"Gooks in the wire!!!!" is not the best way to be woke up in the middle of the night.

It was about 0100 early September 1968 and black dark.  My crew and the crew of a Cpl named "Mike" (last name long forgotten) were enjoying some slack time hanging out at Cua Viet with the Amgrunts (1^st Amtrac Bn).  We didn't stand guard and we were catching up on some much- deserved sack time when the lights came on and somebody flung open the door to our hooch with the "exciting" news.

I don't know about anybody else but I was mounting the tank when I finally got fully awake.  My boots were on and I had my pistol belt in my hand (we slept with our trousers on).  I started shouting orders to my crew.  Somebody waved me down from the tank to get the word.

Seems the gooks weren't actually in the wire but supposedly "Force Recon" had spotted a large group of enemy moving south of Cua Viet toward the sea.  We were going to make a mounted reconnaissance-in-force in the middle of the night with a few AmGrunts for infantry. This could get real bad, real fast.

We lined up the column and moved out. Two amtracs in the lead, my tank, two more amtracs, Mike's tank, another amtrac, and one lone Ontos bringing up the rear. As there was no gate on the south side of the Cua Viet compound, we drove around the concertina wire where it ended out in the South China Sea. The tanks and amtracs didn't have any problems but I'm sure that Ontos crew got their butts wet.

We moved along the beach staying in the surf line to avoid mines. We road-marched about 2 kilometers to where a large wood line came almost down to the water.

About 300 yards from this wood line, the "Young Rommel" leading this "clusterf---k" Excuse me, "Recon-in-Force", turned inland running parallel to the trees.

Suddenly, on the radio comes an order to come hard left, advance toward the wood line at speed and engage with machine guns only.  The next radio call comes from Mike and amounts to "What the hell?" I answered in my best John Wayne voice "Bad guys in the bushes...shoot em. Oh, by the way, don't use the 90" or words to that effect.

All hands came hard left and, as we came on the line, Steve Murphy started cutting loose with the .30. I reached in my pocket for my cocking handle for the .50 (the Rube Goldberg affair that was supposed to cock the .50 had long ago given up the ghost).  I found to my horror, I had left it in my other pair of pants, the dirty ones, the ones I was going to wash. Oh shit!  I started to yell at Russell Hicks to find me something to cock the .50 with, when I realized "I have a .45 pistol!"  So shades of Custer's boys at the Little Big Horn, I start popping caps down range.  Ran thru four magazines by the time we reach the wood line.

We came to a halt and ceased fire. It's totally quiet except for the sound of the engines.  Have we caught 'em sleeping?  Have we slaughtered all the bad guys before they could get off a shot?  Sure, and Santa Clause brings cold beer to all good little Jarheads where ever they are.

A squad of Amgrunts move into the trees and, of course, they find nothing, no one, not even a dead monkey.

So, is this evening's entertainment over?  Not by a long shot!

Young Rommel, instead of having the Ontos lead out, has us all come right then makes a big � circle and heads back to the beach. When we get to the ocean, instead of turning left to return to Cua Viet we turn right and start moving between the forest and the sea going south.

Now, I called this a wood line but it was really a fairly substantial forest. We probably went a couple of clicks before the dunes opened out, again.

We moved a couple hundred yards past the woods and started inland, again.

Hicks has found me a screw driver or something so I can cock the .50. I figure we're in for another charge, but after going about 100 yards, I see something - a large dark mass against a lighter sand.

Things are looking serious but there's no movement, no scramble for weapons. No nothing.

Somebody dismounts from the lead amtrac and approaches this mass which we can finally make out as 20 or 30 people corked out in the sand.  Somebody in this group sits up and talks to our guy for a couple of minutes and then our guy remounts.

Word comes back, they're Doggies from the Americal Division. They have the AO south of 1^st Amtracs.  Somebody's out of bounds...probably us.

Nobody says anything but everybody thinking, here's the "regiment of gooks" Force Recon spotted moving in the woods. These birds were obviously calling in B.S. sitreps and catching Z's on the beach.

Finally after another big � circle so the CO can continue to lead we start back.

Sun's coming up so maybe we can get back for breakfast.

Not so fast, this is the U.S.M.C.  They teach young officers to think on their feet, to consider all the possibilities.

Maybe the Dog Faces aren't what Recon saw. Perhaps the "division of N.V.A."  is hiding in the little ville just south of Cua Viet. We will sweep the ville, all 10 or 11 hootches of it.

The Young Rommel stages the tanks and the Ontos on the south side of the ville as a blocking force. The amtracs move up to the north side and disembark Amgrunts to sweep the ville.  Sun's above the horizon and we can see pretty well.  And what we see is ------ nothing. Some smoke from cook fires, some chickens, the usual.

However, somebody decides just snooping and pooping isn't enough.  They start popping CS (tear gas) grenades.  The morning breeze is from the northwest. The Tankers and Ontos guys are certainly ready to "chui hoi" since only � of us knows where his gas mask is.

Finally, its time to go home.  As we move out I tell Head (Glen Hutchinson) to just drive thru the rice paddy to our front so we can join up with the tracs for our triumphant return to Cua Viet (I think the Amgrunts found an old French rifle in the sweep).

