After that our nights were spent in a bunker on the runway until I left for home in February. Didnt realize until today the toll it took on the kids. Drop me an email on namwartravel@gmail.com, I spent nearly a year at the Liberty Bridge , Phu- Loc (6) area . I was in E Co. weapons platoon ( guns) I went to graves registry in DaNang to identify his body. The Liberty Bridge, completed in 1928, connects downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the Liberty Tunnels and the South Hills neighborhoods beyond. 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. I was withW 2/11 Mortars. The only officer alive in the fight had us retreat to some high ground behind us where we began our attack. The Map page has a map, of Hills 65, 37, 25, 52. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, and sent overseas, where he stayed for more than 15 months (earning the Bronze Star and Purple Heart). I believe. From left to right are Edmond Franio, Red Garcia, and Jorge Alonzo. We saw a USO show with Korean performers on this hill. Many thanks to all the veterans out there! 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. Posted by Dave at 6:38 PM. I was there when the CBs built us a hooch and the tent went away. Ahhh the Memories!!! [2]:41 On 20 April 1966 the Marines returned to An Ha on Operation Georgia, the 12th Marines reestablished a firebase while the 3rd Battalion 9th Marines provided security, the base would become permanent at this time as the Marines sought to pacify the area. I was with Echo during that time frame, 2nd platoon i believe it was. Would like to know the name of the area on the map, where Operation Mead River and Operation Arizona Territory took place?? The "Arizona Territory" was located south and west of Da Nang and got its nickname due to the wild west nature of the fighting and the area being a free fire zone. Take the village from the front. When the attack began at 22:00, Marine tank and artillery crews on the perimeter began direct fire against the advancing PAVN/VC, using Beehive anti-personnel rounds. Once, instead instead of evacuation by chopper we went to An Hoa and caught a C-123. He left the field alive but traumattically wounded. from Nov 69 to Aug 70. 24 days and a wake up. Casualties and losses. [2]:93 On 6 July 5 Marine Battalions launched Operation Macon around the An Ha area, the operation continued into October resulting in 24 Marines and 380 VC killed. Im doing some research on his time in-country and am hoping to find someone who might remember him. We came to a 1000 meter rice paddy near the village of Vinh Huy. Thank you all for your service. Qung Nam Province His story is out there. Not a nice place slept with flack jacket and helmet all the time ! I was in Vietnam in from April 1968-April 1969 with the USMC. At the time I was there we had the NVA come on our radio net and tell us they would have complete control of Liberty Bridge and our CO told us we were surrounded by 5000 NVA Regulars. See so many orphans killed after we treated their smiling faces will forever be in my mind, Where you there when they fragged 2/11s surgeons jeep. In the early morning of March 19, 1969, a Marine combat base at Phu Loc 6 near An Hoa, Thats the reason DaNang saw light fighting during TET of early 1968. My first combat operation was Operation Newcastle in the Arizona in March 1967. Wikimedia | OpenStreetMap. [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. Can anyone tell me about the disposition of Hill 300. About a third of the temples are still standing in various condition. There are links to other sites there. I remembered trying to talk to the solders but didnt do well. Your email address will not be published. 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. My mom had a vendor shed on the north side of Liberty Bridge selling soft drinks and souvenirs during the period. Liberty Bridge/Clearance below For the general traveler there are certainly reasons to visit the area. 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 The Battalion worked at the Da Nang Air Base and Con Thien. At the east end of the runway are a couple of craters and some dug out areas that seem to be from the era. Also, by the time this happen there were NO local VC left because they had been wiped-out during TET of early 1968 and Im sure most of the VC were not VC but NVA regulars!! Go Noi Island was where Carlos Handcock (sniper-one shot-one kill) was wounded (burned, AmTrac, anti-tank mine). I have a neighbor who fought with the Marines near An Hoa in 69. is there organized travel available to an hoa, liberty bridge area or go noi island. The 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines handed over the base to the ARVN 1st Battalion, 51st Regiment on 15 October 1970.[5]. Vietnam (way remote N.W. I am sorry for his passing. I returned home sept 6. Mostly we were on perimeter duty at night and road sweeps during the morning. I was lucky to be inside the COC bunker on the night shifts when most of the incoming was happening. read more, Photo By Andr Sobocinski | In the early morning of March 19, 1969, a Marine combat base at Phu Loc 6 near An Hoa, Vietnam, became the scene of a surprise enemy attack. I was celebrating my 1st year in the Corps the night Liberty Bridge was over ran, we had a blonde hair Cor Man who was really good and should be a hero for his actions. Bad night at The Bridge. My Company of Marines did this with calm dignity. I was there during that time period. Makes me cry! I was with the command group, Capt. The 2,040' "Liberty" bridge built by CB 4 over the Song Thu Bon river in 1967. He was one of 13 whose lives I had to take. E- 2/5 69-71, Your email address will not be published. other accounts have the event at a smaller outpost a bit north west near the river. 