Important Message
This Website Terms and Condition of Use Agreement
also known as a 'terms of service agreement'
Will be at the bottom of most web pages!
Please read it before using this website.
Thank You
|
North High School Class of 1966 Involvement in the Vietnam War.
|
 |
| Previous Page |
|
|
|
 |
| Next Page |
|
|
| A Summer Day
In Nam
by Lance Corporal, Floyd Ruggles
1st Reconnaissance Battalion.
| |
Last night I awoke to the sounds of thunder. I was recalling a small part of a summer day a long time ago. As if it was yesterday as I remember it was the height of the war that summer of ‘69. It seems to be bits and pieces of time that have been locked away for forty + years. Names and places are not clear to me at this time, so I’ll do my best to remember. The team of 8 recon Marines consisted of young, tough, bronzed warriors with an attitude, a gung ho bunch of Marines from the 1st Recon Battalion. Bravo Company, 2nd Platoon. Team name “call sign” unknown at this time. I can’t recall the team’s name for this mission but the team names that come to mind are Blue Spruce, Cayenne, Panama Hat and Albrook that I worked with from time to time. My team was getting briefed by 1st Lt. Riley, his name I can recall. 1st Lt. Brian Riley sticks in my mind because I felt I was responsible for his death and that been playing on my mind all this years. You see as the pointman for this small team of marines. I was responsible for finding and clearing the areas of all the booby traps, mines and all other devices that can wreak havoc on my brothers of my team. As a scout I took my job seriously all the time and on all my missions. It so happened by faith maybe luck, I considered my self to be very lucky in life and at that time in the years of ‘68 and ‘69. But my good friend Lance Corporal Herman Jonse, I’ll call him Jonsey for short. Yes my good friend Jonsey of Bravo Company, at the time had just returned from R&R “rest and recuperation” in Australia where he met Margaret his wife to be. Margaret what can I say about Margaret, but she was a peach, a down to earth woman and I thought Jonsey was the luckiest guy on earth. But at the time I was a dumb kid and I had no plans to go on R&R. As I told my friend I’m saving for a brand new car. And I can recall that car today that I was saving for, it was a green 1969 Chevy with white racing stripes. A new ’69 Chevy Chevelle SS “Super Sport” with a 396 high performance engine with a Holley carburetor, chrome wheels with Goodyear F70-14 polyglass tires and this car had a Delco AM radio. Well to make a story short Jonsey talked me into going to Australia for a week and yes to meet his wife to be. I can recall that time in Australia and meeting Margaret one of the best vacation, I ever had and thanks to Jonsey and Margaret that R&R to Australia April 8th through April 15th, 1969 maybe saved my life who knows. Only one week, but your life can end in a week. When I returned to the Battalion on April 16th I found out that my team had been lost to a mine or some kind of booby trap. And 1st Lt. Riley had taking the brunt of it all and my replacement at point and our radioman was medivaced and I did not hear from them again. So I felt responsible at the time not protecting my team on that mission, so that 1st Lt. Brian Riley was the Marine leading this mission on this summer day. He was giving the briefing the night before this mission. I recall parts of the mission and the high probability of making contact deep in enemy controlled territory. I recall that this didn’t seem to bother me at that time been that I had been on plenty of patrol about 20 missions in all to date and because of my experience at that time as a scout. This was to be only one more mission to me. As I think back on this now. Why is this one mission constantly on my mind? After forty + years, why is this summer day on my mind. I seem to be reliving this day over and over in my mind. Like a movie that comes to mind “Ground Hog Day”. Where Bill Murray is living Ground Hog Day over and over and it seems to never end for him until he can get it right. As I’m writing this down for the first time, it seems to be playing out and starting to come back to me a little clearer. Each time I sit down to write now my time line 1968-1969 is becoming clearer to me. I stumbled across the 1st Reconnaissance website on June 3rd, 2008. I was on ebay comparing prices, with inventory on hand in my mall that day and looking for inventory to purchase for my Antique business. I don’t know to this day why I keyed in Recon. I keyed in Recon it seemed to pop into my mind. But I was surprised to see all the items listed under Recon on Ebay that day. I don’t know maybe curiosity at that time. But I switched from Ebay to my search engine and keyed in 1st Recon Battalion, Yes I keyed in 1st Recon Battalion that changed everything for me. Up to this point in time I thought I sealed the memories away for good. That click of my mouse and up popped the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion’s website. Oh my God, I don’t believe it, my old unit in Nam. At the same time a peaceful feeling came over me like running into an old friend yes like running into a friend. This feeling is hard to describe for me. I can recall that day I arrived at 1st Recon in Vietnam as a green know it all rookie marine with an attitude and gung ho at the same time. I was going to win the war by myself. I can look back today on this and laugh at myself. What a dumb kid I must have been then. Only moments after arriving that day, reality set in and I learn quickly that I was in hell or some where close. Yes I can recall the day I arrived at 1st Recon, it was Saturday July 7th, 1968. As one of their replacements for one of those brave men KIA “killed in action” on Hill 200 a month earlier on June 3rd, 1968. I spent the remaining part of June 3rd, 2008 reading stores on the Battalion website. I realized that what once was sealed away in my mind is now racing through my mind like a wild fire out of control. This would go on for weeks before I started writing it down. Working as a pointman I’ll call it a scout from time to time, as a boy I like to play an old scout, you know like the one out of an old movie of the wide west or some times I played an Indian scout “Native American scout” from the cavalry. You can see my point so time to time I will call it a scout and not a pointman. I’m just a dumb kid playing cowboys and Indians as my mother would say. I also worked as a M79 grenadier on my earlier missions for Bravo Company. Until two weeks shy of going home for good I was hospitalized in Yokahama on July 9th, 1969 and release from Active Duty on August 19th, 1969. I can recall that time in August of ‘69 when I return home and encounter the Anti-War demonstrator for the first time. My opinion at the time was that many Americans thought the war in Vietnam was wrong and the veterans of the war was baby killers and most Americans hated the veteran at that time in my opinion. I can recall the words Baby Killers for the fighting men and maybe women too. But returning home it played on my mind at that time in ‘69. I never talked about the war at that time I just sealed it away. But I did not intentionally kill innocent civilians or babies and you can take that to the bank. I am proud of serving in the Marine Corps my opinion will not chance. I’m proud to be a recon marine and that you can take to the bank also. Like most of us who served in Vietnam in my opinion went there with a different attitude. I never questioned whether, morally or politically. We should have been in Vietnam. We were told and I believed that we were helping a county to stave off communism and upholding the ideals of our way of life. As for the year of 1968 I missed that anti-war demonstrator as a member of the armed forces from December 7th,1967 I didn’t know about it, I didn’t heard about it, an I didn’t know why maybe I why so focus on going to war that I blank out the world around me.
|
I participated in the counter offensive phases five and six plus the Tet 1969 Counter Offensive and the summer and fall campaign.
