Im hoping to write a book about some of the area you patrolled in around An Hoa and the Que Son Valley if this Covid-19 crap ever tamps down. Vietnam (way remote N.W. What a dammed waste of Americas finest. Despite the heavy fighting, friendly casualties numbered only three Marines and a PF with minor wounds. There is no question that in his formative years the native of McMinnville, Tenn., built an impressive resume of accomplishments. The bridge was the part of the MSR from DaNang. Do you remember him? Never realize what he received it to until I read the write up about the attach on Feb 23, 1969. Does anyone recall 1st Lt Paul Bertolozzi of Echo 2/5 KIA 8/2/67 while on the road sweep and know any details of the incident? Thanks for sharing the pictures. He requested transfer to the Field Medical Service School (FMSS) in Camp Pendleton, Calif., and after graduating on June 25, 1968, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) destined for Vietnam. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. I think we called it the Rocket Capital of the World, lol. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=An_Hoa_Combat_Base&oldid=1123027739, Military installations of the United States Marine Corps in South Vietnam, Installations of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, Military installations closed in the 1970s, Buildings and structures in Qung Nam province, Short description with empty Wikidata description, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the United States Marine Corps, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 21 November 2022, at 09:46. I woke up in the hospital and spent the next three months in rehab, but it wasnt enough to go home. Paul Conrad Sr. My father, Ken Nielsen, just passed. The An Hoa Combat Base was first used in January 1966 during Operation Mallard as the Marines needed a firebase in support of the operation. Hey Mark why dont I remember you. The battle raged for five hours, during which the Marines threw back four attack waves. Dr. Faust, I was with you and Dr. Donald Turner, DDS on the medcap that day. We believe it might be interesting also for the general traveler thanks to its proximity to other interesting tourist destinations and to Hoi An. Concrete bunker built by the French during the 1950s. The Golden Bridge has come into operation since . Taken at Hospital Corps School San Diego, Calif., in October 1966, it is a heavily cropped image that conceals the fact that at 66 Ray towered over his classmates and he typically shied away from getting his photograph taken. I was withW 2/11 Mortars. Decimal coordinates: 15.787721 108.077795. I often went to W. German hospital many times (the let us use their autoclaves to sterilize our large surgical packs). I ended up in Hue City, where I got hit for the third time during my tour of duty. Alpha 1/7 and Hotel 2/5 were attached to 3/26 for the three-day battle, December 7, 8 and 9, 1968. Viet Nam, Summer-Fall 1969 Campaign 09June69 to 31Oct69 Liberty Bridge, Que Sons, An Hoa 1969 Vietnam Service Medal Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa. There was all so 9 Marines hit by the rocket. The Liberty Bridge was constructed over a period of 12 months by Taylor and Murphy Construction Co. of Asheville, N.C., designed by bridge architect Miquel Rosales of Boston, and engineered by Schlaich Bergermann. One time a few of the nurses walked through our area and I just stood there and gawked. In his junior year he left school to join the Navy, enlisting on March 23, 1966. I have spent a few days visiting the various web sights searching for anything I can find on An Hoa Combat Base and yours has been very helpful, I was there in 69-70. I read years later in a book about Robert Garwood that some nurses and doctors from a German hospital were brought in to the camp where he was being held, just west of the An Hoa base. The Liberty Bridge, completed in 1928, connects downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the Liberty Tunnels and the South Hills neighborhoods beyond. It was operated by the Maltese and the nurses would visit there from time to time. I recall referring to the lake where the German hospital was located as Spider lake. He blamed the Doc. Alligator lake was over the small ridge to the southeast near Go Noi island. We moved from An Hoa to Phu Bai in December 67 and then into Hue during TET. Me and a Sgt. Getting to the base is very easy. The children were healthy there and I remember their straight lines waiting to see us. 2023 Knowledge WOW - All