponson Box, launched and became the driving force behind our Breech Block monthly E-Newsletter bringing the publication into the 20th and then the 21st Century.
When Dick and I set up our respective organizations - the Association and our Foundation - back in 1999, we realized that the Marine Tankers and Ontos Crewmen membership in the Association was finite i.e., in time there would be no more of us to T.C. Marine Tanker Vets. There would be no more members, no more reunions, and no more Association. The Association was looked at as the "heart" of the Vietnam Ontos and Tanker Veterans. And, as with any living organism, it is mortal and its heart stops beating. But the "soul" has no time limit. The Foundation then is considered the "soul" of the Vietnam Marine Tankers and Ontos Crewmen. Our byword to our members is "You made history. Your Foundation is making it known."
With Dick as our driving force, the Foundation's Board of Directors, has dedicated our lives to documenting, writing, publishing, and archiving the history of the Vietnam Marine Tankers and Ontos Crewman.
Thank you Dick for agreeing to continue with us in your new capacity as the Foundation's "Technical Adviser". Your continued unflagging devotion to our Brothers will guarantee that our participation in the Vietnam War will never be marginalized nor forgotten.
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Meet Guy Wolfenberger
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 A few years ago Guy sent us his story "Flame Tank F-23" which is queued for The Book. Not only is it a great story, it speaks to his "Leadership by example." The plan is to feature Guy's story in the September Breech Block, the month in 1967 of "Flame Tank F-23 in Ambush Valley".
Guy was born in Columbus, Ohio November 4, 1946. Upon graduation from high school in 1964, he enrolled at Mt. Olivet Nazarene College outside Chicago, Ill. During his sophomore year he decided that he wanted to follow a different path in life than the one he was on in college.
He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1965. The events that were to shape the rest of his life began. He was sent to Marine Corps Boot Camp, San Diego followed by Infantry Training Regiment, Camp Pendleton: then to Tracked Vehicle School, Camp Del Mar. As training progressed at Camp Pendleton he was assigned to the tank ramp as permanent personnel. This training set the foundation for him to move from tank crewman to tank commander (TC).
In 1966 he deployed to Vietnam from Long Beach, CA aboard the USS General LeRoy Eltinge arriving at Da Nang, RVN in December, 1966. Two months later in February, 1967 he received his first flame tank command, Foxtrot 13 and was assigned to 3rd Tank Battalion, Charlie Company at Dong Ha Air Base, the northern most town in South Vietnam and the location of a strategically important U.S. Marine combat base. He was 19 years old, held the rank of PFC, and was a Tank Commander (TC).
In March, 1967 he and his crew were transferred to Alpha Company at Camp J.J. Carroll and shortly thereafter to Bravo Company. They ran road sweeps and resupply convoys to "The Rock Pile", Con Thien, Khe Sanh, Cam Lo, Gio Linh, and Dong Ha for the next few months. In June Bravo Company's flame section was assigned to Alpha Company to support Operation Buffalo conducted during the first two weeks of July, 1967. Operation Buffalo was a major operation that took place in the southern half of the Demilitarized Zone where 1/9 was badly outnumbered by North Vietnamese troops. After firing into a North Vietnam placement as a flank tank, F23 (his tank), hit a land mine and was destroyed. About that same time Guy was promoted to Lance Corporal.
In the months following he was assigned a replacement tank and continued to support Bravo Company operations. While sweeping an area southwest of Con Thien, he came under heavy artillery attack. When the 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines (3/26) moved into position near the DMZ in September, 1967 they didn't realize that an entire North Vietnamese regiment lay waiting for them. On September 10, his tank took several RPG rounds which destroyed F23 for which Guy was awarded the Purple Heart as a result of this encounter.
His second replacement tank was assigned in October, 1967. He continued as TC until the end of his tour when he left Vietnam in December, 1967 for Camp Lejeune, NC and was assigned to the disbursing office where he served until Honorably Discharged in November, 1968. During his Marine Corps career Guy progressed from PFC in 1966, to Lance Corporal in 1967, to Corporal Meritorious in 1967, and to the rank of Sergeant.
Upon returning to Columbus in 1968 he worked with his father in his construction business. One year later he struck out on his own and has been self-employed for nearly 45 years. Although focused on real estate development and commercial construction over the years, he also owns and manages recycling, trucking, and warehousing businesses. In between he found time to convert a personal passion into a successful business as a commercial fisherman in Florida. He continues to live in Columbus, OH with his wife Carol. And Guy is always looking for the next opportunity to pursue his entrepreneurial interests.
