View Full Version : 3rd 175mm Gun Btry[sp]
Looking for anyone that was in 3rd Guns in 29 Palms. I was there 78-81,comm[2531]. Anybody that was with 3rd 155mm/175mm guns I'd like to hear from you. I'd like to find a complete history of the unit. Thanks Cpl Lapthorne
I didnt know that the Corps had 175mm guns...:flag:
R Landry
12-04-10, 08:03 AM
Try this link for a start -- good music.
http://www.12thmarineartilleryregimentassociation.org/3rd155mmGunBattery-A.html
I'll be... learn something new every day!
So would I be correct in the assumption that we didnt have very many 175's?
I saw alot of Army batterys in Nam...
I didnt know that the Corps had 175mm guns...:flag:
I don't know how many btry's we had, 3rd Guns was the last active duty 175mm btry in the Marines. The army had a 8in/175 brty at the time[78-81] 3rd Guns was re-tubed to 3rd 8in[Howitzer] ,same chassis,different tube. 175's could only shoot HE,better range ,8in.can shoot HE,smoke,WP.etc...more accurate,
Try this link for a start -- good music.
http://www.12thmarineartilleryregimentassociation.org/3rd155mmGunBattery-A.html
I found that site before. Good info. I'm hoping to find a paper,[old school], personal history of the unit or one I can print out. Thank you for the heads up on it tho:thumbup:..................:flag:
I don't know how many btry's we had, 3rd Guns was the last active duty 175mm btry in the Marines. The army had a 8in/175 brty at the time[78-81] 3rd Guns was re-tubed to 3rd 8in[Howitzer] ,same chassis,different tube. 175's could only shoot HE,better range ,8in.can shoot HE,smoke,WP.etc...more accurate,
When I was in Nam, I was TAD to an ARVN outfit for a couple of months and I stayed at a fire support base Charlie 2 with a battery of Marine 155's sp. There was a battery of ARMY 175's next to them... holy crap, when they had a night fire mission..... geez louise.. they shook everything when they went off.
Same thing up at Gio Linh. There were 8 in sp's there.
When I was in Nam, I was TAD to an ARVN outfit for a couple of months and I stayed at a fire support base Charlie 2 with a battery of Marine 155's sp. There was a battery of ARMY 175's next to them... holy crap, when they had a night fire mission..... geez louise.. they shook everything when they went off.
Same thing up at Gio Linh. There were 8 in sp's there.
I was a radio operator,so I was up all hours, got used to the guns. Got to fire one once. We got to take a couple out and play with them once. No fo's, we just looked down the tube and" up a little ,to the left,try that[really short range],I got to shoot a round,what a blast!![no pun intended],the hole thing jumps[32 tons],the tube recoiling a foot and a half away from your leg WOW!!
R Landry
12-04-10, 12:25 PM
Here's a Command Chronology from 31 August to 31 August 1970, not your time, but something. More coming.
http://www.vietnam.ttu.edu/star/images/1201/1201024190.pdf
Here's more:
http://www.recordsofwar.com/vietnam/usmc/3rd175mmGunBtry.htm
R Landry
12-04-10, 12:38 PM
3rd Generation Marine
http://www.grunt.com/images-bs/other/baront.jpg (http://www.grunt.com/images-bs/other/baron.jpg) http://www.grunt.com/images-bs/other/baron2t.jpg (http://www.grunt.com/images-bs/other/baron2.jpg) http://www.grunt.com/images-bs/other/baron3t.jpg (http://www.grunt.com/images-bs/other/baron3.jpg) (http://www.grunt.com/images-bs/other/baron4.jpg)
I was a third generation Marine. My Grandfather in WWI , my Dad in WWII Cpl (1943-1947) and me SSgt (1968-1978)
I have no info where my Grandfather served.
Dad served in the South Pacific (43-45) 3rd MarDiv Saipan and Guam and Tenstin, China (45-47) A/1/11 1st MarDiv.
I served in Vietnam A/1/11 1st MarDiv (69-70)…An Hoa and just south of Hill55, where you were at Sgt Grit.
PMI Edson Range Camp Pendleton (70-71)
Marine Security Detachment (Marine Barracks San Diego) at NAS Miramar (71-73)
L/4/12 Camp Butler and North Camp Fuji Japan (73-74)
3rd 175mm Gun Btry 1st FSSG Twentynine Palms (74-76)
Hq 4th MarDiv (G-4 Section Prepositioned War Reserves Chief), Camp Pendleton (76)
Hq 4th MarDiv New Orleans, La (76-78)
As you can see I served in the same battery that my Dad served with in China (how scary is that?) A couple of things that happened to Dad also happened to me (quite scary why I think about it).
