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Bio
I'm happily retired (USPS), staying busy with my wife, photography, travel, missionary work, and writing. I have six children (36, 26, 24, 23, 21 & 14) and three Grandchildren (14, 8 mo, 7 mo. My wife and I are full-time RVers, and I freelance for a local daily newspaper in Texas. We spent four months in Uganda in 2015/2016 and hope to return in the next few years.
Military Experiences
Jan 1973 - Jun 1974
Communication Technician
My final post before discharge.
I worked at the 1st Marines Regimental Tech Shop for my final year and change in the Corps.
I do recall the enticement of $10,000 and promotion to SSgt, if I would reenlist for an additional six years. I was ready to become a civilian again and I passed on the offer.
Jan 1972 - Jan 1973
Communication Technician
In the constantly changing and confusing first few months of the Easter Invasion, we were told seven separate times we were landing in either the Republic of Vietnam or North Vietnam, and twice we started planning and preparation for a landing.
In the immediate vicinity, a number of notable occurrences took place. The largest offensive of the Vietnam War, the largest rescue operation in USAF history, the first time MIGs attacked U.S. warships, the first fighter ace of the war, the largest concentration of amphibious forces since the Korean War, and the most intensive bombing campaign of the war.
While I've had other years and periods that were memorable, my time with the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment stands out. A day doesn't go by that I don't think of that one year.
Jan 1971 - Sep 1971
Teletype Repair School
Basic Electronics School in San Diego before this, and Limited Crypto School after.
Sep 1970
I recall, at one point, being able to reach to my waist and only being able to pinch a tiny piece of skin, and marveling that it was about the same as pinching the skin on my wrist.
I was as "hard" as I've ever been in my life, even though I'd gained about 40 pounds while in boot camp, as well as growing an extra inch or two in height.
I recall all of the new freedom, which mainly involved hanging out at some kind of store/canteen, where I almost overdosed on all of the candy and Twinkees I could shove into my face.
Deployments
(1 year, 1 month)Jan 1972 - Jan 1973
Vietnam War
In 1972 Marines served in anonymity, their efforts not considered newsworthy at the time.
The 9th MAB engaged in evacuations, landings, demonstrations, support to the Seventh Fleet, and support to the South Vietnamese. Demands placed on Marines set a pattern for the next decade of contingencies in the Far East and elsewhere.
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