In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
I went to viet nam on a old troop ship the Gen D.L.Sulton it was
full of Marines and dependents. We sat on deck a few at a time it was hell. Hit typhoon after Japan mess hall was empty heads were full.
i don't remmber a lot now adays old i guess but i will not forget
the Gen D.l.Sulton. Someone thru all the dogs and cats over the fantail, because the dependents treated ous like sh-t. The ship went to Danang we off loaded there and I went to Chu Lai. The rest I don't like to think about. Semper FI meanmarine64
I enjoyed the sea voyage from Okinawa to Chu Lai on the good ship USS Gunston Hall, an LSD-5. Arriving at the sandy beaches of Chu Lai on May 05, 1965. We were transported by landing craft to about 75 yards from shore. It was a very wet walk to land. When my battalion deployed back home, we rode in C-130's. This is another story for another time.[:0] Eddie, life member VFW & NRA [;)]
I left Seattle on July 24 1967 on USS Upshur. Got hit by a storm first week on the seas. I couldn't eat much until we got to Okinawa. It took 13 days to get to Okinawa. And 8 more to get to DaNang. A large number of Marines got off the ship and the rest of us went on to Quin Nhon. Time spent on the trip over got deducted from the in country tour. So I Derosed on July 24th 1968. I thought the ride over was hell and couldn't wait to get to Vietnam. About a week in country and I wanted get on any kind of vehicle and get out of there. We got off the ship and took a C130 ride to Duc Pho right into 2nd Bn 35th Inf. Regiment, attached to the 4th Inf. Div. It previously a regiment of the 25th Inf Div
19 days from Hawaii To Nam on the USS Gorden commissioned 1943 moth balled 1953 recommissioned 1963 . PURE rust bucket. Slept in 6 HIGH bunks. Off loaded in Landing Craft. I will never get on another BOAT.
flew out of travis airforce base, world airlines, stopped in japan then on to bangkok thailand. on way back flew braniff from bangkok,
to clark ,phillipines, guam, midway, hawaiia, travis.
I entered the Corps in late October of 1965. After boot and AIT in Pendelton I was assigned to VMCJ-3 (Photo Recon / ECW/ECM Squadron)MAG-33 /3rd MAW at El Toro.
Sometime just after getting to the squadron in spring 1966, I helped load an LST in San Diego to rotate many of the RF-4s (Photo F-4 Phantom) and EF-10B's (old converted Korean era Plane for ECM/ECW).
Obviously the planes flew over to Da Nang to be part of VMCJ-1. But the equipment like generator trucks (EF-10B's) and engine dollies etc - etc were going by ship.
The sailors mentioned this was the was the first voyage of this particular LST since the Korean War. I'm sure they were a little apprehensive of the sailing across the Pacific. They really razzed the fact into the Marines that were there and would actually go with the equipment. We got the idea that they really did not like us very much - how's not to love a Marine? Some of the Marines who would go with the ship took every opportunity to emulate their worst DI and harass the sailors so it was not too hard to understand why.
And as someone mentioned, Marines and Sailors come from a very dysfunctional family. Don't get along very well. But "woa" to the Soldier or Airman who would harass one of our Cousins from the "wet side" of the family.The fight would definitely be "on".We took care of those fellows when it came down to it. After all - some of the finest medics in the world - Navy Corpsman. Even gave them our uniforms to wear we loved them so much. GREAT guys.
I was not trained long enough on the F-4's and EF-10B's to rotate - so I went in 1967 by plane. I was just a "boot" to do all the crap work while the Cpls and Sgts pushed us around. "It" really does run down hill doesn't it? But - Hey - we loved every minute of it!
In any case the scuttlebut when some of the guys rotated back to El Toro in early 1967 was that they hit a bad Monsoon somewhere in the Western Pacific. The sailing took some 30 plus days? (normal was shorter). Most of the Navy crew as well as the Marines attached to secure the equipment were sicker than dogs as the LST was essentially a flat bottemed boat. It "bobbed" through the storm. Anyway they eventually got to Da Nang but would never forget the ride. In any case that was the story I heard - sure did not sound like fun.
