HMM-362, April 15, 1962

[Wrench3516]

Did You know??
April 15, 1962- LtCol Archie Clapp and HMM-362 flew into Vietnam’s Soc Trang
airfield as part of Operation SHUFLY, thus becoming the first
operational Marine Corps unit deployed to Vietnam, 1962

[chulaivet1966]

I'll bump this one...

Oh yes....HMM 362 are the Ugly Angels.
Originally called 'Archie's Angels'
http://www.hmm-362.us/History%20of%20HMM%20362.htm

I was with BLT 1/5 on the USS Princeton and they chopped us on our first operation in Vietnam being Operation Jackstay in the Rung Sat Special Zone on the Long Thanh peninsula....3/26/66.
I have lots of respect for those chopper pilots....they got me back safely.

Later...

[greensideout]

I remember the morning of lift-off both, as if it were yesterday and as if it were a lifetime ago. I guess the latter applies after 49 additional years that I am thankful for.

We were a great Marine team! I served with the best of our time!

Semper Fi

[chulaivet1966]

Don't know for sure but HMM362 may be the ones that med-evaced my dumb ass to Chu Lai at 02:30 when I received a personal visit from an Viet Cong 82mil mortar round during a fire fight on 9/11/66.
Hmmm...9/11 is NOT a good day for any of us.

Wish I'd have taken more pictures but I guess that was low priority under the circumstances.

Later....

[BarryMacDonnell]

Maybe some folks here might be interested in the small collection of photos I took while attached to ShuFly from April-Sept 1962. Three of them were used by Leatherneck Magazine in a centerfold article commemorating the 40th anniversary in 2002. And now it's 51 years ... seems like yesterday ...

https://picasaweb.google.com/barryma...eat=directlink

[chulaivet1966]

Barry....

Lots of great pics there.
You beat me to that SE Asian picnic by (4) years.

Carry on....