Da Nang, Vietnam, Camp Tien Sha, 351 Days in Da Nang Ray Norton Me, age 23, sitting on my bunk drinking a beer and smoking a cigarette. History [ edit ] Following the initial landing of Marines in South Vietnam on 8 March 1965, the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (9th MEB) established their headquarters in an old French Army compound on the western edge of Da Nang Air Base . What the hell is that? The new pier facility allowed deep-draft ocean-going vessels to unload cargo directly onto trucks instead of offloading into Lighters while anchored in the harbor. Over time that changed, I didn't want to know any newbies! airlines circling the DaNang airbase over the Country of South Vietnam. Over the months as I got to know my Vietnamese and they opened up to me the most asked question they had for me. I just haven't had time for any more. The Marines in that ambush had fired on me to scare me because they thought I was the duty officer making the rounds. He seemed totally comfortable and relaxed. You FNGs get off the plane and fall in over there. On 27 February 1969 a People's Army of Vietnam rocket hit LCU-1500 while it was loading at the Bridge Cargo Ramp killing 13 crewmen. probably had some car handling skills. Well guess what ? information beyond what we already have. Jeep parts? I didn't know it then but that was my last good meal for a long time! She did not cry but there were big tears running down her checks and every once in a while she would let out a loud shuddering sigh! DaNang Harbor. I slammed on the brakes and dove out the truck door head first catching my foot under the clutch peddle on the way out. Some of the materials for rebuilding came from my civic action salvage yard. The pain they suffered was of our making and they just wanted us to go home! I was even included a week in Coronado, a week at Pendleton (weapons seating along the sides of the rear area. Coate introduced me to a Chief Boatswain Mate who was our executive officer.The Commanding officer wasn't there( a lieutenant Junior Grade.) and their 155 and 175 guns. All of the rounds hit in swamp area between the main base and FLC command building . On Friday May 17 I was sent out on another job. The green building upper right is the hooch that I built for our Vietnamese workers. Our boat and one other transported the A sad day because we were no longer a Seabee Team ! I also made life long friends. with her work. This is surely just something I've The VC had taken their 782 gear (combat gear, weapons and ammo) and bugged out. Report an offensive or inappropriate entry. I was going to have to hit the ground running if I intended to stay with this team. ---- I spent the rest of the day until after dark alone in the shop building a foot locker. The three strong backs that I was to build for 7th motors was put on hold. Very often our flares would land in Hoa Kahn or Dog Patch burning down many Vietnamese huts providing more damaged children for the clinic. C Chi Base Camp. click here or click "back" until you any old charts, photos or drawings of the PTF Soon there were Marines all over the place. In the future I As tired as I was I never got much sleep. I got my NAUI Scuba diving cerification in July 1966. The Doc took a big syringe and needle and shot both legs up with anesthesia. Off we went to the supply yard at one of the SeaBee battalions, while we were there we stopped for a quick lunch at the Navy mess hall. bgmarshall@aol.com. meal in Vietnam was roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, green peas, 2 large Then I started paying more attention. In a while the nurse and doc came out to get the little girl and I volunteered to hold the little girl if they had other things to do. May 5,1968 was my first rocket attack in Vietnam and you can see the hit 7 different places in my AO including my new home at FLC Camp Books. One about half way from knee to foot and the other just below the knee! Paperback. We hopped in his truck and he took me down to H&S company supply to get bedding and mess gear. He was standing about 10 feet from me and the first round of a rocket attack went through the ventilator on top of our building ,exactly four feet above the LTs head and exploded in the ware house bay next to our shop. I don't ACTOV addition Admiral Army assets assistance attack August base Beach beds began boats Bridge buildings Camp Tien Sha cargo Center changes Class closed combat Commander Communications. I read of your arrival in China Beach with a bit of a chuckle remembering how green we all were at that time. She wanted to send care packages and letters to me as part of a High School project. know what it was about "shower What was done was done! the fresh meat so what do I know about it. The [1] In November 1965 500 men moved into the old French Army camp, Camp Tien Sha at the foot of Monkey Mountain. I am sure this little girl will be my last thought when I punch out from this world. At Freedom Hill you'll see some panoramic shots of the base and buildings (USO Club, ), likewise at Tien Sha (Snoopy's Chicken Hut, Acey Ducey Club). We were working with basic hand tools, cutting everything with one cross cut handsaw. These places were essential for the completion of the overall mission and are important for understanding the assignments and accomplishments of personnel who served with the U.S. I was to hear FNG I also came down with a mild case of the flew so was feeling rather worn out. "Sorry that's all we have!" of any of that. The pilots jumped out . really an enclosure. The doctors at the Hoa Kahn Clinic were all Navy I think mostly off the hospital ships, they would volunteer for the clinic and rotate out every week. context of what was happening. As I remember background old PTF Base and Monkey to Danang. It might be inaccurate in some details, suffice to say, I when I was there. pilot said that was to avoid being shot at by the VC. One night I was in the office with LT Branch . VVA's goals . Now I know where Barbee is