Had problems with web site had to make changes all is up to date, but there will be various interruptions for a bit until I finish the updates to web site.
Charlie Company 1st Battalion 4th Marines – Vietnam 1967 As seen by 2nd Plt. Written by Lawrence A Dos Santos 6/67 to 2/68 at the 1st 2nd Platoon Reunion January 1967 found the 1st Bn 4th Marines training at Okinawa as Battalion Landing Team (BLT) One Four, the Special Landing Force for U.S. Marine Corps Operations in the Republic of Vietnam. They set sail for Vietnam on January 26. Their first operation, Deck House VI, was executed in two separate phases, February 16 to 26 and February 27 to March 3. Both phases found BLT One Four operating in the vicinity of the Sa Huynh salt flats in Quang Ngai Province. On March 20, BLT One Four began Operation Beacon Hill in Quang Tri, the most northern province of Vietnam. During this operation, they battled NVA forces near the DMZ between Con Thien and Gio Linh. Operation Beacon Hill terminated on April 1 and so did One Four’s duty as the Special Landing Force. They returned to the control of the 3rd Marine Division and immediately began participation in Operation Hastings IV. From April to the end of May, they conducted combat operations in the defense of Gio Linh, Con Thien, Cam Lo and Dong Ha, collectively known as Leatherneck Square. They left Leatherneck Square on May 29 and deployed to Camp Evans, the home of their parent regiment, the 4th Marines. Camp Evans was located in Thua Thien Province south of Phu Bai on a plateau overlooking the Co Bi Than Tan Valley. On June 3, Charlie Company (Co.) left Camp Evans to begin Operation Cumberland. The area of operations was southwest of Phu Bai near Nam Hoa. The primary objective was the improvement of route 547 that began at the south bank of the River of Perfumes and headed west toward the Ashau Valley. Bravo, Charlie and Delta Cos. One Four left the Cumberland Operation on July 5 to become the reserve component of the 3rd Marine Division at Donga Ha. From July 13 to 15, they participated in Operation Hickory II, a sweep of the area south of Con Thien. Bravo and Delta Co. returned to the Cumberland area on July 17 while Charlie Co. went to Camp Evans to assist the 2nd Bn 4th Marines with Operation Fremont. Eleven days later, they rejoined One Four at the Cumberland area where they remained until the operation terminated on September 15. Unknown to most of the Marines had been the planned raid into the Ashau Valley by two of One Four’s Co.s. The raid, code named Operation Cloud, had been canceled on August 4. After arriving at Camp Evans on September 15, Charlie Co. began platoon and company size missions in the Co Bi Than Tan Valley and along Highway 1 in support of Operation Fremont. In addition, they joined with Delta Co. to provide a blocking force for a 1st ARVN Division operation in the area known as the “Street Without Joy.” During the month of October, Charlie Co. conducted search and destroy operations in the northwest and southwest sections of the Co Bi Than Tan Valley. On October 18, they were reassigned to Operation Liberty II and conducted a search and destroy operation along Highway I southwest of Camp Evans. On October 25, One Four began Operation Granite by entering the Co Bi Than Tan Valley under the cover of darkness. In the early morning, they began to climb the ridgeline that towered over the valley. Granite ended on November 6 when Charlie and Delta Co. entered the perimeter of Camp Evans. That evening the word was passed on to the Marines of Charlie Co. that they would have the following day off. But as luck would have it, they were off in the early morning to provide a blocking force for an ARVN Operation north of Camp Evans on Highway 1. They were back at Camp Evans by the late afternoon and out again the next morning providing security for an artillery position. In support of Operation Cove, Charlie Co. was attached to the 2nd Bn 26th Marines at Phu Bai and conducted platoon and company size patrols and ambushes in their area of responsibility. On November 23, Alpha and Charlie Co. departed Phu Bai for Camp Evans to establish a blocking force in the My Chan area. Two days later, they moved north to Dong Ha, the home of the 9th Marine Regiment. On November 28, One Four jumped off on Operation Newton/Kentucky V where they set up a defensive position north of the fire break between Con Thien and Go Linh and conducted company size combat patrols and other screening activities. The main focus of the operation was the establishment of Strong Point A3 between Con Thien and Gio Linh. This was the last fire support base required by Operation Dye Marker. Dye Marker was a long term 3rd Marine Division objective that called for the creation of a barrier system to choke the infiltration of enemy forces across the DMZ. Many referred to this system as “McNamara’s Wall.” One Four relieved the 2nd Bn 9th Marines at Strong Point A3 on Christmas Eve. The day after Christmas, Charlie Company headed south from the DMZ and arrived at their new home, C2 Bridge (“The Washout”). C2 Bridge was located on route 561, a short distance behind Con Thien. Charlie Co. would remain there into the next year. For its efforts during the year 1967, the 1st Battalion 4th Marines was awarded a Navy Presidential Unit Citation and a Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation. EPILOGUE At the United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, a sign marking the main training area reads:”LEATHERNECK SQUARE”: A Training Area Where Recruits Are Trained To Be MARINES…. Such As The Marines Who Fought At “LEATHERNECK SQUARE”, Northern I Corps, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM, 1966-1969.
What is the name of hotel?