To the person asking about how long a tour was: I was told that the Marines were set at the 12 months and 20 some days to allow for the time it took for a ship to cross the Pacific from California to Da Nang for disembarkment (Most Marines in the early days went to I Corps - hence Da Nang). This gave them a full 12 months in country to experience the "full immersion" in the Vietnam. Hence the longer than 10 months for Marines.
I was lucky and went July of 1967. Flew the normal then 707 commercial, fit with seats front to back like a cattle car. Several days in Okinawa for "staging" and then the flight to Da Nang in a Marine C-130.
I think I had it lucky by comparison.
We still could have won the damn thing.
Should have left Gen. "Corky" Walt in charge.
I got on the USNS Gordon with 700 other jarheads in LA around the first of Jan, 1966. Stopped off in Hawaii and picked up 2000 soldiers. They let us off the boat for a few hours, just enough time to have a "misunderstanding" with HASP. Cost me my good conduct ribbon [}:)]
1966 USS Pope, WWII Troope Transport, trip took about 2 weeks. Part of the 199th went on the USS Sultan, I was on the Pope. Hit bad weather a typhone and the water purifacation system took a dump so we made a stop in Okinawa. They let us off the ship, put us in a big metal hut and gave us beer, what a fight. We landed in Vung Tau December 12 1966. went down Saigon River in boats, and got trucked to base camp in long bien by the Big Red One. When we hit the bad weather, it like the other guy said, something you will never forget. We eat at long metal tables , standing up food went from one end to the other. You had to get up top because is stunk so bad from puke in living area & head. I am kinda sure I was on the pope, but I also remember hearing that someone jump overboard from the other ship and they spent time looking for them, that is what I heard, so I am not 100% sure because the sultan dock December 10 & Pope the 12th but I always thought it was the USS Pope that I was on.
Left Vietnam in September '67 aboard the MSTS Walker. Danang - Okinawa - San Diego. Ran into a typhoon and had to divert course. Very rough for three days. It was like a luxury cruise compared to Vietnam.....lol
Semper Fi
Also have a card showing that I had entered the Domain of the Golden Dragon by crossing the International Dateline.
3rd Brigade 9th Inf Div. went aboard the USNS Gen. William Weigel late '66. 21 days from Oakland with a one day/night stop in Okinawa. They told us we were landing in Saigon, but it was most likely Vung Tau. Two weeks training in the Rung Sat, then the rest of the year in the Delta (and points Northwest!)
Being in the Navy, I went by boat, or as the Captain would say "this
ain't no boat, it's a ship". Went on destroyer DD830 (Everett F.
Larson) Left Long Beach in 1967---don't remember what part of the
year it was. Flew back from Tiawan in Feb 1968 because I was getting
out of the military.
quote:Originally posted by s2kilo
Went by boat, the General Eltinge I believe in latter '65. took 3 weeks, came home by air.
1st Inf Div
Just came a crossed this forum and post. I was on that ship also, USS General LeRoy Eltinge. I was a Brigg chaser on the trip over. We left San Diego Dec. 1965. Had to swing into Hawaii to drop off a guy with appendicitis. The system for making fresh water quit and messed up our ballast. By the time we got to Okinawa we were listing so bad to the starboard we were almost taking water on the quarter deck. I have never seen so many sea sick up chuckers in my life. Glad to hear a fellow ship mate made it back. Sure brings back memories. Semper Fi
I was hopeing to see the USS Lenawee (APA-195) mentioned. We hauled a couple thousand Marines there in '64-65. I got off in July of '65, but they made one more trip before the ship was decomissioned.
Can't recall the name of the boat (wasn't no ship), but we left the east coast, stopped in Long Beach, then Okinawa and finally VN. Took around 60 days as I recall. 16,000 of us with the 1st Air Cav - previously 15th Air Assault Division from Fort Benning. Flew in to beautiful An Khe and set up our pup tents [:(] Not the most enjoyable time of my life, but I got home in one piece and I've always been thankful for that.