Guy is a charter member of both the "USMC Vietnam Tankers Association" and the "Marine Corps Vietnam Tankers Historical Foundation" to which he has contributed considerable financial support for the past 15 years since our founding.
Welcome aboard Guy Wolfenbarger.
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Mail Call!
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Low Back Issues
I seem to remember seeing an article several years back concerning chronic lower back pain associated with Vietnam tanker vets. Do you have any information on this?
Kathie (Beck)
Beck Consulting Group, Inc.
Kathie,
There is service-connection due to vehicle (tanks, ontos, trucks, earth moving equipment, etc..) motion issues. I would see your local Veteran Service Officer to file a claim. Good luck.
From:
"USMCVTHF" <usmcvthf@comcast.net>
To: "Henry Fuller" <hfuller1558@comcast.net>
Sent: Wednesday, June 4, 2014 12:11:36 PM
Subject: Your Completed Forms & Note
Good Morning Hank - We just received your VTA form and a copy of your DD214. By your note it appears that you're meaning to contribute $30 to the MCVTHF to assist with admin costs, however the check is made payable to the "USMC VTA". If you will give me your specific permission i.e., an e-mail, I can deposit the check to the MCVTHF bank account.
Hope this finds you well, thank you for both your generosity and staying in touch.
Semper Fidelis,
Ray
From:Hfuller1558
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2014 12:35 PM
To:USMCVTHF
Subject: Re: Your Completed Forms & Note
Ray Apologies...I guess I misread whom to make the check out to: I do want to have it deposited to MCVTHF. Thanks. I'm still curious if (1) my story made the cut for the book and (2) is there going to be a hardbound copy as well as an electronic version?? I'm particularly interested in the prospects of a hardbound edition. Thanks for all you are doing. Semper Fi, Hank
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"The Book" SitRep: July
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We have been printing each month for more than a year what we're calling our "Command Chronologies Abstracts". After we cycled through one year of the by-month entries we've begun adding material that fleshes out the rather clinical-sounding CC's. We're adding quotes from other sources that expand on the impersonal CC's. Also, the personal stories, well over 200 hundred at this point, oral history CD's (100+), and dozens of live taped interviews provided by our members are featured. Additionally, the cut/paste from the PDF-formatted CC's have been converted to the Word format in a joint effort by Aryn Willhite initiated by Jackie Hunter our Administrator and new Breech Block Editor.
These re-formatted CC Abstracts will form the foundation of The Book which is to be an electronic publication for the initial (and an undetermined number of updates) launch. To Hank Fuller's question posed earlier concerning a hard copy edition - Yes, there will eventually be a hard copy published.
Thank you for your continued support - financial and in-kind i.e., personal stories, pictures, interviews, and comments.
Ray Stewart,
President, MCVTHF
usmcvthf@comcast.net
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| Julys' Command Chronologies |
Marine Tanks & Ontos Action in the Vietnam War
July 1965 to 1970
This Breech Block - July 2014 - will give you a brief overview of the action that the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tanks and Anti-Tanks were involved in during each July that they were in-country as extracted from each organizations' command chronologies. For the complete command chronologies, please visit our Foundation website where Pappy Reynolds has posted the Tank and Anti-Tank CCs. If you served in any of these units during the month of July and recall some experiences that you would like others to read jot them down and send them to us. Pictures with captions are of particular interest
Also, you are encouraged to access the Foundation's Map Chronology that Pappy has created. There you may find out exactly where your unit - battalion, company, often platoon, and occasionally section - was located at any given time. If you do not find your unit on one of Pappy's several maps, let us know.
And please note that the abstracts look a whole lot better than the run we made last July. Jackie Hunter took the "ragged" cuts and pastes of the original PDF-formatted Command Chronologies and converted them to Word.
Finally, you will find sprinkled throughout the new rendition of the Command Chronology Abstracts stories, facts, figures, quotes from Tankers and Ontos crewmen, and other comments and expansions.
