Emergency Recon Extract

Mike, Those words still make me sick. Was there ever any other kind? I wasn't on this one but I remember too many others that I don't want to.

You and me both Dale, emergency recon extractions and night medevacs always scary!

recon

When we hade to hover and pull them out by hoist, it was even worse. I remember having to lay on my belly and concentrate on nothing but what I could see out the hell hole. Hearing incoming rounds and trying to keep calm!

Clear to turn sir:eek:

Thanks for being there

I only had two emergency extracts and, luckily, we weren't hindered by KIA or WIA either time. It wa run as fast you could with the 90 pounds on your back, struggle up the ramp, stick your rifle out the window, and pull the trigger. When you have eight guys in an intense firefight, the words "Inbound, pop a smoke" was the most beautiful sound in the English language. The next best sound was the rotor noise of a '46 dropping into your LZ.

"Pop-a-Smoke" should make your symbol a CH-46 and a Huey with a pair of big brass ones suspended from the rear of each bird.

Thanks again.

Mike

Recon Extracts

Mike we did what we do, just like you did what you had to do.

The one thing that really got to me was hearing the wispering over the radio. I always pictured the VC standing over the recon team not knowing they are right under foot.

Semper Fi

Bruce "Howdy" Mayor HMM-161 '69-"70

Honestly, there were so many missions like this one during this period of time.....it could have been any of us in HMM-262, HMM-364, or any of three other squadrons......we just did our jobs......and we did it for "Our Marines"....and we would all gladly do it all again!

Semper Fidelis,

Moon

Little puckered ones

😮

Mike Green;25353 wrote: Gentlemen - I spent all of 1968 with 3rd Recon out of Dong Ha and Quang Tri. First of all, I want to say thanks for being there - Recon owes a great debt to all of you, pilots and crew. On May 3rd or 4th, 1968, our team (Marblechamp) was inserted into the northern portion of the Da Krong valley, maybe 10 clicks south of Ca Lu/Vandergrift/Stud. We were only on the ground a few hours before the NVA chased us down the hill and back to our LZ. As I recall, our insertion birds were fragged solely for this patrol until we felt secure enough to release them and they were waiting on the flight line at Vandergrift for us to release them or come back for an extraction. Anyway, after we called for an emergency extraction, the '46s beat us to the LZ. The fast movers were right behind the helos and our pilot circled high enough so we could watch the fireworks. We came out with no KIA or WIA. Does anyone remember this insertion/extraction?

Thanks and Semper Fi, Mike.

Wasn't any different in 66/67, just more Huey slicks & 34's.....none of us had big brass one's, we had little puckered ones in the back.......but getting the recon's out was worth it, and no doubt any of us would do it again, of course now we'd have to cut back on the coffee and water..

What I did not like was when the whispering voice became loud and panting hard!---Found and on the run! Lanny

Emergency Recon Extract

What you described here is what we in the squadrons referred to as a ....."sh*t sandwich". A descriptive term that pretty much summed it up. Glad you made it back brother!

Semper Fi

HELLO Hip

Just had to say Hello and show that I'm glade to see on site Hip. Hope to see you more and give us some up date on what ALL your up to. Are you planning to get to reno? Later JJ 262:cool:

According to the VMO-6 After Action Report the team was inserted/extracted by HMM-262 (Chatterbox 20-1 insert/Chatterbox 24-1 extract) with VMO-6 escort. Fixed wing was 2 USAF F-100s (Icon 51).