Comments
full of Marines and dependents. We sat on deck a few at a time it was hell. Hit typhoon after Japan mess hall was empty heads were full.
i don't remmber a lot now adays old i guess but i will not forget
the Gen D.l.Sulton. Someone thru all the dogs and cats over the fantail, because the dependents treated ous like sh-t. The ship went to Danang we off loaded there and I went to Chu Lai. The rest I don't like to think about. Semper FI meanmarine64
to clark ,phillipines, guam, midway, hawaiia, travis.
VAW-115 Aircrew 1971-1975.
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
Sometime just after getting to the squadron in spring 1966, I helped load an LST in San Diego to rotate many of the RF-4s (Photo F-4 Phantom) and EF-10B's (old converted Korean era Plane for ECM/ECW).
Obviously the planes flew over to Da Nang to be part of VMCJ-1. But the equipment like generator trucks (EF-10B's) and engine dollies etc - etc were going by ship.
The sailors mentioned this was the was the first voyage of this particular LST since the Korean War. I'm sure they were a little apprehensive of the sailing across the Pacific. They really razzed the fact into the Marines that were there and would actually go with the equipment. We got the idea that they really did not like us very much - how's not to love a Marine? Some of the Marines who would go with the ship took every opportunity to emulate their worst DI and harass the sailors so it was not too hard to understand why.
And as someone mentioned, Marines and Sailors come from a very dysfunctional family. Don't get along very well. But "woa" to the Soldier or Airman who would harass one of our Cousins from the "wet side" of the family.The fight would definitely be "on".We took care of those fellows when it came down to it. After all - some of the finest medics in the world - Navy Corpsman. Even gave them our uniforms to wear we loved them so much. GREAT guys.
I was not trained long enough on the F-4's and EF-10B's to rotate - so I went in 1967 by plane. I was just a "boot" to do all the crap work while the Cpls and Sgts pushed us around. "It" really does run down hill doesn't it? But - Hey - we loved every minute of it!
In any case the scuttlebut when some of the guys rotated back to El Toro in early 1967 was that they hit a bad Monsoon somewhere in the Western Pacific. The sailing took some 30 plus days? (normal was shorter). Most of the Navy crew as well as the Marines attached to secure the equipment were sicker than dogs as the LST was essentially a flat bottemed boat. It "bobbed" through the storm. Anyway they eventually got to Da Nang but would never forget the ride. In any case that was the story I heard - sure did not sound like fun.
To the person asking about how long a tour was: I was told that the Marines were set at the 12 months and 20 some days to allow for the time it took for a ship to cross the Pacific from California to Da Nang for disembarkment (Most Marines in the early days went to I Corps - hence Da Nang). This gave them a full 12 months in country to experience the "full immersion" in the Vietnam. Hence the longer than 10 months for Marines.
I was lucky and went July of 1967. Flew the normal then 707 commercial, fit with seats front to back like a cattle car. Several days in Okinawa for "staging" and then the flight to Da Nang in a Marine C-130.
I think I had it lucky by comparison.
We still could have won the damn thing.
Should have left Gen. "Corky" Walt in charge.
Semper Fi
Also have a card showing that I had entered the Domain of the Golden Dragon by crossing the International Dateline.
ain't no boat, it's a ship". Went on destroyer DD830 (Everett F.
Larson) Left Long Beach in 1967---don't remember what part of the
year it was. Flew back from Tiawan in Feb 1968 because I was getting
out of the military.
Went by boat, the General Eltinge I believe in latter '65. took 3 weeks, came home by air.
1st Inf Div
Just came a crossed this forum and post. I was on that ship also, USS General LeRoy Eltinge. I was a Brigg chaser on the trip over. We left San Diego Dec. 1965. Had to swing into Hawaii to drop off a guy with appendicitis. The system for making fresh water quit and messed up our ballast. By the time we got to Okinawa we were listing so bad to the starboard we were almost taking water on the quarter deck. I have never seen so many sea sick up chuckers in my life. Glad to hear a fellow ship mate made it back. Sure brings back memories. Semper Fi
Returned CONUS aboard USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA -31).