As you can see I still proudly fly our flag, even though I am surrounded Army doggies here in Lacey, Washington. It lets them know not to “Mess with the Best”.
My heart goes out to all who served and currently serves in our beloved Corps.
Semper Fi
Doug Barron SSgt 68-78
R Landry
12-04-10, 12:58 PM
And this. You probably have seen this.
http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/div/11mar/3bn/history.asp
3rd Generation Marine
http://www.grunt.com/images-bs/other/baront.jpg (http://www.grunt.com/images-bs/other/baron.jpg) http://www.grunt.com/images-bs/other/baron2t.jpg (http://www.grunt.com/images-bs/other/baron2.jpg) http://www.grunt.com/images-bs/other/baron3t.jpg (http://www.grunt.com/images-bs/other/baron3.jpg)
I was a third generation Marine. My Grandfather in WWI , my Dad in WWII Cpl (1943-1947) and me SSgt (1968-1978)
I have no info where my Grandfather served.
Dad served in the South Pacific (43-45) 3rd MarDiv Saipan and Guam and Tenstin, China (45-47) A/1/11 1st MarDiv.
I served in Vietnam A/1/11 1st MarDiv (69-70)…An Hoa and just south of Hill55, where you were at Sgt Grit.
PMI Edson Range Camp Pendleton (70-71)
Marine Security Detachment (Marine Barracks San Diego) at NAS Miramar (71-73)
L/4/12 Camp Butler and North Camp Fuji Japan (73-74)
3rd 175mm Gun Btry 1st FSSG Twentynine Palms (74-76)
Hq 4th MarDiv (G-4 Section Prepositioned War Reserves Chief), Camp Pendleton (76)
Hq 4th MarDiv New Orleans, La (76-78)
As you can see I served in the same battery that my Dad served with in China (how scary is that?) A couple of things that happened to Dad also happened to me (quite scary why I think about it).
As you can see I still proudly fly our flag, even though I am surrounded Army doggies here in Lacey, Washington. It lets them know not to “Mess with the Best”.
My heart goes out to all who served and currently serves in our beloved Corps.
Semper Fi
Doug Barron SSgt 68-78
My grandfather was on Saipan. He was a Seabee,he helped build/re-build the airfield there. I live in kent,wa.just down the road. do you know if that surplus place"The Foxhole"[I think] is still open? [south tac,or lakewood?]
R Landry
12-04-10, 05:51 PM
Still is, apparently.
http://www.thefoxhole.org/
SGT7477
12-04-10, 09:42 PM
Looking for anyone that was in 3rd Guns in 29 Palms. I was there 78-81,comm[2531]. Anybody that was with 3rd 155mm/175mm guns I'd like to hear from you. I'd like to find a complete history of the unit. Thanks Cpl Lapthorne
Served with the First 175 sp in 29 Palms in 1977, Semper Fidelis.:flag:
SGT7477
12-04-10, 09:44 PM
I didnt know that the Corps had 175mm guns...:flag:
We use to call them Long Toms, they could reach out and touch someone,lol, Semper Fidelis.:flag:
"Long Tom's" was a name for them back in the 50's.
SGT7477
12-05-10, 12:13 PM
"Long Tom's" was a name for them back in the 50's.
I guess I fired all 3 of the sp's in my time in the Corps but I liked the 155 the best of them all, Semper Fidelis.:flag:
openboat
01-12-14, 02:02 AM
I was in that unit from 1961-62. At that time we were a 155 gun battery.
I was in 3rd 175 from 1980 till we re-tubed to 8inch in I think was 1983 and was titled 3rd 8in. The last round was fired off the gun I was on with SSGT Stillwell as the Section Chief and I (CPL ThERIAULT) was the A chief that day. The last round was fired on gun 449er The one they called the (Ghost Gun).
Quint, I remember your name,We were there at the same time. Don't remember many of the gun guy's,Cpl Hancock,SSgt Hunter. I was the CO's driver [Capt Procter and another I can't remember].....GYSGT Cusack.....Do you know of anybody else from "3rd Herd" on here from that time period
I haven't found any yet.
Gunny Kusack became 1st sgt. and was in a bad motorcycle wreck and broke his back before I left. He was still saying "If you drink don't drive, and if you drive don't drink!!!" OOOHHH RAHHHHH!!! lol
Quint I remember you. I was Sgt. Hendrick in the FDC. Somewhere I still have the base magazine from when "Big guns fire for the last time"
GeezerHead
06-10-14, 06:36 PM
I remember you Sgt. H. This is collins. Came in 82/83 cant remember. myself, Kuz & Yost, all there within a month. What a shock, long time ago. I have the paper with the Lt. Col getting knocked off the gun by the recoil.
