Marine Corps Vietnam Tankers Historical Foundation©

   

Marine Corps Vietnam-era Tankers and Ontos Crewmen Have Made History. 

Your Historical Foundation is Making it Known.

THE BREECH BLOCK© 

We are the voice of  history.
The Breech Block
 
Publisher
Marine Corps
Vietnam Tankers
Historical Foundation
VNSM
Staff  

President

LtCol Raymond A. Stewart USMC (Ret)

Contact:

usmcvthf@comcast.net

 

Administrator

Aryn Willhite

  

Web Master & Breach Block Editor 

Lloyd 'Pappy' Reynolds

mcvthfb11@gmail.com

 

Media Technical Advisor

Richard "Dick" Carey

vietnamtankers@gmail.com

Board of Directors

President     

LtCol Raymond A. Stewart, USMC (Ret)

President 

Charter Director, 

USMC Vietnam Tankers Association 

  

Vice Pres.  and Flame Tanks Rep. 

Guy Wolfenbarger,

Secretary/Oral Historian 

James Raasch

    

Treasurer  
Charles 'Chuck' Garrison 

Charter Director, 

USMC Vietnam Tankers Association

 

Recruiter    

Richard Tilden


Director 

LtGen Martin R. 

Steele, USMC (Ret)

Charter Director,

USMC Vietnam Tankers Association  

 

Director  

Col William  'Bill' Davis, USMC(Ret)

 

Director  

David 'Doc' Forsyth

 

Director

Dr. Ken Estes,

LtCol, USMC (Ret)

  

Director and Ontos Rep. 

Rick Walters

   

Directors Emeritus:

Richard "Dick" Carey;

Director Emeritus,

Founder/President Emeritus

USMC Vietnam Tankers

 

Director Emeritus 

MGySgt Donald Gagnon, USMC (Ret),


Quick Links
  

Our Members' Books:

 

Beyond My Horizon

by Claude Vargo

 

Con Thein: Hill of Angels

by Jim Coan

 

Praying for Slack

by Bob Peavey 

 

Tracks 

by Clyde Hoch


Official USMC Flag

POW
In Memory
 
Lance Corporal
Robert Hugh Gage
1st Marine Division
1st Tank Battalion
1st Anti-Tank
Alpha Company
  
MIA/POW
03 July 1966 
PP/ Staff Sergeant
 

Disclaimer: 

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Introduction

 

Climate data for Da Nang

  Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year  
  Record high °C (°F) 32 (90) 35 (95) 37 (99) 41 (106) 39 (102) 38 (100) 38 (100) 38 (100) 37 (99) 36 (97) 35 (95) 32 (90) 41 (106)  
  Average high  °C (°F) 24.8 (76.6) 26.1 (79) 28.7 (83.7) 31.0 (87.8) 33.4 (92.1) 33.9 (93) 34.3 (93.7) 33.9 (93) 31.5 (88.7) 29.6 (85.3) 27.0 (80.6) 24.9 (76.8) 29.93 (85.86)  
  Daily mean °C (°F) 21.7 (71.1) 23.0 (73.4) 25.1 (77.2) 27.2 (81) 29.2 (84.6) 29.7 (85.5) 29.8 (85.6) 29.7 (85.5) 27.8 (82) 26.4 (79.5) 24.3 (75.7) 22.1 (71.8) 26.33 (79.41)  
  Average low  °C (°F) 18.5 (65.3) 19.8 (67.6) 21.5 (70.7) 23.3 (73.9) 24.9 (76.8) 25.5 (77.9) 25.3 (77.5) 25.5 (77.9) 24.1 (75.4) 23.2 (73.8) 21.6 (70.9) 19.3 (66.7) 22.71 (72.87)  
  Record low °C (°F) 8 (46) 7 (45) 11 (52) 7 (45) 18 (64) 20 (68) 17 (63) 21 (70) 21 (70) 12 (54) 7 (45) 11 (52) 7 (45)  
  Precipitation  mm (inches) 96.2 (3.787) 33.0 (1.299) 22.4 (0.882) 26.9 (1.059) 62.6 (2.465) 87.1 (3.429) 85.6 (3.37) 103.0 (4.055) 349.7 (13.768) 612.8 (24.126) 366.2 (14.417) 199.0 (7.835) 2,044.5 (80.492)  
  Avg.  precipitation days 13.7 6.9 4.8 5.6 8.9 8 8.6 11.4 15.4 21.2 20.9 18.6 144  
    %  humidity 83 83 83 82 78 75 74 76 81 84 84 84 80.6  
  Mean monthly  sunshine hours 136.4 144.1 105.4 207 257.3 237 257.3 207.7 174 145.7 120 116.6 2108.5  

Source/span>#1:  World Meteorological Organisation  (UN)[25]

 

1965 to 1970 Januaries' Tank and Ontos Action in Vietnam


     Of the many books and published works we have researched for the Foundation’s History Book detailing tank and Ontos action in Vietnam, those authors who describe the weather upon debarking – be it by boat or plane – estimate the temperature in the low triple digits (e.g., 110+) and the humidity with matching severity in the high double digits (e.g., 90%+). And most agree that the mix of unpleasantness of smells (e.g., human and animal processed waste in various forms and places) could not be measured on any known scale. And, while the authors – a number of whom had never been in Vietnam – made their case, the above chart will set a tone of realism. Note the upper rec bar and the lower blue bar and note what’s missing. So much for the guys debarking in Da Nang and environs.

 

     However, the Marines in the field did indeed experience the extremes of weather on an every-day basis. The temperatures inside of a tank would routinely violate the stats. And the Grunts humping 60# packing in the triple canopy jungle and saw grass and slogging through the rice paddies up to their knees and waist often found the heat as brutal as the elusive enemy. So much for our case.

This is the Foundation’s first quarterly publication of the Breech Block. In the new format we will roll up the 3 months that comprise each quarter. For the details of tank and Ontos action a link will be provided to the Foundation’s web site where will be found the details from which the quarterly Breech Block is condensed in the by-month form.

