The shop door are between the 2 telephone poles. We knew the helicopter was in trouble because of the trail of smoke and how fast it was flying. Administration Armed assigned Assistant August Back base boats Camp Tien Sha CAPT Captain cargo Center CHARLES Chief of Staff combat Commander Control Corps craft Cua Viet DaNang DAVID. there. They had absolutely nothing and were dependent on the charity of other refuges in Dog Patch. at Camp Fay. [5], In July 1966 the "Bridge Cargo Ramp" (160307N 1081352E / 16.052N 108.231E / 16.052; 108.231) began operations increasing NSA's supply capability. When a child died they were bundled tightly in white sheets and tide off with string. In DaNang we had what was called the "duty jeep". Only 364 more days to go! The usual row of sinks, toilets and I asked if the prostitutes had been shot ,he didn't know but thought they were probably the ones who came to the gate and reported the incident! It sure seemed longer then a month, to me it was more like a few months! [1], In mid-October 1968 the Deep Water Pier complex (160712N 1081250E / 16.12N 108.214E / 16.12; 108.214) on the Tien Sha peninsula was completed, beginning operations in September 1968. As tired as I was I never got much sleep. while we were starting the wall framing we heard the sound of a UH-1 helicopter. For African Americans soldiers serving in the armed forces during the Vietnam War the domestic scene loomed large. The next day a Chinook helicopter dropped a cable down to the burned out UH-1 and hauled it away. Guest 31-Aug-2016 02:35: . 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. Yes, everyone called him soccer ball head ! I had to make a quick exit when the patients got excited when I walked towards the main ward! TWS is the largest online community of Veterans existing today and is a powerful Veteran locator. About a mile out the crew started kicking boxes out the doors. the evening to wonder about and check out what Camp Tien Sha had to offer. I was not in the bush and am grateful that I wasn't. The doc explained that she had been burned by napalm and had gotten gangrene and that was the smell. We were working with basic hand tools, cutting everything with one cross cut handsaw. click here or click "back" until you I was standing in front of the hut assessing the job. I thought they were trying to lighten their load. Finally I interrupted and said I would sleep in the Korean bunker on the broken cot that was in there, end of argument ! Just kind of shut it off excepting that I had very little control over my situation and excepting that if shit happened ,shit happened !! [3]:2, By 1969 NSA Danang was the Navy's largest overseas shore command and third largest supply depot after Norfolk and Oakland Naval Supply Depot and Camp Tien Sha had grown to accommodate over 6000 personnel. U.S. Within a hundred feet of the generators. Memoir of my time served with the Navy at Camp Tien Sha, Da Nang, during the Vietnam war. Go through their front gate then out their back gate to the causeway. Camp Tien Sha Vietnam - Design-Apparel.com worked that jeep to it's limits and had a highly entertaining time There was about a weeks over lap so the knew Chief could learn his job! Additional responsibilities included harbor defense and the transshipment of cargo to the smaller ports in the region. There were so many sound at night and for my own safety I had to learn them all. [3]:8, In April 1972 all US Navy facilities in Danang were transferred to the Republic of Vietnam Navy.[4]. would be thinking about that meal a lot! We had an air conditioner in the office and because I worked out side all day I was not used to air conditioning! One Square Mile of Vietnam: Da Nang - BBC News I am hoping that my response willl stay intact and not disapear completely from here. Pham Ba went around back to take a pee. Nobody even knowing where from or if they had families. It's claim to fame was that it had a black prostitute. There was outgoing mortar rounds and incoming. from two times. 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. Rocketed PX photo - Richard Calmes photos at pbase.com I had my parents send me my Scuba diving lesson book and in what little spare time we could find we would hold Scuba study sessions. Alan on Haircuts She is always with me ! Seabees, initially using materials pre-stocked before the war in Advanced Base Functional Component packages, constructed three deep-draft piers for oceangoing ships, two 300 feet (91m) wooden piers an LST causeway and the Bridge Cargo Complex that consisted of a 1,600 feet (490m) long wharf, 300,000 cubic feet of refrigerated storage space and 500,000 square feet of covered storage space. So now I know why the sniping stopped. The doctor and nurse came out of the clinic. It turned 90 degrees to the right and touched down between two rows of concertina wire in the middle of the perimeter. We were also vulnerable to sappers . Well whenever I was working in that area I would sneak in the tent and find some dirty uniforms,still in good shape and steal them, put them in my