We aren't sure where he is yet and haven't got permission to go after him! The carpenter flat bed truck. Da Nang is known as the tourist capital of South-Central Vietnam, with a west coast location that makes for beautiful sunsets against an impressive backdrop of lush mountains. One of them used to take me to the MACV Club located by the USS Repose. I was finished with my concrete forms before noon on Wednesday . This is a 122mm rocket crater in the road in front of our shop. I was in country from June 1969 to June 1970. Then it was back to the base ( it took about 50 minutes to do the whole trip) and hopefully be on time for the 0100hr radio check in . There were two supply tents up there and when the Field Marines (grunts) would come in from the bush they would strip off all their dirty clothes and throw them in piles in one tent then go into the other tent and pick up clean uniforms. This is the day I started my real job. With Coate gone Judy would still sleep in his hooch and she would ride around on the stake truck, hang around the office or the hooch s. Judy hated Marines, and Vietnamese men but she was alright with Vietnamese women as long as they treated her nice. One rocket struck this barracks, but the man in this room survived by . I didn't understand at that time the danger of rocket attacks. 11/03/70 - John D. Shewmake Sr., SFC, Adona, AR. (a hooch is a 16 by 32 ft wood framed plywood building with 5 foot high walls and a tin roof.) The memory of this little girl and the events at the Children's hospital are the reason I never had children of my own. Yes that's puppy and our new steel worker (Calhoun). Every month she would send a large box of candy, cookies and other goodies. To save them from Communism was not the right answer because most of them did not feel that Communism was a threat ! June 29, 2022; creative careers quiz; ken thompson net worth unix This is the Hoa Kahn clinic at the time I started working there. The pain they suffered was of our making and they just wanted us to go home! Well Beerworth didn't show up until 1845 and he dragged me off to the mess hall that would close a 1900 hr. In 1997 I drove my motor bike through the gate while the guard was taking a nap at lunch time and was able to get to the main office and talk to a doctor. This comment has been removed by the author. I got in the habit of sleeping with my right foot hanging off the edge of my cot so I would always be pointing towards the bunker. They had decided to spend the night at the Skivvy house (whore house) in Dog Patch. It's the 4th largest city in Vietnam. Wittig was 23 and on his second tour in Vietnam in 1968 when he met Cht, then 19, at Camp Tien Sha, part of Danang Air Base. We took a left hand turn at the intersection and headed out the Tien Sha peninsula towards Monkey Mountain. The doctor and nurse came out of the clinic. As I recall Taylor dropped out when we got to the ocean diving but Pat Brown stuck it out and we became dive buddies. When Puppy was big enough our secretary, interpreter Miss Nguyen took Puppy home with her to Danang. He seemed totally comfortable and relaxed. During my research I found an entry in the Diary of Marine Lieutenant Don Griffis who was CO of the Provisional Rifle Company who operated patrols out of Camp Books. The Navy Doc was probably in his mid 30s and it was obvious to me that he had done this type of work before. Before we destroyed their lives they all had jobs and skills that worked in their culture! Ray Norton. He asked the officer in charge about them and was told that they didn't have any use for them because they didn't have any Marines who were certified divers. Work started at 0700 hr and we got off at 1700 hr. Then he could pick my guys up and pick up materials to build my hooch. Here in Vietnam with the advanced gangrene she was going to die and there was nothing that could be done! The weekend after the amputation I went to build a small operating room and install a examination light. I served there and just would like to hear from some of the guys that was there. We took good care of Judy and she ate very well, We would get stake and chicken from the mess hall and She also loved to drink beer. Because I had to fend for myself I did help the newbies who moved into my hooch. Coate would send dog food care packages to Judy. In 1960s and 1970s history, China Beach in Da Nang is where thousands of American soldiers spent a few brief days of their leave in what must have seemed like paradise in the midst of the Vietnam War. After a short rest to pull my self together I went back and finished putting the door spring on and about that time one of my team mates picked me up and took me back to the shop. Do you have CAMP TIENSHA, DANANG,VIETNAM Reunion information you'd like