 

     This, the 2015’s First Quarter Breech Block takes a bit of “sorting”. January and February 1965 found tanks and Ontos battalions in various stages of preparation to go to war – any kind of war – let alone a guerrilla war in a place most Marine had never heard of a long way mentally and physically from the pending fight. Surely no Tanker or Ontos crewman could have envisioned how a they in their vehicles would contribute to the battle that included fighting a local-grown guerrilla insurgency that would morph into a head-to-head well organized, trained, and equipped main force enemy. Planning and training Tankers and Ontos crewmen to negotiate flooded rice paddies, ford rivers, plow through jungles, or develop ad hoc tactics to deploy tanks and Ontos in urban door-to-door combat, conduct amphibious raids, and more. Static defense – bridge guard and withstanding a 77-day siege. The many long nights firing H&I fires at an unknown, unseen enemy with unknown and unverifiable results was found in no training regimen offered the young Officers or even younger Crewmen. Tank and Ontos companies deployed thousands of miles from their respective supporting battalions and company commanders sending their platoons off to support their infantry battalions even farther afield into unknown terrain.

 

     By early March 1965 the Okinawa-based Third Tanks’ units were on the ground in South (The Republic of) Vietnam (RVN). They came ashore in the first amphibious operation since the Korean War. The parent battalions to which they looked for support – many sailing days away. In the meantime, back in CONUS First Tanks was playing war games (Silver Shield) in preparation for a conventional war.

 

     The subsequent first quarter January – March 1966 presents a quite different picture. Tanks and Ontos were ensconced in, and operating from, three enclaves with defined (but expanding) Tactical Areas of Responsibility (TAOR) in the northern-most of the Four Military regions of South Vietnam – I Corp (pronounced “eye core”) Chu Lai, Da Nang, and Hue/Phu Bai. Additionally, the Navy’s Seventh Fleet comprised the Special Landing Force with a Battalion Landing Team (BLT) which included an attached reinforced platoon of Tanks and a platoon of reinforced Ontos plying the waters off the coast of RVN.

 

     1967 is referred to as “Fighting the North Vietnamese” in its “The U.S. Marines in Vietnam” series published by the Marine Corps History and Museums Division in 1984. And fight the NVA we did. During 1967’s first quarter - January through March – we realized that in essence we were fighting two separate and only somewhat related wars. “The 3d Marine Division conducted basically a conventional war along the DMZ against regular NVA formations. At the same time, the 1st Marine Division continued its combination of large unit and counterguerilla operations south of the Hai Van Pass.” And units – or parts of units - were re-assigned and re-designated as they were moved from division to division. Tanks units, down to the platoon-level, were re-designated e.g., 3d Plt, “C” Co., 1st Tanks became 1st Plt, “B” Co., 3d Tanks. More often than not the tank crews had no idea the mill-drill. And, since turret numbers were removed, either did the supported unit know the tank outfit that was attached to it. Even more conflagration was the de-activation of the Ontos battalions and their re-organization under the Tank Battalions half way through the war.

 

     The “’U.S. MARINES IN VIETNAM: THE DEFINING YEAR – 1968’ is the capstone volume in this series covering the Marine Corps’ participation in the Vietnam War. As the defining year of the war, 1968 included such dramatic occurrences as the Communist Tet Offensive and the battles for Khe Sanh and Hue City, in which Marines had the leading roles. These were momentous events in the course of the war and they took place in the first three months of the year.” (GB-66)

 

     The first quarter of 1969 was complicated by packing up equipment and men to leave the battle and head east out of Vietnam while fighting an ever-increasingly well trained, equipped, and dedicated North Vietnamese Army. By late June 1969 the men and equipment of the 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion had boarded the Navy’s amphibious shipping and sailed for Okinawa. The remaining units were right behind them. The point must be made that the Marines held their own – fighting and defeating the NVA with ever-decreasing assets while withdrawing from the war. What a tribute to the Officers leading their Marine Warriors and the loyalty and dedication of the Marines all of whom remained focused on their mission.

 

     You are encouraged to access the Command Chronology expanded Abstracts on the Foundation’s website for details. And please, “stay tuned” as the remainder of the by-quarter treatment of “Tanks and Ontos in Vietnam” is presented.

 

 Our motto "You made history. Your Historical Foundation is making it known" is coming alive in the Breech Block month-by-month and will jump off the pages with The Book.

 

Semper Fidelis,

Ray Stewart

Pres. VTHF

usmcvthf@comcast.net

 

  

Mail Call! ,  Attaboy List  and anything else.    

None
"The Book" SitRep:

No Report this Quarter. See Intro.

Command Chronologies, Abstracts, and Supplements 

 

 January's Command Chronologies Abstracts

February's Command Chronologies Abstracts

March's Command Chronologies Abstracts

CHRONOLOGY OF KEY MARINE CORPS EVENTS IN THE VIETNAM WAR

    

January - March 1965-1973*

1965

March 8, 1965 - The 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) commanded by BGen Frederick J. Karch landed at Da Nang, Vietnam, consisting of two Marine battalions, one arriving by air (1/3) and over the beach (3/9). The following day, the MEB assumed control of the Marine Task Unit 79.3.5 at Da Nang which became Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 16.

Significance: This was the first deployment of U.S. battalion-sized U.S. combat units to Vietnam. Although the mission of the 9th MEB was limited solely to the defense of the airbase at Da Nang, it was, nevertheless, indicative that the U.S. advisory phase in the Vietnam War was to be transformed into more direct U.S. participation.

 

1966

March 1, 1966 - The 26th Marines was activated at Camp Pendleton, California initiating the formation of the 5th Marine Division.

Significance: For the first time since World War II, the Marine Corps was to have four infantry divisions on active duty. By the end of June, the Marines were authorized over 278,000 personnel, a Marine Corps larger than that of the Korean War.

March 4-7, 1966 - The 3rd Marine Division Task Force Delta defeated the 21st North Vietnamese Army (NVA). Regiment inflicting heavy casualties upon the enemy in heavy combat in Operation Utah south of Chu Lai.

Significance: This was the first engagement by Marine units against North Vietnamese Army units.

