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From Jon. He left the field alive but traumattically wounded. You dont step sideways when youre walking. I told him one more time, Put the can down. But he didnt. Lived in a tent and used tents to store rations for the mess hall as well as C-rats. Over time the need also grew for more permanent presence in order to pacify these areas. 1/5 Third Platoon, USMC An Hoa Base, as A Grunt Marine, from October 1968 to November 1969. I was attached at the last moment to serve as Fox 2/5s 81FO. So many memories of An Hoa, I was the 2/5 Bn Armorer from May thru December 69 at AnHoa. I took it from the 2/11 chow hall ( I was with 1st Force Recon) only thing that remains of this structure are several pilons that project out of the water. The conversation with the Regimental CO was to the point. We always argued that the other guy had it worse. In a Free Fire Zone SW of Danang in 1968. Her bomb shelter, her livestock, her food stock was destroyed. The Golden Bridge has come into operation since . We came to a 1000 meter rice paddy near the village of Vinh Huy. Looking for the other guys any help would be appreciated. At the time I was there we had the NVA come on our radio net and tell us they would have complete control of Liberty Bridge and our CO told us we were surrounded by 5000 NVA Regulars. Remember helping me pass out malaria pills. Mostly we were on perimeter duty at night and road sweeps during the morning. I was a rifleman. After boot camp and Corps School in San Diego, Ray received orders for the USS Haven (AH-12)then moored in Long Beach, Calif., and serving as a station hospital. This web site brought back old memories. Ahhh the Memories!!! Marine PFC Dan Bullock, the youngest American serviceman killed in action in the Vietnam War died at An Ha on 7 June 1969. A platoon corpsman in the field and then at 1/5 BAS Liberty Bridge for 4 months (still remember the night we were overrun) and served last 3 months at the BAS 1/5 at An Hoa. angusmcnitt, Trung Nguyen and 3 more people faved this Iv talked with some of the Marines I was with but most have Passed on. The Thu Bon river southwest of Danang was crossed by Liberty Bridge. We swept the Que Son Valley with other Marines from 1/5 for a week, but made very little contact with the NVA. These kids were told they had to protect their families from being killed, and they were just doing what they were told to survive. 1967 with the 7th Marines remaining there for most of their deployment in VietNam. to enable the Marines to move men and material across the Song Thu Bon south to An Hoa or to a jump off point for Operations to be conducted on Go Noi Island. S/Sgt Greg Smith H&S 2/5. Thanks again, I remembered seeing tanks with flame thrower keep burning the area. I was with the Engneers that operated the ferry there and was located just across the river from where you were when your position was over run . Also, by the time this happen there were NO local VC left because they had been wiped-out during TET of early 1968 and Im sure most of the VC were not VC but NVA regulars!! Alligator lake was over the small ridge to the southeast near Go Noi island. This bridge had been a prime target for the Viet Cong and it would be destroyed and rebuilt many times over throughout the war. Changing tubes on 175s at LSU 1 in 1970 was the hardest work I have ever done in my life . Despite heavy loss of blood, Ray managed to crawl through the barrage of enemy fire to assist another fallen Marine, shielding him from a grenade blast. I was Army, my 8/4 Battalion of 175mm guns OpCon 3rd Marines up on he DMZ. We were positioned at the far end of the airstrip from the ammo dump, that was blown by NVA sappers in Feb (?) The runway is in decent condition and is possible to drive on. