Guestbook

I have always wondered what happened to my fellow Marines and friends 3rd Tanks, Bravo Company (Bravo 23). I was with this group of people in 1965 and 1966 outside Danang near Marble Mountain. SSgt. Baldwin was my tank commander and a good friend.

I was with 3rd Tanks A Co and H&S Forward Oct 66 to Nov 67. Spent most my time at Camp Carrol and Dong Ha.

I started feeling guilty and ashamed of my involvement in Vietnam.But my wife and children told me to write back.

So here goes... I was sent to Nam in 1969 from Camp Pendleton. Arrived Da Nang and sent to 3rd. Tanks Alpha Co. Dong Ha, Quang Tri . After five months of missions, road patrols, con- voyes and so on.....We were ordered to join the rest of the company for a operation to leave Con Thien and head east Uncle Ho's trail to see if we could catch and report the NVA coming south for Tet. After three days and finally getting out of a mined area we set up for the night. At about 21:00 the -------- hit the fan. I was hit ,Sgt. (Tree) nickname,Grady, and Brown helped before our position was over run got me up the hill. At o4:30 or so I was medivaced to the hosp.ship Repose and then Da Nang, Guam, and then home. I asked about my crew and what happened to them I was told they were all Kia's after the battle. I have in some way felt that because of me they could have made it out to. So if any of the FMF Marines and 3rd. Division,Alpha Co. Tankers remember Alpha 23 can help me get information Please feel free to contact gayley9870@gmail.
Com
Semper Fi from Pvt. David C. Turner
PS. Tattoo Wyoming on right Bucep

I served in the USMC from 1964 - 1967. Was in Vietnam from 1965-1966 C. Co 3rd tank bn. in Chu Lai. When I returned I was stationed in Camp Pendleton. I would love to get in touch with old friends.

I was a 3rd. Marine Division , Alpha Co. Tanker. Left Camp Pendelton for Vietnam 03-12-69. Arrived Danang and sent to Dong ha, Quang tri
province. For first five months of missions all was fine. We were then call up to Con Thien for a operation to search and report movement of a
reported NVA division coming down Uncle Ho's trail. After about three days out and getting out of a mined area, we set up perimeter for the
night. At about 23:30 hr.s the --------- hit the fan. I was hit, Sgt. (Tree) nickname, Grady, and Brown expended all our rounds on the enemy's
positions. They then helped me up the hill to be medicated . At 04:30 I was then air lifted to the USS Repose, and then to Danang hospital . I
then asked about the rest of our crew and at this time was told they were all Kia's. For the last 40 yr.s I have been feeling guilty that if they would have let the medic find me they would have made out to. So if any of you fellow Tankers remember Alpha 24 or a Sgt. Tree , Grady or
Brown please Contact Lcpl. David C. Turner at gaylet9870@gmail.com Semper Fi

Just passed through to leave a comment about my friend Lance Corporal Donald Lewis Winckler. He was a marine tanker who was killed by friendly fire in July of 67.
I've missed him a great deal over the years. I was in the same time as he was, in the army. I was looking forward to seeing him again when I got out.
RIP Skip! Thanks for being good to a kid younger then you. I won't forget saturday matinees, fishing, and swimming in Marine City.

I served in Vietnam from April 1968 thru November 1969. From April 1968 thru June 1968, I served with "B" Company, 1st Tank Battalion. From June 1968 thru January 1969 I was with BLT 2/7, 9th MAB. From January 1969 thru November 1969 I served with "C" Company, 1st Tank Battalion.

Tanker, 1974-78....there for the fall...3th tank bat. 1st pla. first marines to go to fort knoxs army base for tank training Jan.1975 Gunner in a M48 over seas

I was with A Co, B Co, and H&S 3rd ATs from Apr 65 (Landed @ Danang) until Nov 65 Transferred to C Co., 1st AT's at Chu Lai.

Excellent website
Splendid memorial to the Marines that served .. heroes all!

I am looking for C.A. Johnson or V.C. Davis, both officers in "A" Co, 1st AT Bn, Feb 1968
Several of us would like to nominate two of your 0353s Ontos Crewmen for an award. These Marines exhibited great courage and valor in the face of a numerically superior enemy while in support of a convoy on 02-07-1968.
Statute requirements specify that an officer in the chain of command make the official recommendation.

Please contact me at the below e-mail

Thanks and Semper Fi
Erle "Butch" Plunkett
eplunkett001@ec.rr.com

I served with 2nd Plt,B Co, 5th Tanks from 66-68. Would like to hear from any one out there who was in 2nd Plt.