March 10, 1966 - South Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Cao Ky removed LtGen Nguyen Chanh Thi from his position as ARVN I Corps commander. As a result this led to a series of strikes and political unrest especially in I Corps that saw a succession of I Corps commanders into June 1966. Much of the heaviest unrest was in the Da Nang sector which often placed III MAF in the middle between troops loyal to the central government and those who supported Thi and the Buddhist dominated "Struggle Group". General Walt often served as a mediator between the two.

Significance: This unrest undermined the authority of the Vietnamese government which had grave implications about American participation in the war.

March 29, 1966 - MajGen Lewis J. Fields established the 1st Marine Division Headquarters at Chu Lai.

Significance: III MAF now officially consisted of two Marine infantry divisions and a reinforced Marine Aircraft Wing.

 

1967

February 21, 1967 - Dr. Bernard Fall, noted historian of the French combat experience in Indochina, died in an explosion of an enemy mine. Dr. Fall was accompanying the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines in Operation Chinook.

Significance: Dr. Fall was a recognized expert on Vietnam and ironically died in an area near the so called "Street Without Joy," which he had so carefully portrayed in his writing.

February 27, 1967 - NVA rocket troops launched 140 mm rockets against the Da Nang Air Base. More than 50 rockets hit the base in less than a minute. The rockets had a range of 9,000 meters.

Significance: This was the first know use of large tactical rockets in South Vietnam. The use of these weapons forced III MAF to extend its protective patrolling at Da Nang out to 9,000 meters, which added to the drain on Marine infantry manpower.

March 18, 1967 - The first woman Marine to serve in Vietnam, M/Sgt Barbara J. Dulinsky, arrived in Saigon, for assignment to the MACV combat operations center.

Significance: None

March 26, 1967 - ComUSMACV ordered III MAF to prepare a plan for locating, constructing, and occupying a strongpoint obstacle system south of the DMZ to prevent the North Vietnamese from infiltrating through that zone into South Vietnam.

Significance: III MAF eventually began building this strongpoint system later in the year while under fire by North Vietnamese artillery. This anti-infiltration effort, also known as Dye Marker and Project Nine was labeled by the Media as "McNamara's Wall," after the name of the U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara.

1968

January 21, 1968 - General William C. Westmoreland, Commander USMACV, ordered a temporary halt to work on the "McNamara Line", the barrier and anti-infiltration system south of the DMZ.

Significance: This for all practical matters ended the work on the McNamara Line which officially terminated on October 22, 1968.

January 21 - April 15, 1968 - NVA troops began shelling the base at Khe Sanh and the strongholds in the surrounding hills. This rocket, mortar, and artillery barrage initiated the siege of Khe Sanh.

Significance: The siege of Khe Sanh would be one of the defining battles of the Vietnam War. Supplied by air and supported by massive artillery and air bombardments including B-52 strikes, the 6,000 man Khe Sanh garrison would hold out against elements of an estimated two North Vietnamese Divisions until relieved by U.S. forces on April 14.

January 30 - February 28, 1968 - Communist forces launched a country-wide offensive during the Vietnamese Tet holidays. On January 30, their Main Force units launched an aborted attack upon Da Nang. Units from the U.S. Army Americal Division would reinforce the 1st Marine Infantry Division at Da Nang. Fighting in the Da Nang sector would continue sporadically until the end of February. Communist offensives would also occur in Hue, Quang Tri City, Hoi An, and Quang Ngai City in I Corps.

Significance: While providing the Communists with the some political and propaganda successes, especially in the United States, the defeat of their nation-wide offensive would cost the Communist forces dearly in manpower in both their regular forces and especially among their Viet Cong infrastructure and local forces.

January 31 - March 2, 1968 - In the Battle for Hue City, the North Vietnamese in Division strength on January 31 captured most of the city except for small pockets of resistance. Elements of the 1st Marine Division Task Force X-ray, the South Vietnamese 1st ARVN Division, and the U.S. 1st Air Cavalry Division in month-long house to house fighting retook the city with significant losses suffered by both sides.

Significance: The capture of Hue, the ancient Imperial capital of Vietnam had significant symbolic reverberations throughout the country and was the one partially successful element of the enemy Tet offensive. The defeat of the Communist forces at Hue prevented them from possibly taking over the two northern provinces of South Vietnam.

 February 9, 1968 - MACV Forward, under General Creighton B. Abrams, Deputy Commander USMACV, is established in I CTZ at Phu Bai. It is a forward headquarters to monitor operations in the two northern provinces. The two divisions in the sector, the U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile) and the 3rd Marine Division, remain, however, under the operational control of III MAF.

Significance: There is some concern among Marine commanders that MACV plans to assume direct command of all forces in the north and reduce the role of the senior Marine command.

February 12, 1968 - The 27th Marines receive orders to deploy to Da Nang from the U.S. as part of the reinforcements requested by General William C. Westmoreland and the JCS. President Johnson made extensive reductions to original recommendations of MACV and the JCS.

Significance: President Johnson limited the number of U.S. reinforcements to Vietnam as a result of the Tet offensive and disapproved the JCS recommendation for a call up of major U.S. Reserve units for the war. In effect, he placed an upper limitation upon the U.S. combat involvement in Vietnam.

February 13, 1968 - The headquarters and combat elements of the 101st Airborne Division arrive in I CTZ.

Significance: III MAF now has three U.S. Army Divisions under its operational control as well as two reinforced Marine Divisions and a reinforced Marine Aircraft Wing in I Corps.

March 7, 1968 - General Westmoreland issued a "Single Manager" for air directive officially placing with the Seventh Air Force the "responsibility for coordinating and directing the air effort throughout Vietnam, to include I CTZ and the extended battle area." III MAF was to make available to the Seventh Air Force commander all strike and reconnaissance aircraft and that part of the Marine air command and control system that related to the employment of these aircraft. Marine fixed-wing transports, observation aircraft, and helicopters were exempted from the directive.

Significance: The Marine Command protested this decision claiming that the directive placed undue restrictions upon Marine fixed-air in mission of support for Marine ground forces. While never withdrawn during the war, the directive was amended several times, and by the end of the war, III MAF in effect basically regained its control over its fixed-wing aviation.