So four out of the seventeen campaigns that were designated for the war in Vietnam I participated in and each is a story of their own.
Vietnam Campaigns:
1. Vietnam Advisory 03/15/1962 - 03/07/1965
2. Vietnam Defend 03/08/1965 - 12/24/1965
3. Vietnam Counter Offensive 12/25/1965 - 06/30/1966
4. Vietnam Counter Offensive Phase 2 07/01/1966 - 05/31/1967
5. Vietnam Counter Offensive Phase 3 06/01/1967 - 01/29/1968
6. Tel Counter Offensive 01/30/1968 - 04/01/1968
7. Vietnam Counter Offensive Phase 4 04/02/1968 - 06/30/1968
8. Vietnam Counter Offensive Phase 5 07/01/1968 - 11/01/1968
9. Vietnam Counter Offensive Phase 6 11/02/1968 - 02/22/1969
10. Tet 1969 Counter Offensive 02/23/1969 - 06/08/1969
11. Vietnam Summer - Fall 06/09/1969 - 10/31/1969
12. Vietnam Winter - Spring 11/01/1970 - 06/30/1970
13. Sanctuary Counter Offensive 05/01/1970 - 06/30/1970
14. Vietnam Counter Offensive Phase 7 07/01/1970 - 06/30/1971
15. Consolidation 1 07/01/1971 - 11/30/1971
16. Consolidation 2 12/01/1971 - 03/29/1972
17. Vietnam Craze Fire 03/30/1972 - 01/28/1973
The military build continued steadily to 267,000 in 1966 and to peak strength of 543,000 US troops in early that summer of 1969 and was then to fall away equally as fast.
The Marines of the 1st and 3rd divisions were deployed in 1 corps in central Vietnam. This map locates the four military corps areas in South Vietnam. The 1st Marine Division and the 1st reconnaissance Battalion operated in Corps 1 at the time I was in Vietnam.
|
In August of ‘69, I also sealed the past away in a sea trunk with I call my time capsule today.
All my items from 1st recon and the marine corps except for my photos, they’re collecting dust in photo albums on a shelf or two and a couple of them in my office at work. And a few medals in a case in a closet at home. The balance of the war is in this large sea trunk from the ‘30s. It’s the kind that opens up into a suite of furniture like an armoire and a chest of drawers. So I’m looking forward to opening it with the key I misplaced. But for the time I’ll be patient not to break the lock to open it. I’m thinking to myself I’m an antique dealer and this trunk is an artifact from the ‘30s. I’ll call it my time capsule for now. Forty years now it seem like yesterday for me. Each day brings back some thing new for me. I have been looking frantically for that trunk key with no luck. And I can recall that day I arrived in Nam as a replacement for one of those brave men of Hill 200. And now forty years to the day I stumbled across their story on the web as told by Doug Wolfe of team Blue Spruce. He calls his story “Thoughts of that Day”.
Here is Doug’s story of Hill 200,
Thoughts of that Day
Today is a particularly dreary, rainy day. Lookout Mountain is socked in good. It is not unusual for it to be socked in. Hell they fought the Battle above the Clouds there during the Civil War. However, today it put me in mind of another dreary, socked in ridge I was on for around 2 hours on 3 June, 1968. Known only to me as Hill 200, it was a desolate, indefensible place that somebody in the 1st Mardiv G3 shop picked off the map to insert my platoon on as an observation post & radio relay.200 was a high hump on a triple canopy ridge line running northeast to southwest. One could observe a small section of a river to the south if one looked closely and the hill wasn’t socked in as it was when I was there. Other than that, all you could observe was a lot of triple canopied high ground that surrounded the hill for approximate 320 of the 360 degrees of view. For those less trained in the fine art of surveillance than myself. You couldn’t see shit and the place was a defender’s nightmare. On 29 May, 1968 team Cayenne 3rd Platoon Bravo Company. 1st Reconnaissance Battalion (Rein) led by S/Sgt. Phil Hampton inserted on hill 200 to conduct a 6 day static OP mission & act as a radio relay for teams operating in the far reaches of the battalion comm. net. Hampton’s team was composed of his normal people operating with Cayenne, HM3 Earl Lerch, and the remainder of the platoon minus an 8 man patrol being conducted on Charlie Ridge by Team Blue Spruce, the other team in the Platoon. His patrol numbered 15 14 Marines & 1 Navy Corpsman. (HM3 Lerch)They were inserted by CH46 helicopters after fixed wing had prepped the zone and basically blown the jungle off the ridge line for about 100 meters along the spine of the ridge and about 75 meters of the sides of the finger. They immediately set to work digging 2 man positions, setting fields of fire, putting out their claymores, & laying a pitiful single strand of concertina wire on their perimeter. Only God and Phil Hampton know why a request for extraction from this position was not submitted. Maybe one was, but the 1st Recon Unit Diary shows no such request. From the insertion thru the day of the 2nd of June, the patrol was uneventful, other than 1 sighting called in on a sampan traveling upriver. The SALUTE report cited 2 male occupants dressed in black Pj’s. No packs or weapons were observed and no request for fire was submitted. The afternoon of 2 June marked a turn for the worse in the weather. The rain came and the accompanying fog started to sock the team in. the team set in for a miserable night in the mountain jungle, but what the fuck, they were getting out in the morning. On the 30th of May Team Blue Spruce had returned to Camp Reasoned from our patrol. We were debriefed, cleaned our weapons and gear, and proceeded to see who could get the drunkest on 3.2 beers. The next few days would be spent taking turns on guard duty on the battalion perimeter, going to freedom Hill PX, and getting briefed and trained up for our next mission. On the 2nd we were assigned the additional duty of acting as the Bravo Co. React team. We were briefed by our TL, Sgt. Jimmy Linn of our duties and advised that there would be no drinking. This fell on deaf ears partly because most of us were already drunk and partly because Shakey Linn was pulling on a Budweiser when he said it. Sometime around midnight we awakened by the Co. 1st Sgt. And Sgt. Linn and advised that Cayenne was in heavy contact, had reported heavy casualties, and had lost common with Grim Reaper. (The Battalion TAC calls sign) We were told to grab our shit and muster at the 3 shop for deployment to their pos. the C.O., 1st Sgt., Linn, & Doc Domino were taken in the 3 shop for briefing and the rest of us were waiting outside for word about our team in trouble. The word we were getting was that the NVA were all over the hill, Huey gunships were on station and providing cover fire, Spooky gunships were on station, but unable to work because of limited visibility due to the hill being socked in, and there was no contact with the team on the ground. We were beside ourselves and begging to be inserted immediately. We were told we would be going in as soon as a viable assessment of the situation on the ground could be made and visibility