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Discovering the hidden places from the Vietnam War, Copyright 2023 Vietnam War Travel Activation WordPress theme by. read more, Photo By Andr Sobocinski | In the early morning of March 19, 1969, a Marine combat base at Phu Loc 6 near An Hoa, Vietnam, became the scene of a surprise enemy attack. My best friend (we grew up together and both became Corpsman and went to Vietnam together} was killed while we were on patrols in the valley. from Aug76-Sept1980. I heard sometime later that in total they had killed 32 NVA before the hedgerows came alive with automatic weapons fire. Hello. Ha! [2]:93 On 6 July 5 Marine Battalions launched Operation Macon around the An Ha area, the operation continued into October resulting in 24 Marines and 380 VC killed. When I got the Purple Heart, I was jumping out of a helicopter during Operation Forsythe Grove. You are ALL truly HEROS!! February 15th, DVIDS Hub works best with JavaScript enabled, Version: 378719a7422dbf16a653a31d0524fb9a2058ed47_2023-04-20T10:09:12. Liberty Bridge on the Thu Bon river near An Hoa, Vietnam 1968 Picture taken from a CH 46 on a routine mail run with HMM 164 to An Hoa. my name is Richard Vesper I was in An Hoa 69 and 70 with lsu-1 2\5 untill we turned it over to the arvins in I believe Sept. of 70. I was at An Hoa from 68-69. 2023 Knowledge WOW - All Rights Reserved I didnt start learning english until 6th grade. "Earlier that night, they hit the compound just across the river," Mitchell explained. I carried the radio for most of my time there, not exactly a smart move on my part. Anyone remember? Those 175s would rattle our teeth. Required fields are marked *. All the area operation data has been unclassified and easy to Google. Never been so scared in all my life. From April to September 1967 Seabees of Mobile Construction Battalion 4 built a 2,040 feet (620 m) "Liberty bridge" (T Do bridge, now the Giao Thy bridge) over the Thu Bn river. Many thanks to all the veterans out there! My father was a mechanic in the USAF stationed in Taiwan. Lived in a tent next to the sniper platoon. [2]:20410, In August 1966 the Marines completed the construction of the MSR (main supply route) between Da Nang and An Ha, naming it the "Liberty Road". The children were healthy there and I remember their straight lines waiting to see us. Arrived An Hoa november 7th 1967, assign to 81s H&S 2/5, First Marine I remember meeting was Sgt Jerdo . Chuck, thank you for checking out the article and for your nice comment. We never slept even when not in the bush. Not sure about the hospital. Division: 3d Marine Division (Rein) FMF. I was at An Hoa 69 70, attached to 2/11 Hq, field radio operator. On March 19, 1969, a battalion-size enemy force stormed the Marine outpost . Several of his classmates from Corps School had already deployed to theater with Marine units and Ray too wanted to do his part. 'I got to Vietnam in May 1969, to a little town called An Hoa, and went to the Liberty Bridge. Taken at Hospital Corps School San Diego, Calif., in October 1966, it is a heavily cropped image that conceals the fact that at 66 Ray towered over his classmates and he typically shied away from getting his photograph taken. High school classmate was Mike 3/5. I was short by that time. I can be of help with some suggestions. Who was the architect of the Liberty Bridge? see less This mission covers another insert near at Liberty Bridge, which I believe was near the base at An Hoa. Worked FDC, then sent to 2/5 to work with them at the other end of the base. 2512. Bill. Principal Address at USS David Ray Christening, 13 October 1975. BUMED Archives. Liberty Bridge. I was great working for the Marines, both in and around Da Nang, An Hoa and at FSB C-1 a few miles south of the DMZ just off Hwy 1. Lenny from Brooklyn (L) and David Tabaka (R) on patrol in An Hoa Valley, Qung Nam Province. Ive been back to Vietnam three times now, easy for me because after the war I worked as a journalist out of Hong Kong for most of 20 years. Thomas Frew was not yet a high school graduate in Newburgh, New York, when he enlisted in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War in 1968. on 29 March and Hill 55 eventually became the Command Post of the 9th Marine Regiment. On 10 September, 1965 the Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment LtCol. From the Red Garcia Collection (COLL/5065), Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections . A chu hoi led the grunts to a VC propaganda leader on this one. I recall referring to the lake where the German hospital was located as Spider lake. Liberty Bridge is long gone There in 2000. This disambiguation page lists articles about roads and streets with the same name. We were bulk fuel, ammo, radio relay, etc. [2]:41 On 20 April 1966 the Marines returned to An Ha on Operation Georgia, the 12th Marines reestablished a firebase while the 3rd Battalion 9th Marines provided security, the base would become permanent at this time as the Marines sought