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1st Marine Division BS Page Vol 3

AV8b

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

To whom it may concern I order from you a couple of times. I am currently deployed to Iraq. We have a jet painted with 1st Mar Div on it it looks real cool I was wanting to take a picture and send it to you how do I go about doing it. I noticed the 1sr Mar Div on your home page.
Thanks for your Support

GySgt Eddie Puente

VMA-311 Ordnance Division SNCOIC
Al Asad, Iraq
Al Anbar Province
Semper Fi

11 Engineer Bn Marine Corps Birthday 1967

Black Diamond

Show this picture to Grit. It is at the 1st Mar Div HQ at Pendleton. All the Dog tags represent the Marines and Sailors attached to the 1st Div that have been killed in the GWOT. We took it on the way to the Bodfish campout last week.

Deflyer and Deveraux, KC 2005

Dear Don,

It was great meeting you and your great staff in KC last Summer. I'll look forward to seeing you in Denver in August.

Here's a shot of Mo and me in another old uniform.

Semper Fi
Ed De Flyer

P.S. Found this cut-out photo from the Old Breed News. Taken in DC in 2004.

Speedy Spach

For Don (Sgt Grit)
I live in a mean neighborhood. I'm 86 years old & going strong. I served in 5th Reg. 1st Marine Div, was a rifleman who landed on the 1st wave on Guadacanal. Me knowing that you were in Vietnam knows what its all about.

Your Pal,
Speedy Spach
2-3-5 1st Marine Div.

A Day at the Parade

There were 11,000 1MEF Marines and their equipment in the Parade and over 100,000 fans cheering for them. It was a very moving experience

Wife Carol and the Commanding General.

This Marine in particular impressed me.

This Marine lost both legs in Viet Nam. God Bless Him and all like him. The General placed these Veterans front row, center and they led the Parade

A WWII Veteran and very proud of it.

Opening Ceremony. Ex DI from the movies and TV commercials

Memorable Sight.

After the parade Carol and I stopped for lunch at a Cuban restaurant. While we were waiting to be served six young Marines came in were seated fairly close to our table. I bought them a round of drinks and after they were served they approached our table in line and one at a time introduced themselves and said, "Thank You Sir." They were a fine example of the young people of this country. I notice the bill was for two beers, two milks and two soft drinks. Only 2 were over 21.

It was a great day, Carol and I enjoyed it immensely.

Regards,
Gary Friesen

Hill 41

Hill 41 and O.P. Lou Pictured are (l to r) WO Truc, 51st ARVN, Lt. Gannon, Plt. Comdr., 3rd Plt, "D" 1/7, WO Thien, 51st ARVN, LCpl. Cecil Wright, Spotter, NGF Section HQ. Btry., 3rd Bn., 11th Marines and SSgt. Hung, Liaison NCO, Vietnamese Marine Corps. Photo taken November 21, 1967 on Hill 41 (Nui Ga Kah), home to " D" Co., 1st Bn, 7th Marines. Staff Sergeant Hung and I became very good friends during my time on Hill 41 where I was the NCOIC of O.P. Lou, the Counter Rocket Observation Tower.
Doyle Sanders
GySgt. (ret)
AKA Gunny D

2/7 CP - September 1965

LtCol Leon N. Utter passed away a couple weeks ago. I guess he made Col, but I'll remember him at this time. He was the CO of BLT 2/7 when we went to Vietnam in 1965.

I just want to make a point about this fine officer, lest it be lost to time. I am also attaching a picture of the 2/7 CP about September 1965. I just found the software to combine pictures like this (PixMaker).

As it happened, a few VC had forced a bunch of Vietnamese civilians into a cave for protection from our troops. Faced with how to get them out, we threw about 8 CS grenades into the cave and sorted people out as they emerged, subdued and teary-eyed.

The alternatives, explosives or flame throwers would not have elicited a side-long glance.

But the world's newspapers proclaimed that the US had introduced toxic gas in country. It was a big deal, at the time. We made headlines in Russia!

There ensued about three weeks while the US considered a court-marshal for our LtCol and the USSR considered some sort of attack on the US, or more likely, getting directly involved in RVN.

Fortunately, good sense prevailed and neither thing happened. But LtCol Utter never let the stress of the situation show, or tried to pass-the-buck to someone else.

But I got to deliver the message to him which said that he would not have action taken against him. Let's say he got misty...