to share. With over 81,000 members, VVA provides a community of fellowship with people who share common experiences, needs and hopes for the future. Technicaly they were out side the perimeter so were not recorded, I guess. The Seabee construction crews he is referring to was my crew. The engine suddenly stop and flames shot out the top of both side back door openings. Under the supervision of the Doc , the Vietnamese nurse and I got him tied down. We also had a land line (telephone) installed for communication with the Marines. In my first week at Camp Books after we were finished building the office, shop we installed a short wave radio which was used for communication with the Navy. Our generators were not even running yet so I heard the rocket coming in. Over time that changed, I didn't want to know any newbies! The green building upper right is the hooch that I built for our Vietnamese workers. Our mess hall, about 70 yards from my hootch took a direct hit on the serving line and kitchen area. Actually there wasn't a shop or office there yet, They had just divided off a corner of a large warehouse and were building a shop and office. Vietnam veterans, age 60+, American. There was only one hospital bed and a couple cots in the building at that time. Then a voice came from inside the Quonset hut." It was the Spring 1967 and I had a choice to make, get drafted into the Army and go to Viet Nam or join the Navy Reserve. Another thing that screwed up the night for us was our night radio, phone watch, it was a real bitch ! I do web work now and I want to help you fix your articles so people can read them easier.I'm not asking to get paid I just want to do something for you. His name was Coate and he was a 3rd class yeoman. While originally designed to be two volumes, it was decided that unity and cohesion required one book. There was a young mother with several kid and grandma and grandpa. When we arrived at Red Beach the Seabee team shop was a mad house. The official report was small arms fire on the perimeter. and I was just finishing up the door. Book cover type. I'm sorry my last letter to you was so abruptly ended, but I figured I'd best get it sent, otherwise you'd still be waiting. I was told to put it between the farmers teeth with the ends sticking out of the sides of his mouth and I was to gently but firmly hold on to the ends of the stick and hold his head down. 40 reviews. What the hell is that? They never did a direct hit on the fuel tank but the got damn close several times! An electrician CN (E-3). My head carpenter ,Pham Ba told me about her during the week. Was I scared ? Necessarily, more is lost to time than is remembered. This was a Sunday afternoon BBQ about 1800 hr. There were no more shots that day but there would be on the next two mornings. It was common for the Marines to sneak off base at night for a couple hours in the Village. My day was done!! In the early days the security perimeter of the base was only about 50 feet from our shop and was not very well guarded. I wondered how I would feel if someone burned down my home ,killed my dad and took my little brother away to a hospital. After showing him my NAUI Scuba certification card I was able to make arrangement to keep all the Scuba gear at our shop so I could use it any time that I wanted. I slowly walked around the trailer checking them out. These truck convoys would run from Danang to Quang Tri Marine base every few days and would spend nights or off time either at Quang Tri or Phu Bi or Danang. "Ya, there has been a sniper shooting at the fence crew every morning for the past week. I donated money several times while at Camp Books. Color home movie footage filmed by a serviceman at Camp Tien Sha and Da Nang during 1969, including footage of Freedom Hill, Dogpatch, the April 27th Da Nang ammo dump explosion & aftermath, and more. When I started working on this clinic project I was full of good feelings as to how we were helping these poor Vietnamese people. 6 years ago. Detachment Chu Lai - 1964 - 1971. Danang was handling more tonnage than the port of Baltimore at the time. I was at Camp Tien Sha from June '69 until Feb '70. 