crew tool box and take them back to my hooch and hand wash them ! Then walk the length of pier re-installing any buffer pads that might have come out. I took all the materials that I thought I would need to build the cement forms for my strong backs. Nice history lesson for me. "driving deprived" at the time and any time I had access to a I had orders in September 1966 to go to I wish I would have known about it then! The poor farmer screamed like you could never imagine until he finally passed out. Detachment Cua Viet - 1967 - 1970. They made runs north to Cua Viet at the mouth of the river (80 miles north of DaNang and 6 miles south of the Demilitarized Zone) and then upriver eight miles to Dong Ha to haul cannon ammunition to the marines. Our boat and one other transported the The next work order I got for there I gave it to Beerworth and told him I would not work there any more! It was Soon there were Marines all over the place. any old charts, photos or drawings of the PTF this pic is. bgmarshall@aol.com. This is the near miss at our Post office. a small cargo plane in the middle of the night, all I Naval Support Facility DaNang (1970-1972), and the Detachments. kms.) Here is an E mail I got from Karl explaining his arrival to Vietnam and Camp Books (FLC) The last week of May brought us a knew Chief Builder and our old Chief Botswains mate left us. Between 1969 and 1971 hundreds, if not thousands, of incidents of racial violence occurred in and around American military bases Report an offensive or inappropriate entry. On 30 June 1970 NSA Danang was deactivated and on 1 July new Army-Marine service support agreements went into effect. In your time in the CBs did you decide to be the opposite and do the right thing with newbies? If it had detonated when it hit the ventilator we both would have been killed! They had decided to spend the night at the Skivvy house (whore house) in Dog Patch. Hard at work in the Investigations Office, Camp Tien Sha annex, Da Nang area, 8/69 to 7/70, Ray Norton. The building site was about 150 yards outside of the north perimeter and the perimeter had not been opened up yet. It is just to heart breaking to see the suffering of the children in this world who are caught in a war! This is my Poem about the farmer who stepped on the mine. We were not part of the Marine Civil Affair but worked independent of them. Stephen was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving state side and in Vietnam at Camp Tien Sha, Danang. know what it was about "shower Here is the battalion report for May 1968. building. He seemed totally comfortable and relaxed. "personal" shower head and keeping Military personnel learn some of the basics in other training, but this is the course for the big boys. heads" but they were always stolen limits and no one ever said a word to me about these activities. With chow finished I had the rest of 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. At the moment it happened, my buddy Dave Lozier and I were at Camp Tien Sha at the foot of Monkey Mountain. At that time the base fir truck showed up. Our shop the day we put up our sign and officially became Area Work Center #5. camp where you get sheared. The kid had a big yellow Tonka dump truck and would sit for hours in the sand playing with that truck. [2] The camp was quickly expanded to include 25 new barracks able to accommodate an additional 1700 men, together with a barber shop, post exchange and milk plant. Here is a poem that I wrote about the helicopter. We also had a land line (telephone) installed for communication with the Marines. The audio is a little weak, so listen in a quiet place with the sound turned up. If they were caught they were punished by court marshal and were busted one pay grade. Barrels of asphalt damaged by rocket attack, April 1969, Camp Tien Sha Annex, Ray Norton. In November 1965 500 men moved into the old French Army camp, Camp Tien Sha (Tin Sa) at the foot of Monkey Mountain. I suppose we had a good conversation but don't have a clue of what. The pilots jumped out . Vietnam Vet? Well, the Camp Tein Sha barracks got me for Friday, and Saturday. On May 13,1968 we took 6 122mm rocket rounds as explained in my May 15,1968 leter. Naval Support Activity (NSA) Danang was officially established on 15 October 1965. These detachments decentralized the support function and improved the logistic flow. probably had some car handling skills. Before we destroyed their lives they all had jobs and skills that worked in their culture! "Supply" at Camp Fay Suprise, suprise, Same short blond bristly hair, same small bullet hole, and same very damn dead! I joined the Navy Reserve and went to Viet Nam anyway. Coate took care of my paper work and handing in my bedding while I was packing up my sea bag and then it was back to clothing issue somewhere in China beach to pick up my clothing issue which was 4 sets of green utilities a couple soft hats (the Marine Corps kind) and a pair of work boots. 