viet nam 1st175gunbtry11thmarines in 1969

[Duncan]

Hi Doughhill34, I was in country from June of '69 to July '70. I served on gun #6 w/ the 1st 175 SP 11th Marines. I was on gun 6 of the 3 Alpha guns that roved from the main base on Hill 34 and went out into the boonies to extent our coverage. We moved from Hill 34 to Hill 55 Back to 34 and When I took over as crew chief to NAC near Red Beach. The NAC ( Northern Artillery Contolment ) Spelled wrong, was past the entrance to Red Beach and the doughnut factory. While at NAC the young Korean LT. you speak of was shooting his 45 and had a 180 degree ricochet that almost hit us. He was a good guy as was the old Gunny I think you were speaking of. Were you the CO's driver who brought him out to the NAC to cuss me out after I tore up the streets of Da Nang with out tank treads on the way out there and to tear the Peace Flag off the gun 6 for the 2nd time that day? Hernandas told me about getting blown off the gun when it blew. I got to see pics of it. I'll try to post some 175 gun pics in future.

[Doughill34]

Hello Duncan
Good to hear from you. Yes, one duty was COs driver. Lots of Sgt of the Guard, did not like that, long days and nights. I had a friend I went through stagging Bn with that went to Red Beach. Went up their one Sunday and surfed on the beach and had a beer at the new NCO club they built their. I have a picture of the gun that morning coming up the hill after it was blown up. I went running up their right after it happened, think all were out cold put not killed. I was a short 5'6" 20 year old cpl then. Went back to the world in Feb ETS. Reenlisted and stayed in until Aug 74. Joined the Army in 83 and retired as a Master Sergeant in 2004. I will have to see about posting some pictures also. I traveled to the NAC acouple of times, lots of white sand I remember. I ran into a fellow Marine back in late 80s who was at the NAC but do not remember his name. We were in training at Little Rock, AK. He joined the Army. He reminded me about a attack on Hill 34 in Dec 69. I had to jump into the jeep an run down to 1st Tanks Bn for a Flash message while we were under attack but don't remember alot about it. He thought we were close to being overrun. I remember saying to the CO, are you crazy, go out now, he said get your #$* down their, eye eye sir.

[Riven37]

I am still looking for that gun crew who were celebrating something in early 1970 at Hill 55 who walked in Arty one night right into our compound on Hill 37, Nearly lost two mortar pits that night, I was told he and his gun crew got drunk because he was going home, and got confused on the fire mission to which grid they were supposed to fire on for night time prob.

[Doughill34]

Don't know anything about hill 55, never made it their. I don't remember our guns moving. Remember a tank from 1st Tanks Bn setting down the road toward Hill 55 that took a direct hit from a gook mortar. Almost took out two ARVNs at that check point with a M50. Had them in my starlight about 0200 when they starting shooting. Did not know they were friendly at first but then they held up a huge snake they just shot. My brother was in the Army down in the Central Highlands, Dalat Army, spent a week with him.

[montana]

at the begining of my tour in arizona teratory we were hit by a cupple Bt of NVA...the gun support ran out of HE and was setting the fuses on ilumination rounds to go off at ground level....guess to try and burn them out...this was in July 1969...anyone in guns remember that cant remember where they was fireing from...gut the ilumination sure help us....im here to prove it

be safe

[Doughill34]

You also, ya did most of our firing with the 175s into Arizona I seem to remember. My best friend (we went into the Corps together from high school) was stationed by monkey mountain. He was point man one day on patrol (1968) and stepped on a mine, took both legs off above the knees. He told me later, ticked him off, he had just gotten a new pair of boots. He died about 4 years ago at 55 (heart attack). Miss him...take care Marine.

[Duncan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riven37 I am still looking for that gun crew who were celebrating something in early 1970 at Hill 55 who walked in Arty one night right into our compound on Hill 37, Nearly lost two mortar pits that night, I was told he and his gun crew got drunk because he was going home, and got confused on the fire mission to which grid they were supposed to fire on for night time prob.

Would like to hear more of this incident. We never heard of any check fire or fall to rear of the gun. This would take place if an accident of friendly fire or other happened. Fire Directional Control would send down the two set of numbers to be fired upon and if you screwed up you went to the jail. When I was there never heard of this, but did hear of an incident where someone called in support fire from 175's, not knowing how big the projectile and explosion radius (800 meters) was. We heard there might have been injuries but we got no more details than that. The blame fell on the Forward Observer or whoever called it in thinking it was a much smaller support artillery. Was Hill 37 calling in support? If they were this might have been the incident. I have very few details of this, could it be a cover-up? Let me know more details, like was Hill 37 under enemy attack that night? Glad you made it home Riven 37.