Documenting the experiences of a Marine rifle company at war through the many perspectives and memories of the individuals who served together but fought their own 13-month tour of duty. Very few of these Marines would make the entire 13 months before their service ended. Featuring Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment in Vietnam from 1967-1968. Following the Company from the Arizona territory through the Tet offensive. Sit down with the Officers, NCO's, and everyday Grunts as they describe their harrowing and constant patrols on the far left flank of the 1st Marine division. Hear how they aggressively patrolled the rocket belt in the Arizona territory in the shadow of "Charlie Ridge" where the Ho Chi Minh trail dumps a steady stream of new or refreshed VC and NVA units into southern I corps' combat zone.
I have always thought of Dave as an amazing individual. I never knew the details of his service. I have always respected those that have served. I cannot say enough about this hero. For Dave and his band of brothers and for all that have served, thank you! God bless you.
A Marine. A Machinegunner. Our boy. Our son. What would we have without young men like him. So proud of you for what you would do for us. Semper Fidelis. Son of a Nam vet. Sends.
It hurts to hear some of these guy's testimonies showing they didn't have a clue what they were doing. The NVA knew where the Marines were all the time, otherwise they couldn't setup ambushes. The Marines simply failed to properly 'scout' the area. They instead just went Diddy-bopping through the Jungle with their thumbs up their arse.
U.S. Army Mike Force was smarter; they stayed off enemy trails, and when they found booby traps, they moved them or setup their own booby-traps for the VC that tried to follow them. The Strike Force played it the way the VC guerillas worked. Because of U.S. infantry getting into trouble constantly because of not dealing with how the Communist worked their tactics is what caused many U.S. casualties, which was mainly the fault of lack of U.S training of U.S. officers. Just throw a bunch a men at 'em al la John Wayne is how West Pointers thought. Yankee generals at the battle of Fredricksburg wasted thousands of Union soldiers by their idiotic frontal attack against the Confederate army that was protected behind a stone wall, and had pre-mapped the field for artillery. So there's bravery, which the U.S. Marines are famous for, but then there's stupidity that military academy officers are known for. Enlisted sergeants that graduated from the Citadel were smarter and wiser than some of the military academy grads.
At 3:08, what in the world are you doing following a TRAIL? Ever heard of a T strategy in the Navy, with top of the T representing a line of fire at a single soldier front that only can return fire? That's how the NVA played you guys in Viet-Nam, the NVA first flanked you guys to form that top T formation. You should have had at least a 2 column formation instead of following a trail single-file.
@GiTFiddler Your insights bring up important points, but I don't think your analysis accurately considers the context and purpose of the movement-to-contact missions that line companies conducted in their specific area of operations (AO). A squad may be sent out to a village or a grid coordinate to ascertain if there are any signs of enemy presence in the area or to inhibit enemy movement for offensive, defensive, or stability purposes. Generally, roads and large trails in populated areas were used for these long patrols. Upon contact, the commanders can then deploy or maneuver larger forces. When analyzing strategies in high-stakes encounters, whether in military actions or civilian situations like police work, I often have to step outside my present condition. I look to the poem "The Man in the Arena" to shed my ego and lack of perspective, focusing my thoughts on being more compassionate toward those acting in the moment. These individuals are not automatons or fools; they understand the stakes and are real people, like you and me. When reviewing an individual's series of steps in hindsight, I give the benefit of the doubt and considerable leeway to those on the ground, "in the Arena." For strategists and leaders farther up the chain, I give less. For politicians and civilians who have the luxury of time and analysis without personal hardship, I place the largest burden of responsibility. For us, separated by time, historical hindsight necessitates we acknowledge our privilege of knowing outcomes that the people in any particular period didn't. The Vietnam War taught us many operational and social lessons. Primarily, don't send men to war if you don't intend for them to win(still learning). Don't discount the commander in the field. Train them together, deploy them together, limit their consecutive combat exposure, and support those doing the fighting. I understand what you are referring to, often in reference to unknown areas, specifically jungle trails, where there is likely an enemy presence, and you don't want to rely on previously cut trails. These Marines here certainly know better than us how and when to use a trail, road, dike, or in what manner to cross an open area in the areas they operated. In this specific instance, they discovered NVA equipment and proceeded to investigate further. They surprised the NVA, who were first engaged by the Marine point man who opened fire on them. What is significant about this patrol is that this 10-12 man squad did not anticipate walking into the 2nd NVA Division's HQ, which was pulling back from the cities after the Tet Offensive failed to achieve its military objective. As cynical as it may seem, in any war, squad patrols are often the canaries that bring the larger units to bear once the enemy has been discovered.