Permitted about 0300 we received the word that S/Sgt. Hampton had came up on Grim Reaper’s push and requested emergency medivac for Doc Lerch & himself. A CH53 pilot with a lot more balls than brains landed and picked them up. It has never been made clear to me if Doc Lerch died on the medivac or shortly after landing at Charlie Med. We were advised that Hampton was seriously wounded and reported the rest of his team were dead or missing. We would be inserting as soon after daybreak as the safety of the choppers allowed. We boarded 2 CH46s just before dawn on the morning of the 3rd. The React team was composed of: Sgt. Jimmy Linn TL Cpl. James Southall ATL Cpl. J. Boland Primary radioHM3 Michael Domino Corpsman L/Cpl. Jerry Kecker M79PFC Delbert Enos Rear Point PFC Nelson Livingston Alt Radio PFC Doug Wolfe Point l/Cpl. Dave Morris M60& 2 Marines from 1st MarDiv graves regrestration who I didn’t know. I’m not sure, but believe Capn. Little, B Co. C.O. was co-coordinating the operation from the other CH46 in out flight. We sat down on the south end of the hill and I remember seeing Campanella and McAdams lying in their hole on that side of the hill. They had both been shot in the head. I could not get off the side to my security position soon enough. I could see to my right another fighting position with bodies, but could not tell who they were. I found out later they were Petey Wedemier & Patterson. If you were ever in a firefight with the NVA, you are aware that they didn’t normally leave brass piled up on the battlefield. This morning I was kneeled down in a virtual pile of AK brass. We were later told a force of approximate 30 overran the hill. Bullshit, I never saw a gook on my whole tour with over 3 mags of ammo and it was piled at least 30 to 40 yards up the whole side of the ridge. I think they were hit by at least a Sapper Co. and maybe more. Most of the claymore wires were still in position and had been cut. The claymores themselves were gone and no sign was evident that they had been blown. I was told by Phil Hampton months later that every position on the hill was hit by RPGs in the initial assault after we had been there about 15 minutes I heard a lot of excited shouting from the NE side of the hill. Jim Southall came to our side of the hill and said somebody off the side of the hill was whistling the Marine Corps Hamm and we might have survivors. PFCs Gorman, Mecedo, and L/Cpls Gonzales, Washburn, Ski (can’t remember his real name) and 1 other Marine who I have forgot his name were found in a streambed at the bottom of a cliff on that side of the hill. They had apparently been blown off the hill by the RPGs. I believe it saved their lives. All but Ski were injured to the extent they were sent home. The KIAs, along with HM3 Earl Lerch, who had been medivaced earlier, were L/Cpl. Terry Edgar, PFC Frank Huff, PFC Darrell Campanella, and PFC Gerald McAdams, PFC Peter Wedemier, & PFC Scott Patterson. I will never forget them. They are together on 60w & 61w of the Vietnam Memorial. We also recovered 1 NVA body. I have no idea why they left him. I went on several missions with Hampton after the Cayenne mission and found him to be a brave and competent leader. I never asked him about that mission several times he brought it up and I just listened that what Lookout Mountain being socked in this morning made me think of I hope the fuck it’s sunny & clear in the morning. Respectfully, Doug Wolfe
****************
Looking back on this that was the first time I heard the full story on Hill 200. On what happened to Cayenne that night on Hill 200. As a replacement the only thing I was told was a small part of the story. Like the hill was over run with NVA and the team wiped out. Thanks to this story I now know the full story.
You see I worked that hill on three or four different times on OP “observation post” on seven day missions. And each time the night rolled in. What happened to team Cayenne on that night of June 3rd, 1968 was on my mind and all my marine brothers on those missions on Hill 200. I guess it all in the timing or luck. My time on Hill 200 seemed somewhat normal. I can recall a couple incidents in March of '69 being up all night and calling in flares, artillery and two other incidents in '68 we call in napalm on one as a battalion size unit of NVA along the river moving in formatting.
Besides those I had two KIA off of that hill one with a sniper rifle and one with the 50 caliber machine gun. Yes I can recall Hill 200 as if it was yesterday. And Doug’s story brought back the times I worked with Blue Spruce. I can recall the nightmares and how hard it was to forget it all and move on. But thanks to a story or two, I guess your mind really doesn’t forget things like war. You might think it does, but your just fooling you self. Knowing Doug and Phil Hampton and working with Sgt. Jimmy Linn and Cpl. James Southall, I remember him as a Sgt. Not a Cpl. Maybe a promotion I worked with him from time to time. But I worked with so many marines I’m not really sure at this time of his rank. And Doug’s story brought back memories of all those brave men of 1st Recon. And recalling words like, Charlie Ridge, going out on patrols Boarding CH 46 helicopters, pulling down fields of fire, setting up claymore mines, putting out concertina wire, and yes the weather oh that weather what can t say but what a nightmare that can be. Socked in for days, miserable nights in the mountain jungle, with heavy contacts of enemy moving a round you all night, gunships providing cover fire, working on react teams what a nightmare and training up for mission. Thanks Doug your story brought it all back like a runaway freight train it back on my mind. But this time I’m writing it down as for the brave men KIA on Hill 200 or sent home. I never had the honor of meeting them personally.
