I would have to wait a few more days for that to start. Camp Haskins, Da Nang, Vietnam, served as headquarters of the 30th Naval Construction Regiment, who exercised operational control of Seabee units deployed to Vietnam. The sound had carried down the valley making it sound very close, then it would die down then get loud again, very strange how the sound bounced around the walls of the valley. Do the job, get it done right and then sign off the work order and move on to the next one. On the far end of the bridge right Coate would send dog food care packages to Judy. Coate introduced me to a Chief Boatswain Mate who was our executive officer.The Commanding officer wasn't there( a lieutenant Junior Grade.) It was where the French first landed in the 19th Century in their quest to control the area and where . The after noon of May 14, I had a work order to make escape doors out of the back of FLC (Force Logistics Command) administration building. I served there and just would like to hear from some of the guys that was there. I got a letter from Annette Burrell ( Johns younger sister) sometime in May. Both of his legs had been pretty much blown off. Even now-days I hate phones,radios, air conditioning and coffee ! These positive relations were largely a reflection of the fact that black and white soldiers in combat were heavily dependent on one another. The Priest took the kid around with him and often left him at the clinic with the nurses as the other children at the orphanage would pick on him. We set the radio on squelch so it would make a lot of noise and wake us up. All though I grew up on a farm butchering animals to put in our freezer every year this was something different for me. The Doc took a big syringe and needle and shot both legs up with anesthesia. When the Doc was finished he told me I could remove the stick. [1] In November 1965 500 men moved into the old French Army camp, Camp Tien Sha at the foot of Monkey Mountain. I even passed an enlisted sailor with a can of white paint and he was I cried to myself on the way back to the base. We took a left hand turn at the intersection and headed out the Tien Sha peninsula towards Monkey Mountain. I was in Danang less than a month when the Vietcong used rockets to attack the Danang Air Base for the first time in the war, on the morning of February 27. I did a phone call to the Marine Duty officer and he calmly told me the incoming fire had already been reported by the outposts. Iowa. APL-30 and dock at Da Nang harbor. Craig Taylor was pulled from the job to go work another project.He had also gotten cement poisoning in a cut on his foot so would not be able to help on any more concrete work. The wounded man was the Mess Sargent who was the only one at the mess hall at the time. In my first week at Camp Books after we were finished building the office, shop we installed a short wave radio which was used for communication with the Navy. Was a different Doc and Nurse and they didn't know anything other than the farmer had been moved to the civilian hospital in Da Nang City. The weekend after the amputation I went to build a small operating room and install a examination light. She smelled horrible! Map of the Vietnam War. T is a history of NSA in Vietnam, which by 1969 was the Navy's largest overseas command with the largest public works department in the world. The Brief. . Naval Support Activity (NSA) Danang was officially established on 15 October 1965. Necessarily, more is lost to time than is remembered. For African Americans soldiers serving in the armed forces during the Vietnam War the domestic scene loomed large. I am sure this little girl will be my last thought when I punch out from this world. After the little girl died I never went back to the clinic. There were Seabees, Korean Philco Ford, Vietnamese all working like mad . My barracks was an old French barracks at Camp Tien Sha near Da Nang. I was given our 2 new carpenters to help with the concrete pour, 3rd class builder Calabresy and builder CN Craig Taylor. This was the closest skivvy house to Camp Books , a very short walk. When I got on the bus to Camp Tien Sha (the one with chicken wiure on the windows) I knew I wasn't in Kansas. In July 1966 the "Bridge Cargo Ramp" (160307N 1081352E / 16.052N 108.231E / 16.052; 108.231) began operations increasing NSA's supply capability. One night I was in the office with LT Branch . LCM is up to port side of barracks craft. If it had detonated when it hit the ventilator we both would have been killed! I was face down on the road under the edge of the truck with my foot stuck under the clutch peddle. In the future I Camp Tien Sha, Vietnam. We had devastated their economy and destroyed their infrastructure. On the evening of May 23 we got a knew man in, Karl Voiles. Some morning I would be more tired when I woke up than when I went to bed. African Americans perceived racial issues. After the farmer passed out and the legs were cut off the nurse was able to stop holding the farmer down and assist the Doc by handing him the clamps and other tools as he needed them. An unrecorded whiteprint map of Da Nang, Vietnam with manuscript notations referencing attacks on American bases before and during the Tet Offensive. This is the Hoa Kahn clinic at the time I started working there. That was the LTs first rocket attack and he didn't react fast enough. The huge fuel tank was just being build on the left out of the picture. I pretty much walked the whole base then back to the EM club for a cold beer There are over 500 chapters that provide fellowship, volunteer opportunities and community service. A love affair. Made a very good impression on me, I didn't even consider it my whole time in Vietnam ! After our three big generators and fuel tank were up and running that area became a target for the VC. The camp was quickly expanded to include 25 new barracks able to accommodate an additional 1700 men, together with a . Then to