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 Welcome Home Brother !! The. Was with MAG (Marine Air Group) 16 at AnHoa April of 70 til we abandoned the place in August/September of 70 Her bomb shelter, her livestock, her food stock was destroyed. I saw my buddy that I had gone to boot camp with get hit by a burst of machine gun fire. I went through four operations while I was in Vietnam, including the Durham Peak and Pipestone. Looking for a Lt. who came to Fox 2/5 2nd Platoon on 11 July 69 And stepped on a box mine less than 12 hours later. From April to September 1967 Seabees of Mobile Construction Battalion 4 built a 2,040 feet (620 m) "Liberty bridge" (T Do bridge, now the Giao Thy bridge) over the Thu Bn river. 2512. and take off for parts unknownprobably Marble Mountainthats where we convoyed to that same dayI believe A man sent to take her and her family to resettlement, again. Mort Hurt here. I was a Artillery Scout/Sgt attached to 3/5 July 69 to July 70. He was a Sgt. I was a Scout Sergeant with various batterys in 2/11 attached out to 3/5. Decimal coordinates: 15.787721 108.077795. I remember going up to Hue in December to visit a buddy and at that time the city was untouched and beautiful. Respectfully, Jon. I was at An Hoa for much of 1967. Hey John, Go- Noi really brings back some fond memories! I was with Echo also 67-68 Oct to March when evaced out of country. What a dammed waste of Americas finest. Semper Fi, I AM PLEASED YOU SERVIVED. Ive been to Lao about 20 times (visa run, Thailand) but mostly just the Vientiane area. Im so sorry. It crosses the Monongahela River and intersects Interstate 579 (the Crosstown Boulevard) at its northern terminus. So, I got a Bronze Star because they said I stopped a possible problem that could have happened if the bomb had gone off and blown up a bunch of people. Built in 1967 by Navy Seabees (nickname based on the pronunciation of C-B, for Construction Battalion) , under constant harassment from enemy forces, it was 2,040 feet long, 32 feet above the low water level. Thanks again, Three maps from Paul O'Connell, showing areas of Pipestone Canyon and where some of Mike's KIAs gave their all. The road is still there so possible to travel along. there. The Liberty Bridge is a steel cantilever bridge and was constructed as the missing link between downtown Pittsburgh and the Liberty Tunnel, which had been constructed four years earlier in 1924 as a link to the South Hills. Could you be him? 1969, a Marine combat base at Phu Loc 6 near An Hoa, A Portrait of HM2 Bobby Ray, Heroic Doc of Liberty Bridge, Strategic I am happy you made it out. After boot camp and Corps School in San Diego, Ray received orders for the USS Haven (AH-12)then moored in Long Beach, Calif., and serving as a station hospital. Thats what we called him. A Portrait of HM2 Bobby Ray, Heroic "Doc" of Liberty Bridge 19 November 2021 From ANDR SOBOCINSKI In the early morning of March 19, 1969, a Marine combat base at Phu Loc 6 near An Hoa,. This mission covers another insert near at Liberty Bridge, which I believe was near the base at An Hoa. Liberty Bridge was constructed and located at coordinates AT 923532, in Dai Loc District, Quang Nam Province. BUMED Archives. There is no question that in his formative years the native of McMinnville, Tenn., built an impressive resume of accomplishments. We were bulk fuel, ammo, radio relay, etc. I served with CHARLIE 1/5 during TET 68-69 i was a machine gunner in the AZ VALLEY IT WAS THE VALLEY OF DEATH. With the redeployment of the 3rd Division north, Hill 55 became the Command Post of the 7th Marine Regiment in April, It crosses the Monongahela River and intersects Interstate 579 (the Crosstown Boulevard) at its northern terminus. Will never forget it. First impressions are forged early in Marine units and those who served alongside Ray took note of his dedication and great humility. Other than boot camp at MCRD San Diego I spent my entire 4 year tour at Camp Horno with the 1st Marines. Ha! Our two companies ran smack dab into 1200 to 1500 NVA from the 2nd NVA Divsion. Samper Fi ! Done. Set us up on rifel range to scope our weapon. 1967 with the 7th Marines remaining there for most of their deployment in VietNam. I recall referring to the lake where the German hospital was located as Spider lake. Liberty Bridge was constructed and located at coordinates AT 923532, in Dai Loc District, Quang Nam Province. He volunteered for a mission at An Hoa for the search, recovery, and repair of a C-130. Thank you for your insightful comment. Heres an aerial view I found on YouTube. And thank you for sharing a piece of your story. I often went to W. German hospital many times (the let us use their autoclaves to sterilize our large surgical packs). Captain Graham organized the Company and sent the three platoons in to the rice paddy in skirmishes. Babb, W.A. From Jon. We were ordered by our regimental Commander to enter the huge rice paddy and secure Vinh Huy. We always argued that the other guy had it worse. I watched the firefight from our trench line. 1st Marine Division Operations There was a visible sign of better times in Quang Nam province when, on 30 March, the 825-foot Seabee-constructed Liberty Bridge was opened across the Thu Bon river just south of Dai Loc. Locals use it as a road. This web site brought back old memories. 