Thinking back on this summer day I’m thinking I have been in worst scrapes than this one why not one of them missions with gun ships peppering hillsides with rockets and machine gun fire. NVA or VC launched frenzied attacks with A-K 47s or small arms fire or lobbing hand grenades why not one of there missions.
NVA, “The North Vietnamese Army” and also known as PAVN people’s Army of Vietnam.
VC, “Viet Cong” was a pejorative term meaning “communist” and was the accepted name for the armed forces of the National Liberation Front.
Why not one of there missions why not one of them why this mission, it seem to be playing on my mine a lot. It seems to be the one that is stuck in my mind but I went on so many that I don’t know now if I’ve just put them together in my mind. As I can recall the team seemed to be all in good sprits clowning around as usual as we waited for our ride that day.
It seemed to be a typical day, hot with a burning sun and to me that meant the mission would be a go. With in minutes we were all boarding CH46 helicopters and lifting off the LZ at base. I recall a Hoo-ya from this bunch of young Marines. I can recall being a little nervous. But this would have been normal for me. Most of our casualties come from being shot down in air by RPGs. A few that I can recall are Team Mayfly June 21st, 1969, team Rush Act November 18, 1970, I Read they store on June 3rd, 2008 on team Albrook shot down in air July 3rd, 1968 four day before my 1st day in Vietnam. I had the honor of working on teams named "Albrook" a time or two.
|
This story is about team Albrook by, Dan Vanbuskirk of Bravo Co. 68/69. Dan’s story is called:
My tour in Bravo Co.
|
by Dan Vanbuskirk
I arrived in country in April or May and went out on a few dicey Patrols. We heard that a big patrol was coming in which the best men of each company would be picked because it was extremely dangerous involving a well built up NVA sight near what I believe Was called Yellow Brick road. Anyway it was around the Laotian/Cambodian border. What eventually transpired is that the powers that be decided to send Team Albrook out because they had a lot of experience and unfortunately many of the men were Short timers. On that note I really pressed them to take me. I was Turned down because I didn't have enough experience. I remember That everyone left their wedding bands or valuables behind and wrote letters to their significant others as they did not expect to return.
Sadly they did not return. I remember well that when I first came over A few rough things happened and I was in fistfights with some of the crusty old veterans who did not take to me too well. The men solved issues out back with fists. The really touching thing is that one of the men came up to me the night before going out on that fateful mission And pretty much shared his heart with me and how he wanted to come out of this war a better person. He had a desire to be caring and kind With people. He said he saw this in me. It really shook me up and I felt very humble in his presence. He was really a damn good Recon Marine and somebody that I respected. Sometimes when we are being Our selves and people seem to dislike us. It could be different than we imagine. One thing that I got clear about as a Marine and a Recon Marine is to be who you are and be authentic. I wasn't trying to be like everyone else. Some of the leaders or a "few Good Men" encouraged Me to stay on my path and not change. Some of those men had Mentored me- telling me things that I needed to hear. How to cross open country like Charley Ridge, how to work with my M-60, how to Stay grounded and not react in the wrong way in firefights. Sometimes when as a new guy facing exhaustion they had very tough and physical things that they did to teach me. It was okay as it was always a lesson Well learned. Those men of Team Albrook went out the next day and They were shot down by an RPG rocket. I know they gave their all and I am alive today because they cared. So since I have arrived home in The states in 69.there have not been a day that I do not remember Them. Sometimes I go to a quiet VA graveyard and just sit quietly expressing My gratitude for them. Sometimes I ask them for advice If I am having a challenge with depression or PTSD. I feel them telling me to enjoy each moment, each breath, and I hear them telling me that they are in a very good place and those they have peace and love in Their lives.
I have felt a lot of tears down my cheeks over the days, weeks, months and years. I fully understand how much I have to be grateful for and What it means to be a warrior and cover someone’s back. I feel that I did well on my tour it was the coming home where my war started...a lost marriage to the woman that I loved, nightmares, flashbacks, lost Jobs.
It’s not to be regretted at all. It all builds character and makes us who we are. We will never stop being Marines. Or men who care and Fight for ones we love and what we love. Today I relate to the men on Team Albrook as an example to give what I can to the new generation. The men coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan Albrook and my Recon brothers have inspired me to be a giver not a taker. We are Building a unique slide guitar for a Vietnam vet who has no use of his hands. He lost almost everything physically when he got in a firefight Trying to get POWs out with the 101st Screaming Eagles in Cambodia/Laos. He shared his story with us, one that he has kept Secret all of these years. It was heart wrenching but what a brave and selfless man he is. 'This man has shared with us his vision that any quadriplegic should be able to play a guitar if it is designed correctly. So we learn from a few good warriors to pass it on.
My dad landed on Normandy Beach on D-Day as a 101st Screaming Eagle. He never talked about the war to me. I could see his courage in His character. As a boy, I saw how he treated all people, fairly and with respect. I once saw another man in a rage yelling at my father and my dad calmed the man down by not talking it personally and graciously responding to the man. Marines are about doing. Need I say more?
Dan Vanbuskirk Bravo 68/69
|
Well back to my story our team of all 8 Marines and the helicopter crew are all most Vulnerable in the air as history has proven over time. A small team of Recon Marines are safer on the ground and moving.
The only thing I can say about the ride is the view is spectacular at times. And on this day with the wind in my face why no different as I recall as we approached our area to start our mission the areas names that come to mind at this time are
Quan Duc Valley, Happy Valley, Charlie Ridge, Hai Van Pass,
Hiep Duc Valley, Dai Loc, Thuong Duc, Bach Ma, Quang Nam,
Elephant Valley, Phu Loc Valley, or some when out of Da Nang.