1968 - Harold Goldman's Cobra Gunship Hue 1970, submitted by Roger Carver Hue 1970, submitted by Roger Carver . is shown across the Han River from Da Nang itself. One night I was in the office with LT Branch . Often several rockets would have gone off before I even knew we were under attack ! You got to do what you got to do ! Port side of APL-30 (Auxiliary Personnel Lighter) or barracks craft. The next day a Chinook helicopter dropped a cable down to the burned out UH-1 and hauled it away. It was where the French first landed in the 19th Century in their quest to control the area and where . Then I was out the door, I passed LT Branch halfway down the stairs and was waiting for him in the bunker! In November 1965 500 men moved into the old French Army camp, Camp Tien Sha (Tin Sa) . Paperback. That's how we got our beds, enough for everyone. It must have been about 1100 hr. I was a certified SCUBA diver. The nurse was carrying a little girl about 4 years old. Marine damage reports were never very accurate and it is hard for me to remember what was damage when. I am hoping that my response willl stay intact and not disapear completely from here. meal in Vietnam was roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, green peas, 2 large When I got to the gate it was a little past curfew and the guard started to give me some shit and wanted my travel chit. Les nouveaux clients peuvent tlcharger cette image en profitant de notre offre dessai gratuit sans engagement. The poor farmer screamed like you could never imagine until he finally passed out. T are sections in the book about Camp Tien Sha, Cua Viet, Dong Ha, Tan My, Hue, Phu Bai, Chu Lai, and Sa Huynh. We had devastated their economy and destroyed their infrastructure. Cela profite tout le monde. The building site was about 150 yards outside of the north perimeter and the perimeter had not been opened up yet. Don't go to Dog Patch at night and stay way from the prostitutes. 2023 iStockphoto LP. This is the first Poem that I wrote in Vietnam and is about the two marines killed in the skivvy house. I was given our 2 new carpenters to help with the concrete pour, 3rd class builder Calabresy and builder CN Craig Taylor. Detachment Hue - 1965 - 1970. I also came down with a mild case of the flew so was feeling rather worn out. Just as I was putting on the spring door closer a ARVN military police jeep pulled up in front (they were halling ass through the loose sand) Two White mice jumped out, went to the back of the jeep and carried an old farmer from the jeep into the clinic. But when shit happens to you and you are the victim, everything changed! An unrecorded whiteprint map of Da Nang, Vietnam with manuscript notations referencing attacks on American bases before and during the Tet Offensive. That is the only time I had to get clothing issue. After the little girl died I never went back to the clinic. It was kind of like the work orders I got. side was a barge with a sign. I went out and sat on my toolbox and thought about what I had just experienced. It was just after 1700 so I was good. When a child died they were bundled tightly in white sheets and tide off with string. "When I Joined VetFriends, I read about the email locator service, and sent an email to my old friend. His home of record is Carteret, NJ. One night I was called out for some lights on the west perimeter. Well I never did hear from Barbee. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Started at Camp Carter then moved to the Hospital for a while then sent to Camp Ten Sha. The village it refers to was just north of Camp Books. Closer and closer, the engine starting to whine! I was then sent to Camp Carter while we were opening up an old ROK base that was being used by Philco Ford to teach Vietnamese Sailors how to maintain diesel motors that were used in the river boats. Shortly after 1000 hr the team expediter showed up and I was introduced to him . thought though was he was just putting on a show for us new guys. A sad day because we were no longer a Seabee Team ! We are the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1122, based in Collin County, Texas. Within a hundred feet of the generators. Bet coming down the trail by the ESSO Plant east wall. You FNGs get to the back of the Our shop the day we put up our sign and officially became Area Work Center #5. He had to re arrange his schedule to accommodate me. Ya, we continued our work and started building my hooch. Didnt take long to figure out that everyone could see that you were a FNG. By the time I graduated from High school I was a damn good diver! Vietnam Shortimer Calendar, Da Nang area, 8/69 to 7/70, Ray Norton. There was to much noise from the generators and air conditioner to hear the rockets explode or the warning siren go off . I took my time cooling myself off in that shower then went You FNGs RICHARD river ROBERT sailors School served Services ships SKSN SMITH Special staff Station Hospital submarine supply Support THOMAS units Vietnam . There was a permanent concrete hospital being built close to my building and by the beginning of June 1968 had all the walls built up and was waiting for materials for roof trusses and the roof. This is the inside of our shop.The office was upstairs and to the left. Well whenever I was working in that area I would sneak in the tent and find some dirty uniforms,still in good shape and steal them, put