March 10, 1968 - U.S. Provisional Corps, Vietnam was created under the command of Lieutenant General William B. Rosson, USA, to replace the MACV (Fwd) Headquarters. The new command has under its operational control the 3rd Marine Division, the 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile), and the 101st Airborne Division and is a subordinate headquarters to III MAF. The U.S. Provisional Corps becomes XXIV Corps on August 15, 1968.

Significance: III MAF became one of the largest commands in Marine history. It had assumed in effect the role of a Field Army with a Marine Aircraft Wing attached to it.

1969

December 7, 1968 - March 9, 1969 - The 1st Marine Division Task Force Yankee conducted Operation Taylor Common in Base Area 112 southwest of Da Nang, accounting for extensive North Vietnamese casualties.

Significance: Incorporating mobile helicopter and firebase tactics used by the 3rd Marine Division, the 1st Marine Division entered the North Vietnamese base areas, destroying much of the enemy main force logistics buildup and clearing the 2nd NVA Division elements which had taken refuge there.

February 22 - March 18, 1969 - The 9th Marines under the 3rd Marine Division conducted Operation Dewey Canyon, a mobile helicopter and fire base operation, in the Da Krong Valley in western Quang Tri Province. During the course of the operation, Marine units crossed the border into Laos.

Significance: Not only was this was the first acknowledged and deliberate entry into Laos by a large American unit, it resulted in the uncovering of extensive enemy supplies, arms, and ammunition, spring offensive in northern Quang Tri Province.

1970

January 28 - March 19, 1970 - Redeployment of Marine units from Vietnam, now codenamed Keystone Robin, continued to include the 26th Marines, MAG 12, and several aviation squadrons.

Significance: U.S. redeployment plans call for III MAF units to be among the first U.S. units to depart Vietnam.

March 9, 1970 - III MAF turned over command of U.S. units in I Corps over to XXIV Corps, thus becoming a subordinate command of XXIV Corps.

Significance: This again is indicative of the future reduced role for Marines in Vietnam and their pending departure.

1971

January 30 - April 6, 1971 - On January 30 the South Vietnamese begin Lam Son 719. In phase 1 which lasted to February 8, the South Vietnamese supported by allied forces opened up the Khe Sanh base. In Phase II, the South Vietnamese forces which included the Vietnamese Marine Corps Division. U.S. advisors, including U.S. Marine advisors, were not permitted to accompany their units into Laos, they were allowed, however, to coordinate supporting fires (ARG)/Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) remained off the Vietnamese coast, but was not committed.

Significance: Militarily, this operation was much less successful than the Cambodian incursion and called into question the capability of the South Vietnamese command to coordinate division-size forces. Again U.S. Marine units in Vietnam played almost no role in Lam Son 719 as they redeployed or planned to redeploy from Vietnam.

March 25, 1971 - The 5th Marines departed Vietnam.

Significance: The continuing redeployment of Marine units from Vietnam in accordance with the Keystone Robin plans.

1972

March 30 - June 27, 1972 - On March 30, the North Vietnamese launch their Nguyen-Hue (known in the U.S. as the Easter) Offensive and after extensive losses in I Corps, South Vietnamese forces stabilize their lines at the My Chanh River north of Hue. In the retreat of the Vietnamese Marine Division, U.S. Marine advisors played a major role in helping to rally the Vietnamese Marines after the initial setbacks. On April 6, the Marine Corps deployed MAG-15 to Da Nang and on May 16, MAG-12 deployed Bien Hoa in III Corps. Both Marine aircraft groups operated under the Seventh Air Force in support South Vietnamese Forces. On June 16, MAG 15 redeployed from Da Nang to Nam Phong, Thailand where the group continued to support operations of the Seventh Air Force against the Communist forces both in Vietnam and Cambodia. MAG-12 would remain in Bien Hoa until February 1993. The 9th MAB was embarked on board Seventh Fleet amphibious shipping and arrived in the Gulf of Tonkin on April. The MAB remained embarked and Marine infantry units were not committed.

Significance: Although Marine ground units remained ready for redeployment to Vietnam, the Marine Corps participation was limited in its participation in the renewed fighting to aviation support and in an advisory effort.

1973

March 14 1973 - With the signing of the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973 between North Vietnam and the United States, Sub-unit 1, 1st ANGLICO redeploys.

Significance: This was the last Marine tactical unit to leave Vietnam.

March 29 1973 - U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam was deactivated.

Significance: This ended the U.S. military advisory effort at the unit level with the South Vietnamese military, and included the deactivation two days earlier of the U.S. Marine Advisory Unit to the South Vietnamese Marine Corps.

* Although Tanks were out of Vietnam and on their Okinawa or CONUS and Ontos were ---------- only the gods know where but scattered to the four winds ---- both a number of Marines were to remain behind in various roles until the bitter end was reached.


Semper Fidelis,

Ray Stewart

Pres. VTHF

usmcvthf@comcast.net

 

  

Killed in Action:

 

January-March Deaths in Vietnam





 
Name Rank Date Age Home Town Bn.
 
1st Tks KIA's Map





 
JAMES H. BUSH JR PFC 18-Jan-67 19 Guyton, GA 1-B-1-Tanks KIA  
GEORGE F. FLANAGAN SSgt. 03-Jan-68 29 Nashua, NH 1-Tanks KIA  
DAVID P. DODSON PFC 25-Jan-68 19 Atlanta, GA 1-Tanks KIA  
KENNETH R. BRADLEY Cpl 06-Feb-68 22 CHESNEE, SC B-1-Tanks KIA  
JACK DECESARO JR. Cpl 06-Feb-68 20 DECATUR, IL B-1-Tanks KIA  
JAMES L. FUCHS PFC 06-Feb-68 20 VERMILLION, SD H&S-1-Tanks KIA  
WAYNE S. GREER LCpl 06-Feb-68 20 TRAFFORD, PA H&S-1-Tanks KIA  
MICHAEL W. JOHNS Cpl 06-Feb-68 21 ANDALUSIA, AL H&S-1-Tanks KIA  
GREGORY H. LUNDE Cpl 06-Feb-68 21 WESTHOPE, ND H&S-1-Tanks KIA  
JAMES SEFRHANS Sgt 06-Feb-68 21 CHICAGO, IL H&S-1-Tanks KIA  
NOLAN L. SIMMONS LCpl 06-Feb-68 19 EDINBURG, TX 3-B-1-Tanks KIA  
JIMMIE M. COUTO LCpl 13-Feb-68 23 NORTH READING, MA A-1-Tanks KIA  
ANTHONY MONTANO PFC 16-Feb-68 19 LOS ANGELES, CA 3-A-1-Tanks KIA  
ROGER L. PIFER PFC 20-Feb-69 18 BLOOMSBURG, PA B-1-Tanks KIA  
BERNARD J. NOVAK SSgt 22-Feb-68 24 MUSKEGON, MI A-1-Tanks KIA  
WESLEY E. HODGES Cpl 23-Feb-68 19 LUFKIN, TX A-1-Tanks KIA  
SAMUEL J. FRIESON PFC 23-Feb-68 19 CHICAGO, IL H&S-1-Tanks NH  
EVERETT C. PUGH Cpl 01-Mar-70 20 WASHINGTON, DC H&S-1-Tanks KIA  
1st ATs KIA's Map