I’m not entirely sure about this day. As we approach the area I recall seeing a snaking river through a valley high elevation on one side of the river and grass on the other side. As we approached it seemed to be flat ground on our side of the river with thick bush behind the grassy area. We were headed for the thick bush and a small clearing. I recall the team to be on high alert. No Hoo-ya from this bunch of Marines this time it’s all business, this is enemy controlled territory.
I can recall we are all on high alert. I’m at one of the CH46 windows which have been blown out by a previous recon team. With my M16 and looking for movement on the ground, box mines or booby traps. We approached by circled and hovered briefly as I stood ready to return enemy fire if necessary. As gun ships over flight the LZ survey the area as the crew of the CH46 stood ready to return enemy fire with the 50 caliber machine guns. Before we given the enemy any idea or a thought of launched an attack on us. The CH46 hovering and setting down as the chopper stirred up dirt I recall the gate of the CH46 coming down and someone maybe 1st Lt. Riley Shouting move, move, move, I’m at the gate as it hit the ground looking for enemy movement.
I’m the first or second one out of the C-46 chopper.
Running point I’m searching the ground for signs of booby traps and at the some time searching for the enemy movement. As the chopper stirred up dirt move off the LZ “landing zone” I recall the CH46 flying off and circled the team and moving off in the air.
Moving the team into thick bush this Recon Team of eight Marines is on the ground and moving. I can recall after my team was just inserted into the bush as the two chopper gun ships flew over us as to say good luck marines as the choppers moved off flying back to their base in Da Nang.
I realized that what once was sealed away in my mind is now racing through my mind like a wild fire out of control.
|
The team name is "Average". I can recall that day as if it was yesterday. Charging from that gate of and carrying my weight. And I can say I’m literally carrying my weight or more on my back. As a small Marine around 145 pounds and about 5 feet 7, I could move in and out of tight areas as a point. On my back is a rucksack “back pack” Is the team called it in the rucksack would have been enough C Rations for this mission but I can recall running out from time to time. I recall on one of my missions working with a team of 14 Marines we went out on a 5 day mission and we were socked in by the monsoon for 10 days or so live off the land eating bugs, yes bugs about 4 to 5 inch and small green bananas. Before we were lifted out of that zone by choppers I can recall the only thing on my mind the last few days of that mission was all the food, I was going to eat why I got back to base and no more bugs for this marine looking for a large steak or two. I recall the liquid die I was put on and the case of jungle rot to my feet. But that is another story as I’m thinking back to a summer day. In my rucksack would have been rain gear, dry socks, my weapon maintenance kit, poncho liner, my camouflage blanket. I’ll can it my blankie for my grandson, camouflage paint, first aid items, map and compass, mess kit, gasmask, a canteen or two of water, my trusty camera was all ways by my side and I’m probably forgetting something. But on to my weapons now all I can say to “Charlie” is I’m packing. Ten to twenty hand grenades, gas and colored smoke canisters, extra M60 machine gun rounds, two to four clamor mines, my knife and bayonet, M16 plus 15-20 magazines. Yes this marine why packing on all my missions. Plus I would have had a ton of C4 plastic explosives with detonator. Thinking back today on this for some apparent reason I like to blow thinks up. As my wife Linda, who I love dearly is looking over my shoulder at this time and making a coy remark like I was a young dumb kid. And I reply back as I’m thinking Hoo-ya, but all those explosives were for clearing LZ “landing zone” for the choppers to land on are extractions at the end of our missions, and the C4 was for cooking our food. I don’t think she bought in to that as I’m thinking for the record a great detent for the enemy forces. But as you can see I’m literally carrying my weight.
My steps were quick and light. I’m running point that day for a small team of brothers. They’re reconnaissance Marines out of Bravo Company. We’re on a mission to locate enemy movement and report back; it’s a 5 day mission. In enemy controlled territory and my team is on the ground.
Within minutes my eyes were fixed on movement. A small group of 4 VC or NVA with small arms packs and two radios were moving along a river 200 yards or so from me on a winding trail. The enemy moved along the trail within 50 yards or so of the team and moved off down the trail into the bush. To reach higher ground our team would have to cross the river. 1st Lt. Riley ordered Sgt. Southall "at the time a Cpl" and me to move towards the river to find a river crossing for the team. We moved out towards the river moving through elephant grass as we moved very cautiously and slowly. I recall been at point arms. The grass appeared to become shorter as we approached the river. We moved over 100 yards or so before my eyes picked up movement to the right of our position. We hit the deck! A company sized unit of enemy with Chinese was moving towards our position. Carrying RPGs this company of NVA is packing and looking for a rumble. As this unit moved on the trail and the trail was now winding around me. Out gunned on this day ten to one I’m thinking back what if one of the team would have squeeze off a round or two. What if, what if can drive a man crazy same times and what if can tear your mind apart time and time again. This Company sized unit moved within five feet or so of me at times. My eyes were fixed on them, my hands were steady. I held firmly to my M16 the Sgt is 10 feet or so to my left. The balance of the team Ssgt. Romo, 1st Lt. Riley, Pfc. Brandvold, Pfc. Coy and Pfc. Plunket is 300 to 400 feet behind me in the thick bush with the radioman Pfc. Harkins and Pfc. Horne on the M60 caliber machine gun. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Cpl. Southall trying to shift from his awkward position. I’m thinking ‘Oh No’ My life why started to flashing by me. As I’m thinking and looking back on it now, it would be like the movie “Christmas store” when Ralphie said, No more turkey, no more turkey sandwiches, no more turkey period. Thinking back now, yes I can say also no more turkey dinners with my wife, my children, grandchildren, no more turkey period. With my family would have been lost forever as I’m thinking back to that summer day. Things are about to turn worse. I’m sweating a Marine only two years out of high school and it seems like a life time ago. I was as strong as I could be. Nothing ever got to me. Until this moment of this day! I’m afraid that things are about to end for me or turn worse for all of my brothers this summer day. The Sgt, whose name I can remember, is going to reposition his leg and the enemy’s all around us. As Sgt. Southall moved his leg I could hear a twig snap. Instantly one of the North Vietnamese turns and looks at me five feet or so away. My eyes were fixed on him: my hands were steady as I gripped my weapon. This moment in time seemed like an eternity to me. His eyes those eyes seem to be searching for me. But his weapon stayed shouldered as he turned back and moved on down the winding trail. Not a shot was fired.