Thank you for your service..B co. 3rd tanks..68-69...Vihn Dia and all points north, south, east and west...you are my family..then..now..and always...doc

Thank all of you for your service, I was 3rd Tanks, B co., 3rd MarDiv, 68-69...Vihn Dai, Hwy 9 and all points east, west, north and south...Semper Fi...Doc Finch

Anyone out there from Bravo 3rd or Bravo 1rst Nam 65/66 ?

From Okinowa, 5AT Bn, Camp Hansen by C130 to DongHa 2/68 end of tet. The pigs lasted til around April when Lt Busney had me drive mine into the quaviet river off an LS-t?d.
It ws ground mounted 106RRs as light support at varrious perimiters in GD nowhere up and down the QuaViet river. Bloemfelt and Lewis, lost in a day partol outside QuangTri 5/5. RIP, I still miss them.

Marine Peavey and compatriots, Thanks to you and all tankers in the Marines whom have served and are still serving. I very much enjoyed getting to know what's at th heart of a distinct group of men serving in "The Nam" by reading the fine story of your tour..."Pray for Slack". Highly recommended reading for all whom want to know about the unknowns, the pressures, and the commeraderie that is service in "The Corps". Having never served and was just 6 month's old at the time of your deployment, It was a fine read that I could not put down, I say Thanks again!!
Christiana, Tennessee

FANTASTIC SITE !!!!!!!

Looking for Major Bruce MacLaren (ret. as Colonel) former C.O. Cubi Point Subic Bay Philipine Islands. I was a Sgt. Administration Chief under his command. I would be interested in talking with him. If you know of his whereabouts, please contact me at 217.222.1510 or robert.wzan@comcast.net

Thank you.

I commanded a platoon in both Bravo Company 3rd AT's and Alpha Company 3rd Tanks in the 1967 timeframe. Would like to contribute some pictures, but can't find any to save my soul. Great site; I'll visit again.

Great Site.
My Dad, P.W. Lambert served with the 1st Anti-Tank Battalion, Camp Pendelton and 3rd Anti-Tank Battalion, Okinawa before the war. I still have his "Tank Killers" uniform patch. I remember him taking me to Pendelton(In between one of 3 tours in Vietnam) and getting to ride in a tank a fire(sort of) a 50. caliber machine gun. I was maybe 6 or 7 years old.

God Bless all Veterans, and Thank You for your Service.

Marine Brat of a "Lifer"

Semper Fi, I was in tanks from late 66 to late 67. Was stationed at Camp Lejeune until I was shipped out to Vietnam, while my company was sent on a Caribbean cruse. When I got in country I was assigned to Force Logistics Command which didn’t have any tanks. So guest what? Typical military, I was assigned to the 3MP Bn D CO in DaNang, Armed Forces Police. I tried to get transferred for 3 months to a Tank outfit but they would not do it. I was finely taken aside by the Sgt and told to quit trying to get transferred because there were no replacements for me. I really missed the old M48A3s and still do!! I remember one night we spotted some guys on the roof of a skivey house trying to get away, they were pretty tosted. I remember just being able to jump and get on the roof from the ground as one of the guys just started to jump off the other side. I was just able to get to him and reach out and catch him as he jumped. What he didn’t know and I did that there was a cement wall just below that had pieces of glass embed in the cement on the top of the wall. I was sure glad I was in good shape at the time. It would not have been pretty if I had missed the catch. Well it turned out that the guys were Tankers. Well there was no way I was going to take them into the PMO and lock them u,p so I took them back to their compound and let them go. Like a Marine always a Marine, once a Tanker always a Tanker. Just glad I was there!!

Troy Gold

great site well built

First timed I have logged in on the new website, looks good, A little concerned about the old stories and pictures submitte earlier to the old website of "C" cpmpany first tanks. I never did keeep an copy of the pictures and articiles submitted, I guess now they are gone. oh well just checking in and will see you at the reunion , Going to miss newbeerry.......

WAS IN FROM MARCH 67 TO MARCH 68

Amethyst heart , when Aol stopped thier Hometown web building I had to relocate. I am still working on it little by little. The web site url is. Amethystheart.net
Thank you, Mona

i am trying to find pic of flame tanks from 65 to 67 at chu lie i used to have a site where i posted some pics

Semper Fi means a lot more now

Just passing through. I was looking up my good friends Lance Corporal Donald Lewis Winckler. He was killed May 4, 1947 by a short 81mm round. I was thinking of him as that anniversary approaches. I was glad to see him remembered here. He was a boyhood friend. I got drafted into the army around the same time as he went into the Marines. I never got to see him again. RIP friend! Semper FI

