Now Is The Time!

To get involved!
 
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"Ensuring Our Legacy: Reunion, Renewal, Remembrance" 

USMC Vietnam Veteran Tankers! 

This is where your Children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren will be able to go and find out what you did for generations to come.


 But only if you participate!

See our latest project! we are locating on 1:50 K maps the locations of all USMC Tank units during the war. the Battalions, Companies and as we can the Platoons.  We will need your help in this project.

See the Map Locater in the frame to the left.

The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation is spearheading the campaign to build the Marine Corps Heritage Center located at Quantico, VA. In a letter I received from Lt.Gen. Ron Christmas, President of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation he states his goal is "To create a Center where all Marines, past, present, and future, and also the American people, can come to view the history of our great nation through the eyes of Marines."

The Center is "committed to telling the stories of Marine leaders past and  present; not just famous generals in famous campaigns, but majors and lieutenants, sergeants and privates, too, by depicting their heroism and the honor, courage, and commitment of all Marines."

The Center's mission -- and that of the Marine Corps Vietnam Tankers Historical Foundation - is identical. We are working very closely with the Center. Please send me your story so that it can be properly told to the American people. We have the inside track, let's not allow this opportunity slip away.

"Copyright 2006".All rights reserved by the USMCVTHF.  No part of any of the material
 on this web site may be copied, faxed, electronically transmitted, or in any other manner
 duplicated without express written permission of the author.

Ray Stewart
Pres., USMCVT Historical Foundation
707 S.W. 350th Court
Federal Way, WA 98023-8104
E-mail: USMCVTHF@comcast.net
Phone: 253-835-9083

The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(19) organization and the always welcome contributions are tax deductible. Also, we're still looking for writers to work with HQMC, Historical Branch to transcribe documents.

 

The Marine Corps Vietnam Tankers Historical Foundation is an Official Partner of the Veterans History Project.  Click on the logo above to go to the Veterans History Project Web Site.

Marine Tank Unit Statistics

Tank Crew Deaths by MOS
1965 – 1970 Republic of Vietnam

108 - Tank Crewman = .72%
19 - Tank Officer = .11%
11 - Tank Repairman = .13%
2 - Turret Technicians = .13%
16 - Support Personnel*
*Includes: Admin, Motor-T, Supply, Radio Repair, Radio Technician,
Optical Repairman, Machinist & Field Radio Operators.
When wounded are taken into account for all MOS’s in a Tank Unit,
overall casualties were at 85%*.
*Not confirmed, information from Dick Carey, President of USMCVTA.

Number of USMC Tanks in RVN 1965 – 1970

During March of 1968 Marine tanks reached a peak of only 152 vehicles
in country.

1st Tank Battalion 62 = Tanks
3rd Tank Battalion 62 = Tanks
5th Tank Battalion 38 = Tanks

Between 1965 and 1968 there were never more than 124 tanks in country.

Combat Record
 

In no war, past or present, were Marine tanks ever in the field as long
as Marine tanks were in Vietnam.
Tank units were involved in the sieges of Khe Sanh, Con Thien, the battle for Hue City and almost every major Marine ground operation of the war.
Marine Tank Battalions never operated as Battalions or even Companies. Some times as Platoon’s (five tanks) but usually as sections of two to three tanks supporting or attached to infantry units.
 

Two Presidential Unit Citations (P.U.C.) were awarded to each of the 1st, 3rd, & 5th Tank Battalions.
(The P.U.C. is the country’s highest award for bravery and valor for a combat unit)

Numerous Marine Corps-Navy Unit Citations were given to all three Tank Battalions.

Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation

Navy Unit Commendation

Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation

Vietnam Armed Forces Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross)

Vietnam Civic Action Citation

 
3 Tankers and 1 Ontos Marine received the Navy Cross


David J. Danner
MOS 2141 = Tank Repairman
Harold A. Riensche
MOS 2141 = Tank Repairman
Charles D. Thatcher
MOS 1811 = Tank Crewman
Randall A. Browning
MOS 0353 = Ontos Crewman

Thanks to Robert "Bob" Peavey for most of this research.

US ARMY Statistics

US Army Tankers KIA in Vietnam = 725 (equals 27% of all tankers ever assigned to Vietnam)

The highest loss-rate for any MOS was 11E (Armor Crewman) 27% KIA


Source: Combat Area Casualty File of 11/93, National Archives
 

Two USMC Tankers were Awarded the Medal of Honor during World War Two.