As this Company sized unit of North Vietnamese moved past me and there why picking on this day. One by one there past by me that day, one by one time seem like it stopped that summer day. Yes time stopped for me. It seems like yesterday for this proud recon Marine. The enemy moved past me with packs on their backs. I could almost make out the serial numbers on their RPGs as the enemy past by me. With their weapons shouldered, carrying heavy arms and equipment. Yes the enemy passed the team by that day, moved off into the bush and not a shot was fired this time. The Sgt and I resumed our position and moved towards the river to look for a crossing for the team. We located one and returned to our brothers with painter faces. I’m running point toward the river. My steps now are quicker and lighter. Towards the river through the elephant grass we all cross that river on this day. We all moved to higher ground. What a somber place it seems to be. 1st Lt. Riley and our radio operator Pfc. Harkins, called for artillery.
Elephant Valley March 15th, 1969
As the artillery rained down on the other side of the river as my mind wandered back to that, twig snapping and that North Vietnamese turns and looks at me. This moment in time seemed like an eternity to me. His eyes those eyes seem to be searching for me. As I’m thinking of this day with my grandson this summer day, today as a rare moment in time my grandson “Jake” what a miracle he is a living breathing miracle. He is only three years old but as smart as a whip. So picture this day one of the first days of summer ‘08 the two of us, we’re picnicking on the St. Croix river out of Stillwater, Minnesota the weather is perfect and I mean perfect. Not a bug in sight 70 degrees out a light breeze and not a cloud in the sky. Except for a boat or two on the river we seemed to be alone on the planet. Enjoy each others company that day. Just minutes before we were at teddy bear park one of “Jake” favorite parks. His mine is going a million miles a minute. Grandpa what that, what that grandpa and I’m living every minute of this day and at the some time thinking back to that one rare moment in time and this moment in time with my grandson two summer days worlds apart as my mine wondered back to the perfect day on the St. Croix river with my grandson. I’m having the time of my life this day and so is Jake and I hope to have many more days like this one. Thanks my brother’s of the bush not a shot was fired that summer day forty years ago, not a shot was fired. As the artillery continued rained down on the enemy on the other side of the river in ’69, why is this day constantly on my mind. I seem to be reliving this day over and over like that movie “Ground Hog Day” but this day didn’t have is a funny litter ground hog and Bill Murray is not in it. Like Ground Hog Day I’m living this one over and over and over it seems to never end for me. Maybe I’m missing seem thin maybe until I can get that day right in my mine maybe. As I think back to a time in ’68 on one of my earlier missions. Fairly new in Vietnam at the time on a OP “observation post” in Happy Valley on Ba Na I think of my good friend Jonsey and I had the watch that night “guard duty” it was the 1st or 2nd night on the OP the fog started to sock the hill in. Jonsey and I set in for a miserable night on the mountain top. Like two rookies we jumping to any noise we heard that night. We lobby grenades all night it seemed. Yes lobbying grenades all night I’m estimating we lobbed over 50 grenades that night thinking the enemy was trying to over run our position. It turned out to be only Rock Apes and yes not an Ape was hurt that night. But the team with us I believe lost their sleep that night. But I had a friend for life that night. Jonsey and I have stayed in contact for the past forty years now.
As I’m thinking I have thought a lot about this summer day. My wife who puts up with me, been told bits and pieces from time to time. She is my anchor in life “my world” my children are all grown now and my seven grand children who I love.
I believe they have no clue of this summer day.
And why it would still be on my mind.
The team "Average" moved out that day in March of '69. All my brothers moved out! Our steps were quick and light I’m proud to say. And to the team I’ll say thanks my brothers not a shot was fired on that summer day. Not one shot was fired on this lucky summer day.
We called for an emergency extraction on the 2nd or 3rd day of that mission. But that is another story for this Marine.
|
|
Too close to whisper...
...one click for "yes", two for "no"...
"Brothers of the Bush"
----------------------------
Recon...their name is
their honor...and nothing more
need be said...Recon
------------------------
By James "Kimo" Andrews
| |
|
 |
| The Marine's Hymn |
|
| |
The Memory Remains Not All Wounds Are Visible.
|
"A Brotherhood Forged In Combat"
|
 |
| Gil Perez & Floyd Ruggles - April 2015 |
|
|
 |
| Gil Perez & Floyd Ruggles - August 2014 |
|
|
 |
| Click the photo for more Info. |
|
|
|
 |
| PFC Ralph H. Johnson |
|
|
|
|
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the
CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR to
|
|
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS RALPH H. JOHNSON .
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
|
|
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a reconnaissance scout with Company A, First Reconnaissance Battalion, First Marine Division in action against the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong forces in the Republic of Vietnam. In the early morning hours of 5 March 1968, during OPERATION ROCK, First Class Johnson was a member of a fifteen-man reconnaissance patrol manning an observation post on Hill 146 overlooking the Quan Duc Duc Valley deep in enemy controlled territory. They were attacked by a platoon-size hostile force employing automatic weapons, satchel charges and hand grenades. Suddenly a hand grenade landed in the three- man fighting hole occupied by Private First Class Johnson and two fellow Marines. Realizing the inherent danger to his comrades, he shouted a warning and unhesitatingly hurled himself upon the explosive device. When the grenade exploded, Private First Class Johnson absorbed the tremendous impact of the blast and was killed instantly. His prompt and heroic act saved the life of one Marine at the cost of his own and undoubtedly prevented the enemy from penetrating his sector of the patrol's perimeter. Private First Class Johnson's courage inspiring valor and selfless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
|
|
Richard M. Nixon
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
|
| |
Store of an American Hero
Jimmie E. Howard, Medal of Honor recipient
|
 |
| Howard's Hill - Hill 488 |
|
| Rising nearly 1500 feet above the jungles below, Hill 488 just 25 miles west of Chu Lai was the perfect place for a Marine Corps recon team but for one minor factor....it was deep in enemy controlled territory, surrounded by massive enemy buildups. Like David facing Goliath, the 16 Marines and 2 Navy Corpsmen alone on Hill 488 the night of June 15, 1966 were pitifully small in the face of overwhelming odds, reduced to fighting with rocks. Fortunately they had their own "David", one named:
S/Sgt Jimmie E. Howard USMC
1st Recon Bn
|
|
Next to the word "MARINE" in the dictionary there should be a notation...."see JIMMIE HOWARD". Perhaps no other words in the English language better describe what it means to be a member of the Corps than the name of the man who led the MOST DECORATED UNIT in American military history in the most improbable battle of modern warfare.
