Heard from another Jarhead today

Received an email from Dan Gyllenskog served with 1st Mar Div Band 68-69 I only have one photo of him and his back it to the camera so send me another Dan.

Drop him a line at;

Dan Gyllenskog
275SOUTH300
EASTSMITHFIELD,UTAH8
or email him;
http://us.mc01g.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=dansdutchovens@yahoo.com

Also the address for Shel is;
Richard Shelhamer
945 US #1
CAMERON NC 28326
or email at;
tillwamc59@yahoo.com

If anyone knows the whereabouts of any of the grunts attached to the band like Rutherford, Chrismon,Bahnsen,Garlock,Golden,Garcia, and others that my mind can't remember now, please let me know. I am also looking for more pictures from you guys if you wish to share, email them to me. I will be scanning more asap.
Thanks Coop

More FMD band from Vietnam

FMD Band led by GSgt. Sunderland.

Up front on clarinet LCpl. Victor A. Rabel KIA

FMD Band playing for civilians. Cpl. John P. Ziegler (wearing shades) KIA.

Thanks for the photos Ruben.

Ruben remembers......

Ruben B. Botello, USMC, 1965-69 (MOS 5543, 5547)

Ruben in the center with other band members enroute to a gig for the villagers.

Ruben getting some help loading a 50 cal on the truck on Hill 327.

Ruben wrote me this email;

"Brings it all back to memory once again. Yup I was there when our Band was overrun but thank God in the right place at the right time. My bunker was overrun that night Ziegler, Mitchell and Rabel were killed. I rotated with Ziegler on the one bunker he got killed at; every other night for each of us. It was his night...damn, it still hurts. Mitchell drove around from bunker to bunker and foxholes; his vehicle was rocketed. Rabel just popped up out of his foxhole to look around; I owed him $10 and feel bad about that too. They were wonderful guys, great Marines and excellent musicians too."

Ruben thank you for your service to your Country and welcome home Marine, and thank you for sharing your memories.

Semper fi

My Freedom Bird Feb 1970

This is the ride that brought me back to the real world and reality.

I have found some slides to scan so I will be back posting more sorry for the delay.

and more shots from Da Nang airbase

FMD Band loading up for a ride to the bush for the gig below in the Sept 25th post.
Cpl. Bruce Didier checking out the trip flares for the night.
Practice landings China Beach
Danang Air Base

Band on the road

Well I can finally scan slides so I hope to add more pictures.

1st Marine Div. Band playing on the road for a change of command, far right front Cpl . John Denahy, Boston MA.
The chopper gunnner on our ride out.

1st Marine Division Band

As I have said before I was a grunt, a ground pounder, an 0331 machine gunner but when I arrived in Nam they assigned me to the band. When I told my family they couldn't believe it so I had to send them a picture and of course my dads reaction was, "You can't play the radio let alone an instrument."

But myself and the other 15 to 20 grunts were not there to play but to work security on Hill 327 Alpha line. About three weeks before I arrived on Feb 23 1969 the band was doing their duty on the hill when they were attacked wounding many and killing three Cpl. Paul J. Mitchell, L/Cpl Victor A. Rabel, and Cpl. John P. Ziegler.

I have decided to dedicate this site to those three who gave all and will work on a sidebar to this blog in their honor.

Me about 40 years and 150 pounds ago.
FMD Band
TOP getting his Purple Heart