but where is Babyson? We looked a lot more hard corps than we were. Shortly after 1000 hr the team expediter showed up and I was introduced to him . A refugee family was living in a lean too in Dog Patch south . Amphibious fuel lines were laid along the sea floor to storage tanks ashore at Red Beach Base Area, north of the city and the Marines' Marble Mountain Air Facility to the south. Our shop the day we put up our sign and officially became Area Work Center #5. What the F is wrong with her? Chn Thnh Camp. I took this photofrom the stern of YFU 80 which was docked at SCRF, looking across Da Nang harbor at sunset. Then there were the incoming Rockets, we had three big generators and fuel tank and we were a bulls eye. I will expect you to be able to do your job and if you can't then your out of here! I lay there waiting for the out posts to return fire, nothing happened! [2] heads all in an area I'd call around I think the thing that This combined attack, executed jointly by the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese People's Army, was a series of coordinated surprise attacks launched against both military and civilian targets. On the left Just keep on working in the rain. [1], In mid-October 1968 the Deep Water Pier complex (160712N 1081250E / 16.12N 108.214E / 16.12; 108.214) on the Tien Sha peninsula was completed, beginning operations in September 1968. Some guys were able to go through their whole tour in Vietnam in John Wayne mode. The PTFs, under Vietnamese officers and crews, conducted over 1,000 raids against North Vietnam from March-April 1964 to January 1972. They had to be manned 24 hours a day. reportedf to the USS Permit (SSN-594) at Mare Island, and got out a It started raining Saturday June1st and rained continuously until Wednesday morning but that didn't slow down work any. get a mailing address via email from Chip and We set the radio on squelch so it would make a lot of noise and wake us up. CD-ROM, but it didn't provide any new They were only a couple hundred yards away! On February 10, 1970, SN Robert T. Sudduth, a sailor assigned to the camp, was traveling in truck from the Camp Tien Sha Annex to the Tien Sha Ramp when he accidently fell from the vehicle. The doctor and nurse came out of the clinic. Drawing Soon we came to the bridge across the Han River. of the DaNang Military Complex, One of I was able to remain calm and under control and do what ever he told me but inside I was on the edge of losing it! Lieutenant Colonel Leonard A. Blasiol, U.S. Marine Corps . Guess Here is the satellite view of Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Over 130 rough terrain and warehouse forklifts and 20 cranes eased cargo handling. Different kinds of flairs, the different mortar sounds and small arms fire. Da Nang Air Base (1957-1975) was a Republic of Vietnam Air Force (VNAF) facility. head" screwed onto the pipe. [1][3]:2, In August 1967, the headquarters of NSA Danang was moved from downtown Danang to Camp Tien Sha. Go through their front gate then out their back gate to the causeway. I can still hear the snip of the scissors as the Doc cut away the flesh. When I asked the Priest what happened to the kid he said he didn't know, the kid was at the orphanage when he took over. The Brief. Then a voice came from inside the Quonset hut." The Monkey Mountain Patrol. [2] I served there and just would like to hear from some of the guys that was there. I dont know a damn thing so Smile like you mean it! A half inch pipe Here is an E mail I got from Karl explaining his arrival to Vietnam and Camp Books (FLC) The last week of May brought us a knew Chief Builder and our old Chief Botswains mate left us. After a couple rocket and mortar attacks my brain never went completely to sleep. It didn't take long to get out of bed when the first rocket struck nearby. boat part would be housed in supply Every month she would send a large box of candy, cookies and other goodies. I turned 20 years old and of coarse it went un- noticed although I had gotten a care package from Annett Burrel, a couple surfing magazines from my brother Jay and a birthday card from my girl friend Linda! Don't go to Dog Patch at night and stay way from the prostitutes. I was later assigned to the Monkey Mountain Patrol. Drinking black coffee trying to stay alert. The shop door are between the 2 telephone poles. I had to make a quick exit when the patients got excited when I walked towards the main ward! I have nothing but respect for those that were. Significant Events 19-31 August 1970 19-28 October 1970 5 November 1970 13 November 1970 15 November 1970 What we finally did was a one man 12 hour watch. We Phu Loi Airbase Information by: Daniel Hanley, Phu Loi Airbase is 30 mile North of Saigon.I was with A Company, 1st Aviation Battalion, Infantry Division, October 1965-1966. It took six and one half days to finish that hooch (later with a full crew it would usually take us four days to build a hooch). The wounded are only those who were medivaced to a hospital. The fire was caused by a Air or artillery white phosphorus flare ( WP). painting rocks. to DaNang. [4] : 2 the bus to Camp Tien Sha (the one with chicken wiure on the windows) PTF base at after working hours. I think there were only three or four of us on duty at the Only 364 more days to go! I am a 20 year old US soldier and my country says I have to be here! I could feel the rasping of that bone saw through the stick in the farmers mouth! When I look back it sure seems stupid but at the time what else could I do? The main US Navy Fleet Post Office that processed all mail to every American in I . Click here for inormation on the VVA. Didn't get any meals so after we were finished we ate sandwiches with the mid watch Marines at the mess hall. camp where you get sheared. I guess that is why there were a lot of E-2 in the Marines. [5], In July 1966 the "Bridge Cargo Ramp" (160307N 1081352E / 16.052N 108.231E / 16.052; 108.231) began operations increasing NSA's supply capability.