|
Born and raised in Burlington, Iowa; in 1950 Jimmie Howard enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 21. He proved his mettle in Korea earning the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts. Seventeen years later the 37 year-old father of six found himself returning to a war zone, this time in the jungles of Vietnam.
Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam
13 June 1966
|
t was the early days of the United States involvement in the war in Vietnam. There had been battles and already 21 American's had earned Medals of Honor. But nothing could have prepared the veteran Platoon Sergeant in Company C, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division for the nights to come. Everyone knew the enemy controlled the areas west of the base camp at Chu Lai, and recent intelligence reports indicated large troop movements and buildups beyond the relative safety of the Marine outpost. It was time to strike back and prove to the enemy that they were on "Marine Corps Turf".
The sun was falling behind the western horizon as the helicopters moved quickly to the top of Hill 488, then flew back to the base camp leaving behind Staff Sergeant Jimmie Howard and his fifteen Marines. Two Navy Corpsmen completed the small unit delegated the mission of watching for enemy troop movements in the valley below and calling in artillery and air strikes on them. For two days Howard and his men did their jobs well. The North Vietnamese control of the area was disrupted by the effectiveness of the American firepower. It didn't take the enemy long to figure out that there had to be someone in the area watching them, directing fire upon their every move. By the third day Howard's Battalion Commander A. J. Sullivan began to sense the danger the small recon patrol faced and offered to pull them out. S/Sgt Howard believed he could hold out one more day and requested permission to remain on the hill. By the time word reached Chu Lai that a full NVA battalion of 200-250 well trained soldiers were moving on Hill 488, it was too late to pull Howard and his men out. Somehow they would have to survive the night. It was June 15, 1966.
Everyone in the patrol knew it was coming. S/Sgt Howard placed all of his Marines in strategic positions around the summit of the almost barren hill top, with orders to pull back into a tight perimeter the moment the enemy struck. That moment came at 10 o'clock at night, only 12 feet from one of the Marine defenders. As the enemy swarmed the hill amid gunfire, grenades, mortars and support from four .50-caliber machine-guns, Howard's men pulled back into a tight circle only 20 yards in diameter. Back-to-back they began to defend their small perimeter, counting on each other to work as a team to do the impossible. S/Sgt Howard moved among his men, encouraging them, directing their fire, shoring up the weaknesses in the perimeter. For most of his Marines it was the first major test of combat. Huddled in the darkness amid the crash of grenades and mortars, the sky filled with tracer rounds, and outnumbered more than 10 to 1; the leadership and inspiration of S/Sgt Howard was all that sustained them.
Then quiet engulfed the hill as the enemy pulled back, their fanatical human wave assault initially repulsed. S/Sgt Howard looked around him. Every one of his young Marines and both Corpsmen had been wounded in the initial attack. Several were dead. Worse, he knew that the enemy would return in force again at any moment. Grabbing the radio Howard told Colonel Sullivan back at Chu Lai, "You have to get us out of here." But no rescue force could reach Howard's men that night...the Marines would have to hold out until dawn.
Then, from down the hill the enemy began to taunt the few survivors on Hill 488 shouting into the darkness, "Marines, You die in an hour."
One of Howard's Marines asked, "Can we yell back at them?"
With nothing to loose Howard told his brave young men, "Sure, yell anything you like." They did, and soon their taunts back to the enemy were met with gunfire. The enemy was preparing to swarm the hill once again. Then the beleaguered Marines caught the enemy off guard as they joined voices in a "horse laugh". Later S/Sgt Howard said, "They were shooting at us and when we started laughing... they stopped. There was complete silence. I think it had a chilling effect on them. They must have known we were terribly outnumbered, but here we were laughing at them."
S/Sgt Howard knew the quiet wouldn't last long, however. He surveyed what remained of his Marines and found that ammunition was running low. The grenades were gone, expended to push back the first wave of the assault. So Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Jimmie Howard issued one of the most unusual combat orders in recent history.....
|
"Throw Rocks!"
As incredible as the order sounded, it worked. When the enemy soldiers began to push their way through the sparse brush and knee high grass to probe the perimeter, Howard's men threw rocks at them. Mistaking the rocks for grenades the enemy soldiers would move quickly into the open, allowing the defenders clear shots that made every round of remaining ammunition count.
For five hours the enemy alternated between small probes and full scale assault on the surviving Marines. S/Sgt Howard continued to encourage his battered platoon, direct their fire, and calling in aerial support. At times the fighting was hand-to-hand, the enemy so close that Howard directed aerial straffing runs within 30 feet of his position. From Chu Lai Colonel Sullivan listened to Howard's calm, precise voice across the radio. Then, shortly after 3 A.M. the radio went dead. At Chu Lai there was dread...the assumption was that Howard was dead...his brave platoon wiped out.
Shot in the back, S/Sgt Howard wasn't dead but he couldn't move his legs. As the enemy continued to assault his perimeter the wounded leader did his best to encourage his Marines. He kept reminding them that if they could just hold out until daylight, more Marines would come and pull them out of there.
As daylight dawned a helicopter approached the hill. The Marines were still taking fire, the battle wasn't yet over. The chopper was shot down and the pilot killed. At dawn a Marine company began the trek to relieve the remnants of Howard's platoon. Two more Marines were killed and it wasn't until noon that they finally reached Howard's perimeter on Hill 488. Five of the defenders on Hill 488 were dead. A sixth died enroute to the base camp at Chu Lai. When finally the rescue effort reached S/Sgt Howard and his men, among the 12 survivors there remained only...
