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

March 1969

When I arrived in Vietnam it was about 3 weeks after Hill 327 was hit and 3 members of the 1st Marine Division Band gave all.

My first day on the "hill" I took these pictures of the only tower at that time at post 5. In the background to the right you will see the tent which is shown below.
I would like to know more information about the tent if anyone can shed more light on it. It was soon removed.

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

Thanks for reading

Sorry I haven't posted lately.

I hope to post more here shortly. I have been working on a photobook of Vietnam through Shutterfly.

Thanks again
Don

True Story

I posted this story on the Internet years ago and it is still out there.

Santa Claus in a helicopter

Christmas, December 1969

Not everyone gets to go to the Bob Hope show, like me, so I had to do guard duty on the hill.

As I sat there, I heard a helicopter coming from around the side of this big hill, next to us was where, I believe, the Seabees were stationed. The chopper was bright red, it really startled me! I thought the gooks finally had their own air force.

As the chopper got near, I could see Santa Claus hanging out the side, and as he flew down the line he threw candy out to all of us on duty.

I'll tell you it was quite a sight to see grown men--okay, boys--jumping up and down the line and waving at Santa.

I heard it was an Army unit who did this. I don't know who deserves the credit, but it really made our holiday.

This is probably one of the few times I either did not have a camera with me or I was to dumb struck to take a picture.

More from the Camp Pendleton booklet

....on the way to Vietnam

Da Nang (the name I knew NOT Danang) Harbor

I found your blog this date via the Post Star and found it extremely interesting. I was wondering if you had any photos of any Navy ships providing NGFS during your tour. Best Regards , Steve Raymond ( ex SM2 USN 68-72"

Steve this is the best I can do right now, maybe you can tell us the name of 808.

Thanks for reading

Don

Corrections to the Post Star Article

I noticed two sentences in the Post Star article http://www.poststar.com/articles/2008/12/16/news/local/14134320.txtfrom todays date that I must correct.

The three Marines killed were not part of a "battalion" they were assigned to the 1st Marine Division Band.

Second mistake we were not there to "guard the band" we were there to help them provide security.

And I did not "retire" after two years, they botched that up also. Thanks to Anonymous for pointing that out.

More from the hill

Happy Valley
Ammo bunker on the backside of the hill

Remember this?

Belated Happy Birthday Marines

and a salute to Veterans Day, I had trouble getting on line on the road, so welcome home vets, thank you for your service to your Country and Semper Fi.

Probably why I remained an E-3

That is me in the middle with the M60 machine gun. As you can see my hat was flat and not starched and shaped like the others nor were my pants bloused, I had them pegged to make them tighter. But I still was proud to apart of Uncle Sams Misguided Children, aka USMC.
Semper Fi.

Jolly Green Giant CH-53

Dog and the young woman

Chief found this dog and took care of him until he left country.
I was in Danang one day and saw this woman and asked if I could take her picture, I think we all know what business she was in but it beat looking at those ugly things squatting on the side of the road chewing betel nut.

Yes Virginia, there really is a China Beach

We got to have in-country R&R at China Beach, also our TOP, the tall guy in the camo pants with his hands on his hips, made a deal to get us to the beach. He also came up with some good steaks, beans and beer. Sorry I can't remember TOPs name, but he was a great guy.

Tower #1

No it isn't Holmes and Watson it is Tom Bahnsen and myself getting stupid for the camera in Tower #1. The light and binoculars were obtained by some slick trading with the Navy thanks to Sgt. Massey.

Tower #1
Gear we used PRC-25 radio, phone, small binoculars, a can of rations heating up, flare and a M79 grenade launcher. In the distance background you can see the other tower.
Looking out back towards Danang and 1st Div.

Nighttime on A-Line Hill 327

Navy flares over Happy Valley
Lights on A-Line

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

Patrol coming back in
Another high rent district

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.

ROK's Korean marines


Inside Marble Mountain

CWO Olasack

Cpl. Rich Bouzek-Chicago
L/Cpl. Freemans Birthday
Cpl. Ken Miller-Cocoa Beach Fla.