Thank you sir, I'm a 100 percent disabled army veteran and was in the early 70s and thought that was where I was going and thanks to brave men like you I didn't have to go, thank you so much and God bless you.
We operated in the same area a year later. Dodge City, Go Noi, Hill 55 and Charlie Ridge. This was a bad-ass firefight. The thing that occurred to me watching these Marines from 3/7 in 68 was SOS. Same old shit, another day.
You have a fantastic channel! I'm from the uk and not forces but I want to learn and your interviews with the Marines that were there bring it alive in ways no reporters film can do, so thank you for that! For Jerry and everyone else in the comment section thank you for your service, I have huge respect for you all
@shaz73 Thank you for watching. Your comments are very kind. I had joined the Marines in the 2000s out of respect for the Nam vets like my uncle, then a few years back this project started from a college course I took on Vietnam, where I decided to learn more about my uncle’s unit during 67-68. It has been very rewarding and it’s great to hear others find these stories so interesting.
This video of Geno Vasquez is the most touching memorial to the Vietnam Vets I've heard. Take care and thanks so much for your service. Welcome home, Geno Vasquez.
Awe-inspiring. So much courage and brotherhood on all sides in that horrible fight. The war was a terrible mistake in so many ways. The U.S. didn't understand who it was fighting, or why. The Vietnamese didn't know why we were fighting them and killing them. We blundered into a place we didn't belong and fought a war there was no point in fighting. And then did it again in Iraq.
What a band of brothers and true lifelong friends, with the clap or not lol, I’ve watched so much stuff in the subject and of course many touching stories and moments but this channel absolutely screams what the marine brotherhood is all about, so many years later, loyalty, true loyalty cannot be bought and isn’t really found in nicer situations, it normally comes from hard times and adversity and the will to be able to want that for everyone else, or to be able to take care of each person that may become injured or loose their life, these guys when they served for every western person in the world essentially, where just teenagers or in their early twenties in most cases, and they stood up, very special and all should be eternally grateful, because I am thank you all 👍🫡
@cooltools007 I completely agree with you! Adversity and deprivation in the face of danger provides a perspective on life the vast majority of citizens in modern western societies will never be able to comprehend. These experiences foster the deepest understanding of and apprehension for the modern conveniences others expect. They have a perspective others can’t relate to. Freedom really does have a flavor the protected will never know.
@@SParker85 most definitely, I really appreciate your comments, I lernt very young really that loyalty is everything in a friendship, relationship, or adverse situation, or military unit and battle, you then become a collective that brings strength to the ones who may be weaker mentally or conscious or lacking in a certain area, none of us are the best at everything or have tested ourselves in all the different ways that life , relationships battle or training can do, those who are by your side at the worst possible times, usually are the same, and it’s something that will weed out selfish people, social climbers, and instead of moving alone all the time, you have that group that will pretty much do anything to help you move forward,. Anyone who has experienced war or battle with life and death situations. Know that nothing really matters and it shuffles life in such a way that certain things are much more important, than others, and it is about getting that out, that’s why most politicians don’t really have a true understanding of this and you see that it’s a one upmanship, sort of thing and a false, community with different political groups in the west in general, I’m in the uk and I know the same is happening in the USA, we have to be around our various groups and be loyal to our fellow man and that is it really thanks
Serious question here, why does it appear they're shooting wildly into the bush? Is that a tactic? Was it uncommon to actually see the enemy? Werr they shooting in a general direction?