 
JAMES A WALL PFC 02-Jan-68 19 Columbia, SC 1-ATs KIA  
THOMAS L BEIERLE PFC 07-Feb-68 21 ZION, IL A-1-ATs KIA  
MANZELLE A FORD PFC 07-Feb-68 20 MOUNT PLEASANT, IA A-1-ATs KIA  
LARRY K POWELL PFC 07-Feb-68 19 FORT WORTH, TX A-1-ATs KIA  
RONALD R PRATHER JR Sgt 07-Feb-68 23 CAVE JUNCTION, OR A-1-ATs KIA  
LESTER E CHAMBERS PFC 25-Feb-68 21 DALLAS, TX 2-A-1-ATs KIA  
WILLIAM C MARSH SSgt 25-Feb-68 27 AMARILLO, TX 2-A-1-ATs KIA  
JOSEPH M. DONOVAN LCpl 05-Mar-67 19 AUBURN, NY C-1-ATs NH  
JERRY R LONG LCpl 21-Mar-67 20 SICILY ISLAND, LA C-1-ATs KIA  
TERRY P MORROW Cpl 21-Mar-67 21 HAMILTON, OH C-1-ATs KIA  
3rd Tks KIA's Map





 
BRUCE B. WARNER 1stLt 13-Mar-66 23 FARMINGTON, CT 2-A-3-Tanks KIA  
MC ARTHUR COLEMAN LCpl 30-Mar-66 22 MASURY, OH 1-B-3-Tanks NH  
HENRY L. WHALEY Cpl 30-Mar-66 23 NEW HAVEN, CT 1-B-3-Tanks NH  
CURTIS T. ANDO PFC 02-Jan-67 22 POWELL, WY 3-Tanks KIA  
ROBERT T. EDWARDS PFC 13-Jan-67 23 Lancaster, CA A-3-Tanks KIA  
ROGER L. PARKER Cpl 19-Jan-67 20 Bellefontaine, OH A-3-Tanks KIA  
GEORGE A. JONES JR. PFC 18-Jan-67 21 Houston, TX A-3-Tanks NH  
LA VOUGHN H. FOLKERS Sgt. 28-Feb-67 34 RACINE, WI A-3-Tanks KIA  
LA VOUGHN H. FOLKERS PFC 28-Feb-67 19 SCRANTON, PA A-3-Tanks KIA  
WALTER V. HULINGS Cpl 04-Mar-67 21 BALTIMORE, MD C-3-Tanks KIA  
JOSEPH L. MILOS PFC 05-Mar-67 23 TROY, NY C-3-Tanks KIA  
MICHAEL R. DAY Lcpl 08-Jan-68 21 Ashland City, TN B-3-Tanks NH  
JOHN P. MARKEN JR. 2ndLt 19-Jan-68 26 Escondido, CA C-3-Tanks KIA  
DANIEL W. KENT Capt. 24-Jan-68 24 Auburndale, MA B-3-Tanks KIA  
NICHOLAS A. LIA 1stLt 02-Feb-68 23 NEW YORK, NY H&S-3-Tanks KIA  
ROBERT E. HALL Cpl. 04-Feb-68 20 LYNCHBURG, VA H&S-3-Tanks KIA  
JOHN B. HOGAN HM3 15-Feb-68 21 FORT PLAIN, NY H&S-3-Tanks KIA  
WILLIAM H. SWISHER PFC 10-Jan-69 21 Hammond, IN 3-Tanks KIA  
DAVID A. GAUCH Lcpl 14-Jan-69 21 Euclid, OH 3-Tanks KIA  
GEORGE E. DUSCH LCpl 22-Feb-69 20 PHOENIX, AZ H&S-3-Tanks KIA  
TOMMY L. WYATT Cpl 22-Feb-69 21 NATCHITOCHES, LA H&S-3-Tanks KIA  
ROBERT M. WALKLEY Lcpl 24-Mar-69 21 IONIA, MI B-3-Tanks KIA  
JOHN M. FOSTER Cpl 24-Mar-69 23 GARDEN GROVE, CA B-3-Tanks KIA  
3rd ATs KIA's





 
RANDALL J. GIPE Lcpl 06-Jan-66 21 Harrisburg, PA 3-ATs KIA  
CARLOS FIGUEREDO Lcpl 28-Jan-66 22 New York, NY 3-ATs KIA  
ALTON J. FENNELL PFC 08-Jan-68 18 Warner Robins, GA 3-ATs NH  
VICENTE GARZA Sgt. 08-Jan-68 25 Houston, TX 3-ATs NH  
RICHARD H MAIN Pfc 04-Feb-66 21 PALMYRA, NY 1-C-3-ATs NH  
ROBERT C. BOYD Pfc 22-Feb-66 20 NEWARK, CA B-3-ATs KIA  
RAUL ORTA Cpl 01-Feb-67 21 PARLIN, NJ 3-A-3-ATs NH  
ALLEN L BUTLER Cpl 12-Feb-67 21 PITTSBURGH, PA 2-B-3-ATs KIA  
STEVE L CAMBY Capt 12-Feb-67 26 SPINDALE, NC B-3-ATs KIA  
DONALD J. EGAN JR 1stLt 12-Feb-67 24 TROY, NY 2-B-3-ATs KIA  
ROGER L NIEMI Pfc 12-Feb-67 20 DETROIT, MI 2-B-3-ATs KIA  
BERNARDINO SANTIAGO-VAZQUEZ Pfc 12-Feb-67 19 NEW YORK, NY 2-B-3-ATs KIA  
CASIMIR S. SYLWANOWICZ LCpl 12-Feb-67 19 FLINT, MI 2-B-3-ATs KIA  
CHARLES L. SUTHARD JR, Sgt 06-Feb-69 29 ALEXANDRIA, VA A-3-ATs NH  
ROBERT P. PAYNE Cpl 18-Mar-68 24 HAMPSHIRE, IL A-3-ATs KIA  
BERNARD A TESKE III Lcpl 02/04/66