4. Mostly I was just kind of mentally numb. . Vietnam veteran (Navy) wants simple design for book on Da Nang 68-69 Photo's by Vietnam Veterans page 3 - CAMP SABRE He was honorably discharged in 1968 after completing his tour in Vietnam, as Petty . When I found out about that I went with Bet to talk to that officer. Then when I went back to the shop that night I would have Bettencourt cut me a bunch of rebar stakes 2 ft long. 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). It was just after 1700 so I was good. Also we took care of damage at Camp Reasoner and the small CAP out posts. It was an opportunity to get off the Hospital ships and see a little bit of the real Vietnam. 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. The Brief. the late 60's and early 70's. My barracks was an old French barracks at Camp Tien Sha near Da Nang. [4] : 2 of the enclosure with a "shower this place, wearing only "shower . There are 186 crew members registered for the Naval Support Activity Danang. He didn't mince words. " It was at maximum power and flying very fast. I surveyed I didn't realize at the time that the intended target was me and the generators. 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. The guy on the right had black hair, he had been shot with a small caliber pistol right where the skull meets the spine. As good as we were trying to do for the Vietnamese we sure as hell were not winning their hearts and minds! The trailer was to short so the Marines legs were bent at the knees and sticking up, no shoes, pant legs up to their knees showing their very white legs. I could feel the rasping of that bone saw through the stick in the farmers mouth! Pilot, youre the one flying the plane. I was face down on the road under the edge of the truck with my foot stuck under the clutch peddle. They were all in alignment with our generators. There was one thing that bothered me about Tien Sha. Lieutenant Colonel Leonard A. Blasiol, U.S. Marine Corps . Da Nang is known as the tourist capital of South-Central Vietnam, with a west coast location that makes for beautiful sunsets against an impressive backdrop of lush mountains. All of the rounds hit in swamp area between the main base and FLC command building . 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. As I remember It was time to go look for some food! He finished his tour with detective work as one of six NSA investigators at Camp Tien Sha, adjacent to Da Nang. It was the Spring 1967 and I had a choice to make, get drafted into the Army and go to Viet Nam or join the Navy Reserve. Under the supervision of the Doc , the Vietnamese nurse and I got him tied down. Click here for inormation on the VVA. 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 cried to myself on the way back to the base. If you were to divide Camp Fay into And there were certainly good things there, at least in the The Monkey Mountain Patrol. Here are the Activity reports for May 1968 for the Marines in my AO (area of operation) . at Camp Fay. When the Doc was finished he told me I could remove the stick. Alan on base I was in Vietnam from November 3, 1968, through November 7, 1969. I spent 1968-72 in the US Navy, as a Corpsman (Medic). corner and pretty balanced oversteer under power out of the corners. Barracks damage in Danang, Vietnam - 1967 | The first half o | Flickr I started building my hooch on Wednesday May 8th at just before noon. On the evening of May 23 we got a knew man in, Karl Voiles. Right. And search more of iStock's library of royalty-free stock images that features Vietnam photos available for quick and easy download. In other words, if you could drive a Corvair fast and survive you Even now-days I hate phones,radios, air conditioning and coffee ! was the building directly adjoining We went through the gate, down Main Street, took a left and stopped in front of a small building that looked like a hamburger stand. I got a letter from Annette Burrell ( Johns younger sister) sometime in May. You'll see the plumes of smoke, fireballs and falling debris from the explosion of the DaNang ammo dump on April 27, 1969 -- and close ups of some of the damage to buildings and barracks. I do web work now and I want to help you fix your articles so people can read them easier.I'm not asking to get paid I just want to do something for you. identified as "enlisted head" in Maps of Heavily Sprayed Areas and Dioxin Hot Spots Coate would send dog food care packages to Judy. Hi Dan, I've always It started raining Saturday June1st and rained continuously until Wednesday morning but that didn't slow down work any. I was not prepared and he totally over powered me! [3] The camp was quickly expanded to include 25 new barracks able to accommodate an additional 1,700 men, together with a barber shop, post exchange and milk plant. thought though was he was just putting on a show for us new guys. It wasn't a normally They had to be manned 24 hours a day. This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Naval Support Activities in the I Corps, the northern-most theatre of war in South Vietnam. The beach is more than twenty miles long, and in the last two decades, numerous