|
Excerpt's from 3rd Tank
Battalion C.C. of May 1968.
On 13 May the 1st Platoon completed a move to
Khe Sanh where it replaced the 3rd Platoon which had been at the
base since June 1967. On 19 May the 1st Platoon was
escorting a convoy from Khe Sanh. Approximately 300 meters
outside the perimeter the convoy was ambushed, During the
ensuing fight all five tanks sustained RPG hits. No tank
took fewer than three hits. B15 was destroyed in the
action. One hundred and sixty five enemy KIA (c) were
credited to this action. It is estimated that the B-1
tanks accounted for one hundred of these.
S-4 Journal for 19 May 1968;
Bravo reported following combat damage to B-1
vehicles: B-11 RPG shrapnel left side of hull no
penetration, RPG shrapnel right side no penetration, damage to
sprocket and shock absorber. B-12 1 RPG on right side 5
inches below cupola, range finder gone, 1 RPG 2 inches left of
gun on gun shield, possible damage to replenisher. B-13 1
RPG in TC Cupola - 50 cal. damage. B-14 2 RPG's
penetration, turret inoperative. B-15 combat loss.
Marines of 1st Plt. Bravo Co.,
3rd Tks., 19 May 1968
| Tank |
Position |
Rank |
L/Name |
1st Name |
Nick Name |
WIA |
Notes |
| B11 ? |
TC |
Sgt. |
Evans |
Clifford |
|
|
|
| B11 ? |
Plt. Sgt. |
SSgt. |
Wharton |
Thomas J. |
"TJ" |
|
|
| B11 |
Gunner |
|
Coulter |
Rick |
|
|
|
| B11 |
Loader |
|
|
Rick |
"Surfer" |
|
|
| B12 |
TC |
Cpl. |
Kellogg |
Fred |
|
Yes |
(Bronze
Star & Story) |
| B12 |
Gunner |
Pfc |
Trinidad |
Carlos |
"Charlie" or "Lupe" |
Yes |
|
| B12-B11 |
Driver |
|
Williams |
Stanley |
"Cricket" |
|
Drove B12, when B12
was out of action, drove B11 back to firefight. (Award)
? |
| B12 |
Loader |
PFC |
Lehman |
Charlie |
"Sugar Bear" |
Yes |
(Award) ? |
| B13 |
TC |
Cpl. |
Coklin |
A.M. |
"Buzz" |
Yes |
(SS)? |
| B13 |
Gunner |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| B13 |
Loader |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| B13 |
Driver |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| B14 |
TC |
Cpl. |
Baddgor |
Patrick |
|
Yes |
(Nav Com) ? |
| B14 |
Gunner |
Cpl. |
Oswood |
Richard |
"Rick" |
Yes |
(Navy Commendation & Story) |
| B14 |
Loader ? |
|
Bardet |
Ray |
|
|
|
| B14 |
Driver |
LCpl. |
Camerdese |
Silvano |
|
Yes |
|
| B15 |
Plt. Ldr. |
1st Lt. |
Himes |
Harris D. |
"Alfie" |
Yes |
(Bronze Star & Story) |
| B15 |
TC/Loader |
Cpl. |
Cerda |
Rene |
|
Yes |
(Silver Star
& Story) |
| B15 |
Gunner |
PFC |
Cox |
J.C. |
|
Yes |
|
| B15 |
Driver |
PFC |
Larabell |
Clay |
|
Yes |
|
| |
|
Sgt. |
Baker |
Steve |
|
|
On R&R |
| |
|
Cpl. |
Butcher |
Jack |
|
|
Bumped off B15 by
Lt. Himes. |
Meritorious Unit Commendation awarded to Fox Co., 2nd Battalion,
1st Marines
and 1st Platoon, Bravo Co., 3rd Tank Battalion.
See
Citation.
David Powell Photos. These are probably 3rd Plt., Bravo Co. 3rd
Tk. Bn. tanks.
 
Photos courtisy of Jack Butcher.
 
Left, Air strike coming in. Right, Napalm hitting near tank.
Photos taken 19 May 1968 by Cpl. Peter Hoban, H/2/1.
 
Left, B15 burning at firefight site. Right, B15 burnt out.
Photos taken 19 May 1968 by Cpl. Peter Hoban, H/2/1.
 
The burnt out hulk of Bravo 15. Photos taken 19 May 1968
by Cpl. Peter Hoban, H/2/1.
Aerial
views of Khe Sanh. Courtesy of Rene Certa.
Convoy
leaving front gate at Khe Sanh. Photos taken 19 May 1968
by Cpl. Peter Hoban, H/2/1.
 
Left,
Rene Cerda at Camp Carroll, Right, Rene and Carlos "Charlie"
Trinidad. |