2-C-3-ATs NH  
5th Tks KIAs Map





 
JOE R BOSWELL SSgt 25-Jan-69 28 STEELE, MO 3-C-5-Tanks KIA  
AMIL JACKSON JR. Cpl 25-Jan-69 19 SAN ANTONIO, TX 3-C-5-Tanks KIA  







 
                  

Personal Awards

There are Awards and Names that we do not have, Please if you have recieved an Award, let us know at mcvthfb11 at gmail.com

11st Quarter Awards



Name Unit Date

SILVER STAR



Bartusevics, John Sgt. C-1-Tanks 15. Jan. 1967

Christensen, Harry C. Cpl, B-3-Tanks 24. Jan. 1968

Larson, Stephen P. 1Lt. C-3-Tanks 3. Feb. 1968

Dickey, Dwight R. Maj. 1-Tanks 6. Feb. 1968

Lund, Dean T. SSgt. A-1-Tanks 6. Feb. 1968

Prather, Ronald B. Jr. Sgt. (KIA) (Posthumous) A-1-Ats 7. Feb. 1968

Tiscia, Joseph R. Cpl. H&S-2/5 7. Feb. 1968

Morrison, Ronald C. 1Lt. A-1-Tanks 15. Feb. 1968

Chambers, Lester E., PFC (KIA) (Posthumous) A-1-Ats 24. Feb. 1968

Marsh, William C., SSgt. (KIA) (Posthumous) A-1-Ats 24. Feb. 1968

Wahisten, Bruce R. Cpl B-1-Tanks 21. Feb. 1969

Davis, Bruce W. Cpl. A-1-Tanks 23. Feb. 1969

Dobbins, Kent E. 1Lt. C-1-Tanks 23. Feb. 1969

Berman, Stuart C. 2Lt. C-1-Tanks 21. Mar. 1967

Bronze Star



Ritch, Peter J. 1st Lt. B-3-Tanks 22. Feb. 1969






Purple Hearts

These Marines are all we have listings for, if any one can make additions, or add information, please let us know at mcvthfb11 at gmail.com

  Name Unit Date Of Action Province Award
  Patrick, Jimmie D. 3-Tanks 13-Jan-66

  Roker, McArthur Bravo 16-Jan-66

  Beck, Ralph A-3-ATs 22-Jan-66 Quang Nam 1st
  Clark, Gerald R. H&S-1-Tanks 02-Feb-67 Quang Nam 1st
  McReynolds, Gary L. L.
03-Jan-67

  Otto, Dale L. C-3-Tanks 05-Jan-67

  Comstock, Bruce R. Bravo 09-Jan-67

  Stamp, Jerry A. Alpha 11-Jan-67

  Hicks, Bobby H.
13-Jan-67

  Wright, Carl D.
13-Jan-67

  Parker, Edger L.
13-Jan-67

  Edwards, Robert T.
13-Jan-67

  Logan, Bravo 16-Jan-67

  Nicodemus, David A. Bravo 17-Jan-67

  Mepina, J. Bravo 16-Jan-68

  Higdon,
20-Jan-68

  Hill, H. M. Charlie 21-Jan-68

  Huskins, L. C. Alpha 23-Jan-68

  Brock, L. J. Alpha 23-Jan-68

  Souther, T. H. Alpha 23-Jan-68

  Christensen, H. C. B-3-Tanks 23-Jan-68 Quang Nam 1st
  Irish, B. Charlie 25-Jan-68

  Hicks, J. N. H&S 31-Jan-68

  Hogan, J. B. Charlie 31-Jan-68

  Leuer, R. J. Charlie 31-Jan-68

  Graham, J. D. H&S 31-Jan-68

  Irwin, G. L. Charlie 31-Jan-68

  Levine, R. M. Charlie 31-Jan-68

  Cornellier, T. D. Charlie 31-Jan-68

  Thomas, R. R. Charlie 31-Jan-68

  Walker, K. L. Charlie 31-Jan-68

  Golman, J. J. Charlie 31-Jan-68

  Neesmith, J. B. Charlie 31-Jan-68

  Gonzales, J. M. Charlie 31-Jan-68

  Bartusevics, John C-1-Tanks 25-Feb-67 Quang Nam 1st
  Baddgor, Patrick L. 1-B-3-Tanks 2-Feb-68 Quang Tri 1st
  Fleischmann, Carl H. H&S-C-3-Tanks 8-Feb-68 I Corps 1st
  Tiscia, Joseph R. H&S-2/5-1-Div 10-Feb-68 Thu Thien Province (Hue) 1st
  Matye, Clemence T. B-1-Tanks 12-Feb-69 Quang Tri 3rd
  Fuller, Hank
27-Feb-69 Quang Tri 1st
  Thompson, David J. B-1-Tanks 3-Mar-67 Quang Nam 1st
  Clements, F. Charles H&S-3-Tanks 4-Mar-67 Quang Nam 1st
  Hamby, Alvin L. "Leroy" C-3-Tanks 6-Mar-67 Quang Tri 1st
  Langley, Richard G. C-3-Tanks 6-Mar-67 Quang Tri 1st
  Siva, Thurlo, J. C-3-Tanks 6-Mar-67 Quang Tri 1st
  Bores, Kenneth P. A-3-Tanks 7-Mar-67 Quang Tri 1st
  Martin, Greg B-3-Tanks 30-Mar-67 Quang Tri 1st
  Ferrin, James M. C-1-Tanks 3-Mar-69 Quang Nam 1st
  Melton, Virgil V. Jr. A-3-Tanks 28-Mar-69 Quang Tri 1st
  Yax, Tom A-1-Recon 05-Mar-70 Quang Tri 4th
Misclanious Stuff

National Museum of the Marine Corps Video

National Museum of the Marine Corps Link


Major USMC Ground Operations in Vietnam.