Tobar,
Had problems with web site had to make changes all is up to date, but there will be various interruptions for a bit until I finish the updates to web site.
Thurm
Charlie Company 1st Battalion 4th Marines – Vietnam 1967 As seen by 2nd Plt. Written by Lawrence A Dos Santos 6/67 to 2/68 at the 1st 2nd Platoon Reunion January 1967 found the 1st Bn 4th Marines training at Okinawa as Battalion Landing Team (BLT) One Four, the Special Landing Force for U.S. Marine Corps Operations in the Republic of Vietnam. They set sail for Vietnam on January 26. Their first operation, Deck House VI, was executed in two separate phases, February 16 to 26 and February 27 to March 3. Both phases found BLT One Four operating in the vicinity of the Sa Huynh salt flats in Quang Ngai Province. On March 20, BLT One Four began Operation Beacon Hill in Quang Tri, the most northern province of Vietnam. During this operation, they battled NVA forces near the DMZ between Con Thien and Gio Linh. Operation Beacon Hill terminated on April 1 and so did One Four’s duty as the Special Landing Force. They returned to the control of the 3rd Marine Division and immediately began participation in Operation Hastings IV. From April to the end of May, they conducted combat operations in the defense of Gio Linh, Con Thien, Cam Lo and Dong Ha, collectively known as Leatherneck Square. They left Leatherneck Square on May 29 and deployed to Camp Evans, the home of their parent regiment, the 4th Marines. Camp Evans was located in Thua Thien Province south of Phu Bai on a plateau overlooking the Co Bi Than Tan Valley. On June 3, Charlie Company (Co.) left Camp Evans to begin Operation Cumberland. The area of operations was southwest of Phu Bai near Nam Hoa. The primary objective was the improvement of route 547 that began at the south bank of the River of Perfumes and headed west toward the Ashau Valley. Bravo, Charlie and Delta Cos. One Four left the Cumberland Operation on July 5 to become the reserve component of the 3rd Marine Division at Donga Ha. From July 13 to 15, they participated in Operation Hickory II, a sweep of the area south of Con Thien. Bravo and Delta Co. returned to the Cumberland area on July 17 while Charlie Co. went to Camp Evans to assist the 2nd Bn 4th Marines with Operation Fremont. Eleven days later, they rejoined One Four at the Cumberland area where they remained until the operation terminated on September 15. Unknown to most of the Marines had been the planned raid into the Ashau Valley by two of One Four’s Co.s. The raid, code named Operation Cloud, had been canceled on August 4. After arriving at Camp Evans on September 15, Charlie Co. began platoon and company size missions in the Co Bi Than Tan Valley and along Highway 1 in support of Operation Fremont. In addition, they joined with Delta Co. to provide a blocking force for a 1st ARVN Division operation in the area known as the “Street Without Joy.” During the month of October, Charlie Co. conducted search and destroy operations in the northwest and southwest sections of the Co Bi Than Tan Valley. On October 18, they were reassigned to Operation Liberty II and conducted a search and destroy operation along Highway I southwest of Camp Evans. On October 25, One Four began Operation Granite by entering the Co Bi Than Tan Valley under the cover of darkness. In the early morning, they began to climb the ridgeline that towered over the valley. Granite ended on November 6 when Charlie and Delta Co. entered the perimeter of Camp Evans. That evening the word was passed on to the Marines of Charlie Co. that they would have the following day off. But as luck would have it, they were off in the early morning to provide a blocking force for an ARVN Operation north of Camp Evans on Highway 1. They were back at Camp Evans by the late afternoon and out again the next morning providing security for an artillery position. In support of Operation Cove, Charlie Co. was attached to the 2nd Bn 26th Marines at Phu Bai and conducted platoon and company size patrols and ambushes in their area of responsibility. On November 23, Alpha and Charlie Co. departed Phu Bai for Camp Evans to establish a blocking force in the My Chan area. Two days later, they moved north to Dong Ha, the home of the 9th Marine Regiment. On November 28, One Four jumped off on Operation Newton/Kentucky V where they set up a defensive position north of the fire break between Con Thien and Go Linh and conducted company size combat patrols and other screening activities. The main focus of the operation was the establishment of Strong Point A3 between Con Thien and Gio Linh. This was the last fire support base required by Operation Dye Marker. Dye Marker was a long term 3rd Marine Division objective that called for the creation of a barrier system to choke the infiltration of enemy forces across the DMZ. Many referred to this system as “McNamara’s Wall.” One Four relieved the 2nd Bn 9th Marines at Strong Point A3 on Christmas Eve. The day after Christmas, Charlie Company headed south from the DMZ and arrived at their new home, C2 Bridge (“The Washout”). C2 Bridge was located on route 561, a short distance behind Con Thien. Charlie Co. would remain there into the next year. For its efforts during the year 1967, the 1st Battalion 4th Marines was awarded a Navy Presidential Unit Citation and a Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation. EPILOGUE At the United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, a sign marking the main training area reads:”LEATHERNECK SQUARE”: A Training Area Where Recruits Are Trained To Be MARINES…. Such As The Marines Who Fought At “LEATHERNECK SQUARE”, Northern I Corps, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM, 1966-1969.