Semper Fidelis,
Ray Stewart
President. MCVTHF
usmcvthf@comcast.net
Click here Command Chronologies
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Killed in Action: July 1965-1970
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| | | | | | | Name | Rank | Date | Age | Home Town | Bn. | | | EARNEST D. RITCHIE | Sgt. | Jul 17, 1967 | 21 | Tiger, GA | 1st Tks | KIA | | CHARLES F. RUBADO | Lcpl. | Jul 19, 1968 | 19 | Brasher Fall, NY | 1st Tks | KIA | | EARL R. WELSH JR. | Lcpl. | Jul 19, 1968 | 21 | Darlington, PA | 1st Tks | KIA | | CHARLES C. ROBERTS | Lcpl. | Jul 8, 1966 | 18 | Newport, TN | 1st Tks | KIA | | DAVID N. HARROW | Lcpl. | Jul 10, 1969 | 21 | Columbus, OH | 1st Tks | N-H | |
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| | ROBERT H GAGE | SSgt | Jul 3, 1966 | 21 | Columbus, OH | 1st Ats | MIA | |
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| | James R. Fallstich | PFC | Jul 18, 1968 | 18 | Allentown, PA | 5th Tks | N-H | |
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| | LEE G. JOHNSON | Lcpl. | Jul 30, 1966 | 19 | Tulsa, OK | 3rd Tks | KIA | | JOSEPH C. BROWN | Cpl | Jul 30, 1966 | 20 | Pasadena, MD | 3rd Tks | KIA SS | | MICHAEL C. WUNSCH | Capt | Jul 28, 1969 | 25 | Feasterville, PA | 3rd Tks | KIA SS | | MICHAEL N. COLTON | HM_3 | Jul 28, 1969 | 21 | Alexandria, MN | 3rd Tks | KIA BS | | STEPHEN DOWDELL | PFC | Jul 28, 1969 | 20 | Alhambra, CA | 3rd Tks | KIA | | LEONARD MIRAMONTEZ | Lcpl. | Jul 7, 1967 | 20 | Wapato, WA | 3rd Tks | KIA | | DAVID E. FLANINGAM | Cpl | Jul 27, 1967 | 22 | Rockford, IL | 3rd Tks | KIA | | MANUEL M. GARCIA JR. | Lcpl. | Jul 27, 1967 | 19 | Los Angeles, CA | 3rd Tks | KIA | | MILES E. JANSEN | Lcpl. | Jul 27, 1967 | 20 | St. Paul, MN | 3rd Tks | KIA | | RAYMOND J. LUDWIG | Pvt | Jul 27, 1967 | 19 | Wilmington, DE | 3rd Tks | KIA | | ERIC M. DEWEY | PFC | Jul 29, 1967 | 20 | Bishop, CA | 3rd Tks | KIA | | RICHARD BRIGHT | Pvt | Jul 21, 1966 | 20 | Chula Vista, CA | 3rd Tks | N-H | | WAYNE M. HAYES | 1st Lt | Jul 6, 1967 | 23 | Menomonie, WI | 3rd Tks | KIA | | RONALD E. INGRAM | Cpl | Jul 6, 1968 | 19 | Redwood City, CA | 3rd Tks | KIA | |
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| | JAMES M LYNCH | Sgt. | Jul 29, 1967 | 24 | Cheltenham, PA | 3rd ATS | KIA | | DEWEY L. BEATTY | Cpl | Jul 29, 1967 | 19 | Seattle, WA | 3rd ATS | KIA | | ALAN C. ERICKSON | Lcpl. | Jul 29, 1967 | 20 | Seattle, WA | 3rd ATS | KIA | | GARY L. DICKEY | Lcpl. | Jul 23, 1965 | 21 | Wichita, KS | 3rd ATS | N-H | | JIMMY D. BACCUS | PFC | Jul 25, 1966 | 20 | Lawndale, CA | 3rd ATS | N-H | |
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| | None Listed | | | | | 5th ATS | |
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July's Personal Awards Recipients
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Silver Star Medal Recipients
Schley, Harold B Jr, SSgt, Jul 28, 1969, A/3 Tanks
Wunsch, Michael C., Capt July 27, 1969 A/3 Tank (Posthumous) (Feasterville, PA)
Brown, Joseph C. , Cpl, Jul 30, 1966, B/3 Tank (Posthumous) (Pasadena, MD)
Note: The NCM and SSM are a matter of accessible archived documents. That is not the case w/Bronze Star, Navy Commendation, or Navy Achievement Medals. The only way the Foundation has to gain this data is through self-reporting by the respective recipients.