Rights Reserved Over the years Ray would be memorialized as the namesake of a missile destroyer (DD-971), medical clinics in Camp Pendleton, Calif., Quantico, Va., and Everett, Wash., a Bachelor Enlisted Quarters in Camp Pendleton, and an elementary school in his hometown of McMinnville, Tenn. Over the years the base grew and incorporated large Marine units as well as a 1000 meter runway able to take the large C130 transport aircraft. On September 19, 1970, we moved to Baldy. Filling up canteens with fresh drinking water from bomb crater while on patrol in the field. to enable the Marines to move men and material across the Song Thu Bon south to An Hoa or to a jump off point for Operations I am very happy you made it out. You grunts were everything a Doc could ask for and more. Thanks, Jon. Despite heavy loss of blood, Ray managed to crawl through the barrage of enemy fire to assist another fallen Marine, shielding him from a grenade blast. There was a refugee camp at Duc-Duc near the river between An- Hoa and Liberty Bridge that was later over run . He Died a Marine. Leatherneck Magazine, October 1974. In the act of saving this Marines life Ray ultimately sacrificed his own. Grim Reaper 14 was the ground unit call sign requesting the medevac. This complex of temples were being built over the course of almost 1000 years. We have helped, without cost, several veterans and history travelers to find their way around the country. I got to Vietnam in May 1969, to a little town called An Hoa, and went to the Liberty Bridge. Feel free to send me an email if you have any questions about the base and surrounding areas. However, I served with Fox, Golf, and Hotel companies as well. and HQ Co. 1st Marine Regt. Still alive at 77. comm. We used to patrol Dodge City day and night with just squad size patrols, Keep in mind in late part of 1968 the 2 NVA Division which hung out on Go Nio island moved a regiment of NVA hard core the 36 NVA regiment into Doge city M bro was with 3/5 Lima company in operation Meade river lots and lots of bunkers. Hi all. Only 25 kilometers west of Hoi An it is a half day trip for those who are interested in discovering a legendary US Marine Corps base. Hue would be just East of the A Shau valley border with Lao). I also worked in 5th Marines COC Locals use it as a road. I was a Scout Sergeant with various batterys in 2/11 attached out to 3/5. I was bleeding from the ears, nose, and mouth. beginning in 1966. How long is Liberty Bridge? I thought it was Jameson. We left An Hoa for Phu Bai on 16 January 1968. had a Xeon light and 90 mm after seeing how small hot and with the mud Hi. These kids were told they had to protect their families from being killed, and they were just doing what they were told to survive. [but he would] just smile and shake his head, taking it all in stride. Many children killed. An Hoa Valley, Qung Nam Province. Its hard. My father, Sgt. He would die, but would be awarded a posthumous MOH. He served as a platoon leader This disambiguation page lists articles about roads and streets with the same name. Also Corpsman David Ray ,also KIA , received the MOH for his actions that night. Spent 9 mo. If you want to travel back and spend some time there, I suggest you arrange it yourself. feature in the 9th Marines TAOR, it was eventually cleared of mines and boody traps. [1], An Ha was located southeast of a major Vietcong (VC)/People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) base area known as the Arizona Territory across the Vu Gia River. The lake might have been called Alligator Lake . Division: 3d Marine Division (Rein) FMF. A couple of months in Vang Viang drinking beer. It was built to get tanks into Arizona Territory and was attacked and burned multiple times. I was with Echo also 67-68 Oct to March when evaced out of country. It really adds to the historical context of the base. I was there with you. In the afternoon on December 10th, Hotel 2/5 flew into Hill 55. I remembered trying to talk to the solders but didnt do well. I heard sometime later that in total they had killed 32 NVA before the hedgerows came alive with automatic weapons fire. Hello Mike. I was rations. An Ha base was located southeast of a major Vietcong/People's Army of Vietnam base area known as the Arizona Territory across the Vu Gia River. The mess tent was kind of toward the end of the runway if I remember correctly and had lots of dust blow through it The only officer alive in the fight had us retreat to some high ground behind us where we began our attack. The hospital was still