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Topic starter
Hi,
My name is Barbara Dodd LaForge, I am trying to find out what " unit",
if that is what it is called, that my father belonged to in Vietnam.
His name is James Howard Dodd Jr. I know he retired from the Marines, a Gunnery Sergeant. He passed away in 2000. I have old newspaper articles and letters that he wrote to his father, but they never mention what unit he was in. In the newspaper article he is receiving" his third Gold Star for flying 20 combat missions between Dec 15 and 28, 1963, against the Viet Cong in South Vietnam." And the letters to his father are dated Jan 1969.
I was hoping someone could tell me how and where I might get the info I am looking for!
Thank you so much for your time
Barbara Dodd LaForge
Posted : 2004-09-20 09:32
Chronology on Web Site
From what you have said and according to our chronology historical report, on our web site, it looks like he was in HMM-361, as follows:
"On 2 Oct 63 , HMM-361 relieved HMM-261. Soon afterwards, the squadron lost 2 aircraft while on a SAR mission and 10 aircrew were killed. The ensuing recovery operation lasted 3 days and required the insertion of Marine and ARVN security forces numbering over 150 men. These and other actions caused the Marines to develop procedures to perform quick engine changes, "QECs," in the field.
President Diem's overthrow and assassination at the beginning of November caused a temporary halt to SHUFLY operations. President John F. Kennedy's assassination on 22 Nov 63 resulted in President Lyndon B. Johnson taking over the reigns of the American government.
1964
MACV announced, in January, that all Marines would be withdrawn from RVN during the first half of 1964 as part of a plan to end direct US participation in the war. Wonder what happened? In the meantime, the missions continued. HMM-361 conducted a critical retrograde of a 200 man CIDG unit under heavy VC pressure."
Posted : 2004-09-21 07:37