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Name Unit Date Place
| Allen, Arthur | Alpha Co., 5th Tanks | 8-Jul-68 | Quang Tri | 1st | | Blum, Howard | Alpha Co., 3rd Tanks | 7-Jul-67 | Quang Tri | 1st | | Bohlen, Bill | Bravo Co., 1st Tanks | 29-Jul-67 | Quang Nam | 1st | | Brightwell, LeRoy "Hank" | Bravo Co., 3rd Tanks | 2-Jul-67 | Quang Tri | 1st | | Brock, John B. | Alpha Co., 3rd Tanks | 27-Jul-67 | Quang Tri | 1st | | Clark, L. A. | Alpha Co., 3rd Tanks | 27-Jul-67 | Quang Tri | 1st | | English, Richard B. "R.B." | Alpha Co., 3rd Tanks | 27-Jul-67 | Quang Tri | 1st | | French, Johnny R. | Alpha Co., 3rd Tanks | 27-Jul-67 | Quang Tri | 1st | | George, Carroll M. | Alpha Co., 3rd Tanks | 10-Jul-67 | Quang Tri | 1st | | Hahn, John S. | Alpha Co., 3rd Tanks | 27-Jul-67 | Quang Tri | 1st | | Herbold, Edward J. | Alpha Co., 3rd Tanks | 27-Jul-67 | Quang Tri | 1st | | Knee, James R. | Charlie Co., 3rd Tanks | 19-Jul-67 | Thu Thien Province | 1st | | Kyser, Warren D. | Alpha Co., 3rd Tanks | 27-Jul-67 | Quang Tri | 1st | | Martin, Greg | Bravo Co., 3rd Tanks | 2-Jul-67 | Quang Tri | 2nd | | Poteete, Charles M. | Alpha Co., 3rd Tanks | 8-Jul-67 | Quang Tri | 1st | | Ritter, William E. | Alpha Co., 3rd Tanks | 10-Jul-67 | Quang Tri | 1st | | Staats, Larry | Alpha Co., 3rd Tanks | 25-Jul-67 | Quang Tri | 1st |
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Julys' Marine Corps Operations
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| Major Operations | Dates | Units | | Operation Allen Brook | 4 May - 24 Aug 68 |
1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Battalions, 27th Marines and 2nd Battalion, 13th Marines operation in southern Quang Nam Province
| | Operation Ardmore | 17 Jul - 31 Oct 67 | 1st Battalion, 13th Marines and 1st and 3rd Battalions, 26th Marines search and destroy operation in Quảng Trị Province | | Operation Arlington Canyon | 3 Jul - 21 Sep 69 | 2nd Battalion 4th Marines and 3rd Battalion 4th Marines clear and search and security operations around Vandegrift Combat Base | | Operation Barren Green | 24 - 27 Jul 70 | 5th Marines operation in Mỹ Hiệp, An Giang Province | | Operation Batten Down/Dagger Thrust |
| 7th Fleet SLF series of short (usually 1 or 2 day) amphibious operations aimed at the destruction of VC installations and capturing or destroying VC personnel and material. Operation name changed to Batten Down in February 1966 | | Operation Beacan Torch | 17 - 25 Jul 67 | 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines amphibious search and destroy operations in Quang Nam and Quang Tin Provinces | | Operation Beacon Guide | 21 - 30 Jul 67 | 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines search and destroy operation 29 km south of Huế | | Operation Bear Bite | 3 - 18 Jul 67 | Marines amphibious and heliborne assault near the DMZ | | Operation Bear Chain/Fremont | 20 - 26 Jul 67 | 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines operation to engage the VC 806th Battalion in the "Street without Joy" area to the east of Route 1 between Quảng Trị and Huế | | Operation Bear Claw (part of Operation Game Warden) | 2 - 14 Jul 67 | 3rd Marine Division operation in Quảng Trị Province vicinity of Con Thien, SLF part of Operation Buffalo | | Operation Beaver Track | 4 - 16 Jul 67 | 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines search and destroy operation near Cam Lo | | Operation Buffalo/Beaver Track/Bear Claw | 2-14 Jul 67 | 3rd Marine Division operation with SLF vicinity DMZ Con Thien and Cam Lo | | Operation Calhoun | 25 Jun - 1 Jul 67 | 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines and 1st Battalion, 7th Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Nam and Quang Tin Provinces | | Operation Choctaw | 21 May - 9 Jul 67 | 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines search and destroy operation in Quảng Trị and Thua Thien Provinces | | Operation Cimarron | 1 Jun-2 Jul 67 | Continuation of Operation Prairie IV | | Operation Crockett | 13 May - 16 Jul 67 | 1st and 2nd Battalions, 26th Marines search and destroy operation in Quảng Trị Province | | Operation Durham Peak | 20 Jul - 13 Aug 69 | 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines and 21st and 37th ARVN Ranger Battalions clear and search operation in Quang Nam and Quang Tin Provinces | | Operation Forsythe Grove | 30 Jun - 3 Jul 69 | 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines and 1st Battalion, 7th Marines clear and search operation in Quang Nam Province | | Operation Fremont | 10 Jul - 31 Oct 67 | 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines search and destroy operation in Quảng Trị and Thua Thien Provinces | | Operation Gem | 12 - 15 Jul 67 | 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines blocking operation in Quang Nam Province | | Operation Georgia Tar | 16 Jul - 25 Sep 69 | 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines clear and search operation northeast of Khe Sanh in Quang Tri Province | | Operation Hickory II | 14 - 16 Jul 67 | 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, SLF A, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines search and destroy sweep of the southern half of the DMZ to clear the area of enemy fortifications, mortar and artillery positions | | Operation Idaho Canyon | 21 Jul - 25 Sep 69 | 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines and 101st Airborne Division operation west of Tam Ky in Quang Tin Province | | Operation Kingfisher | 16 Jul - 31 Oct 67 | 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines operation in the DMZ - Con Thien | | Operation Lien Ket 4 | 28-Jul-65 | 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, ARVN 51st Regiment and VNMC 3rd Battalion first combined land operation in the war | | Operation Lyon Valley | 27 Jul - 24 Aug 70 | 5th Marines clear and search operation southwest of Danang | | Operation Macon | 4 Jul - 27 Oct 66 | 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines search and destroy and security operation for the An Hoa industrial complex in Quang Nam Province | | Operation Mameluke Thrust | 18 May - 23 Oct 68 | 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Battalion, 13th Marines, 1st and 3rd Battalions, 26th Marines clear and search operations in central Quang Nam Province | | Operation Oakland/Operation Lien Ket | 29 Jun - 1 Jul 66 | 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines, 2nd Battalion, ARVN 5th Regiment ARVN 37th Ranger Battalion search and destroy operation in Quảng Ng�i Province | | Operation Pecos | 20 - 27 Jul 67 | 1st Battalion, 7th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines search and destroy operation in "Happy Valley" Quang Nam Province | | Operation Picken's Forest | 15 Jul - 24 Aug 70 | 1st Battalion, 7th Marines and 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines clear and search operation near Song Thu Bon valley in Quang Nam Province | | Operation Pipestone Canyon | 26 May - 7 Nov 69 | 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Battlaion, 26th Marines and ROK 2nd Marine Brigade clear and search operation in Quang Nam Province centered approximately 13 km west of Hoi An | | Operation Santa Fe (1966) | 13 Jun - 4 Jul 66 | 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment search and destroy operation in Hậu Nghĩa Province | | Operation Stockton | 27 - 29 Jul 67 | 1st Battalion, 7th Marines search and destroy operation in "Happy Valley", Quang Nam Province | | Operation Swift Play | 23 - 24 Jul 68 | BLT 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines clear and search operation in Quang Nam Province | | Operation Utah Mesa | 12 Jun - 9 Jul 69 | 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division and ARVN 1st Division clear and search operation in the vicinity of Khe Sanh, Quang Tri Province |
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Official Marine Corps Playbook
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Playbook
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Attention Donors: Monetary and In-kind Contributors
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We are streamlining the Award Level Certificate process. Rather than issuing a certificate for each donation we will total the donations for the fiscal year ending in September and award one certificate reflecting that total. For example, rather that issuing a Platinum Award Certificate for each $250.00 donation given four times in a fiscal year, we will total the donations - $1,000.00 - and present one Platinum Plus Award Certificate.
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Secure Credit Card Donations
[ IRS Tax EIN 91-2111544 ]
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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 Est. 2001
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FYI: Donations and Donors
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Each year we wipe the slate clean as to who has donated for that calendar year. All donations received after October 1, 2013 will appear in the Breech Block beginning with the January 2014 issue. Donations received before October 1, 2013 will not appear in the eNewletters beginning the first of the year.