@Williammccandless6364 I’m sorry to disappoint you. Hopefully I’ll improve as I continue my goal to interview the men from Mike Co. I definitely don’t know as much as I would like to, but I learn so much from each of these men. They are the reason for and inspiration that led me to join the Marines. I feel that this was the closest I could get to trying to understand what these men experienced. Unfortunately it is quite a process getting definitive details sifting through archival documents and chronologies and I’m sure I’ve missed a lot. I’d definitely be interested in any constructive criticism you have or what resources you can provide me to improve.
All I can is THANK YOU for your service and your stories of your days in Nam. My cousin is a Marine who was at Khe Sahn, and my dad was with the 101st Airborne Div. My wish for all of you and current service members is for peace and a hearty welcome home.
osea que segun la historia ,peliculas ,videos ,testimonios de los veteranos etc,etc , una guerra tan brutal como esa ,de vietnam y con unos defensores dispuestos a echar a USA A COMO DE LUGAR ,los gringos apenas llegaron a mil hombres si acaso ,segun mi analisis ,porque hace 30 años atras se hablaba de mas de 66 mil y cada 20 años aproximadamente le quitan 10 mil ,pero la verdad es que una guerra que duro mas de 20 años y con esas caracteristicas ,es sencillamente imposible el numero de bajas que USA reconoce ,aja sacando cuentas ,nada mas en trampas cayeron mas de 75 mil norteamericanos de los batallones de infanteria ,la pregunta es una de esas bestiales trampas ,quie se podria salvar !!!!!!????,osea solo las trampas ,mas los que se murieron despues al regresar ,los que se suicidaron ,por el tormento del estress post traumatico ,de la guerra ,los contaminados por los desfoliantes ,los enfermos por el ambiente de esa guerra,picaduras de todo tipo de insectos ,serpientes ,arañas unas cosas espantosas ,les paso a esos hombres lo inimahginable ,y aun asi hablan de 50 mil bajas ???? ,como hanpasado decadas ,ocultando la verdad de tan humillante derrota y de loque los vietnamitas ,tuvieron que hacer ,para sacarse a esa plaga invasora de encima ,ACEPTEN SU DERROTA ,lean ,busquen informacion ,yo lei un articulo ,de un periodista italiano ,y una brasi lero ,que la CI ,habla de mas de 250 mil desaparecidos ,negros ,gente de las calles ,exconvictos ,indocumentados ,con promesas de residencia ,si peleaban en esa guerra y asi por el estilo ,ni mencionar los pobres muchacos con retardo mental ,los tontos de robert macnamara ,para muestra un a ,la pelicula de forestgump ,una muestra clara de esos soldados que por miles fueron enviados alli ,esos politicos en su ambicion enferma por el poder y en nombre de su falsa libertad ,acabaron con pueblos enteros en estados unidos ,reclutando a muchacos de pueblos y envenenandoles la mente de un falso patriotismo ,para llevarlos a una selva a pelear con unos elementos ,bien curtidos en el combate ,y de paso en su territorio NOOO , señores perdieron y feo ,y salieron bien derrotados y humillados ,le hicieron muchisimo daño a un pueblo noble como lo son los vietnamitas y un daño irrecuperable e imperdonable a la sociedad ,norteamericana ,su propia gente !!!!!
I have often flown over the area near Da Nang and also felt great sadness. These fine courgeous young men lost for poorly formulated policies should not forgotten for their enormous sacrifices.
Such brave men...and they died for WHAT....same as us Rhodesians. Also fighting CTs at the time....again for WHAT....?? The world is a commie playground now...
It sounded like the Vit cong had spotter's and maybe snipers up in the tree's. The way the marines were describing the way they were getting hit it sounds plausible.Both side's Armies we're mostly young kid's starting into adulthood. Who benefits !
This Jim Hastings guy he’s from Boston. I know it talks just like people in Boston. I never noticed it when I’m on the street talking to people but when you see it on TV or on my phone on the Internet like these people talking totally different because you used to that Midwest accent, a lot of Boston boys with the let them come back. Welcome home to those who are back.