standing when I returned there in 1997. A bridge guard threw frag at something in the water. All that could be heard was the clanging of our equipment as we walked along. This web site brought back old memories. Was assigned to Bravo Company. Welcome Home Brother !! Sources: Harvey 3/5, Operation Meade River was right out side the wire surrounding Hill 55, 7th Marine Regiment Headquarters. [1], On the night of 21 November 1968, a PAVN/VC battalion attacked the base. Still remember all the rockets all too well. Other than boot camp at MCRD San Diego I spent my entire 4 year tour at Camp Horno with the 1st Marines. From An Hoa 2/5 moved to Phu Bai just on time for Hue City. Mort Hurt here. It crosses the Monongahela River and intersects Interstate 579 (the Crosstown Boulevard) at its northern terminus. Nobody knows who he was. Required fields are marked *. I watched the firefight from our trench line. Email is namwartravel@gmail.com, Served as a Seabee 67/68 served at An Hoa combat and the Liberty bridge. L knew the people i arrived with but he was the first to take us and show us around and draw M16 and other gear. I guess I spoke to you. Can anyone tell me about the disposition of Hill 300. We were young, dumb and lived on borrowed time. Liberty Bridge 1 was built by the US SeaBees in the 1960's it was the longest wooden bridge in southeast asia. If any one knows. One was to a Bhudist orphanage nearby. On May 25, 1967, I experienced my worst combat action to date. I have heard about the German hospital from others as well. My best friend wound up at Khe Sahn during TET and over the years we had our share of alcohol talking about who had it worst. A few kilometers south of the base, across the mountain ridges is the Que Son Valley with plenty of old firebases including LZ Baldy and LZ Ross that are also very interesting to visit. If any of you Marine were with me in 1969, please contact me. I remember that like yesterday. You are ALL truly HEROS!! He had been a Boy Scout, a skilled trombonist, vice president of his senior high school class, member of his pep squad and star of his schools golf team. KIA May 10, 1969 at Liberty Bridge. He was a Sgt. 3/1 comm plt. Beautiful country Laos. Liberty Bridge Today, Quang Nam, Vietnam WarSpecter 64 subscribers Subscribe 57 5.2K views 3 years ago We visit the remnants of a bridge formerly constructed by US Marines in an area of high. The original proposal for the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City, referred to as the "Liberty Bridge". Your email address will not be published. Operation Taylor Common was a search and destroy operation conducted by Task Force Yankee, a task force of the 1st Marine Division supported by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), southwest of Hi An from 6 December 1968 to 8 March 1969. I dont know how An Hoa compared to other places in Vietnam The book is replete with battle maps, seldom-seen photos, an array of. I was the FO attached to Echo 2/5. 69. Lost alot of them also. I have pictures of that day and the day after. NVA went into the orphanage still cant believe there were hundreds of us Marines just yards away playing defense while a few NVA killed all those kids!still my worst memory of my year over there, As C O of B1/5 I served at Liberty Bridge for combat operations in the Arizona Territory and later out of An Hoa & the 1/5 battles at An Bang 3 in the Arizona territory as we named the VC/NVA location 80 plus days on patrol or fighting from May 15th until July 31st, then because I complained of poor logistic support the 5TH Regt C.O pulled me out of Bn to be the Regt logistics officer S-4 & An Hoa base security officer as a Capt. My best friend (we grew up together and both became Corpsman and went to Vietnam together} was killed while we were on patrols in the valley. Photo By Andr Sobocinski | I was with 2/5 Flames August 68-August 69. is the german hospital still standing by the river on the way to liberty bridge from an hoa combat base. Heres an aerial view I found on YouTube. I was glad to be in Force Recon as a Radio man 1969. I had no shrapnel wounds and felt lucky to be alive. On 4 July the first leg of "Liberty Road" was completed, a distance of 3,500 meters south from Hill 55 to Route 4, and in Looking for the other guys any help would be appreciated. But my B Battery had been split off from the battalion on arrival in Vietnam and placed in a defensive position near Da Nang. 71 killed. Was part of the LSU (Logistics Support Unit). The one Seabee Ican remember had handlebar mustache and was nicknamed Gunsmoke. Cpl David Paul Bagwell (rank when i was discharged 1970) I earned the Bronze Star for the time I was in the Quang Tri province, where we had a little outpost with a concertina wire gate around it. New one of the KIA ( Gunny, Floyd Keffe) . That night the orphanaged was mortared and overrun with casualties and wounded who were brought to our BAS. Semper Fi marine, Hi Jonas, regarding the hospital, I read on another site that the hospital was located just south of the compound near a lake,if that helps. 