Dear Larry:

It must have been MAG-16. I was the last "Bunker Bunnie" from March to (the Army take-over) in May 1971. When Colonel Steadman went back to his hooch, the BB was responsible for the overall security of MMAF and the tactical commander of Zulu Company would react to our needs. We had the power to launch gun ships from the Medevac package and obtain Zeon lighting and quad-50 support from the top of the Marbles.

Believe me it was all very exciting when Zulu pulled out and we were left with a Combined Action Company (many little people lead by a cadre of U.S. Army sergeants and a Butter-Bar!).

Hope this helps answer your question.

Regards,

Jim

I was a platoon leader with Zulu Company and I served under two different C.O.'s. They were Major McCloskey, not sure of the spelling, and Captain Pack. Our XO was LT. Romney and our 1stSgt was Gunny Beavers. As I recall we had 4 platoon leaders, two Staff Sergeants, a Sgt, E. P. Hall and myself a Sgt.but I think it was under MABS-16, not sure after all these years.

Dreaded Perimeter Guard Duty

During 1966, Zulu Company was the polite moniker given to the provisional rifle company responsible for MMAF perimeter guard. This group was staffed with squadron personnel in the same way mess duty was staffed by squadron personnel, except that NCO's and Staff NCO's were eligible. During my dreaded thirty days of guard duty, our "platoon sergeant" was a staff NCO from avionics. I cannot recall any grunts on the perimeter at the time. I always wondered who we crossed to rate such an assignment.

In early 1967, grunts started to show up and formed the unit. They were even located in a separate "hooch" area. I believe that squadron personnel were eventually phased out of guard duty.

This is a long way down memory lane to answer the question, but I believe that Zulu Company was originally a function of MAG-16 and changed hands sometime in 1967 and fell under MABS-16.

I also recall that we would get "volunteered" for special guard details, such as escorting corpsmen visiting local villes and security details for generals wanting to visit Marble Mountain (not the Air Facility) and surrounding area. As you might imagine, some very interesting sea stories resulted from these excursions.

Tim Bastyr

mmaf

I remember being on guard in mid 66. What we were told was that due to the fact that the wing personnel had the perimeter and we were short of low ranking ep's, we would be on a detail every two months. I did 30 days on the wire beside the special forces camp->south, and was back for another 30 days later on the beach. On the 2nd or 3rd night the od or platoon commander went bunker to bunker looking for VMO-2 personnel-we were all told to go back to the squardron the next morning and not come back to guard duty. I believe that was ~fall 66, I don't believe anyone from VMO-2 was on guard or any other detail after that.

A little venting is due in this case. I don't know how many of you were ever on guard at mmaf-we were not allowed have a magazine in our rifles and were told to keep a lock in the safety. Maybe some one abided by that-no in my bunker! We went through a period of time where the officer in charge would try to sneak up on your bunker from inside the base-everyone started guarding the wrong side of the wire for a while when that was going on. Anyone remember the bunk they had to burn due to very small crawly creatures?

Does anyone remember the Army SStg that was killed by a mortar attack ~10 days ago in Iraq? My nephew is in that outfit and they don't have bunkers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was in Zulu Company in 68 and we still had a few people from the squadroons on detail. I even had two soldiers in the platoon. There was live ammo in the weapons at that time.

Mmaf zulu co.

I was in Zulu Co. from July 1969-July 1970. My MOS is 0311 as all the other grunts assigned to Zulu Co. where at that time period. We would still get non-permanent Marines to pull, I believe it was 30 day Guard Duty with us. and somtimes Army personnel. I remember for at least my first 5 to 6 months. We only had two men to a tower or bunker to man all night. Then we started getting more permanet personnel then we had 4 men to each position. We would occasionally go to some ville with Corpsman to treat the sick and we would look for weapons etc. I flew on a napalm drop with 55 Gal drums in June 70 over Charlie Ridge. I was in 3rd Plt. Our section was the tower across from the Hospital going towards Marble Mt. around to the tower at the runway. Semper Fi, Brian

MMAF Zulu Co.

I am just glad none from our HMM's was sent to guard duty while I was with them. Can't remember a one of them that was. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.

I pulled perimeter duty several times and always on the beach side of MMAF. I was with MABS-16. I also remember they pulled the m-60's off the bunkers after I got in country (Jun70-May71). I heard a rumor somebody tried to "lock-in-load" one, burnt off a couple rounds and then they pulled m-60's off the periimeter.

charlie8137

Charlie, that was a very dumb thing to do. The people not checked out on the 60 should have been pulled off, not the m-60. Bet if the gooks had gotten the brilliance that did such a thing, before he kicked it, he would have thought 'just why did I pull the 60 off the line'. That was really not thinking straight. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.

Phu Bai Reactionary

While in Phu Bai just before the TET offensive in 1968, our squadron (HMM-165) along with others there had to provide troops to man the fighting holes along the perimeter, East of the airfield. My good friend (still to this day) Capt. Doug Morrison (HMM-262 HAC in 1968-9) had a brother that was in the platoon that guarded Phu Bai's airstrip. Whenever I had "Reactionary Duty" brother Ron would point us in the right direction, thank goodness!! We always manned a fighting hole with a permanent 0311, or similar, that knew how to defend the perimeter, and we had to follow their orders regardless who was senior, that's the way it should have been. They KNEW their stuff....
We weren't attacked and that's a good thing!! We weren't terribly intimidated since the grunts kept us straight.....at least most of us weren't!!

Phu Bai Reactionary

Heard that Joe. I hit Country the 31st of Jan.,'68, and was at Danang, with VMF(AW)235 as a Plane Capt. We were busy launching Birds to keep the vc from taking the Air Base from the south end. We flew around the clock seemed a very long time. Eat, sleep, and everything right there. The out houses were out behind the hangar. There was a lot of shooting going on all over the place. The bad boys didn't get Danang, or anyother place to their dismay. When I got to HMM-265 in April '69, I did have Guard Duty at the revetment area. Orders were shoot to Kill, anything that moved. Glad nothing did. It was what seemed to be an all nighter. Glad I started Flying shortly after that. I cared not for Guard Duty. As an MP with the Army in Chu-lai on gates 1, and 2, night shift, 12 hours on, and 12 off, I didn't care for it at all. After a month of it, I pulled strings and went to the lead jeep Gunner on convoys every day from Chu-lai, to Hill-63, and back, for 30 days. Was glad to go to Cubi Pt. for CER,(complete Ebgine Repair) after. Lived in Alongapo, which was good I should say. I''m glad the Night Guard Duty at Phu Bai didn't last very long. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.