As we drive thru the paddy, I see this old woman looking at me from the door way of her hootch.  And she's looking "daggers". She is pissed. If she had an AK-47 my ass would be gone.  I hadn't thought about it, but we were screwing up about 10 bushels of rice. We really won some hearts and minds that morning and I suspect if she wasn't V.C. that morning, she certainly was by that afternoon. And I suspect she put 10 or 12 AT mines in the tank tracks we put through her rice.

Well, we missed breakfast and spent the rest of the day cleaning weapons. The .50 only needed a wipe down and re-greasing. The suspension - we'd just greased it the day before - hence my need to do laundry and the location of the .50 cocking tool.

I'd like to say "a good time was had by all" but that was Nam and you know that was B.S.

by Lou Najfus                                  Photos Dave Shatzer

You missed a great Ontos reunion. Before I continue, allow me to briefly describe an Ontos. Ontos, Greek for "Thing", is a small track vehicles (M-50 A-1) equipped with six 106 mm recoilless rifles on a central turret.  Its legacy was short lived 1958 - 1970 but it had an impressive and commendable history in Vietnam. 

Thirty-five Ontos crewmen plus spouses, from all three divisions (1st, 3rd and 5th) joined us at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, VA. We attended MC briefings which included the Amtrac, helicopters, archives and howitzers. This was followed by a great lunch at the MC chow hall. After a brief visit to the PX we received the VIP red carpet treatment at the National Marine Corps Museum. The guides took us on an extensive tour of the facility. The Vietnam era section was especially memorable because the infamous Ontos was on display. Later that day we made a toast in Tun Tavern, a replica of the original tavern, located on the museum premises. This was followed by a delightful banquet at the museum. The food was excellent and the presentation was elegant. I would strongly recommend it.  

The following day we met again in the hospitality room of the Crossroads Inn where we stayed. We heard a fellow marine read his meritorious citation. We spent some quality time reminiscing through the many stories and experiences.

Utilizing Marine Corps transportation, we traveled to Washington D.C. and spent time at Arlington Cemetery, which included watching the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Our next stop was the Vietnam, World War II, and Korean Memorials. After a delightful dinner we ended the day by attending the Evening Parade at the Marine Barracks Washington, which many of you know is very impressive.  

Going forward we are in the process of documenting the legacy of the Ontos and its crewmen. We are actively seeking and encouraging Ontos crewmen to share their stories and experiences with us.

During May, 2012 we plan to have the next Ontos reunion. The specifics are still under review. Nevertheless, please put in down in your calendar. It will be the best reunion yet.

Robert E. Barnhouse,  C Co., 3rd Tanks, 66/67,

Correction Phone Number (636) 256-9143

rdcatskinner@yahoocom  

William A. Bartachek,  A Co., 1st Tanks, '68

ripper1@netinf.net

Steven L. Hydinger,  B Co., 3rd Tanks, 67/68

shydinger@msn.com

Michael Kirk, Jr.,  H&S Co., 3rd AT, 61/62

popeye1409@Yahoo.com

Louis L. Najfus,  H&S~B Co., 3rd AT, 66/67,  

najfus@bellsouth.net 

Bill Root, C Co., 1st Tanks, 66/67,

root493@gmail.com

Bill Wright,

bargins2010@hotmail.com  

by Pete Ritch

As part of the MCVTHF Oral History Project the following is a description of some of the actions that I experienced during my tour of duty (October 1968 to October 1969) along the DMZ in Vietnam.

The methodology utilized to develop these accounts was as follows: 

Read more...

MCVTHF, 707 S.W. 350th Ct., Ste. #1 

The winning bid for the MIA/POW patch was made by Chuck Garrison.  His winning bid was $300!  Thank you Chuck and the other bidders. 

The other bidders in alphabetical order;  Tom Colson, Sr, R.B. English,  Rick Lewis, Larry Parshall and Martha Zaragoza.

Thanks to all who participated in this auction fund-raiser.

Top row:

Richard Huff, Dan McQueary, Andrew Senecal, Ed Sipel, William Rains, DJ Clark, Harold Austin, David Doyle, Jim Thompson, Ken Zebal, Milo Plank, Pat Borromeo, Ken Zitz

Front Row:

Sam Kaleleiki, Louis Borriello, Dave Erickson, Rob Lockett, Ivan Williams, Rich Shaver, Charlie Denton, Toni Pinnetti, Steve Nicholson

Died of Complications

by Peter W. Brush 

CPL Robert Paul Payne, A/3rd AT, 18 March 1968.~Khe Sanh
 
Cpl Payne was manning a communications bunker with it took a direct hit by a rocket. The bunker was destroyed. Payne was trapped underneath the debris but still conscious. He had a crushed shoulder and was evacuated. A few days later word was received Payne had died from complications of pneumonia.

