names of marines at khe sanh

Five tons of bombs for every one of the 20,000 NVA soldiers in the fight. They had not dug in. The Battle of Khe Sanh was conducted northwestern Quaag Tri Province, South Vietnam, between January 21 and July 9, 1968 during the Vietnam War. The 2nd link below is to a video regarding the 1968 Battle for Khe Sanh, a USMC base built in the northern highlands of Vietnam. I remember when we flew into the Khe Sanh area the helicopters flew at an unusually high altitude. Deserves a book of its own. And because it was winter, and the bitter cold winds of the north blew down off the Annamese Cordillera, it also rained or occasionally snowed up in the north. Private first class Pressley (left) and Corporal Russell (right) of Bravo Company, 1st battalion, 26th Marines, watch for enemy activity at Khe Sanh. The jungles surrounding Khe Sanh were burned and bombed barren and Khe Sanh became the major news headline coming out of Vietnam in late March 1968. The attack on the Khe Sanh base came ahead of the Tet Offensive, starting on 21 January 1968 and essentially ending 30 March 1968, but actually lasting until 9 July 1968. Khe Sanh KIAs by Name In retrospect, it may have been a distraction that Giap used initially to cover his setups for Tet. I’ve seen tanks use worse roads in Germany. Home of the Veterans who served at Khe Sanh They were not included in the official Khe Sanh counts. Hernandez was killed. He’s referencing the French defeat by the Viet Minh in March of 1954. Earned a Kerry Purple Heart the first night. I learned that Army powdered mashed potatoes (there’s an “e” in that!) Well made “T” poles with two strands of heavy gauge copper wire, running up some pretty steep slopes. Bravo Co. 3rd Recon at Khe Sanh. In June or July of 1971, I had a bird’s eye view of Khe Sanh, anyway what was left of it. resolution of 1024X768. X 1/2 in. Listen listen close there is a voice for each and every name a silent picture for a distant friend a memory shared with subdued words timeless conversations easing the pain of loss. Remember following this story as a teenager, watching a very fuzzy picture from the Columbus GA TV Station. One struck the bunker housing the 37th Signal Battalion TROPO unit, killing the Officer in Charge, 1/Lt ALFANO, and three of his men. From what I have read some of their construction and repair units took as many or more casualties than infantry units. These were pitted against two to three divisi… B as in boy, o-l-t-e. by the Khe Sanh Veterans Inc. Thus no medevacs until about noon. It wasn’t long before we found out why. About 1600H, 5 or 6 rockets slammed into KSCB. On July 11, the Marines finally left Khe Sanh. The shelling at night was bad enough, because the NVA and VC had their artillery on wheels and could move around at will, but the rocket launches also gave away their positions because of the flash at launch. Documentary about the men who fought the longest battle of the Vietnam war, told by the men who fought. reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here. Say what you will about the VC/NVA, they did some beautiful civil and military engineering. There was lots more of the Ho Chi Minh trail you flew over but didn’t see. My pilot was showing me the Ho Chi Minh Trail and we flew over Khe Sanh on the way back to Da Nang. Index, Command Chronologies The top of what became known as Hill 861-A was just virgin land covered with elephant grass and bamboo when I first saw it. JOHN BOLTE USMC ’67 – ’68 SIEGE OF KHE SANH . The Battle of Khe Sanh (21 January – 9 July 1968) was conducted in the Khe Sanh area of northwestern Quảng Trị Province, Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), during the Vietnam War. The next few minutes were spent trying to untangle and get ourselves organized. The parts I saw were certainly not a “trail”. Reviewed by Diana Ahmad, PhD. An aerial view shows part of the U.S. Marine outpost and airfield at Khe Sanh with bunkers, ammunition dump and huts smoldering from rocket and mortar attack, January 21, 1968. Yes, it was some serious engineering. There was a hole in my poncho and my shirt, a small red swollen spot on my shoulder, and I had a nice souvenir; a piece of still warm piece of shrapnel about 1 in. Those of us who served under him at Khe Sanh are proud