to pacify the area. Thank you for you kind comment. Ive seen Colonel Cheatman and you Marines on you tube. A medevac situation developed on this insert when four grunts were wounded by a booby trap, and another was injured somehow. Battalion: 2d Battalion. I served with CHARLIE 1/5 from 68-69 came away with two Purple HEARTS AND LOST A FEW GOOD MARINES THE AZ VALLEY WAS THE VALLEY OF DEATH SEMPER FI GLAD YOU MADE IT BACK. The following year, Bobby Rayor as he is better known to us today, David Robert Raywas posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. My name is Paul Conrad I was there August 1968-November 1969, welcome Brother Marine. Today, if you visit any Navy medical command you will find Rays portrait proudly exhibited among the 28 pictures of hospital corpsmen, physicians and dentists who have each been awarded the Medal of Honor. Liberty Bridge Today, Quang Nam, Vietnam WarSpecter 64 subscribers Subscribe 57 5.2K views 3 years ago We visit the remnants of a bridge formerly constructed by US Marines in an area of high. I was glad to be in Force Recon as a Radio man 1969. other accounts have the event at a smaller outpost a bit north west near the river. Chuck, I should know you. [1], On the night of 21 November 1968, a PAVN/VC battalion attacked the base. 24 days and a wake up. He is my Stoic Hero. I ran the 2/5 Battalion Aid Station, and I got to do some medcaps in the surrounding villages. He told him that the NVA we in the horshoe hedgerow that surrounded the paddy. I was surprised by how many civilians with chickens and pigs got on with us! There is where we fought the rest of the day and night. Kinh told Captain Graham not to take his company into that rice paddy. New one of the KIA ( Gunny, Floyd Keffe) . In the early morning of March 19, 1969, a Marine combat base at Phu Loc 6 near An Hoa, combat narratives are told by those who actually engaged in the. Nobody knows who he was. To make this long story short, we got our asses kicked that day. Cpl David Paul Bagwell (rank when i was discharged 1970) Two machine guns on the left tore into 1st platoon. Intro MCB 4 - Ken Walden 1967 DaNang Vietnam Deployment Camp Hoover Liberty Bridge wyotexas USA Ron Reel 2.37K subscribers Subscribe 402 views 1 year ago MCB 4 - Ken Walden 1967 DaNang. US body count: 852 killed. Danny Mitchell served in Vietnam with Delta Battery, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division at Liberty Bridge . Not a nice place slept with flack jacket and helmet all the time ! My name is Richard Vesper I was in AN Hoa 69 and 70 untill we turned it over to the ARVNS I believe in Sept. of 70. That base came under heavy fire. Built at An Hoa-21 Miles SW of Da Nang by MCB-4 Liberty Bridge MCB-4 - seabee-rvn Photo Sharing About SmugMug Browse Photos Prints & Gifts Terms Privacy Contact Owner Log In 2023 SmugMug, Inc. Other than boot camp at MCRD San Diego I spent my entire 4 year tour at Camp Horno with the 1st Marines. You actually have to walk across the old American (secret, CIA) air-strip there after you get off the bus and walk North 500 meters to downtown tourist area. Ha! I have pictures of the before and after. Then he took a little step sideways and I thought, Thats not right. We had people from the villages who would come into our compound during the daytime, and they would clean our shoes and clothes, and make our beds. I have pictures before and after. Its been a while and I dont remember the exact dates but those are approximate. How long is Liberty Bridge? Respectfully, Jon. Hue would be just East of the A Shau valley border with Lao). Liberty Bridge was constructed and located at coordinates AT 923532, in Dai Loc District, Quang Nam Province. I was with the command group, Capt. Thank you all for your service. Vietnam 1968. 