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. He would die, but would be awarded a posthumous MOH. Looking for the other guys any help would be appreciated. South end of the runway by the artillery battery. He served as a platoon leader statistical facts, the definitive listing of the war's most highly decorated. Why an orphanage? Vietnam 1968. The Golden Bridge has come into operation since . The following year, Bobby Rayor as he is better known to us today, David Robert Raywas posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The conversation with the Regimental CO was to the point. . Concrete bunker built by the French during the 1950s. I was wounded May 16, 1969 at An Hoa combat base by the rocket attack and, unfortunately, your brother must have been the KIA I never knew. Rupnik, E.J. We moved from An Hoa to Phu Bai in December 67 and then into Hue during TET. I read subsequent to that that some made it, at least one died. I dont know about the hospital building between An hoa and the bridge. Ha! Chuck, I was Squadleader/ Gunner in 60 mortars then. E- 2/5 69-71. I had been wounded on 27 February at our outpost at My Loc 2. Duc Duc was just outside the west gate of F 2/11 towards the song Thu Bon. Time has taken its toll as well as the war. The Thu Bon river southwest of Danang was crossed by Liberty Bridge. I think of An Hoa every day of my life want to say SEMPER FI to all who served there. Chuck, I was Squadleader/ Gunner in 60 mortars then. 4th Plt was also at An Hoa, We had 10 tanks split between An Hoa and Liberty Bridge. 68-69. Thanks for the post and pictures, sure brings back some memories for sure. In the early morning of March 19, 1969, a Marine combat base at Phu Loc 6 near An Hoa, Vietnam, became the scene of a surprise enemy attack. My memory is bad and getting worse the older i get. Just two weeks later he was part of a mission to protect Liberty Bridge, a strategic supply artery across the Thu Bon River connecting An Hoa to Da Nang. from Aug76-Sept1980. Iv talked with some of the Marines I was with but most have Passed on. I also worked in 5th Marines COC Lee 704 791 2768 my phone. When he fell down, the can went BOOM! Terry's unit provided security for Liberty Bridge over the Song Thu Bon River, northeast of An Hoa Combat Base. An Hoa Valley, Qung Nam Province. Also included is a map from J.C. Bowers which shows Mike Company's base camp's location from October '67 to March of '68. But you were there fall of 69 so we didnt cross paths but its nice to see someone else who was at An Hoa and especially a radio relay man. Thanks for your service Don and Welcome Home Brother !!! The base as such covers a large area, parts of it has developed in to an industrial zone today, but most of it is more or less untouched. I do have some specifics, but you understand my hesitancy, considering the length of time and the fog of war effects on my memory.. The Liberty Bridge is a steel cantilever bridge and was constructed as the missing link between downtown Pittsburgh and the Liberty Tunnel, which had been constructed four years earlier in 1924 as a link to the South Hills. Thanks, Jon. In all, as of mid-summer 1969, the Wing inventory totalled about 225 helicopters and 250 fixed wing aircraft. Then he took a little step sideways and I thought, Thats not right. Who was the architect of the Liberty Bridge? 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. Kilo 3/5 Some of the most remote wilderness still left on the planet. see less The Antenna Valley is located across the pass to the west from the Que Son Valley. Intro MCB 4 - Ken Walden 1967 DaNang Vietnam Deployment Camp Hoover Liberty Bridge wyotexas USA Ron Reel 2.37K subscribers Subscribe 402 views 1 year ago MCB 4 - Ken Walden 1967 DaNang. Hi Leslie. The base is abandoned and has reverted to jungle. I am glad you made it out. Despite the heavy fighting, friendly casualties numbered only three Marines and a PF with minor wounds. Hill 41. Nobody knows who he was. From April to September 1967 Seabees of Mobile Construction Battalion 4 built a 2,040 feet (620m) "Liberty bridge" (T Do bridge, now the Giao Thy bridge) over the Thu Bn river. A docent who was familiar with the history of the air craft told me that the plane had been flown of An Hoa at the same time period that I was flown out of An Hoa! His name was LCpl Billy Daugherty. I was at An Hoa with India Co. 3/5,from 8/68 to 10/68,I transferred to CAP. Please take a look at some of the links below to learn more in detail about Liberty Bridge and other places of interest in the Quang Nam region in Vietnam. I looked in one of your tanks,as you were in the road facing the Que son Mts. as the Marine build up began in VietNam, Hill 55 eventually became a Command Post for various Regimental Commands Built at An Hoa-21 Miles SW of Da Nang by MCB-4 Liberty Bridge MCB-4 - seabee-rvn Photo Sharing About SmugMug Browse Photos Prints & Gifts Terms Privacy Contact Owner Log In 2023 SmugMug, Inc. AN HOA, Vietnam - Liberty Bridge straddles a bend of the Phu Bon river where the flat, brown water ends at the edge of shoulder-high grass that stretches toward the distant horizon and the tall black mountains that run all the way to Laos.

York County Sc Mugshots, Lincoln Police Department Internal Homepage, Blessing Box Locations Near Me, Articles L