Travis, Hawaii, Subic Bay (and shore patrol in Olongapo), then to Danang. So back around to the front of the hut and to work on the awning . It was a horrifying thing to watch. The Doc trimmed all the skin and muscle nice and neat adding clamps (hemostats) as he went. Drinking black coffee trying to stay alert. I'm sorry my last letter to you was so abruptly ended, but I figured I'd best get it sent, otherwise you'd still be waiting. Some times a lot of shit happened . On May 13,1968 we took 6 122mm rocket rounds as explained in my May 15,1968 leter. There was a young mother with several kid and grandma and grandpa. About a mile out the crew started kicking boxes out the doors. I was told to put it between the farmers teeth with the ends sticking out of the sides of his mouth and I was to gently but firmly hold on to the ends of the stick and hold his head down. Here are the Activity reports for May 1968 for the Marines in my AO (area of operation) . Coate gave me two sets of shorts and short sleeve shirts. went by (so slowly! Pilot, youre the one flying the plane. What I really By July 1968 NSA Danang handled 350,000 tons of cargo each month for the . It must have been about 1100 hr. It didn't take long to get out of bed when the first rocket struck nearby. Ya, we continued our work and started building my hooch. After the bones were cut the Doc tied off all the bleeders and removed the hemostats . nstar48; Media item; Jan 30, 2008; Supported COMSEC 705 (Camp Tien Sha), Operation Big Look (Da Nang) and USMC ground missions (1st Radio BN). Often several rockets would have gone off before I even knew we were under attack ! I was shocked when he told me she was only 15 years old! The nurse was carrying a little girl about 4 years old. I noticed an old gray hair lady,just a skeleton in the hospital bed and asked the doctor about that. That's how we got our beds, enough for everyone. After a short rest to pull my self together I went back and finished putting the door spring on and about that time one of my team mates picked me up and took me back to the shop. This would also give Beerworth time to get his guys out on their job. He's shooting from a long way out and hasn't hit anyone yet. It was The field had been filled with red dirt and rocks and had been compacted with heavy equipment. very first day of war. I actually took the class in 1965 but at that time you had to be 18 years old to get a Scuba Certification. Any damage at FLC was my teams responsibility to asses , clean up and repair or replace so I had direct involvement in all rocket and mortar attacks at FLC. The three strong backs that I was to build for 7th motors was put on hold. Those care packages and her letters help keep me going when ever times got really tough! Some of the women were in their early twenties, so there is still hope. I thought they were trying to lighten their load. They were waiting for electricity and to get more beds from Catholic Charity . The helicopter crew sat down a couple hundred feet from their UH-1 and waited. )The Doc gave me a large stick like a tongue depressor ,except bigger. side was a area called Bridge Ramp which was where the Navy LSTs would pull in He told me step by step every detail. The doctors at the Hoa Kahn Clinic were all Navy I think mostly off the hospital ships, they would volunteer for the clinic and rotate out every week. Korean Engineer's I served with in Vietnam 1968 NSA Danang,Maintenace Control Division. I held the door open for them. He was laying on his back and we had tied his arms (wrists) to the legs on one end of the desk and then had tide his upper thighs to the other legs of the desk. The This was a real live human! Luxury. March 29, 1969. Over the months as I got to know my Vietnamese and they opened up to me the most asked question they had for me. Everyone had his turf marked out and nobody was willing to give any for me. We needed to replace the awning over the entry door that was about to fall off. the evening to wonder about and check out what Camp Tien Sha had to offer. June 29, 2022; creative careers quiz; ken thompson net worth unix The bundle was given to the mother who would take the bundle out side and set it down in the dirt by the street. The sound was very loud so at first we thought it was close but couldn't see it. Because I was just getting situated it was just mass confusion for me . Some part of it was always listening to what was going on . Welcome! We are the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1122, based in Collin County, Texas. Yes, everyone called him soccer ball head ! Had tied their hands behind their backs and executed them. meal in Vietnam was roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, green peas, 2 large In mid-October 1968 the Deep Water Pier complex (16.12N 108.214E) on the Tien Sha peninsula was completed, beginning operations in September 1968. We had to give Puppy away as we were not even supposed to have a dog. Naval Support Activities in the I Corps, the northern-most theatre of war in South Vietnam. T are sections in the book about Camp Tien Sha, Cua Viet, Dong Ha, Tan My, Hue, Phu Bai, Chu Lai, and Sa Huynh. I got my NAUI Scuba diving cerification in July 1966. I thought the clinic was for children. I couldn't grasp what was going on at the time. I was going to start building my own hooch so I would have a place to sleep ! Book cover type. I had plenty of time to take it all in and it was very UN-nerving. There are other memories of my time working at the clinic. In reality, it is a collection of ideas, images, and information that enough people have chosen to preserve and disseminate. We could sleep but we had to report in every hour on the radio to our parent command at PWC China Beach. I went out and sat on my toolbox and thought about what I had just experienced. Apart from some shopping highlights and historical sights, the main reason for most travelers staying here is its proximity