Just a footnote in history, and a fine man.
Scott McClellan
MSgt USMC (Ret)

Bravo Battery

Tom Missus, Bravo Battery 1/11. In country March 68 - April 69 at Tu Cal Nov. 28, 1968. I'm the one standing on the left. The only one uncovered.

CPL BILL DOVE BAKER

HQ CO KOREA, 1951

MARS

While surfing site found the section on MARS in Vietnam. I was there and you can add my name to the list. At the time I was a LCpl. at N0EFB (oh by the way we were net control, as if that meant anything to the other sites!) loc. at the air base in DaNang,(1stMAW) MC side of strip. Oh there was an N0EFZ (I think that, if memory serves was the Rapose) and a few others past that, that would on occasion check in at role call, if not tactical. I have a few pic of the place from early 68 till the end of 69 if you would like to peek. john.childress@prosoft-eng.com.

Sgt Stryker

In 1949, the movie "Sands of Iwo Jima", starring John Wayne, was released. At that time I was a sergeant of Marines in a rifle company, and my buddies started calling me Stryker (the character name of the roll that John Wayne played) because I was a kick-ass Marine NCO. That nickname is still remembered by a few of my old time friends of the Corps. My name is Jean White and I served in "Item" Co., 3rd Bn., 7th Marines as squad leader of 1st squad, 1st platoon. The photo was taken by SSgt Ernie Pappenheimer, my platoon sergeant, in a place called Uijongbu, northeast of Seoul, Korea. I was wounded the next day, 2 October, 1950. I later returned to duty and fought with my unit at the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. I retired from the Corps in 1975 as a Lieutenant Colonel, after serving in Vietnam in 1stBn, 5th Marines. I would like to hear from any of my old buddies from 1945-1975.
Stay Warm!
Jean White
Chosin-Few.I-3-7@USA.net

HELP FIND CAPT. AUSTIN AND DOC SITZEL!!!!! C/1/7 RVN 67

The first picture is of Cpl. Bob Pinkerton the radio operator and Capt. Austin the CO. of C/1/7. The second picture is of Cpl. Pinkerton and Doc Sitzel after Bob was wounded and waiting medivac. These were taken in March of 67 in Nam.
Cpl. Pinkerton would very much like to contact these two Marines. Anyone that was with C/1/7 and remembers any of these guys please e-mail me.
Cpl. Pinkerton was awarded the Silver Star on an earlier patrol..

Semper Fi,
Milt(Jinx) Jenkins
Lthrneck6569@aol.com

UPDATE:

Bob Pinkerton has located Doc Sitzel. He located him at a reunion about four years ago. I know I referred to a corpsman as a Marine in the article, but so be it, he humped the boonies with the best.
If anyone locates Capt. Austin and would like to contact Bob directly his e-mail address is rnpjr@aol.com

Hollywood Marines

We've all heard of Hollywood Marines. Well here's two, Cpl. Jenkins (left) and Cpl. Hagedorn. The guy in the back, I don't remember his name, must have been a boot at PI. (No shades). HQ 3/11 Nam 66.
Semper Fi, Milt (Jinx) Jenkins
Lthrneck6569@aol.com

I just got back from vacation in California and met up with Curt and his wife after 33 years. We got a chance to visit and go to dinner. My son, who is also a former Marine, went with me and enjoyed the reunion almost as much as I did.

Curt and I served together with HQ 3/11 (arty) in Nam. We were both radio (2533) operators. Then we also served together at Camp Pendleton with 5th Service Battalion when we got back to the states.

I lost contact with Curt after we got out. When I got this computer I started a search for Marine buddies and was having a heck of a time locating him. One day my daughter-in-law told me it must be time consuming but interesting searching for lost buddies. And asked if she could help. So I gave her Curt's name and all the information I had that I thought might help. It wasn't more than a couple of days before she located him. I got an e-mail from her saying that he was going to call me and he did. Come to find out he only lives about 4 hours from my son in California.

Curt is retiring from the California Highway Patrol in August of this year. Our mini reunion was, for lack of better words, unbelievable!!!!!!

Semper Fi,
Milt (Jinx) Jenkins
lthrneck@pionet.net

Tiger country

This photo is to go with the Hq. Brty. 3/11 Naval Gunfire Spot Team with the 37th ARVN Rangers. This is the lay land for Operation Bihn Quan 12. This is still on the first day going up the mountain. We'd just came through some jungle behind us and entering into some elephant grass.
SandersGySgt. (ret)

Pioneer Days Parade in Twentynine Palms, CA

Courtney Mendoza (Proud Marine Corps Wife)
Company D (Rein), 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division
October 2003

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