liberty bridge vietnam
[2]:41 On 20 April 1966 the Marines returned to An Ha on Operation Georgia, the 12th Marines reestablished a firebase while the 3rd Battalion 9th Marines provided security, the base would become permanent at this time as the Marines sought to pacify the area. I remember going up to Hue in December to visit a buddy and at that time the city was untouched and beautiful. Photo By Andr Sobocinski | On December 13th, a Friday, we left for the mountains to begin Operation Taylor Common. E- 2/5 69-71. 36th Regiment. I remembered seeing tanks with flame thrower keep burning the area. I was celebrating my 1st year in the Corps the night Liberty Bridge was over ran, we had a blonde hair Cor Man who was really good and should be a hero for his actions. Where is the Liberty Bridge in Pittsburgh? Your email address will not be published. As the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) infiltrated the camps barbed wire perimeter, a 24-year old corpsman named Bobby Ray charged into the melee to render emergency aid to the mounting casualties. I woke up in the hospital and spent the next three months in rehab, but it wasnt enough to go home. Had a pet monkey who helped keep the rats off us at night. Nobody knows who he was. These kids were told they had to protect their families from being killed, and they were just doing what they were told to survive. Also, I could occasionally rotate out to the Command Post to serve with the Marines in the field. Many thanks to all the veterans out there! From Jon. The total length (including longest elevated ramp) is 2663 feet with the height of the deck at 44.4 feet near the piers. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Discovering the hidden places from the Vietnam War, Copyright 2023 Vietnam War Travel Activation WordPress theme by. 46 KIA says it all. In a Free Fire Zone SW of Danang in 1968. You dont step sideways when youre walking. I told him one more time, Put the can down. But he didnt. We had two Chieu Hois with us for the Op. The following year, Bobby Rayor as he is better known to us today, David Robert Raywas posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. One of the last Air Traffic Controllerswatched a CH53 hook up to our control tower (actually a box about 6x6x6 feet) He was only 10 years old. The base was located south of the Thu Bon river which marked the southern border of what was called the Arizona Territory. Not sure about the hospital. I was assigned to H&S 2/5 in An Hoa from July 1967 to December. it was just down from a fire support base across road from a ville. In his junior year he left school to join the Navy, enlisting on March 23, 1966. Any chance you knew or remember him? Really looking for tower above HQ bunker. Required fields are marked *. That night the orphanage was mortared and VC tried to get through our lines at An Hoa. Liberty Bridge is just off the right edge. A docent who was familiar with the history of the air craft told me that the plane had been flown of An Hoa at the same time period that I was flown out of An Hoa! We have helped, without cost, several veterans and history travelers to find their way around the country. Wade. Casualties and losses. I saw my buddy that I had gone to boot camp with get hit by a burst of machine gun fire. We moved from An Hoa to Phu Bai in December 67 and then into Hue during TET. Cant remember his real name but he looked dead on Lee Marven. Flooded Bridge Liberty Bridge was flooded out during the Monsoon Season several times. Welcome Home Brother !! I became a Cobra pilot and retired as a LtCol in 94. His name was Kinh. I have a neighbor who fought with the Marines near An Hoa in 69. I arrived at An Hoa on 25 January, 1967. My mom had a vendor shed on the north side of Liberty Bridge selling soft drinks and souvenirs during the period. Ba Na is often referred to as a fairyland which attracts flocks of visitors everyday. I was with Echo during that time frame, 2nd platoon i believe it was. But at the same time, we knew that they were enemies because theyd check out where we had things and then come back at nighttime. September a battery of 15 HAWK missles were deployed to Hill 55 were it provided coverage for the Vu Gia River Valley. On an operation to Liberty Bridge, Vietnam, 1970. The An Hoa Basin also includes Charlie Ridge and surrounding areas. I recall that orphanage which was in front of Bravo Sector where we had a line of bunkers. . to be conducted on Go Noi Island. Thats what we called him. During an attack on our base two of the German male nurses where driving their white painted (with red cross) jeep near the village and where attacked and one was killed and the seriously wounded. Ahhh the Memories!!! Will never forget it. What Is The Difference Between The Four Types Of Landslides? Still remember all the rockets all too well. Viet Nam, Summer-Fall 1969 Campaign 09June69 to 31Oct69 Liberty Bridge, Que Sons, An Hoa 1969 Vietnam Service Medal Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa. I was at An Hoa from 68-69. Post-military, Frew became a salesman and a banker, and was actively involved in the Marine Corps League Desoto Detachment 588 and Toys for Tots. His story is out there. Thomas Frew was not yet a high school graduate in Newburgh, New York, when he enlisted in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War in 1968. Hard to believe Liberty Bridge, An Hoa look so different, not much left. I think he was attached to one of the grunt companies at the time? I remembered trying to talk to the solders but didnt do well. I watched the firefight from our trench line. I was with K/3/9/3 survived the ambush. Looking for a Lt. who came to Fox 2/5 2nd Platoon on 11 July 69 And stepped on a box mine less than 12 hours later. Driving around these areas will give you a good idea of how the war was fought in this very strategic part of the country. I got to Vietnam in May 1969, to a little town called An Hoa, and went to the Liberty Bridge. I wish I could figure out where it was. Thank you. Marine sources listed 21 dead PAVN/VC in the area.