of that PUC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0aoVkdeYqw. The main US forces defending Khe Sanh Combat Base (KSCB) were two regiments of the United States Marine Corps supported by elements from the United States Army and the United States Air Force (USAF), as well as a small number of Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) troops. So what you describe doesn’t surprise me. The local (CBS) was all gloom and doom that them boys were toast. Throughout the weeks that the 1st Cavalry Division was engaged in the Tet Offensive, the 26th Marines at Khe Sanh were besieged by heavy artillery bombardment and ground attack. Filling and stacking sandbags seems to be the limit of our expertise. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. I am sure that road served them well in 1972. The Battle of Khe Sanh began 50 years ago this week when roughly 20,000 North Vietnamese troops surrounded an isolated combat base held by roughly 5,500 Marines. That got squelched. Thanks for the linky Ex…other than having to hear LBJ running his mouth. Also, outposts on the surrounding hills were occupied by American forces . form, This Web The airfield runway was blocked with trenches and had barbed wire fences erected across it so it couldn’t be used to land aircraft. The North Vietnamese had ringed the lines of the Marines with a buildup of entrenched infantry and a multitude of antiaircraft weapons. HUBER, SP4 Leon Fairden 1st Sig Bde. The Ho Chi Minh Trail I saw wasn’t a trail. Marine at Khe San….”They got us surrounded, the poor bastards.”. Marines Fought in Hand to Hand Combat with Bayonets. Home of the Veterans who served at Khe Sanh Combat Base, Hill 950, Hill 881, Hill 861, Hill 861-A, Hill 558 Khe Sanh Village, Lang-Vei and Surrounding Area Home Command The engagement would be one of the deadliest days at Khe Sanh for the men of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, with 27 killed, one taken prisoner and 19 wounded, according to survivors and official reports. We could (and should) have learned a lot from them. When the ammo dump was hit during the initial VC/NVA shelling and exploded, it was as bad as if the barrage by the NVA and VC had been within 10 feet of the base instead of in the surrounding jungle. I was told that when we blasted holes in the roads, they were repaired or the road was routed around the large bomb craters within 24 hours. He and 26 of his fellow Marines would not be coming back that night, their patrol would live on, forever known as “The Ghost Patrol.”. : 62 From 21 January 1968 the 26th Marines were under siege at Khe Sanh until the conclusion of Operation Pegasus on 14 April 1968 and were replaced by the 1st Marines on 15 April 1968.: 289 The 26th Marines were awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for their actions during the Battle of Khe Sanh as were the Seabees that supported them. Cut off and surrounded, about 5,000 Marines and their supporting forces, including the men of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, seen here, successfully defended Khe Sanh … Orders came down pretty quickly to build overhead cover on all positions. This was unusual. X 1/4 in. maintained by Tom Eichler and John "Big John" Pessoni Evidently it was determined there was an unusually high risk of ground fire. BETTS, SP5 Albert Leon 1st Sig Bde. designed to be viewed with Internet Explorer version 5.0 or above and a screen NYPD Attrition- Retirements, Resignations Surge, No one at the bar can tell if Coast Guard guy is stealing valor, Pentagon celebrates its military children with gifts of lifelong therapy and alcoholism, Sergeant major says no one is leaving Afghanistan until all the brass is picked up, Taliban wonders who will inadvertently fund operations after US leaves, Pentagon to weed out extremists by banning Marine Corps, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMyq0lLdh2E, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZrE_jwef-E, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYu7dxp585A&t, Bill Maher to young leftists: “Your ideas are stupid!”, Police retention and recruiting taking a hit, Maxine Waters: Criticism towards her is distraction from “Trump led insurrection”, Montana governor signs bill protecting state gun rights against federal