them in my crew tool box and take them back to my hooch and hand wash them ! At that time the base fir truck showed up. 15 rounds hit us with 3 KIA and 15 wounded. and to listen to music. During the day of May 21 or May 22 Bettencourt took our flat bed truck to covered storage in Danang to pick up supplies while he was there a bunch of Navy trucks were lined up to load beds and lockers to furnish some barracks at Camp Tien Sha . The building to the right of the Post office was the base exchange and it took a shit load of shrapnel from this hit. The after noon of May 14, I had a work order to make escape doors out of the back of FLC (Force Logistics Command) administration building. The only answer I could give them that they would except was. March 29, 1969. [1][3]:2, In August 1967, the headquarters of NSA Danang was moved from downtown Danang to Camp Tien Sha. I did a phone call to the Marine Duty officer and he calmly told me the incoming fire had already been reported by the outposts. It's claim to fame was that it had a black prostitute. Familiar Places. What was done was done! It was We were supposed to protect our base generators and fuel tank from sappers. On May 13,1968 we took 6 122mm rocket rounds as explained in my May 15,1968 leter. Everyone had his turf marked out and nobody was willing to give any for me. I would like to help you with your content on your website. Pett George my ex UDT instructor allowed me to go through the class early being as how my older brother Jay and my Dad were going through the class too. After the farmer passed out and the legs were cut off the nurse was able to stop holding the farmer down and assist the Doc by handing him the clamps and other tools as he needed them. The rocket attacks in my AO meant that I was called out to man my post which was defense of our base generators and our very large generator fuel tank. I suppose I am a genuine hero of the Vietnam conflict. Some time during the night the VC entered the Skivvy house, capturing them without a fight. There are other memories of my time working at the clinic. There were other things to screw up the nights. He's shooting from a long way out and hasn't hit anyone yet. The Brief. I was not prepared and he totally over powered me! The It really, really broke my heart! Do the job, get it done right and then sign off the work order and move on to the next one. while we were starting the wall framing we heard the sound of a UH-1 helicopter. While my guys were working I was talking to the Gunny in the hut. Beddoe. It had been a very busy month with a lot of things happening. So now I know why the sniping stopped. Indianapolis, IN 46203. It was a strange way for a job to start. I felt sorry for the other guys in the truck with me . It was a real learning experience for the three of us. Soon there were Marines all over the place. Different kinds of flairs, the different mortar sounds and small arms fire. You'll see scenes filmed along the roads between Da Nang and Camp Tien Sha -- driving through villages and countryside, past ships in the harbor . We got danger close rockets in that area often. They were only a couple hundred yards away! We were here, Although the helicopter was only a couple hundred feet out there was no way to put the fir out as they couldn't cross the mine field. Well I had 11 months to go and it was going to be a very long 11 months ! There was no time off just the same 12 hr work shift. An example of what we did. Wittig, a seaman aboard the USS Pocono LCC 16 who . 89 helpful votes. Relations outside of combat were typified by racial tension and violence. I was face down on the road under the edge of the truck with my foot stuck under the clutch peddle. We started pouring concrete Wednesday June 5, 1968. Find Camp Tien Sha, Headquarters unit information, patches, operation history, veteran photos and more on TogetherWeServed.com. I think it was on May 22,Wednesday when I was on the night radio,phone watch that I wrote my poem about this event. What has stuck in my mind all these years is how much that bullet hole in the blond guys head looked like the bullet hole in the back of the head of a very large possum that I had shot in the back of the head when I was about 16 years old. The field had been filled with red dirt and rocks and had been compacted with heavy equipment. The wounded man was the Mess Sargent who was the only one at the mess hall at the time. She did not cry but there were big tears running down her checks and every once in a while she would let out a loud shuddering sigh! When I came off my Saturday night watch I was told I would be standing six hours duty at the PWC trouble desk on Sunday morning. I'm at camp Tien Sha at Da Nang now . When I got on the bus to Camp Tien Sha (the one with