[4]. The runway is in decent condition and is possible to drive on. I went on that Medcap with you at the Buddhist Orphanage. 1st Marine Division Operations There was a visible sign of better times in Quang Nam province when, on 30 March, the 825-foot Seabee-constructed Liberty Bridge was opened across the Thu Bon river just south of Dai Loc. When Tet began we closed that area and pulled the perimeter back. As a USNavy physician, I was assigned as Battalion Surgeon for 2/5 and arrived at An Hoa Combat Base July 26, 1970, three weeks after finishing my internship. Beautiful country Laos. Not sure how true it was, but do know that for the next three days/nights we lit up the valley with air strikes, 175mm Cannon and even the New Jersey firing from the Gulf. Harry 7th Eng. Thu Bon River Primary Location During Vietnam: Da Nang, Vietnam, Story Themes: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1st Marines, An Hoa Valley, Combat, Da Nang, David Tabaka, Marines, Quang Nam Province, Saint Paul, St Paul, A Twin Cities PBS initiative in collaboration with the MN PBS Stations, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1st Marines, An Hoa Valley, Combat, Da Nang, David Tabaka, Marines, Quang Nam Province, Saint Paul, St Paul, Terms and Conditions for Submitting Your Story. Could you be him? L knew the people i arrived with but he was the first to take us and show us around and draw M16 and other gear. I do remember him. I think of An Hoa every day of my life want to say SEMPER FI to all who served there. Janes Graham, a very bold and capable leader. [1], On the night of 21 November 1968, a PAVN/VC battalion attacked the base. Thank you all for your service. comm. Get on a rented motorbike if you have a drivers license or take a taxi out here. We were near the BAS. Does anyone recall 1st Lt Paul Bertolozzi of Echo 2/5 KIA 8/2/67 while on the road sweep and know any details of the incident? and take off for parts unknownprobably Marble Mountainthats where we convoyed to that same dayI believe They thought some guy was to get General Discharge for drugs when MACV canceled the Ha! Liberty Bridge 1 was built by the US SeaBees in the 1960's it was the longest wooden bridge in southeast asia. That area was known to us as Dodge City located about 10-12 miles South of Danang. Harvey 3/5, Operation Meade River was right out side the wire surrounding Hill 55, 7th Marine Regiment Headquarters. I think we ran on raw youth. Can anyone tell me about the disposition of Hill 300. He was stationed at An Hoa when he was wounded by mortar on July 4, 1967. Babb, W.A. I dont have any of the information you seek but, I would like the same info, if you come across it I hope we can share it. This mission covers another insert near at Liberty Bridge, which I believe was near the base at An Hoa. When I awoke Roger Doc Lansbury was at my side. We would rotate there from Mortars 3/11, based at Hill 55. Poinsett Bridge is the oldest bridge in South Carolina and perhaps in the entire southeastern United States. With all those food stores, the rats were huge. "Earlier that night, they hit the compound just across the river," Mitchell explained. When I got the Purple Heart, I was jumping out of a helicopter during Operation Forsythe Grove. At the time I was there we had the NVA come on our radio net and tell us they would have complete control of Liberty Bridge and our CO told us we were surrounded by 5000 NVA Regulars. One time a few of the nurses walked through our area and I just stood there and gawked. I was a rifleman. Thank you for your comment Michael. The force of the explosion knocked me head over heals, and knocked me unconscious. Semper Fi, I AM PLEASED YOU SERVIVED. Hill 55 (also known as Nui Dat Son or Camp Muir) is a hill 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) southwest of Da Nang, Qung Nam Province, Vietnam. feature in the 9th Marines TAOR, it was eventually cleared of mines and boody traps. First Force Recon. Despite heavy loss of blood, Ray managed to crawl through the barrage of enemy fire to assist another fallen Marine, shielding him from a grenade blast. I often went to W. German hospital many times (the let us use their autoclaves to sterilize our large surgical packs). I was there when Dan Bullock was KIA. Will always admire the grunts and docs who did so much! Even if you try to access that area from N.E. I also recall hearing that after we turned An Hoa over to the ARVNs the VC came right through the orphanage, and attacked the base. Changing tubes on 175s at LSU 1 in 1970 was the hardest work I have ever done in my life . He blamed the Doc. However, I served with Fox, Golf, and Hotel companies as well. Chuck, thank you for checking out the article and for your nice comment.