Gunny looking back

Gunny, I too flew in on I believe, mine was a Contenantal Air Lines. It was Jan 31st,'68. We were rushed there because of TET. We stopped in Hawaii for more fuel, and the civillians went crazy. There we were in the main lobby, full combat dress, ammo belts, weapons,(we had the m-14), helmets, and looking like we could take the place any moment. I believe it was a stretch-8, and could carry the load. When we landed under mortar Fire, and Rockets, we were handed our Flack jackets, and put on trucks going to where the many of us were going to. That was my welcome to Vietnam. We landed about 18:30-40 their time. Nothing of importance was hit, but still the Pilots didn't want to land, and were given orders to get us there NOW. We had no fuel to fly back, as the whole Country was getting hit, so the Pilots landed, fueled up, and got the heck out fast as they could. You are so right. All of us that came back, left a part of us there, and brought some of it back with us. I wouldn't change a thing. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.

Re: Gunny looking back

John Ace Hunt;28523 wrote: Gunny, I too flew in on I believe, mine was a Contenantal Air Lines. It was Jan 31st,'68. We were rushed there because of TET. ...

John,

Do you remember the exact date that Tet started in '68?

I asked for two reasons...

1. I thought is was Jan 31st, but not 100% sure.
2. The night that Tet hit the fan was my first day in VietNam.

We were a load of replacement Marines on a chartered Continental flight that landed at DaNang late in the day. I remembered vividly because Capt. Charles Robb was on our flight (the President's son-in-law). We were disembarked from the plane and put in a formation for the media scavengers. I was told that the story went something like "Capt. Charles Robb lands in VietNam with troops to relieve seige of KheSan." Of course that was media B.S. because we were headed in all different directions as replacements to different units throughout I Corps.

Most, if not all of us, were billeted in some strip barracks at the DaNang airstrip with no organization, leaders, much less weapons. The TET offensive hit the DaNang airstrip that night. I began to wonder what I got myself into.

How close were you to all of this?

Re: Gunny Sanchez Looks Back!

Merlin, mine is the very same. Tet started on Jan 31,'68. I too flew in on a Contental, full gear and weapon. Just didn't have the flack jacket. Those were passed out to us as we de-planed the Aircraft. Danang was attacked bad that night. Admin finally got around to putting my arrival in on 1 Feb'68 as well. We could have been on the same Charter. I do remember one of the troopies, the planes females were all over him. Gave him their wings, and most all the attention. Could have been Robb. Just as soon as we got the flack jackets, we were trucked off to our units. Hope you remember the cpl. that lost our shot records 3 times while we were in Staging, beforer getting on the plane. He was still a Cpl. when I went home on extention leave. We had to assemble inside the Airport in Hawaii while the plane was being re-fuled. Scared the civilians good. Hope this helps. Have good ones, and stay warm, and Dry. Another very Big storm is to hit anytime. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.

Re: Gunny Sanchez Looks Back!

WOW!

It's incredible to think that I may have found someone who actually arrived in-country on the same plane with me over 40 years ago!

I didn't go past the DaNang staging barracks that day because I wasn't yet assigned to a unit. Actually I was destined to go south to Chu Lai to an A-4 jet squadron since I was part of the zoomies back in Beaufort, S.C. However, I either talked my way into helicopters at the DaNang staging facility, or my jacket was flagged by the CMC to "let this nut case go where ever he wants". My VietNam orders were directly from the Commandant himself. I jumped the chain-of-command big time to get orders to VietNam.

I wish there was a way to get my military records jacket to recall dates, assignments, personal correspondence, command comments, etc.

I just discovered this site about a week ago, and already have gotten more information and recalled more events in this past week than I have in the past 40 years.

Kudos to the folks that started this site, and to the folks who keep it running.

Re: Gunny Sanchez Looks Back!

Merlin, It is a small world. I too was at Beaufort. I finished school in Memphis, and didn't have the scores to go choppers. So, I was sent to Beaufort and attached to VMF(AW)333. I believe there was just your A-4 Squadron, and 2 F-8's. One 451, my gunner was in, and I, in 333. I was at Savanna, or Charleston every week-end. I put in for orders the day I got there, but they didn't come through until the 1st. part on Nov.'67, and after leave, and staging, hit Danang. I believe we very well could have been on the same Flight over. I will just never forget being marched in ranks into the main terminal in Hawaii. Scared people good. I believe they knew TET was about to happen, and was Flying in as many plane loads as they could. Glad they did, or they might could have taken the Air Force, and west side, Marines, at Danang. They did come close. Glad you were able to go Rotors when you got there, as I had to do 15 months in fixed wing, and other,then did some threatening, and was sent to 265 with my Gunner. He went a month ahead of me. A gunny messed me over. I had my starchies on, went into admin, and told the gunny,'I have been west pac 15 months, and I'm either going to the US, or to Phu-bai- 265 today.(he of course said 'WHAT'). (I'd only been in his office for the past 26 days asking for them). He had the orders in less than 20 minutes. I was very mad, and he knew it. It cut my flight time, but no problem. I didn't go to staging either, as our Squadron truck was waiting on us. We went straight to it. The rest was mostly good. Glad you made it home too. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.