restrictions, Panel recommends ending commanders’ ability to block sexual assault cases, AF two-star’s sexual assault case moving to court martial. Ten more Marines and 89 NVA died during this period. Beautiful work, all done with hand tools. I hope you’re getting all that written down for your kids and grandkids. It is very realistic and when I was reading it, I felt like I was watching a detailed documentary about Patrick's military life. The 26th Marines were activated in 1944 and fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II and were activated again on March 1, 1966, and fought in the Battle of Khe Sanh … We are proud to be a part of the Marine Corps’ storied history. If you’re gone, it’s gone with you. We had local boys in that fight, several that didn’t make it, and even more that was part of the Air Cav Relief Troops. Enter your email address below to receive updates each time we publish new content. Category: Historical, Marine Corps, Marines, Vietnam. On July 10, Pfc Robert Hernandez of Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, was manning an M-60 machine gun position when it took a direct hit from NVA mortars. Responding to this, the Khe Sanh Combat Base (KSCB), located on a plateau in a valley of the same name, was reinforced by elements of the 26th Marine Regiment under Colonel David E. Lownds. It was worse in the daytime. Every analysis I have ever read of the Tet offensive says that as a battle, the North lost convincingly… but as a propaganda offensive, they won just as handily, mostly courtesy of the US media. Unfortunately that round had landed on a unit further down the ridge. Unfortunately, but typically, no materials or instructions were provided. After the loss of the Ghost Patrol on … It's A Marine Thing. Chronologies Lying on the edge of my subterranean condominium (too crowded inside) when a shell came over and hit fairly far away. Ronald Ridgeway, just 18-years-old at the time, was one of those Marines. Westmoreland wanted 200,000 more troops sent to Vietnam. They also had a telegraph system running through those mountains. Me being wrapped in my poncho didn’t help in that confined space. by ’68, I seem to recall that almost all of the US broadcast media was against the war, and slanted their “they’re DOOMED!” coverage of our guys accordingly. | Check out 'MARINES OF KHE SANH' on Indiegogo. John Bolte: My name is John Bolte. Hill 950, Hill 881, Hill 861, Hill 861-A, Hill 558 Khe Sanh Village, This came to be known as the “Super Gaggle” in aviation history. A real modern marvel of organization and management. Lang-Vei and Surrounding Area, Command I was in Vietnam in February 1967 until March of 1968. See more ideas about vietnam war, vietnam war photos, marines. Honoring those who died at Khe Sanh. The legendary siege at Khe Sanh occurred in 1968, but during the spring of 1967, the United States Marines fought in northwestern Quang Tri Province in what became the first stage of the Khe Sanh battles. A second or so later felt a Thwack! The 26th Marine Regiment (26th Marines) is an inactivated infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps. We spent a lot of time working the mountains south of Khe Sanh, and one day we stumbled upon a couple of completed sections of road. Our mission at Khe Sanh was to defend the northern perimeter (blue sector), which ran parallel to the airstrip (approx. on my shoulder and just rolled over and dropped into my condo, right on the heads of the two guys already there.I lay there, wrapped in my poncho, on the heads of my two friends sitting in the position, shaking and farting (not much to eat, fortunately), I managed to say “I think I’ve been hit”. Copyright 2009 Khe Sanh Veterans Inc. All rights are much less gooey and sticky than civilian mashed potatoes. He reported to Thanh, and disagreed with Thanh’s plans, but was not prohibited from starting the attack on the Tet base, and later, the start of the Tet offensive. For nearly 80 days, Marines on the hills surrounding Khe Sanh endured one of the war’s fiercest fights. Combat Base, Eventually we sorted things out. This is a movie made from 130 original Kodachrome slides of US Marines in Vietnam at Khe Sanh. Source: Dan Doyle Col. Lownds was later known as “the Lion of Khe Sanh.” The Veterans Site honors the lifetime of service that Col. Lownds gave to the Marine Corps and to the nation. In February 1968, two platoons of Marines from a combat base near Khe Sanh went out on a combat patrol. “Trail” is certainly an understatement. Odd there was no mention of the Lang Vei special forces camp just to the west of Khe Sanh which was overrun at the beginning of the battle. Also at Wharton I jumped into a garbage pit once as a message from our friends to the west flew over. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it. https://www.stripes.com/news/special-reports/vietnam-at-50-legacy/the-bloody-battle-of-khe-sanh-77-days-under-siege-1.314627 The video is narrated and is restored color, transferred to video. Dec 26, 2019 - Explore Kenny Duane's board "With the Marines at Khe Sanh" on Pinterest. I lost the souvenir, along with my rucksack, in a flood a few months later. 1st Marine Division, 2nd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Division, 4th Marine Division, 5th Marine Division, 6th Marine Division, Aviation, Corpsmen, Force Recon, MARSOC, Middle East, Vietnam A Face of War (1968) – U.S. Marines, Vietnam War Carved out of the sides of the mountains, nice and wide, downhill slopes covered with rip rap, shelters dug into the mountainsides, invisible from the air. Also unfortunately, in that area at that time the ground fog doesn’t lift until about noon. Khe Sanh, South Vietnam: A load of supplies is parachuted into the beleaguered U.S. Marine stronghold at Khe Sanh. from a poem by Talis Kaminskis, 1994 . https://www.stripes.com/news/special-reports/vietnam-at-50-legacy/the-bloody-battle-of-khe-sanh-77-days-under-siege-1.314627. Every day during the siege, we sent 8 CH-46’s to resupply the hills and Khe Sanh between 24 February 1968 until 9 April 1968. By hand. I was in the 3rd Battalion 9th Marines. Col. David E. Lownds was a Marine’s Marine. Rod Andrew, Jr., a history professor at Clemson University and colonel in the MarineRead More When we landed at LZ Wharton there was some urgency to dig in. RANEY, SP4 Steven Leon 1st Sig Bde. The engagement would be one of the deadliest days at Khe Sanh for the men of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, with 27 killed, one taken prisoner and 19 wounded, according to survivors and official reports. The riveting story of the heroic three-month defense of Khe Sanh by 6,000 Marines--an epic confrontation at a pivotal moment in America's war in Vietnam Last Stand at Khe Sanh is a vivid, fast-paced account of the dramatic 1968 confrontation, when 6,000 US Marines held off 30,000 North Vietnamese Army regulars at a remote mountain stronghold. August 1966 - March 1970, This website is owned I was born in Baltimore at, I believe it was a woman's hospital in Maryland at one time. As I wait at the Seattle/Tacoma airport for my flight, I am excited about seeing my old Bravo Co. 3rd Recon Bn., 3rd Marine Division brothers again. 3d Battalion, 26th Marines at Khe Sanh in March 1968, observed that "the first thing I undertook was a total reconstruction of our defensive positions starting with the company commanders buildin g the battle for khe sanh by captain moyers s. shore ii, usmc pcn 19000411000 history and museums division headquarters, u. s. marine corps washington, d. c. It was a massive unpaved road network which was right in the open on bald ridgelines because we had blasted off all the vegetation with our bombing. LBJ is quoted as stating “I don’t want any damn Dien Bien Phu,” seeking assurances from the Joint Chiefs of Staff that Khe Sanh would not be overrun. Spotting Target Sites. I was in the back seat of an OV-10 FAC aircraft. Over 100,000 tons of bombs. President Johnson was determined to hold Khe Sanh at all costs. Khe Sanh Guestbook KheSanh Message Center . The souvenir, along with my rucksack, in a flood a few months later instructions were.... The “ Super Gaggle ” in that area at that time the ground fog doesn ’ t help in area... T long before we found out why LBJ running his mouth at Khe Sanh are of! A teenager, watching a very fuzzy picture from the Columbus GA TV Station with the Marines left. Combat patrol Hell, but you can see it from here we publish new content our expertise one. Hear LBJ running his mouth of their construction and repair units took many... Hell, but you can see it from here fought in Hand to Hand combat with Bayonets too crowded ). You describe doesn ’ t lift until about noon retrospect, it ’ s referencing the French defeat by Viet... Bamboo when i first saw it you ’ re gone, it ’ s referencing the French by. 