January - March Operations in Vietnam


Operation Name Dates of Operation Participating Units

Operation Mallard 11 – 17 Jan 66 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines and 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines search and destroy operation in An Hoa, Quang Nam Province

Operation Masher/White Wing/Thang Phong II 24 Jan – 6 Mar 66 1st Cavalry Division, ARVN 22nd Division Airborne Brigade and 1st Regiment ROK Capital Division operation in Binh Dinh Province. USMC Operation Double Eagle links in cross border segment

Operation Batten Down/Dagger Thrust 1-Feb 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 New York 27 Feb – 3 Mar 66 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, and HMM-163 sweep operation east of Phu Bai in Thua Thien Province joining with ARVN Operation Thua Thien 177

Operation Lien Ket 26 4 – 7 Mar 66 One battalion from the 7th Marines and one from the ARVN 2nd Division operation to engage the 21st NVA Regiment 11 km northwest of Quang Ngai City, first USMC contact with the NVA

*Operation Utah/Operation Lien Ket 26 4 – 7 Mar 66 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines and ARVN 2nd Division search and destroy operation against the NVA 36th Regiment and VC Main Force units operation in Quang Ngai Province

Operation Kings 20 – 28 Mar 66 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines and 3rd Tank Battalion search and destroy operation 25 km southwest of Danang in Quang Nam Province

Operation Lien Ket 28 20 – 25 Mar 66 7th Marines and ARVN 2nd Division operation with one Marine and one ARVN battalion landing near An Hoa to encounter the 60th and 90th battalions of the 1st VC Regiment and the 11th Battalion, 21st NVA Regiment

*Operation Oregon 20 – 23 Mar 66 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines and 1st Battalion, 4th Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Tri Province

*Operation Texas/Operation Lien Ket 28 20 – 25 Mar 66 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, ARVN 5th Airborne Battalion and Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps combined reaction force operation to retake An Hoa outpost in Quang Ngai Province

*Operation Indiana, Alabama/Lien Ket 30 28 – 30 Mar 66 7th Marines and ARVN 5th Regiment, 2nd Division operation to the northwest of Lam Loc

*Operation Sierra 12 Dec 66 – 21 Jan 67 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Ngai Province

*Operation Chinook 19 Dec 66 - 2 Jan 67


Operation Deckhouse VI 28 Dec 66 - 16 Jan 67


Operation Auburn I 67 7th Marines security operation in the "rocket belt" around Da Nang, Quang Nam Province

Operation Lincoln (I Corps) 4 – 9 Jan 67 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Nam Province

Operation Siene 5 Jan - 14 Jan 67


Operation County Fair 1-25 5 – 8 Jan 67 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines security operation in Quang Nam Province

Operation County Fair 1-28 7 – 9 Jan 67 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines security operation in Quang Nam Province

Operation County Fair 1-29 9 – 12 Jan 67 1st Battalion, 1st Marines security operation in Quang Nam Province

Operation County Fair 1-32 20 – 22 Jan 67 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines security operation in Quang Nam Province

Operation County Fair 14 20 – 22 Jan 67 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines security operation in Quang Nam Province

Operation Cleveland 24 – 25 Jan 67 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Nam Province

*Opeartion Tuscaloosa 24 – 28 Jan 67 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines search and destroy operation 24 km southwest of Danang in Quang Nam Province

Operation Lafayette 25 Jan – 7 Feb 67 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines and 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Nam Province

Operation Maryland 25 – 28 Jan 67 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines clear and search operation in Thua Thien Province

*Operation DeSoto II 28 Jan – 8 Apr 67 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Ngai Province

Operation County Fair 1-30 29 Jan – 1 Feb 67 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines security operation in Quang Nam Province

Operation Trinity 30 Jan – 1 Feb 67 1st Battalion, 7th Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Ngai Province

Operation Clay 31 Jan – 3 Feb 67 1st Battalion, 5th Marines search and destroy operation in Quảng Trị Province

Operation Highrise Feb-67 Marines and Army shelling of NVA gun positions in and north of the DMZ

*Operation Independence 1 – 10 Feb 67 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd Battalion 5th Marines and 1st and 2nd Battalions, 26th Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Nam Province

*Operation Prairie II 2 Feb – 19 Mar 67 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines and 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines search and destroy operation in the DMZ area, around Con Thien and Gio Linh, to prevent the 324B NVA Division from entering Quang Tri Province

Operation Chinook II Feb-67 4th Marines operation in Thua Thien Province. Writer Bernard B. Fall was killed by a VC mine while observing this operation

*Operation Stone 12 – 22 Feb 67 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Nam Province

*Operation Deckhouse VI 14 Feb – 3 Mar 67 SLF 1st Battalion, 4th Marines and HMM-363 two-phase search and destroy operation in southern Quang Ngai Province and augmented Operation DeSoto

Operation Pulaski 23 – 27 Feb 67 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Nam Province

Operation Lanoke 25 – 28 Feb 67 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Nam Province

Operation Yuba 10 – 12 Mar 67 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Nam Province

Operation Prairie III 19 Mar – 19 Apr 67 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines and 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines search and destroy operations along the DMZ against the NVA 324B and 341st Divisions

Operation New Castle 21 – 25 Mar 67 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Nam Province

Operation Early 23 – 24 Mar 67 1st Battalion, 1st Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Nam Province

Operation Perry 23 – 27 Mar 67 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines search and destroy operation in Quảng Ngãi Province

*Operation Beacon Hill 22 Mar – 3 Apr 67 3rd Marine Division operation in Quảng Trị Province