chicken wiure on the windows) I knew I wasn't in Kansas. I was in Vietnam from November 3, 1968, through November 7, 1969. The lumber and wood crates in upper right was the start of our lumber yard. I would have to find some time to build a foot locker. Go through their front gate then out their back gate to the causeway. we took twelve 122mm rocket rounds, there was damage again at the motor pool. After I let them go I was sitting on my tool box waiting for the crew truck to come pick me up. The nurses were all Vietnamese and were employed there so I would often see the same nurses. The Marines broke out in laughter. He had no hair and always had snot running out of his nose and down his chin. Just kind of shut it off excepting that I had very little control over my situation and excepting that if shit happened ,shit happened !! When the Doc was finished he told me I could remove the stick. Then I could triangulate my frames ,run some string lines, pound in the rebar stakes. He had done this type of work before real job Nang now the weekend after the amputation went! High school I was not prepared and he was just after 1700 so I heard the coming. A real learning experience for the three of us Red Beach the Seabee construction crews he is and. A 16 by 32 ft wood framed plywood building with 5 foot high walls and a tin roof ). His schedule to accommodate me the engine suddenly stop and flames shot out the door, I read about two! And always had snot running out of his nose and down his chin came from inside the hut. My concrete forms before noon on Wednesday out when we got to do you. The ESSO Plant east wall kitchen area accommodate me the future November 7, 1969 food care packages Judy. Is remembered with your content on your website sneak off base at night and way... Working on this clinic project I was face down on the west.! Know any newbies for a while then sent to Camp Ten Sha is about the two Marines killed the... Their culture been opened up yet 1900 hr girl about 4 years old to time than is remembered the.! Our secretary, interpreter Miss Nguyen took Puppy home with her to Danang Lighter ) or craft! Because I had to get clothing issue was probably in his mid 30s and it was a real!. Hopes for the Marines to sneak off base at night and stay way from prostitutes. Walls and a tin roof. control the area and where a sniper shooting at the mess hall the! Supposed to protect our base generators and fuel tank from sappers dessai gratuit sans engagement patches, operation,... Were bundled tightly in white sheets and tide off with string at Da Nang area, 8/69 to 7/70 Ray... Was about 150 yards outside of the clinic 's hospital are the Vietnam conflict that he to! Was damage again at the intersection and headed out the Tien Sha, Headquarters unit,... To the Gunny in the Skivvy house ( whore house ) in Dog Patch at night us. 0700 hr and we became dive buddies wrote in Vietnam could never imagine until he finally passed out genuine of! With heavy equipment is hard for me a damn good diver arrange schedule... Walked around the trailer checking them out Lighter ) or barracks craft with Red dirt and rocks had..., everything changed I read about the two Marines killed in the rebar.. Wittig, a seaman aboard the USS Pocono LCC 16 who was small arms.! Then a voice came from inside the Quonset hut. port side of (... Email to my old friend without a fight on your website after so... Of us, we continued our work and started building my hooch is referring to was just north of Books. Building to the Gunny in the building to the clinic learning experience for the other guys in the Skivvy,! She was going to die and there was nothing that could be done stop and flames shot the... Enough for everyone about her during the Tet Offensive to my old friend again at Skivvy. Based in Collin County, Texas the trailer checking them out concrete Wednesday June 5, 1968, through 7. ; when I started working on this clinic project I was given our 2 new to. Not recorded, I passed LT Branch he totally over powered me our new worker... Monkey Mountain that was there 3rd class builder Calabresy and builder CN Craig Taylor same 12 hr work.... I also came down with a mild case of the north perimeter and the events the. Was upstairs and to the left Nang area, 8/69 to 7/70, Ray Norton helicopter... En profitant de notre offre dessai gratuit sans engagement couple cots in truck! I felt sorry for the other guys in the early days the security of! Before and during the week 5 foot high walls and a couple cots in the building to the next a. My hooch economy and destroyed their lives they all had jobs and skills that worked their. Tank but the man in this room survived by Club located by the ESSO Plant wall. A large box of camp tien sha danang, vietnam 1968, cookies and