June Major Named Marine Corps Operations 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs announces three new "presumptive" Agent Orange Conditions:

• Parkinson's disease,
• Ischemic heart disease, and
• B cell leukemias (including hairy cell leukemia)

VA provides disability compensation and healthcare for diseases associated with exposure to tactical herbicides, such as Agent Orange. Tactical herbicide exposure is presumed for Veterans with service on the ground in Vietnam, or on its inland waterways, from Jan. 9, 1962, to May 7, 1975, and for Veterans who served in certain units along the Korean demilitarized zone from April 1, 1968 to July 31, 1969. Service connection will be established for herbicide-exposed Veterans suffering with hairy-cell leukemia and other chronic B-cell leukemias, Parkinson's disease, and ischemic heart disease if their condition is disabling to a compensable level.

Veterans covered under the new policy are encouraged to file their claims through the new, automated Fast Track Web Portal that is faster and easier to utilize. The Fast Track portal guides Veterans through Web-based menus to capture information and medical evidence required for faster claims decisions.

Benefits scheduled to increase.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the Consumer Price Index for April is up 0.8 percent over the March CPI. This is important for military retirees, and those drawing VA benefits, because the CPI is used to determine the annual cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) and rate adjustments to VA Disability and Compensation, Vets Pension programs, and other VA rates for the following year. The Military Officers Association of America reports that the April 2011 CPI is up 2.9 percent from the 2008 CPI, which means veterans and survivors may see an increase in compensation and pension benefits in 2012, the first since 2008.

Khe Sanh Veterans Inc. Rochester, MN, Kahler Grand Hotel,

July 17 - 24, 2011. More Information

Mustang Officers Association Tampa, FL. Sheraton Sand Key Resort. September 29 - October 2, 2011. More Information

USMC Vietnam Tankers Association. San Diego, CA, Town and Country Resort Hotel and Convention Center.

August 14 - August 24, 2011. More Information.

HOUSTON, TX -- Gary Egan Cummings, age 73, passed away on May 6, 2011. He was born August 23, 1937 in Logan, Utah. He retired from the U.S. Marine Corps and was a two-time Vietnam Purple Heart recipient.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Flossie Cummings; siblings Nathalie, Clyde and Garth Cummings and daughter, Nanette Turner. Gary is survived by his wife, Patrice, and his children: Mark, Patricia Marriot, Jeffrey, Brett, Joe, Andrew and Amanda Cummings and siblings, June Lambros, Gloria Barlow, Glen Cummings and their families. 

 JANESVILLE, WI---Robert John Wright.

He was born on June 23, 1947, the son of Theodore and Katherine (Russel) Wright in Beloit. He was a member of the United States Marine Corps, where he served his country with the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division in Vietnam from 1968-1969.

He is survived by his wife, Deborah; 2 children; Robert (Melanie) Wright Jr. of Janesville, and Stacie (Bill) Krueger of Cherokee Village, Ark; 7 grandchildren: Kayleah, Kody, Christian, Kylie, Brittney, Alex, and Bailey; and 2 brothers; James (Julie) Wright of Janesville, and Gene (Annette) Wright of Beloit. He was preceded in death by his parents.

YOUNTVILLE, CA ---Steven Brock Walton. He served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. He served with the 3rd Marine Corps Tank Division. After Vietnam he served in the Marine Corps Reserves until the mid 1980's. Brock was a resident of the Yountville Veterans Home where he had lived for the last 7 years. He worked and volunteered at the veterans home for many causes and events. Including the Stand Down at Camp Parks in Dublin every year. He worked hard to restore an old fountain at section A and succeeded in making the water flow once again in the beautiful garden. Brock loved people and helping anyone and everyone in need. He enjoyed fishing, camping, sky diving, and oldies music, all the great things life had to offer. He loved life and cherished his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Milo Clyde Walton; mother, Joyce M. Walton and brother, Michael James Walton all of San Leandro. He is survived by his daughters, Kira Terese Contraras of San Diego, Brianne Joyce Walton of El Sobrante, Dore' Siobhan Walton of Hayward; sister, Monica (Hansen) Childs of Modesto; aunt and uncle of Ventura, CA; several nieces and nephews; four grandchildren, Amani Kaiawna Contreras, Jorge Ruben Contreras Jr., Oliviana Margarita Contreras all of San Diego and Vitorio Daniel Richina of Hayward. Remembrances may be made to the Disabled Veterans of America. 

BALTIMORE, MA---Clyde Dell "Skip" Edmonds a retired mechanic who served in Vietnam with the Marine Corps, died Feb. 4 of Agent Orange-related leukemia at his Woodbine home. He was 63.

Mr. Edmonds was born in Baltimore and raised in Lansdowne. He attended Woodlawn High School.

"He was 17 and forged his mother's name in order to join the Marine Corps in 1965," said his wife of 14 years, the former Jeanie Pickett.

He was assigned as a tank mechanic in Vietnam. "He volunteered for three tours of duty during the Vietnam War," said a daughter, Taryn Wilson of Bel Air.

Mr. Edmonds was discharged from the Marine Corps in 1977 and remained an active reservist until 1994.

Mr. Edmonds owned gas stations in Woodlawn and Catonsville, and was a self-employed mechanic in Woodbine until retiring in 2000 because of post-traumatic stress disorder and other service-connected disabilities, family members said.