*Operation New Castle 22 Mar -26 Mar 67


*Operation Badger Tooth 26 Dec 67 – 2 Jan 68 3rd Battalion 1st Marines search and destroy operation in Quảng Trị and Thua Thien Provinces

*Operation Badger Catch later Operation Napoleon 20 – 26 Jan 68 BLT 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines and HMM-165 search and destroy operation to clear the north banks of the Cua Viet River and prevent enemy interdiction of river traffic

Operation Lancaster II 21 Jan – 23 Nov 68 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines and 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines search-and-clear operation to safeguard Route 9 between Cam Lo and Ca Lu

*Operation Neosho II 21 – 24 Jan 68 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines and 1st Battalion, 9th Marines clearing operation to provide cover for the 1st Cavalry Division's arrival at Camp Evans, 24 km northwest of Hue

*Operation Osceola II 21 Jan – 16 Feb 68 1st Battalion, 1st Marines and 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Tri Province

*Operation Hue City 1 Feb – 2 Mar 68 1st Marines and 5th Marines operation to drive NVA out of Huế (Battle of Huế) during Tet Offensive

Operation Houston 26 Feb – 12 Sep 68 1st Marine Division and US Army operation in border region of Thua Thien and Quang Nam Provinces, to keep Highway 1 open and provide security for details working on the railroad between Hue and Danang. Individual phases detailed below

Operation Houston I 26 Feb – 30 Apr 68 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Battalion, 327th Airborne Infantry and 2nd Battalion, 502nd Airborne Infantry operation in Thua Thien Province

*Operation Tampa 26 Feb – 3 Mar 68 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines and 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment search and destroy operation in Quang Nam Province

Operation Napoleon Saline 29 Feb – 9 Dec 68 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines and 2/1 Cavalry operation along Cua Viet River in Quang Tri Province

*Operation Mingo 3 – 7 Mar 68 1st Battalion, 1st Marines and 2nd Battalion 327th Infantry Regiment search and destroy operation along Route 527 towards the A Shau Valley

*Operation Rock 6 – 10 Mar 68 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines sweep on the peninsula formed by the Vu Gia and Thu Bon Rivers, the so-called "Arizona Territory," 6 km northwest of the battalion's base at An Hoa

*Operation Worth 12 – 26 Mar 68 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines and 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment search and destroy operation 24 km northwest of Danang in Quang Nam Province

*Operation Ford 14 – 20 Mar 68 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines and 1st Battalion, 1st Marines sweep of the Phu Thu Peninsula east of Phu Bai to engage the Vietcong 804th Main Force Battalion

*Operation Marching Dragon 14 - 23 Mar 68


*Operation Rice Bowl 24-31 Mar 68


Operation Taylor Common 6 Dec 68 – 9 Mar 69 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines and 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 26th Marines operation to clear the An Hoa Basin, neutralize NVA Base Area 112 and develop Fire Support Bases to interdict NVA infiltration routes leading from the Laotian border

Operation Valiant Hunt 15 Dec 68 – 5 Jan 69 BLT 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines and HMM-362 clear and search operation on Barrier Island, south of Hoi An, Quang Nam Province

Operation Barrier Reef 2-Jan-69 fourth and last interdiction barrier in the Mekong Delta established with naval patrols operating on the LaGrange-Ong Long Canal from, Tuyen Nhon on the Vam Co Tay River to An Long on the Mekong

Operation Bold Mariner (part of Operation Game Warden) 13 Jan – 9 Feb 69 HMM-362, SLF-A, ARVN 2nd Division, 2/26th Marines, HMM-164 operation in Quang Ngai Province, I Corps, Batangan Peninsula; this cordon, search, and sweep operation was the largest amphibious assault of the War

Operation Russell Beach 15 – 20 Jan 69 198th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Battalion, 26 Marines and ARVN joint operation on the Batangan Peninsula in Quang Tin Province, 32 km southeast of Chu Lai to remove Vietnamese refugees from the area before pushing forward to root out VC troops and fortifications

Operation Dewey Canyon 22 Jan – 18 Mar 69 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines and ARVN 2nd Regiment offensive north of the A Shau Valley in Thua Thien Province against NVA communication lines in Laos

Operation Linn River 27 Jan – 7 Feb 69 1st Battalion, 7th Marines and 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines clear and search operation in Quang Nam Province

Operation Purple Martin 27 Feb – 8 May 69 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines clear and search operation in Quang Tri Province – originally Operation Massachusetts Bay

Operation Oklahoma Hills 1 Mar – 29 May 69 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines and ARVN 51st Regiment clear and search operation southwest of Danang in Quang Nam Province

Operation Maine Crag 15 Mar – 2 May 69 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines and 1st Battalion, 12th Marines reconnaissance in force operation along the Laotian border west of Khe Sanh, Quang Tri Province

Operation Montana Mauler[2][38] 23 Mar – 3 Apr 69 3rd Marine Division, 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division and ARVN 2nd Regiment reconnaissance in force operation in the vicinity of Con Thien in Quang Tri Province

Operation Upshur Stream 11 Jan – 29 Mar 71 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines and 1st Battalion, 11th Marines search and destroy operation in Quang Nam Province

Operation Dewey Canyon II 30-Jan-71 1st Bde, 5th Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division and 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment operation to support the ARVN Operation Lam Son 719 effort to open Route 9 through Khe Sanh to the Laotian border and to reestablish Khe Sanh as a major combat support base

Operation Hoang Dieu 103 3 Feb – 10 Mar 71 III MAF, ROK 2nd Marine Brigade and ARVN 51st Regiment operation in Quang Nam province

Operation Imperial Lake 31 Aug 70 – 12 May 71 1st Battalion 5th Marines, 2nd Battalion 5th Marines and 3rd Battalion 5th Marines search and clear operation in Quang Nam Province
* See MarCorOpsRep "Individual Reports" Operations Files


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Donors

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Platinum Plus Plat. Plus Award

Platinum
Tiny Kilgore
Ev Tunget
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Gold
Michael Giovinazzo
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Frank Remkiewicz
David Bennett
Jerry White
Ev Tunget

Silver
Doc Hackemack

Bronze
Steve Christensen

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