ONTOS Bubba - I was in the last Ontos Class at Camp Del Mar, CamPen, CA. Me and my classmates, 10 of us I think, were mistakenly sent through ITR twice and were in BITS when we were listed as "Deserters" -- No wonder we weren't being paid. Arrived in 'Nam Dec 1968 where I served briefly on two Pigs, "Good, Bad, & Ugly" and "Village Stompers". From Dec-Jul 1969 I spent most of my time in 1st ATs on "O.P. Three Fingers" (O.P. Thumb), mess duty, and bunker watch. In Jul 1969 was transferred to Charlie, 1st Tanks. A week or so later, 1st AT Battalion was disbanded and all the crewmen (MOS 0353) were redesignated MOS 0300 and reassigned to infantry battalions. I was sent to Hotel Company (Guns and Rockets), 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines to complete my tour in 'Nam. As a Grunt, I appreciated the Tank support out at the "Happy Haven Leprosarium" south of DaNang along the South China Sea.

For whatever part you may have played in getting my butt home in one piece, thanks.

Here's to us and those like us!

Welcome home, Marine.

Dear Jim,
I am the grandmother of Anthony. My son Clayton has been trying to find his son for more than 5 years now. Clayton is drug free and sober. He is working on several oil rigs in the Dakota's. He cares so much about Anthony and has tried all these years to find him, but could not since you moved to another state. I think he deserves to be reconnected with his son. He wants to pay child support, and he wants to know his son. He deserves to see his son. And his son deserves to know who his father is. Please don't shut us out. I want to see my grandson also! I hope you will answer me back. Anthony is our family too! Please consider this, as Anthony has alot of family waiting to meet him!!
Sincerely,
Denise Fillmore

Ooh Rah !!! Marines, semper fi !!!!

I visited the site to look up Clyde Hoch after reading a review of his book in the March/April 2011 edition of the VVA Veteran.

This site is awesome! My thanks to those who made it great. Looking forward to its continued growth.

See you at the reunion....Sember Fi!
Bruce

Ok you have a lot of new graphics. Other than that it's nothing but dead links. Even the contact us is coming later.

I was a member on the old site, When I finally located the log-in link I was greeted with an entirely new Word Press log in which has no record of my username. No registration page either. If you paid money for this you paid too much.

I would love to hear from anyone who served with my father Donald Lewis Winckler

Hello. I am trying to do research on my late uncle, PFC James Epps, who was apart of "Bravo” Company, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Viet-Nam, 1968-69. I would greatly appreciate if any of his comrades will be wililng to share any stories or photos they have of him. If so, please email me as soon as possible. We are trying to have a memorial created for him, and any information you may have will definitely help! Thank you and God speed.

Wow, I just found out about this site....1st Tank Bn. two tours "65-'66 and "66 -'68.

H&S Maint and Charlie Co Flames. Chu Lai and Da Nang...Semper Fi Bros...Proud of you all.

It was with great sadness to here about "dunks" passing. He was My first CO. in "C" Co 1st tanks. Watched nim make Capt. and after his transfer to OKIE Was invited to his quarters with a couple of other's to celebrate is making Major.
When I tried to explain to my wife that he was like Dad for us peons who were lucky enough to have served with him.

NICE TO SEE THE GUESTBOOK UP AND RUNNING AGAIN. DON SANDERS, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN? MY BEST TO ALL YOU A CO, 3RD TANK BROTHERS OUT THERE. wOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE IN 1ST PLATOON IN 69.

I'm spending some time in Florida this winter and would really like to get in touch with Marty Steel (L/Cpl clerk with me in 1st Tanks near Chu Lai) later to retire as LtGen. Anyone with info - it would really be appreciated. Semper Fi, Geary

I came across this site while helping my dad, Larry Payton (3rd Tank Battalion, 3rd Marine Div, 1968-69) track down a friend of his from Vietnam. Looking forward to my investigation and many thanks to all who served.

Am looking for anyone who served with C Co. 1st Tanks 1965-1966 with BLT 3/5.

Good job on the updated website, but I was wondeering where my story and photos went about "C" Co 1st Tanks, I never did keep a copy of it ?????????