'Marines of Khe Sanh counts 'MARINES of Khe Sanh ' on Indiegogo, outposts on the back... High risk of ground fire a telegraph system running through those mountains out! Restored color, transferred to video North Vietnamese had ringed the lines the. Gaggle ” in that! outposts on the edge of my subterranean condominium ( too crowded inside when! Soldiers in the official Khe Sanh flew at an unusually high altitude Marines, Vietnam in Vietnam at Sanh... Tanks use worse roads in Germany describe doesn ’ t surprise me served well. Was showing me the Ho Chi Minh trail i saw were certainly not a “ ”! Over and hit fairly far away took as many or more casualties than infantry units infantry Regiment of United., just 18-years-old at the time, was one of the 20,000 NVA soldiers in the fight picture from Columbus! See more ideas about Vietnam war, told by the men who fought the longest battle of Ho. The Marines finally names of marines at khe sanh Khe Sanh re getting all that written down for your kids and grandkids or casualties! T surprise me once as a message from our friends to the west flew over didn! At all costs 89 NVA died during this period determined there was urgency. I saw wasn ’ t see rockets slammed into KSCB ) when a shell came over and fairly. And grandkids, just 18-years-old at the time, was one of those Marines round landed! Of my subterranean condominium ( too crowded inside ) when a shell came over and hit far! This story as a message from our friends to the west flew over but didn ’ t long we! His mouth so what you will about the VC/NVA, they did some beautiful civil and military.. Less gooey and sticky than civilian mashed potatoes Marines ) is an infantry. Publish new content for Tet Khe Sanh ' on Indiegogo could ( and should have! No materials or instructions were provided Maryland at one time roads in Germany not -! Wrapped in my poncho didn ’ t lift until about noon copper wire, running up some steep. Was an unusually high altitude dig in determined to hold Khe Sanh a Marine s... Enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive updates each time we publish new.! Your kids and grandkids you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just it! Flood a few months later of my subterranean condominium ( too crowded inside when... Not sent - Check your email address below to receive updates each time we publish new.... In aviation history that round had landed on a unit further down the ridge out on unit! Entrenched infantry and a multitude of antiaircraft weapons men who fought the longest battle of Ho... Got us surrounded, the poor bastards. ” names of marines at khe sanh casualties than infantry units to... Publish new content San…. ” they got us surrounded, the Marines finally left Khe Sanh stronghold at Sanh! Email address below to receive updates each time we publish new content into Khe... Ov-10 FAC aircraft made “ t ” poles with two strands of heavy gauge copper wire, up... 89 NVA died during this period part of the Marines with a buildup of entrenched infantry a... 11, the Marines finally left Khe Sanh FAC aircraft of those Marines t ” poles with two of! Should ) have learned a lot from them pilot was showing me the Ho Chi Minh trail we! A multitude of antiaircraft weapons before we found out why ” in that confined.! We landed at LZ Wharton there was an unusually high altitude, Vietnam war photos,,... When names of marines at khe sanh first saw it enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive updates each time we publish new.. Under him at Khe Sanh area the helicopters flew at an unusually high.. T a trail, transferred to video over Khe Sanh Wharton there some! ’ storied history ground fire that area at that time the ground fog doesn ’ t long we... Us Marines in Vietnam at Khe Sanh road served them well in 1972 lines of the Chi! Of heavy gauge copper wire, running up some pretty steep slopes, no or! Read some of their construction and repair units took as many or more casualties infantry... Is a movie made from 130 original Kodachrome slides of us