China Beach hotels as well as dining and shopping venues have sprung up along it. There hours were 0800 to1700 so it was impossible for me to go. I'm at camp Tien Sha at Da Nang now. After I let them go I was sitting on my tool box waiting for the crew truck to come pick me up. So as May 1968 ended I had been in Vietnam for 1 month! Soon, the fleet dispatched Naval Beach Group One Cargo Handling Battalions 1 and 2, nucleus port crew, Mine Force, Service Force, Underwater Demolition Team, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units to Danang. I am searching for anyone who may recall serving with me in the Seabees at Camp Tien Sha, Da Nang between 1969-1971. Now I know where Barbee is but where is Babyson? I shook my head when the CO sent you to Red Beach to exercise your idealism, knowing no one would want you there in the CB team already established. said hours 1700 to 2100. Local Page TIMES-MIRROR and OBSERVER Section B WARREN, PA., WEDNESDAY. I took my time cooling myself off in that shower then went The port of Danang contained only three small piers, three Landing Ship, Tank (LST) ramps and a stone quay that were inaccessible to oceangoing vessels; even smaller craft had trouble approaching. I got in the habit of sleeping with my right foot hanging off the edge of my cot so I would always be pointing towards the bunker. I noticed an old gray hair lady,just a skeleton in the hospital bed and asked the doctor about that. When that needle went in that poor farmer screamed and jerked up headed for the ceiling! The I couldn't grasp what was going on at the time. vehicle I took full advantage of it! Danang List - The Mobile Riverine Force Association - MRFA Camp Haskins, Da Nang, Vietnam, served as headquarters of the 30th Naval Construction Regiment, who exercised operational control of Seabee units deployed to Vietnam. One of our guy went with Babyson to the local market and bought blankets, cooking supplies, sleeping mats and food. The Marines in that ambush had fired on me to scare me because they thought I was the duty officer making the rounds. Total Area Sprayed (sq. He was wearing his best short timers uniform. Suddenly the helicopter went nose high and stopped going forward. On the night of February 23, 1969, we held off an attack on the Da Nang Air Base by a large VC force. Drinking black coffee trying to stay alert. The MPs left in a hurry. Surprise, I think that was normal precaution . Unrecorded ca. 1967 map of Da Nang, Vietnam, annotated by hand by an 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. The course is a model in how to survive, and how to come home with honor. ( very much reminds me of cutting up chickens at butchering time). In the future I who manned the PTF base at night used for transportation to and from Then we saw a little dot far up Elephant Valley. Then I was out the door, I passed LT Branch halfway down the stairs and was waiting for him in the bunker! He praised me for staying calm and I had done good then he said I should go outside and sit down as I was looking a little green around the gills! The next day he would become my first hooch mate although I had to rush to get a couple partitions up so he would have his own space. The map I sent you is how I remember that In July 1966 the "Bridge Cargo Ramp" (160307N 1081352E / 16.052N 108.231E / 16.052; 108.231) began operations increasing NSA's supply capability. They cut a hole through their new fence and cleared a path threw the tangle foot and mines wide enough for a 4 wheel drive mule. I think that maybe it was a way to help get my thoughts together, write the event down and then move on. I went home in August 1967, I joined the The Marine on the left was blond and looked like a California surfer.He to had been shot in the back of the head. to return to Vietnam Veterans Home Page Looking back, have Some of the materials for rebuilding came from my civic action salvage yard. Although the rules were they had to go back and check out. What the F is wrong with her? The truck dropped us at the work sight. arrive there again.. Joe Witmeyer shares this 50th CONTACT: VETERANS CENTER OF NORTH TEXAS. On the technical Tour: August 2, 1969 through July 17, 1970. Do you have CAMP TIENSHA, DANANG,VIETNAM Reunion information you'd like to share. Over time that changed, I didn't want to know any newbies! Closer and closer, the engine starting to whine! The photos on this page are from an exhibit that was at the Collin County Historical Society Museum. Guess earlier generations of residents at Camp Fay had their The first half of my year in Vietnam (1967) I was stationed at the large U. S. base in Danang. The VC had taken their 782 gear (combat gear, weapons and ammo) and bugged out. The wounded man was the Mess Sargent who was the only one at the mess hall at the time. Yes that's puppy and our new steel worker (Calhoun). the two boat docks at DaNang. The MPs had used their white belts as tourniquets just above the knees. Next thing I realize he has a hold on my sleeve. The events highlighted in yellow directly affected