8 Rounds of Ammunition.
|
White House, Washington, D.C.
21 August 1967
|
| Gunnery Sergeant Jimmie E. Howard stood proudly at attention next to his wife and six children. The story of his heroic stand at Hill 488 was read and then President Lyndon B. Johnson placed the Medal of Honor around the neck of an incredible leader and true American hero. With tears in his eyes the grizzled Marine then stepped to the microphone to give the credit to his 15 brave Marines and 2 Navy Corpsmen.
And they were there, all eleven survivors of that unbelievable night of horror and courage at Hill 488. After speaking briefly, S/Sgt Howard took the President by the hand and led him to the edge of the stage where he introduced him to each and every one of the men he had led that night, and to whom he felt the Medal of Honor belonged more than it did to himself.
|
Seventeen young men, 15 Marines and 2 Navy Corpsmen. Jimmie Howard had always called them his "Indians". He had every reason to be proud of them, they had survived and demonstrated a courage and resolve to survive that was unprecedented. They may have been, in fact, the most decorated unit in military history. To Jimmie Howard and his 17 "Indians" were awarded:
1 MEDAL OF HONOR
4 NAVY CROSSES
13 SILVER STARS
18 PURPLE HEARTS
| |
 |
| Click Here to Read Jimmie Howard's Medal of Honor Citation. |
|
|
 |
| GUNNERY SERGEANT JIMMIE E. HOWARD |
|
|
|
|
The President of the United States, in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting
the MEDAL OF HONOR to:
|
|
GUNNERY SERGEANT JIMMIE E. HOWARD
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
|
|
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty. G/Sgt. Howard and his 18-man platoon were occupying an observation post deep within enemy-controlled territory. Shortly after midnight a Viet Cong force of estimated battalion size approached the Marines' position and launched a vicious attack with small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire. Reacting swiftly and fearlessly in the face of the overwhelming odds, G/Sgt. Howard skillfully organized his small but determined force into a tight perimeter defense and calmly moved from position to position to direct his men's fire. Throughout the night, during assault after assault, his courageous example and firm leadership inspired and motivated his men to withstand the unrelenting fury of the hostile fire in the seemingly hopeless situation. He constantly shouted encouragement to his men and exhibited imagination and resourcefulness in directing their return fire. When fragments of an exploding enemy grenade wounded him severely and prevented him from moving his legs, he distributed his ammunition to the remaining members of his platoon and proceeded to maintain radio communications and direct air strikes on the enemy with uncanny accuracy. At dawn, despite the fact that 5 men were killed and all but 1 wounded, his beleaguered platoon was still in command of its position. When evacuation helicopters approached his position, G/Sgt. Howard warned them away and called for additional air strikes and directed devastating small-arms fire and air strikes against enemy automatic weapons positions in order to make the landing zone as secure as possible. Through his extraordinary courage and resolute fighting spirit, G/Sgt. Howard was largely responsible for preventing the loss of his entire platoon. His valiant leadership and courageous fighting spirit served to inspire the men of his platoon to heroic endeavor in the face of overwhelming odds, and reflect the highest credit upon G/Sgt. Howard, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service.
|
|
Lyndon B. Johnson
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
|
|
| |
|
 |
| Gunnery Sergeant JIMMIE E. HOWARD |
|
| |
| On November 12, 1993 Jimmie Howard passed away at his home in San Diego. He is buried at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery near the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot where years before he served as a Marine Drill Instructor.
| |
 |
| August 2015 |
|
|
|
| Previous Page |
|
| |
|
| Next Page |
|
|
 |
| Click for Index page |
|
|
 |
| Thanks for Stopping By |
|
|
|
| Click for Home page 1st Recon Bn.com |
|
|
 |
| Click image for 1st Recon Battalion's home page. |
|
|
This website contains, in various sections, portions of copyrighted material not specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This material is used for educational purposes only and presented to provide understanding or give information for issues concerning the public as a whole. In accordance with U.S. Copyright Law Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit. More Information
Information presented based on medical, news, government, and/or other web based articles or documents does not represent any medical recommendation or legal advice from myself or West Saint Paul Antiques. For specific information and advice on any condition or issue, you must consult a professional health care provider or legal advisor for direction.
I and West Saint Paul Antiques can not be responsible for information others may post on an external website linked here ~ or for websites which link to West Saint Paul Antiques. I would ask, however, that should you see something which you question or which seems incorrect or inappropriate, that you notify me immediately at floyd@weststpaulantiques.com Also, I would very much appreciate being notified if you find links which do not work or other problems with the website itself. Thank You!
Please know that there is no copyright infringement intended with any part of this website ~ should you find something that belongs to you and proper credit has not been given (or if you simply wish for me to remove it),
just let me know and I will do so right away.
|
Website Terms and Condition of Use Agreement
also known as a 'terms of service agreement'
By using this website, West Saint Paul Antiques . Com, you are agreeing to use the site according to and in agreement with the above and following terms of use without limitation or qualification. If you do not agree, then you must refain from using the site.
The 'Terms of Use' govern your access to and use of this website and facebook pages associated with it. If you do not agree to all of the Terms of Use, do not access or use the website, or the facebook sites. By accessing or using any of them, you and any entity you are authorized to represent signify your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.
Said Terms of Use may be revised and/or updated at any time by posting of the changes on this page of the website. Your continued usage of the website, or the facebook site(s) after any changes to the Terms of Use will mean that you have accepted the changes. Also, any these sites themselves may be changed, supplemented, deleted, and/or updated at my sole discretion without notice; this establishes intellectual property rights by owner (myself).
It saddens me to include a Terms of Use for West Saint Paul Antiques . Com, but we all realize it is something that is necessary and must be done these days. By using the website, or facebook for West Saint Paul Antiques, you represent that you are of legal age and that you agree to be bound by the Terms of Use and any subsequent modifications. Your use of the West Saint Paul Antiques sites signify your electronic acceptance of the Terms of Use and constitute your signature to same as if you had actually signed an agreement embodying the terms.
|
|