68-69. Thanks for your service Don and Welcome Home Brother !!! Liberty Bridge. AnHoa served as a jump off point for regions fought over from 66-71. Not a word was said. The NVA had escaped into the Que Son mountains. This mission covers another insert near at Liberty Bridge, which I believe was near the base at An Hoa. Ill bet that trip down the Ho Chi Minh trail in Eastern Lao was truly beautiful, Ashley (was it rainy? The. We would not have allowed this to happen if we had been there still. I was there when the CBs built us a hooch and the tent went away. Captain Graham took Marines from his command group and rallied the 1st platoon Marines and attacked the two guns causing most of the damage to his Company. By autumn of 1968, when Vietnamese requirements reached their peak, world-wide Seabee strength had grown to more than 26,000 men, serving in 21 full-strength Naval Mobile Construction Battalions, 2. Your email address will not be published. I Served at An Hoa with 2/5, in January 1967 to 15 January 1968. Today if you Google David Robert Ray you will come across a portrait showing a gangly, smiling youth in service dress and a Dixie Cup hat. At the east end of the runway are a couple of craters and some dug out areas that seem to be from the era. The bridge was constantly under attack and was destroyed several times, either by the enemy The following year, Bobby Rayor as he is better known to us today, David Robert Raywas posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. 2nd Marine Brigade. and take off for parts unknownprobably Marble Mountainthats where we convoyed to that same dayI believe Say, trying to confirm the name of the CO for 2/5. Ive been to Lao about 20 times (visa run, Thailand) but mostly just the Vientiane area. From left to right are Edmond Franio, Red Garcia, and Jorge Alonzo. Time has taken its toll as well as the war. Tom I First Force Recon and our compound was right by the artillery battery. The base was located south of the Thu Bon river which marked the southern border of what was called the Arizona Territory. 24 days and a wake up. We had two Chieu Hois with us for the Op. He kept coming and kept coming, making like he was drinking from the can, and he wouldnt put it down. They left 17 of us to guard what was left on 2/5 base We could hear orphans screaming but could not help. My Company of Marines did this with calm dignity. Surpassing it in every way was the very real Liberty Bridge across the Thu Bon River 80 miles south of Da Nang. Any chance you knew or remember him? is there organized travel available to an hoa, liberty bridge area or go noi island. Lived in a tent and used tents to store rations for the mess hall as well as C-rats. GENERAL ORDERS: CITATION: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Hospital Corpsman Second Class David Robert Ray (NSN: B-308634), United States Navy . S/Sgt Greg Smith H&S 2/5. Total casualties between the two companies was 110 KIA and that many wounded. Poinsett Bridge Drop me an email on namwartravel@gmail.com, I spent nearly a year at the Liberty Bridge , Phu- Loc (6) area . there were 6 or 7 of us at a time at Anhoa with the Airwing3 Air Traffic Controllers and repair/maintenance men for the radar equipment and generatorsNormal cleared to land & cleared to take off stuff plus advise the pilots on which batteries were firing & what direction/grid.Remember the night we were supposed to get over-run.& instead the Marine Engineers began construction There were 28 of us We built our camp from scratch replaced the runway and-started with the rest of the base hospital-chow hall I extended for 6 month leaving in December of 68. Then the entire hedgerow came alive with NVA fire. Liberty Bridge-Longest Timber Bridge in Vietnam at 2,040 Feet and 35ft Above the Thu Bon River. Even if you try to access that area from N.E. This was just south of Da Nang, and was a "free fire" combat zone. Hi Leslie. This meant that on at least one occassion the area was bombed by US jets as they tried to drive out their enemy.