3/1 comm plt. years of 1970-71. With recon for 1 month on top of some mountain top with a 1st Lt. forward observer to watch over a big valley that had been cleared out, to call in arty if we spotted anything. Semper Fi. So the VC took advantage of our way of thinking and they had NO problem doing something like that!! Then sent to Delta battery hill 65. Will never forget it. When the attack began at 22:00, Marine tank and artillery crews on the perimeter began direct fire against the advancing PAVN/VC, using Beehive anti-personnel rounds. GINOVIET151@GMAIL.COM. From An Hoa 2/5 moved to Phu Bai just on time for Hue City. The road is still there so possible to travel along. We would not have allowed this to happen if we had been there still. The force of the explosion knocked me head over heals, and knocked me unconscious. I was the FO attached to Echo 2/5. I believe one Monk was killed. If you want to travel back and spend some time there, I suggest you arrange it yourself. Was part of the LSU (Logistics Support Unit). there. Hard to believe Liberty Bridge, An Hoa look so different, not much left. Service: Navy. 68-69. and HQ Co. 1st Marine Regt. Airlifted off the An Hoa airfield matting runway by Air Force C-130s to Phu Bai while with Hotel Co. 2/5 1st MarDiv in Jan 68. The Filling up canteens with fresh drinking water from bomb crater while on patrol in the field. A tour of Naval Hospital Long Beach followed. The bridge opened on March 27, 1928, following a 5-mile (8.0 km) vehicle parade from the southern suburbs. Audio: Donovan- Hurdy Gurdy Man (this track is the property of it's respectful owners, and it's use in this video is not for monetary compensation). The only officer alive in the fight had us retreat to some high ground behind us where we began our attack. After all of these years I still keep in touch with several Marines from those hedy days. Don, I was FDC 2/11 Feb 70-71, HQ, then Echo Battery, then HQ the rest, AnHoa, DaNang, LZ Baldy. Chuck Eco 2/5. Still alive at 77. The base as such covers a large area, parts of it has developed in to an industrial zone today, but most of it is more or less untouched. 1st Marine Division Operations There was a visible sign of better times in Quang Nam province when, on 30 March, the 825-foot Seabee-constructed Liberty Bridge was opened across the Thu Bon river just south of Dai Loc. 1969, a Marine combat base at Phu Loc 6 near An Hoa, A Portrait of HM2 Bobby Ray, Heroic Doc of Liberty Bridge, Strategic Plan. By days end 36 of the Marines were dead. In a Free Fire Zone SW of Danang in 1968. Thanks for your service Don and Welcome Home Brother !!! Spent 9 mo. I had seven days left in my tour when it happened. But my B Battery had been split off from the battalion on arrival in Vietnam and placed in a defensive position near Da Nang. Harvey Watson was killed there. Later during that year, in April, the base was used again and it was at this time it became a permanent installation. His name was Kinh. On January 31, 1968, South Vietnam exploded from North to South. I was there from Oct 76 to Mar 68 An Hoa and Phu Bai untill med evacked out of country. 4th Plt was also at An Hoa, We had 10 tanks split between An Hoa and Liberty Bridge. I was there when the CBs built us a hooch and the tent went away. My memory is bad and getting worse the older i get. Jack L Murduck kia By the way I was: 1st Bn 5th Mar Div H&S Co 81 Mor Plt. 36th Regiment. I went through four operations while I was in Vietnam, including the Durham Peak and Pipestone Canyon operations. A bridge guard threw frag at something in the water. Can anyone tell me about the disposition of Hill 300. The bridge features three levels--an express commuter level for pedestrians and cyclists, a retail level for casual crossings and tourism, and upper park levels for relaxation, renewable energy collection and the best location for that perfect selfie with NYC as the backdrop. The Liberty Bridge, completed in 1928, connects downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the Liberty Tunnels and the South Hills neighborhoods beyond. Thanks, Jon. I watched the firefight from our trench line. He would die, but would be awarded a posthumous MOH. On 4 July the first leg of "Liberty Road" was completed, a distance of 3,500 meters south from Hill 55 to Route 4, and in If any one knows. Primary Location During Vietnam: Da Nang, Vietnam, Story Themes: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1st Marines, An Hoa Valley, Combat, Da Nang, David Tabaka, Marines, Quang Nam Province, Saint Paul, St Paul, A Twin Cities PBS initiative in collaboration with the MN PBS Stations, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1st Marines, An Hoa Valley, Combat, Da Nang, David Tabaka, Marines, Quang Nam Province, Saint Paul, St Paul, Terms and Conditions for Submitting Your Story. Semper Fi.Doc! September a battery of 15 HAWK missles were deployed to Hill 55 were it provided coverage for the Vu Gia River Valley. Three times only twelve of us survived fierce battle scenes. NVA went