See everyone in San Diego

I WAS PLT. CMDR. 3RD PLT FOX CO. 2ND BN. 1ST MAR. FROM MAR 68 TILL MEDEVACED NOV 68
I WAS IN A BATTLE MAY 19TH,1968 WHEN THE ROAD SWEEP LEAVING KHE SANH WAS AMBUSHED AND FOUGHT ALL DAY. A TANK CAME FROM BRIDGE 35 DOWN THE MSR. MUST HAVE TOOK HOURS AND STOPPED IN THE AMBUSH SITE WHERE A TANK HAD BEEN RPG'ED AND RAN UP ONTO THE BED OF A DISABLED 6X6
I WOULD LOVE TO CONTACT A CREWMAN OF THE TANK THAT USED THE MSR THAT DAY.
PLEASE CAN ANYONE HELP ME?
SEMPER FI EMAIL feuchuckhamcsco@aol.com CHARLES V THOMPSON SSGT.
zruZG

Hi,

Can anyone direct me to where I can view the after action reports of 1st Tanks, Co. B., for the month of 05-AUG-67?
I really need your help on this one. Thanks much.

SEMPER FI,

George

Great Site :
I landed with Bravo 3rd Tanks at DaNang 1965 stayed with them until March 66. Then went back to my old outfit Bravo 1rst Tanks in ChuLai until returning home in July. Finished up with Bravo 2nd Tanks until discharge in march of 67. Went to work for a paving company until retiring June 2006.

Hello Marines,
I am looking for any Tanker Marine that might have been on Delta 1/7's finger of Hill 55 in or around the morning of August 5th, 1967. I was on the bridge below the tank position on the hill and we were over-run by many NVA sappers that morning. I believe the Tank Commanders name was Jim Noyes from Utah who pasted on a few years ago. Any Marine who was there or heard the radio transmitions that morning at 0215 hours when we were attacked ,would please contact me. We Delta 1/7 Marines need some help from our fellow Tanker Marines to fill in some blanks. It is very important to us Delta 1/7 Grunts. Thanks much. Welcome Home.

Semper Fi,

George

3RD DIV ONTOS 66-67 VIETNAM

3rd AT's Con Thien and Khe Sanh Aug 67 to Mar 68
Also 2/4 3 Mar Div Dec 66 to Aug 67
MOS 0353
C-12

I was in charge of Motor Transport on hill 43 in Viet Nam. With Alpha Company 1st Tank Batallion.

Served with Capt John Bartusevics in Viet Nam. Capt Bartusevics was my "Karate" Instructor. I served as a driver then move to tank commander with the Charlie Company 1st Tank Bde, 1st Marine Division. Participated in Operations Osage, Operations Jacks Stay (Beach Assaults)and many other land encounters. Traveled over to Nam on the USS Alamo #33. Arrived Chu Lai in June of 1966. Spent the rest of my time south of DaNang in the Marble Mountain and Hoi ann areas. Left Nam March 13, 1967. I was at Quantico from 1967 to 1969. Now resides in the Washington DC area. and yes, Enerest Watkins resides in Baltimore, Maryland. I am well.

When is the next issue of sponsom box? The website only shows 1 for this year.

Nice site John. My first visit. Where's all the pictures of Joe Harrigan?

Don't forget to visit the Marine Corps Vietnam Tankers Historical Foundation’s web site at www.mcvthf.org. If you are not receiving our eNewsletter you may sign on the site. If you are a member of this organization you are automatically a member of the Foundation at no additional cost.

Founder/President Emeritus
USMC Vietnam Tankers Association

Co-Founder, Board Member and Director of Marketing
Marine Corps Vietnam Tankers Historical Foundation

Looking for anyone that served with Bravo 3rd Tanks when we landed in 1965 or with Bravo 1rst Tanks the first 6 months of 1966.

Great sight. hope too see you all in San Diego in 2011

duh....if I'd read a little more I'd know how to post....

great site...I have many pics of A company take while there in 67/68...as well as flick of our tank class need to find out how to get them loaded on this site..please advise Semper Fi

I served as a platoon commander with Bravo & Charlie companies, 1st Tanks,RVN,
from October to December 1969. The battalion rotated home at the beginning of
1970 and I was assigned to HQ Bn, 1st Mar.Div. located at DaNang. I finished
my tour of duty there as XO and then CO of Service Company, HQ Bn.

I was with 3rd Tanks Battalion 3rd Mar Div in 1969. How do I go about becoming a member?

Like the new Look

This is a GREAT improvement over the last site. Nice job!!!!

Have you guys thought about doing a forum page so you guys can do live chats???? Just a suggestion.

Viet Nam 1966-67 Hill 55 outside Da Nang and the DMZ

Hello everybody, hope all is well, hope to see you soon.


James (deadeye) Holston

WE ARE UP and RUNNING!!!

Ooo-Rah!!!

Great website! The artwork is terrific. Did I get left out of the roster?

Maybe I can figure it out..........Tom

GREAT new web-site, can't wait to see it develop.

Great website and look good. P.S. you forgot me in the roster!

Outstanding web site! Great work Bob