Thank you for your support without you the foundation cannot achieve its goals of researching, recording, archiv-ing and publishing your individual stories.
Semper Fidelis
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2014 Donors: Thank you for your support!
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The Foundation is proud to announce that there has been 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:
Certificate Donations Platinum Plus ~ $1,000 Plus Platinum ~ $250 - $999 Gold ~ $100 - $249 Silver ~ $50 - $99 Bronze ~ $1 - $49 Platinum Plus 
Anonymous+
Dick Carey*
Jackie Hunter*
Bill Lochridge
Jim Raasch
Lloyd 'Pappy' Reynolds*
LtCol Frank Slovik, USMC (Ret.)
Platinum
Anonymous**
Kyle Decicco-Carey*
Sid Ferguson, DVM+
GySgt Wes 'Tiny' Kilgore, USMC (Ret)
James Manson
Charles & Kersti Riehl
LtCol Ev Tunget, USMC (Ret)
Jerry Wahl
Wally Young
Gold
Anonymous
Danny & Jan Farrell
Meyrat Francis-Michael+
Michael Giovinazzo
John Lange
James Manson
Jon Morrison
Richard "Rick" Oswood
David Ralston
Frank "Tree" Remkiewzic
Neil Weatherton
Jerry & Lucinda White
Silver
Stephen C Arnone
Ed Emanuel
"Doc" Hackemack
Brian Jefferies
Robert "Bob" Plato*
Bronze
Anonymous
Vince Bartashus
Steve Christensen
Chris DeSpain
Don Doty
Ed Emanuel
Walter Wells
+Additonal Donations
*In-Kind Services
**In-Kind & Monetary
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.
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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.
Please take the time to go to the bottom of this newsletter and click on "Update Profile/Email Address." By doing this we can automatically update your information.
You guys are terrific; we appreciate your support.
Semper Fidelis,
Ray Stewart,
Prersident
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Can't Access Links
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We have had a few emails stating that it was not possible to click on a link or the wording, photos, etc. were not as they should be on the page.
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. Click here. |
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Obituary
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Bruce Martin "The Colonel" MacLaren, Colonel USMC, 82, died February 26, 2014. He is survived by two sons Richard MacLaren and his wife Julia and Robert MacLaren and his wife Kathleen; a sister Joyce Wolfe and his grandchildren Paige Phariss, Cole MacLaren, Anni MacLaren and Henry Roberts.
He was a graduate of North Providence High School in RI and received his bachelor's degree from Norwich University and his master's degree from the University of Maine. Col MacLaren served 30 years in the Marine Corp, including a tour in Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star. He was the Executive Officer of the 3rd Tank Battalion in Vietnam. The Colonel resided in Belfast, ME from 1984 until 2006. While in Belfast, he participated on the Water Aquifer Committee, the Comprehensive Planning Committee, Ward 1 City Councilman, Literacy Volunteers, Belfast City Charter Commission, Waldo County Law Enforcement Agency, American Legion, Marine Corps League, MSAD #34 School Drop Out Committee, as well as a substitute teacher for the Belfast School District.
A Memorial Service to be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Wounded Warrior Project,
http://support.woundedwarriorproject.org ,
WWP 1120 G Street NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20005.
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THE BREECH BLOCK
Publisher
Marine Corps
Vietnam Tankers
Historical Foundation
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Staff
President
LtCol Raymond A. Stewart USMC (Ret)
Contact:
usmcvthf@comcast.net
Administrator
Breech Block Editor
Jackie Hunter
Web Master and IT Manager
Lloyd 'Pappy' Reynolds
www.mcvthf.org
Media Technical Adviser
Richard "Dick" Carey
vietnamtankers@gmail.com
Board of Directors
LtCol Raymond A. Stewart, USMC (Ret)
President
Charter Director,
USMC Vietnam Tankers Association
Guy Wolfenbarger,
Vice President
James Raasch
Secretary
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
David 'Doc' Forsyth
Director
Dr. Ken Estes,
LtCol, USMC (Ret)
Director
Rick Walters
Director
Ontos Representative
Richard "Dick" Carey;
Director Emeritus,
Founder/President Emeritus
USMC Vietnam Tankers
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
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.
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