into the orphanage still cant believe there were hundreds of us Marines just yards away playing defense while a few NVA killed all those kids!still my worst memory of my year over there, As C O of B1/5 I served at Liberty Bridge for combat operations in the Arizona Territory and later out of An Hoa & the 1/5 battles at An Bang 3 in the Arizona territory as we named the VC/NVA location 80 plus days on patrol or fighting from May 15th until July 31st, then because I complained of poor logistic support the 5TH Regt C.O pulled me out of Bn to be the Regt logistics officer S-4 & An Hoa base security officer as a Capt. The audio was taped by Dwight Williams. Ray was awarded a scholarship to the University of Tennessee in 1963, but this same sense of service weighed heavily on him. Three VC crawled up close enough to fire 3 RPGs. Ears still ringing Despite the challenges of working during the monsoon season, they finished the airstrip in. life-and-death struggles. Say, trying to confirm the name of the CO for 2/5. We left An Hoa for Phu Bai on 16 January 1968. [1], An Ha was located southeast of a major Vietcong (VC)/People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) base area known as the Arizona Territory across the Vu Gia River. Cpl. [3] The airfield was capable of handling C-7, C-123 and C-130 aircraft. And thank you for sharing a piece of your story. A women saving food. Because us being Americans would Never, Ever do something like that! Poinsett Bridge Hey Paul, was C Company CP located on Hill 37 near Dai-Loc? He blamed the Doc. Take the village from the front. Also Corpsman David Ray ,also KIA , received the MOH for his actions that night. Over the years Ray would be memorialized as the namesake of a missile destroyer (DD-971), medical clinics in Camp Pendleton, Calif., Quantico, Va., and Everett, Wash., a Bachelor Enlisted Quarters in Camp Pendleton, and an elementary school in his hometown of McMinnville, Tenn. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Thanks for posting! This area was patrolled by my platoon during 1967 and 1968. I think we called it the Rocket Capital of the World, lol. Just two weeks later he was part of a mission to protect Liberty Bridge, a strategic supply artery across the Thu Bon River connecting An Hoa to Da Nang. The Liberty Bridge . Believe he was from Texas. beginning in 1966. In his junior year he left school to join the Navy, enlisting on March 23, 1966. I have so many memories from An Hoa. I was there with you. Some of the most remote wilderness still left on the planet. The $4.5 million structure was funded by the City of Greenvilles Hospitality Tax, which must be spent on tourism-related facilities. Google Guns of the DMZ for more on my 8/4 Battlion. [but he would] just smile and shake his head, taking it all in stride. He had been a Boy Scout, a skilled trombonist, vice president of his senior high school class, member of his pep squad and star of his schools golf team. I know Mike Harris.SF. The bridge was constantly under attack and was destroyed several times, either by the enemy I was with the 5th Marines in An Hoa area 11/68 4/69. The Arizona Territory saw large concentrations of PAVN and Viet Cong troops during the whole war, especially up around Charlie Ridge in the north west part of the area. The lake might have been called Alligator Lake . It was piloted by Major Sharr, co-pilot unknown, the crew chief was Dwight Williams, the gunner was Mike Sprinkle, and ground unit commander onboard was a colonel whos the first name was Bill. Elements of the 3rd Marine Division were the first Marine units that operated in the vicintiy of Hill 55 beginning in 1965 After that our nights were spent in a bunker on the runway until I left for home in February. Liberty Bridge South side of Liberty Bridge view directly north to Charlie Ridge and Hill 37. I had been wounded on 27 February at our outpost at My Loc 2. Hill 55 (also known as Nui Dat Son or Camp Muir) is a hill 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) southwest of Da Nang, Qung Nam Province, Vietnam. An Hoa Valley, Qung Nam Province. 