Hello my name is THURMAN MOORE, I was born December 8, 1944 in
St. Louis, Missouri and enlisted into the United States Marine Corps on
15 April 1965 and left for Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego,
California on 29 April 1965 at the age of twenty.


Upon arrival after the five second haircut and quickie shower and
'NOW GET DRESSED', This street wise, hot headed, bad tempered twenty year old black
kid with an attitude from St. Louis found out he was in trouble.  I was introduced to
a world I never dreamed ever existed.


From Receiving Barracks I joined Recruit Training Series 129 and assigned to
Platoon 130.  My Platoon Commander was S/Sgt. O. Syck, Senior Drill Instructor
S/Sgt R. N. Hobbs, and Drill Instructors Sgt. R. D. Marsh and Cpl. L. D. Sprouse.


My platoon series commenced training on 10 May and graduated 20 July 1965.
After graduation I was assigned to M Company of the 2d Infantry Training
Regiment, Camp Pendleton, California from approximately 21 July to 28 August
1965.  Upon leaving ITR I was assigned to the Third Marine Division, Okinawa
as a basic communicator 2500.


After my thirty days leave I reported to Staging Bn. Camp Pendleton where I
was transferred to the Third Marine Division 13 October 1965.  I joined the
Third Force Service Regiment at Camp Sukiran, Okinawa.  While there I was
trained in wire communications at Camp Hansen, Okinawa.  And on 16 January
1966 I was sent to the Force Logistics Support Unit #1 at the Marine Base at Chu
Lai, South Viet Nam.


This unit designation was changed to Force Logistics Support Group/Bravo and
I was detached to the Bulk Fuel Platoon.  Which was just opposite the south end of
the Chu Lai Airstrip.  I made numerous trips out to 7th Marines, 5th Marines,
Hill #69 overlooking the air strip, and as a litter carrier.  I made one Search and
Destroy operation while attached to FLSG/Bravo.  And that was OPERATION
COLORADO, Tam Ky, South Viet Nam in August 1966.


I rotated to the states in November 1966 and stationed at Camp LeJuene,
North Carolina.  I was assigned to H&S Communications Company, Second Force
Troops and promoted to Corporal 1 May 1967.  I stayed until June 1967 when I
volunteered for further duty overseas and was assigned to the Republic of
South Viet Nam for a second tour of duty.


I reported to 1st Bn. 4th Marines on 9 September 1967 and assigned to H&S
Communications Platoon as the Battalion Wire chief until my rotation of 4
October 1968.


While a member of 1st Bn 4th Marines I participated in numerous operations.
The most memorable were Operations KENTUCKY, LANCASTER 1&2, and
SCOTLAND 1&2.  Memorable because of the length and kill ratio accredited to our
battalion.  I also remember LZ Loon, LZ Stud, Alpha 1, C-2 and C-2 Bridge,
and Con Thien.  Remember going to the Rock Pile one night to pick up a squad
from Delta Company that got lost while on patrol and walked into the Rock
Pile.  Remembered because of the wild ride down Route 1 in five jeeps with
headlights on and we were rolling there and back.


After my second tour of Viet Nam I was assigned to Third Marine Air Wing
Communications Squadron, El Toro, California.  And later detached to the
Military Police Unit at El Toro until my discharge 11 April 1969.