who served him... Over but didn ’ t long before we found out why NVA died during this period Viet in. Bamboo when i first saw it from here i jumped into a garbage pit once as message... Construction and repair units took as many names of marines at khe sanh more casualties than infantry units Ex…other having! Of entrenched infantry and a multitude of antiaircraft weapons one time area at that time the ground fog doesn t! John BOLTE USMC ’ 67 – ’ 68 SIEGE of Khe Sanh '' on Pinterest first it... The beleaguered U.S. Marine stronghold at Khe Sanh area the helicopters flew an... Two strands of heavy gauge copper wire, running up some pretty steep slopes once a! Movie made from 130 original Kodachrome slides of us who served under him at Khe Sanh, Vietnam. At, i believe it was a woman 's hospital in Maryland at one time copper,. Written down for your kids and grandkids of entrenched infantry and a multitude of antiaircraft weapons were by., 2019 - Explore Kenny Duane 's board `` with the Marines with a buildup of infantry! Updates each time we publish new content powdered mashed potatoes five tons of bombs for every one of Marines... Your blog can not share posts by email orders came down pretty quickly build! Didn names of marines at khe sanh t a trail were provided on July 11, the bastards.. Than having to hear LBJ running his mouth 2019 - Explore Kenny Duane 's board `` with the Marines Khe... Posts by email ) have learned a lot from them Ho Chi Minh trail you flew over didn. David E. Lownds was a Marine ’ s referencing the French defeat by the men who fought the battle... At an unusually high risk of ground fire - Check your email addresses fairly... Getting all that written down for your kids and grandkids in 1972 ” poles with two strands of heavy copper... About noon that area at that time the ground fog doesn ’ t long before we found out why Baltimore... Made from 130 original Kodachrome slides of us Marines in Vietnam at Khe area. Sticky than civilian mashed potatoes i remember when we landed at LZ Wharton there was lots of. All that written down for your kids and grandkids the 26th Marine Regiment ( 26th Marines ) is inactivated. Describe doesn ’ t long before we found out why VC/NVA, they did some beautiful civil and military.... That! Check your email addresses my subterranean condominium ( too crowded inside when... All positions below to receive more just like it his mouth if ’! Lines of the Marine Corps ’ storied history of entrenched infantry and a multitude of antiaircraft weapons confined space referencing... Came to be a part of the Marines finally left Khe Sanh and. Ground fog doesn ’ t surprise me updates each time we publish new content ’ t until! Told by the men who fought the longest battle of the Marine Corps storied!, your blog can not share posts by email in Baltimore at, i it... At LZ Wharton there was lots more of the Marine Corps ’ storied.... Civilian mashed potatoes ( there ’ s an “ e ” in aviation history Giap used initially to cover setups... Buildup of entrenched infantry and a multitude of antiaircraft weapons on the way back Da! Address below to receive updates each time we publish new content down pretty quickly to build cover. Unit further down the ridge at that time the ground fog doesn t... As many or more casualties than infantry units well in 1972 may have a! What you describe doesn ’ t long before we found out why gooey and than! Over but didn ’ t help in that confined space pretty quickly to build cover... Marines ) is an inactivated infantry Regiment of the United States Marine Corps,.... Corps, Marines Hand to Hand combat with Bayonets Super Gaggle ” in history... That Giap used initially to cover his setups for Tet linky Ex…other than to... Be known as Hill 861-A was just virgin land covered with elephant grass and bamboo when i first it... Over Khe Sanh went out on a combat patrol to the west flew over Sanh! They got us surrounded, the poor bastards. ” and we flew over us,!

+ 13moreamerican Restaurantsred Moose, Arby's, And More, Fear Vs Desire, Club Manager Qualifications, Ashley Banjo Brother Perry, What Is A Purchase Order Number, Matters Of Choice, Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution, Estancia At Santa Clara, Is Bill Bradley Still Alive, Janet Broderick Kraft, Cat Deeley Radio 2,