58 captured. I was at An Hoa with India Co. 3/5,from 8/68 to 10/68,I transferred to CAP. feature in the 9th Marines TAOR, it was eventually cleared of mines and boody traps. In the act of saving this Marines life Ray ultimately sacrificed his own. Do you remember him? An Ha base was located southeast of a major Vietcong/People's Army of Vietnam base area known as the Arizona Territory across the Vu Gia River. Young orphans killed laying out on the front of the temple. . I dont know how An Hoa compared to other places in Vietnam I remember the constant rocket strikes and the base being overrun on May 7 and F 2/5 Dan Bullocks death that evening. During my tour of Vietnam, my world revolved around the lives and actions of the forty-seven men in a Marine infantry platoon. I have spent a few days visiting the various web sights searching for anything I can find on An Hoa Combat Base and yours has been very helpful, I was there in 69-70. I dont know about the hospital building between An hoa and the bridge. 1st Bridge Co. Semper Fi John, I was with F 2/11, and assigned to M 3/5 from Aug 68 until the end of Aug 69. SF. I was there during that time period. Looking for a Lt. who came to Fox 2/5 2nd Platoon on 11 July 69 And stepped on a box mine less than 12 hours later. AnHoa served as a jump off point for regions fought over from 66-71. Makes me cry! Did we meet during the time between your arrival and my departure from An Hoi ? This was just south of Da Nang, and was a "free fire" combat zone. On the morning of 4 May 1968 two Companies of the 2nd Battalion 7th Marines supported by tanks crossed the Liberty Bridge ( 15.841N 108.121E) onto the island meeting only light resistance for the first few days. What Is The Difference Between The Four Types Of Landslides? 3/1 comm. Today if you Google David Robert Ray you will come across a portrait showing a gangly, smiling youth in service dress and a Dixie Cup hat. Fuentes, Gidget. I made so many great buddies with 2/5. I am sorry for his passing. So, I got a Bronze Star because they said I stopped a possible problem that could have happened if the bomb had gone off and blown up a bunch of people. or nature. Rupnik, E.J. He kept coming and kept coming, making like he was drinking from the can, and he wouldnt put it down. Nadine Dymond Trcka. The 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines handed over the base to the ARVN 1st Battalion, 51st Regiment on 15 October 1970.[5]. Also included is a map from J.C. Bowers which shows Mike Company's base camp's location from October '67 to March of '68. I think he was attached to one of the grunt companies at the time? The CAP Marines and their South Vietnamese Popular Force (PF) counterparts took the PAVN/VC flanks and rear under fire, calling for air and artillery support. A women saving food. Da Nang. Liberty Bridge/Clearance below Thanks for the post and pictures, sure brings back some memories for sure. Captain Graham attempted to get permission to go around tland llflank the hedgerow on the left. The doctors and nurses would regularly eat in the 5th Marines mess hall. Supported by fire from 82mm and 60mm mortars, 57mm recoilless rifles and B-44 rockets, PAVN and VC troops advanced against the base's eastern perimeter. When he started coming in, he had a Coca-Cola in his hand and was making like he was drinking it. I was a Scout Sergeant with various batterys in 2/11 attached out to 3/5. This includes, but not limited to: The Arizona, The Phu Lacs, Liberty Bridge, Duc Duc, Antenna Valley, The Indian Country, Go Noi Island, Dodge City, Henderson Hill, Mau Chanh and the Que Son Mountains of South Vietnam. Hey Ronald ( Doc). Amphibian tractors arrived and added the weight of their machine guns to the battle. The hill is located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) northeast of the confluence of the Yen, Ai Nghia, and La Tho Rivers and was a United States Marine Corps base during the Vietnam War. If an internal link led you here, you may wish . He requested transfer to the Field Medical Service School (FMSS) in Camp Pendleton, Calif., and after graduating on June 25, 1968, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) destined for Vietnam. Did make it to the Goi Noi Island; bad place! Vietnam; Lao, China border area. Was assigned to Bravo Company. A docent who was familiar with the history of the air craft told me that the plane had been flown of An Hoa at the same time period that I was flown out of An Hoa! My mom kept bringing them out until the last day we were there. From April to September 1967 Seabees of Mobile Construction Battalion 4 built a 2,040 feet (620m) "Liberty bridge" (T Do bridge, now the Giao Thy bridge) over the Thu Bn river.