me. configured jeep. Rank Among Most Heavily Sprayed Provinces in Vietnam. The little girl was fusing and didn't want to leave the nurse so it took a little effort to hand her off to me . Just keep on working in the rain. (The Doc had a black medical bag that was exactly like the one Doc Holiday on Gunsmoke carried around. If your lost and want There was an indoor movie theater, snack bar, hobby shop, NCO club and EM club, basket ball courts and tennis courts. The Doc trimmed all the skin and muscle nice and neat adding clamps (hemostats) as he went. this pic sure isn't it, at least It The road was closed to civilian traffic at night so there would be no other vehicles on the road. Camp Tien Sha Vietnam 1968 from Monkey Mountain Bombardier Pretorian Aug 16, 2013 Good photo, get a good look at the base. My Vietnamese works didn't want to hang around waiting for the truck to take them back to the shop. He got the point and let me through the gate, no more questions asked. Camp Fay in the evening and morning. Her husband was an ARVN soldier who had been killed. So just go back to work and keep moving so he doesn't have a stationary target and you should be OK!" the place. Shortly after 1000 hr the team expediter showed up and I was introduced to him . standing duty after working hours you were pretty much alone. You forget the bad things and you remember the good Our electricians went to wire up the building for electricity. Even then every time the Doc cut through a nerve that farmer would try to fly through the roof! I finished the shower and got and created an overlay of the changes to the harbor, which was Another source for jungle fatigues was up at Camp Reasoner. I started building the 3 strong backs at 7 Motors on Monday morning June 3rd. Smile like you mean it! [1], By July 1968 NSA Danang handled 350,000 tons of cargo each month for the 200,000 allied troops in I Corps. Style attributes. I was going to start building my own hooch so I would have a place to sleep ! Naval Support Activity, Da Nang 1969 Cruise Book vietnamandmilitary $175.00 101st Airborne "Tour Book" 1967-68 The first year!!! The fleet also managed logistic operations at these locations. It was a real learning experience for the three of us. Danang Scene 1966-67 by Ron Holder (60) | DA NANG 66-67 - Ca | Flickr pissed me off the most about the I am not sure what possessed me to write poems there. To save them from Communism was not the right answer because most of them did not feel that Communism was a threat ! As he cut them off he threw them in the corner beside the shelf and I can remember how strange they looked leaning against the wall! The Marines broke out in laughter. You FNGs We set the radio on squelch so it would make a lot of noise and wake us up. I wanted to know everything about what happened to those Marines. Naval Support Activity (NSA) Danang was officially established on 15 October 1965. We also had a couple of American Philco Ford teachers. James L Chambers (cause of death,misadventure). After the little girl died I never went back to the clinic. Me, age 23, sitting on my bunk drinking a beer and smoking a cigarette. The helicopter crew sat down a couple hundred feet from their UH-1 and waited. I stretched it to it's We Mountain. I had never been a boss and language was an obstacle so there was a lot of pencil drawings or just comparing construction with the closest hooch. As usual US style plumbing, the [6], In April 1972 all US Navy facilities in Danang were transferred to the Republic of Vietnam Navy.[1]. If there was any heavy weather and to many buffer pads were jumping out I would have to go back to the hooch and roust out a work crew. The Once I went "over" ( Short timers uniforms were your oldest most faded fatigues but always clean and well kept.) paths and painted white and there were white picket fences around almost every On May 21,1968 at 2400 hr. Naval Support Activity, Da Nang 1966-67 "Cruise Book" - eCRATER She did not cry but there were big tears running down her checks and every once in a while she would let out a loud shuddering sigh! Da Nang Air Base (1957-1975) was a Republic of Vietnam Air Force (VNAF) facility. On the left Detachment Phu Bai - 1965 -1970. cors.archive.org February 1969. DaNang Harbor. a shower enclosure that wasn't Relive & share the memories of your service time with your brothers & sisters in arms today. There are 186 crew members registered for the Naval Support Activity Danang. During the first half of his in-country tour, Norton made the best of a boring and life- consuming job as a Tien Sha Peninsula Security Division guard. The official report was small arms fire on the perimeter. When I started working on this clinic project I was full of good feelings as to how we were helping these poor Vietnamese people. care of the base. The flares were often still burning when they hit the ground. airlines circling the DaNang airbase over the Country of South Vietnam. The building to the right of the Post office was the base exchange and it took a shit load of shrapnel from this hit.