Jrboyes0813
06-10-14, 07:48 PM
3rd Guns '65 29 Palms... Original mount out to Nam
About the only other guy I've been in touch with is Steve Rayburn, he was an ammo tech we called "half toe" after a trailer became unhitched and cut off a big chunk of his big toe. Oddly enough he is living in China with his newer bride. he's on Facebook.
GeezerHead
06-13-14, 06:15 AM
I lost contact with Kuznia. last time I heard he was in New Jersey. I don't know about Yost. We all rotated to Okinawa and then Kuz seperated at Camp pendelton, Yost & I got stationed back at 29....
mikey3799
12-30-15, 06:23 PM
I joined HQ battery in oct 81, I was a 2841, radio repair. I was farmed out to 3/175mm. i was there when they switched tubes and became 3rd 8in howitzer battery (SP).
mikey3799
12-30-15, 06:26 PM
We actually had the last of the 175mm guns. They were switched out to 8in tubes in 82 or 83, i think.
SWJewellTN
08-01-16, 03:11 PM
It wasn't LtCol Palm that was thrown off the gun; it was the Commanding General with a charge 3. <br />
<br />
I vividly recall Gunny Hangsleben (SP?) marking an 'X" in the dirt where he thought he'd land, and...
SWJewellTN
08-01-16, 03:34 PM
I was in 3rd 175 from 1980 till we re-tubed to 8inch in I think was 1983 and was titled 3rd 8in. The last round was fired off the gun I was on with SSGT Stillwell as the Section Chief and I (CPL ThERIAULT) was the A chief that day. The last round was fired on gun 449er The one they called the (Ghost Gun).
Quint:
I know this qualifies as a "Holy thread resurrection, Batman!" type of thing.
This is (former) Corporal Steve Jewell who was on the gun that day as the A-gunner. We were gun number 4, and 5 & 6 were already re-tubed to 8". I was a L/Cpl at the time. Yes, it was 1983 for sure. I remember Stillwell threatening the plug'r about not letting the CG fall of the gun before he did so. I also remember the plug'r reaching for the CG's belt and missing as the CG did a complete flip off the back of the gun and barely missing the tow loop on the top of the spade. For the life of me I can't remember who the plug'r was. I can't remember the name of the Brigadier General who was thrown off the gun either. I called my wife to see if she remembered since she was his preferred waitress/bartender at his O Club functions, but she couldn't remember either.
For the last rounds the unit decided to have the Marine that had been with the unit the longest fire the last round out of gun# 1 which was Corporal Pennington. Major Schmaltz (CO) fired the last round out of gun# 2, LtCol Palm (Battalion CO) fired the last round out of gun# 3, and the CG fired the last round out of gun# 4. He was also supposed to fire the first 8" round out of Gun# 5, but he was dissuaded from doing so after being thrown off our gun. I remember his first words after being helped up off the ground too, "The sum'***** kicks, don't it!?"
sambell3rd175
10-09-16, 06:10 PM
Hey fly do you remember me? 3rd 175 I fell out of your jeep one time. Good time at the palms
SWJewellTN
10-11-16, 07:42 AM
I think you're mistaking me for someone else. I have no idea who Fly is, sorry. :(
borderbill
10-24-16, 06:26 PM
Believe the "long toms" Were 155mm ----guns (not howitzers). Guns in artillery mean longer tubes, generally flatter trajectory, longer range---but accuracy really ****s. "Artillery lends dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl- Martha Washington."
SGT7477
10-24-16, 07:13 PM
Borderbill Long Toms are the 175 Guns, 155 are howitzers, Semper Fidelis.
I remember you Sam.I haven't been on here for a long time. Hopefully you still look in here...... The seat was not pinned down, you fell out and broke your arm!! Do you know if ant other people from 3rd herd are on here? How have you been?
Hey fly do you remember me? 3rd 175 I fell out of your jeep one time. Good time at the palms
I remember you Sam..... The seat wasn't pinned down. I made the turn by the shop and you fell out braking your arm!! Hopefully you still look in here, do you know if anybody else from 3rd Herd is on here? Are you still in eastern WA?
Roscoe1061
01-31-24, 09:19 PM
Looking for anyone that was in 3rd Guns in 29 Palms. I was there 78-81,comm[2531]. Anybody that was with 3rd 155mm/175mm guns I'd like to hear from you. I'd like to find a complete history of the unit. Thanks Cpl Lapthorne
Hey fly how's it going .i was in that unit in 79 with pete zuniga,misa ,sgt ortiz,those two brothers from texas,big straton,cpl gomez,villa ,it's been a long minute but i can probably remember more fellas given some time.hope all's well in your neck of the woods .pascual rincon is i ,lol ,peace my brother