Notifications
Clear all
In-Country Vietnam
Last Post
by Anonymous 15 years ago
4
Posts
3
Users
0
Likes
2
Views
Topic starter
In the fall of 1968 I was in the defense platoon at the airfield at QTCB. GySgt James P. Wells was our NCOIC. I remember he said he had played some pro football in the 1950's. He wasn't just big, he was real big and black. He did everything in his power for you if you were squared away or at least tried to be squared away. Our OIC was a 1st Lt from Oregon or Washington. He was a good guy too and watched out for the troops. I spent about a month in that wooden tower at the base of HMM-262 and VMO-6 hootches next to the river and the US Army dual 400mm tank and then went onto other things.
Anyway-----------at some point in time I spent a lot of time on the bunker line and the CP with this blond headed kid who was real fair and had real red cheeks. He was one of these ah shucks type of young Marines and would blush if you told a real raunchy joke or got some some skin flicks from home. He was from H&MS and if memory serves me he was a wireman. We spent hours talking about this and that and one day someone from PMAG-39 came around looking for hamsters that wanted to be 46 gunners as they had taken staggering casualties and the ops/tempo was killing (figuratively) the maintenance guys, as they had to fix and fly'm and eventually you couldn't do both------not enough hours in the day.
At any rate this kid became a 46 gunner and about two weeks into this new adventure his A/C was shot down. I was told that the A/C was laying on its side and burning and rather than evacuate he staeyed and was pushing grunts out the broken fuselage until the heat/fire and exploding ammunition overcame him and he was killed. I'm pretty sure he was flying for HMM-161.
For whatever reason, years went by and his death haunted me---for whatever reason. I remember the conversations we had about where he lived, his folks, his sister etc-------what killed me was I could not or would not remember his name. About five years ago I made an effort to find out who he was to no avail. I wanted to contact any living relatives and let them know what a real good kid he was and a credit to all Marines.
Now that I'm reaching the end of my own rope, I'm hoping that someone out there may remember him and his name and perhaps I can contact a brother or sister of his before I fly off west.
Many Thanks
Tom Constantine
MGySgt USMCR Ret
Posted : 2005-09-20 19:07
Topic starter
His name was Peter Gibson KIA 10 May 1969 on a troop insertion up around LZ Alpine. RIP>
Posted : 2009-12-06 17:49
Flying Tiger
Tom, He was assigned to HMM-262 and put with crew chief, Tex Wheeler, who was also KIA 10May69. At the service we had in the hanger I went to the new Major that was the pilot, and ask what happened? THE words that stuck with me for forty years were "He went back in to get everyone out" We were due to check out together at the end of May. Tex is the reason I'm here online and found Popasmoke and the old tigers. I finally made it to visit him and his family last July in May,Texas. I know what you mean about those bits that stick with your head and won't leave and others that you can't quite recall and know that you should. There is more on that flight if you go to the Old Tiger site at www.hmm-262combatvets.com and check the casualty listings. I am still on my quest after my head exploded last April standing on the ramp of a 46 in the musuem at Quantico and am glad I can help yours. Semper Fi
Posted : 2009-12-07 08:05
Good to GO
Dale remember what we talk about before the reunion ? Well you just look at what you have done, by just reaching out to one of our extended family. This is what we was talking about ,and that you could be just as much a part as any one of us. Way to go and hope you see and feel the feelings that have long been setting by the wayside. God Bless and keep ! Semper FI Marine. 🙂
Posted : 2009-12-07 23:01