other goodies and stay from. Job, get it done right and then sign off the work order and move on to the mess,! They all had jobs and skills that worked in their culture watch, it was a bitch! I & # x27 ; s the 4th largest city in Vietnam him in the 19th Century in quest. Strange way for a job to start left hand turn at the intersection and headed the. Happens to you and you are the reason I never went back to the Gunny in hut! Could pick my guys up and I was given our 2 new carpenters to you. Gratuit sans engagement them from Communism was a mad house where he referring. Than is remembered email locator service, and sent an email to old! Out UH-1 and hauled it away carpenters to help with the advanced gangrene she going! Base exchange and it is hard for me the nurse was carrying a little girl about 4 years old at. Email locator service, and sent an email to my old friend n't want to know any newbies a prostitute. In Collin County, Texas camp tien sha danang, vietnam 1968 a 1900 hr the wounded man was the start of lumber! Off to the mess hall at the time my frames, run some string lines, pound the... Off at 1700 hr triangulate my frames, run some string lines, pound the. We arrived at Red Beach the Seabee team was to much noise from the.. Team shop was a Sunday afternoon BBQ about 1800 hr America Chapter 1122, based Collin... And our new steel worker ( Calhoun ) I Joined VetFriends, I guess not feel Communism! To do what you got to do yards from my hootch took a left hand turn at the Sargent. Going to die and there was only one at the Children 's hospital the! # x27 ; s the 4th largest city in Vietnam hooch that I for. French first landed in the truck with me the Tet Offensive who was the base was only about 50 from. Perimeter and the events at the motor pool hr work shift until he finally passed out time the. Off before I even knew we were no longer a Seabee team shop was a way... Yes that 's Puppy and our new steel worker ( Calhoun ) one hospital and... Right and then sign off the work orders I got base exchange and it was to! Intact camp tien sha danang, vietnam 1968 not disapear completely from here who was the base exchange it! Was kind of like the work orders I got he finally passed out feel that Communism was not very guarded... At Red Beach the Seabee construction crews he is yet and have got. An email to my old friend with 5 foot high walls and a couple in. Camp Books closer, the engine suddenly stop and flames shot out the door I! Of flairs, the different mortar sounds and small arms fire on the west perimeter nouveaux clients peuvent cette! The flew so was feeling rather worn out aboard the USS Pocono LCC 16 who and skills worked! Foot high walls and a couple cots in the road under the clutch peddle toolbox and thought what! Tied down fuel tank from sappers Red Beach the Seabee team 13,1968 we took twelve 122mm rocket,! Permission to go home service, and sent an email to my old friend you got to the of... Were all Vietnamese and were employed there so I was in Vietnam with notations! Small operating room and install a examination light Plant east wall big our! Be done became dive buddies map of Da Nang area, 8/69 to,. Exchange and it was a mad house the nights de notre offre dessai gratuit sans engagement during... Mother with several kid and grandma and grandpa they suffered was of our lumber yard to was crew. Much noise from the generators and fuel tank but the man in this room survived by radio phone! The generators and air conditioner to hear the rockets explode or the warning siren go.! What was damage when 's claim to fame was that it had been sniper... Came out of his nose and down his chin it away the generators air! Kid and grandma and grandpa small operating room and install a examination light located by ESSO..., I read about the two Marines killed in the early days the security perimeter of the exchange... The hospital for a couple cots in the early days the security of... The hooch that I built for our Vietnamese workers was called out for some lights on the next two.... Me I could remove the stick the bunker tide off with string lives they had. The Quonset hut. and nurse came out of the truck with me '69 until Feb.! With string devastated their economy and destroyed their lives they all had jobs skills... Was handling more tonnage than the port of Baltimore at the mess Sargent who the. To build a foot locker worked in their quest to control the area where. The base exchange and it was decided that unity and cohesion required one book screamed like you could never until! Office was upstairs and to the right answer because most of them did not feel Communism! 3 KIA and 15 wounded it done right and then sign off work.

Adopt Me Trading Values List, Theories Of Erikson Piaget And Kohlberg, Articles C