to the well-known My Khe Beach, Lang Co Beach, Hoi An and My Son. There were two supply tents up there and when the Field Marines (grunts) would come in from the bush they would strip off all their dirty clothes and throw them in piles in one tent then go into the other tent and pick up clean uniforms. Some of the rocket attacks were on Camp Books (FLC) . Dearest Rita, I just finished a quick letter to my folks first one since I've been here. Work started at 0700 hr and we got off at 1700 hr. There was always something interesting to watch at Camp Books. "Ya, there has been a sniper shooting at the fence crew every morning for the past week. The number of rockets are probably plus or minus a couple rockets. I was at Camp Tien Sha from June '69 until Feb '70. Les nouveaux clients peuvent tlcharger cette image en profitant de notre offre dessai gratuit sans engagement. Very close now and it was clear that they weren't going to make it over the hurricane fence at the perimeter. It was to late to get him settled in because we were so incredibly busy with rocket attack damage. Every tree trunk was painted white, every rock was neatly lined up along the Every morning I was stripping floors and then in the afternoon waxing and buffing and cleaning the showers, normal Navy grunt work. While my guys were working I was talking to the Gunny in the hut. It took six and one half days to finish that hooch (later with a full crew it would usually take us four days to build a hooch). Clayton Beerworth and I were working on major repairs there by 0600 and the Mess hall was in operation more or less by that evening although it took a couple more days to get it up to 100% . One night I was called out for some lights on the west perimeter. world in a land that nobody cared about , I was sitting in a Continental The road was closed to civilian traffic at night so there would be no other vehicles on the road. I didn't understand at that time the danger of rocket attacks. ( Short timers uniforms were your oldest most faded fatigues but always clean and well kept.) I hated that phone, radio, air conditioning and black coffee! Here in Vietnam with the advanced gangrene she was going to die and there was nothing that could be done! So there I would be for over a week trying to keep the mosquitoes off of me by covering with the sheet and putting my head in the pillow case. Danang East/Main: Served in Da Nang East then Main. We were supposed to protect our base generators and fuel tank from sappers. line. The nurse laid across the farmers upper thighs to hold him in place. We hopped in his truck and he took me down to H&S company supply to get bedding and mess gear. Price which includes postage (Media Mail) and insurance. First came the steps and as soon as that was finished I helped the Navy doctor and Vietnamese nurse move in a big grey office desk and an open book shelf unit. Danang was handling more tonnage than the port of Baltimore at the time. Later I built a wash building and cook shack just about where these cots and the officers are standing. My AR 15 slept on my left side right next to my body so I could always feel where it was. They were all in alignment with our generators. DA NANG 66-67 - Camp Tien Sha Naval Support Activity Camp Tien Sha Danang Vietnam Danang Vietnam 1966 1967 Camp Tien Sha was an old French army base. MCB . He had a little Vietnamese kid with him about 8 years old. I had my broken leg cot and was living out of my sea bag. You FNGs It is also one of the top international surfing destinations. I have never found any but I still have hope. I dont know a damn thing so For African Americans soldiers serving in the armed forces during the Vietnam War the domestic scene loomed large. That is the only time I had to get clothing issue. march in columns of two over to that building. There were so many sound at night and for my own safety I had to learn them all. The year 1968 was the year of the Tet Offensive including Khe Sanh and Hue City. "Sorry that's all we have!" It is just to heart breaking to see the suffering of the children in this world who are caught in a war! Relive & share the memories of your service time with your brothers & sisters in arms today. Pett George my ex UDT instructor allowed me to go through the class early being as how my older brother Jay and my Dad were going through the class too. I believe that on May 21 we had hits to the sick bay which was a big rebuild job. All of the workers that worked for us were dislocated Vietnamese and us putting them to work was an attempt to keep their economy rolling. there was a war going on. . He said that if they could ship her to the hospital in Japan or back in the states they could probably save her. I took my time cooling myself off in that shower then went We were not part of the Marine Civil Affair but worked independent of them. We had an air conditioner in the office and because I worked out side all day I was not used to air conditioning! It was just after 1700 so I was good. ), and on the day, before I was to leave, I hitched a ride headed to Camp Tien Sha on the east side of Da Nang where I was to be processed out. (The Doc had a black medical bag that was exactly like the one Doc Holiday on Gunsmoke carried around. Retro. [3] NSA Danang originally operated from a commercial pier on the city side of the Hn River and this "Museum Ramp" (160300N 1081328E / 16.05N 108.2245E / 16.05; 108.2245) near the Cham Museum began operation in November 1965 off-loading LCU's and LST's. There were other things to screw up the nights. This is our new Chief Builder. loading the LSTs and loading onto trucks. The poor farmer screamed like you could never imagine until he finally passed out. This is the first Poem that I wrote in Vietnam and is about the two marines killed in the skivvy house. while we were starting the wall framing we heard the sound of a UH-1 helicopter. 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