Thank you for your service

A friend sent me this in an email, I had to share it.

Happy Veterans Day to all Vets past and present, Thank you

This is the day in 2004 when my son Aaron returned from Iraq

Happy 235th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps

Semper fi brothers

L/Cpl Don Cooper 0331

1st Marine Division Da nang Viet Nam 1969-70

Thanks Joe

Thanks to Joe Chmiko, 2174386,(5534) served with 1st Marine Division Band from Oct, '66 to June '68, for sharing the above cartoon.

Some new pictures

I am sorry, someone, possibly Ruben, sent me these awhile back and when we moved they got shuffled, I don't think I posted them before. I also have three more to scan that I found sent to me by Shel.

Cpl. John P. Ziegler (wearing shades) KIA.

Ruben

Happy Veterans Day

to everyone who served and a special thanks to my dad, love you and miss you dad.
My dad is back row right side.

Also because I so was busy yesterday and had trouble getting on line a belated Happy Birthday to the Marines

And now back to Vietnam

Marine on left unknown, Willie Freeman from Atlanta, GA on the right.

Also Rich Bouzek matched some names with pictures that I will be adding to the various posts.
Thanks Rich

More shots from the Sgt. Eddie Ryan Poker Run

A salute to a Vietnam vet

Eighteen of my 26 years in law enforcement were spent with the Washington County Sheriff's Department. One of my Sergeants during that time was Sgt. Jack Williams. I knew Jack had been in different branches but I never learned what unit he was in during his Marine days if anyone knows let me know.

GRANVILLE -- John Arthur Williams, 74, of Granville passed away on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, N. Y., following a long illness.He was born on March 30, 1935, in South Granville, the son of Floyd "Peanuts" and Jennie (Monroe) Williams.Jack graduated from Granville High School. Later in life, he attended Adirondack Community College, graduating with an associate degree with his daughter as the first father/daughter to graduate at the same time.He was united in marriage to Judith Caruso and recently celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary.
Jack enlisted into the military serving in all four branches of service in the Korean War and Vietnam retiring as master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force.

After returning to Granville, Jack was employed by the Washington County Sheriff’s Department as a deputy and retiring as a sergeant.

Photo and write-up from Glens Falls Post Star.

The Adirondack Leathernecks Sgt. Eddie Ryan Poker Run

The guest of honor Marine Sniper Sgt. Eddie Ryan arriving with his parents, father Chris and mother Angie.
I was so honored to meet and shake the hand of this hero, I had to fight back tears as I told Eddie how much I appreciated his service for his country, and he said to me in a commanding voice, "And I would do it again!".

I salute you Eddie and Semper Fi!

Check the Help Eddie Ryan website here;

http://www.helpeddieryan.com/index.shtml

Getting ready to rock and roll

One hundred and eight bikes getting ready to roll out from Memorial Detachment #2 Marine Corps League on Rte 4 in the Adirondack-Lake George Chapter Leathernecks MC Poker Run to benefit wounded Sgt. Eddie Ryan.

Marine from the Greatest Generation passes on

I worked with Bruce when I first started my law enforcement career as a part-time police officer in Hudson Falls.

HUDSON FALLS - Retired Deputy Chief of Police Alan Bruce Manell, 87, of LaCrosse Street, passed away on Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at the Glens Falls Hospital.Born on Feb. 26, 1922, in Whitehall, N.Y., he was the son of Joseph Eugene and Mary Louise (Robetor) Manell.

He proudly volunteered to serve with the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, from October 1942 until November 1945. He was a combat photographer with Marine Corps Intelligence who survived two invasions in the Pacific, the Marshall Islands and Okinawa where he sustained two head wounds in the line of duty and was awarded the Purple Heart. Other awards included: Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, NYS Conspicuous Service Cross, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign with 2 Stars, Combat Ribbon, and the Victory Medal. He was a past commandant of Memorial Detachment No. 2, Glens Falls Marine Corps League. His World War II experiences were presented on the History Channel for one-half hour, in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Note: Information and photo from Glens Falls Post Star

40 years ago.........

I read about Woodstock in a Time or Newsweek magazine.

Help a brother Marine

USMC Sgt. Eddie Ryan needs your help.

Eddie suffered a severe brain injury when he was shot in the head twice while serving in Iraq.

Eddie is slowly recovering and needs your help.

Check the website here;

http://www.helpeddieryan.com/index.shtml

Donate here;

http://www.helpeddieryan.com/donate.shtml

On July 25 the Adirondack Leathernecks, a Marine motorcycle club, will be holding a Poker Rally to benefit Eddie and his family starting from the Memorial Det 2 Marine Corps League building on Rte 4 Hudson Falls, NY.

For more info;
http://www.leathernecksmcadklgc.com/

*Above photo from the Times Herald Record

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

Please checkout this blog

It is about MASS-3 - Marine Air Support Squadron-3 Vietnam - Hill 327 mass 3
http://mass-3.blogspot.com/

I need some help. I was on A-Line and next to us I believe were Seabees, and then high up on the hill overlooking us was MASS is this correct?

I have more pictures to post and also will post any you have so send them to me via email.

Thanks Don

I'm back and with good news!

In an earlier blog I had written about finding a lighter belonging to R.K. Shelhamer, a Sgt. I served with in the 1st Div. I found the lighter while re-building a bunker after Shel went home. Well he contacted me and told me he retired after 21 years and saw my story. I plan to send his lighter out asap. Here is the lighter and a picture of Shel.

It's been 40 years!!!

Semper Fi Shel

Dedication

In a change of pace from Vietnam, I have dedicated this post to one from the Greatest Generation, my father-in-law Army St.Sgt. Robert M. LeFebvre age 86, who passed away on Feb. 11, 2009 in Hudson Falls N.Y. He was born in Tupper Lake N.Y. and was a member of Merrills Marauders in Burma during WWII.

Click on to blow up the below newspaper article for better reading.

Reactionary duty and the water buffalo

I received an email from Hank Duncan who said I should have been there when they had reactionary duty. Well Hank they still had it in 1969.

I don't know how many times a month we fell out for reactionary but I do remember one time during the monsoon season myself and another jarhead trying to sleep with rigged ponchos under a water buffalo, no Ma, not a REAL water buffalo but a water tank. In the morning we were soaked and covered in mud.

Reactionary, I remember it well.

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.