God bless these brave men. But for the grace of God go I. I was with the Marine recruiter went to see if my dad would sign the papers saying i was 17. I was just 16. My dad told me to wait 4 months until i was 17 at 17 I joined the Coast Guard. 1970. These men are much braver than I.
I’ve seen many Vietnam war documentary’s and recording’s of veterans experiences, and I’ve seen a few on this channel so far, I recommend watching the battle one first (patriot to contact) almost 50 minutes, the pictures and footage are really interesting and show these guys were a real band of brothers, regardless of where or who they were, all of them fought for each other, I think Jerry had a great understanding of communism probably much more than most guys at the time, I’d think he said that the cause was very important, as much as looking after your brother, it’s the spirit that just shines through and the fact that they worked hard as a real unit, especially as it hit the fan, I am from the uk and always thought equipment and dealing with the injured was so difficult in the way that the formations would be held up in awful terrain and the tactical way it was used by the people that they fought, some very clever tactics. Bearing in mind that they had little to none air support, they are explaining those times, good and bad, but together, all brave loyal men and should be proud and get together at every opportunity they have, I know they are doing that, as for regrets they should have none, just if they miss a opportunity to get together, unfortunately I did just that, I’m a amputee so meeting up is not easy but I am working to make it just that, Jerry clearly grew as a person and knew being a Clark just wasn’t for him , and perhaps some didn’t know if he would make the grade, boy did he and everyone that I have seen so far, may all those who passed away rest in peace and drink lots of their favourite drinks, and be the same spirit,….!! Great job absolutely awesome 👍
@cooltools007 Thank you sincerely for your comment. Your analysis of these interviews and perceptions are great to hear. These men I hold in such high regard, as I do all warriors and humble citizen soldiers. I agree with the idea that it is best to watch the patrol to contact video to get better context when watching the individual Marine interviews. As for Jerry Chong, he is a Marines Marine. Devoted, disciplined and rational, all things you want in a leader. These men are stoic and humble. Thanks!
I was with the 5th Marines at Hue City during the TET OFFENSIVE where we faced thousands of north Vietnamese regulars, while these men with the 7th Marines were battling other NVA regulars south of Da Nang. By the end of February we had killed thousands of NVA soldiers, and then came the long mop up, trying to kill or capture more of them as they tried to flee back to north Vietnam along the Ho Chi Min trail. This offensive was one of the most famous battles in Marine Corps history. I returned to San Antonio in November of 1968 for thirty days leave. I was discharged a year later and have lived with what happened that year every day for the past 55 years. Always remember the Marines who fought in Vietnam.
@billballeza377 thank you for sharing that. I have the utmost respect for you Hue City men. The 5th Marines were called into that City with no warning, backup, and very little supplies. You men absolutely crushed it, and are warriors amongst men. The lore of Hue city and the 5th Marines was alive and talked about in the highest regard when I served in the 2000’s and is still legendary to this day. I recommend anyone who is interested in the Vietnam war read Hue, 1968 by Mark Bowden. It highlights the monumental effort and cost to recapture Hue. Semper Fi
My name is Rick Coats, on RU-vid under Voices of History Vietnam scroll down to my name. You will see that our stories about Vietnam are all most identical and totally different at the same time. I got to Vietnam January 1st 1967 an left December 29, 1967. I also went over on a Merchant Marine ship the Eltinge. I was also 19 yrs old and my first major operation was Operation Desoto as well. I was in India Company 3/7, hour company got the name Suiside India after the next day after we landed we were pinned down for 12 hours. If you care to see my story it’s pretty much on the RU-vid. Anyway I would be very interested in talking to you sometime but I understand if you would rather not. I live in Ft Lauderdale, Florida now but I’m originally from a small town near Dodge City, Kansas. I was at boot camp San Diego, ITR and BIT at Camp Pendleton went on leave came back to San Diego for staging the got a boat to Vietnam. Anyway this is getting long winded, so I’ll close . My number is 954 292 1709. Thanks for your service and welcome home.
You can just tell how much this means to this hero by the excitement he still shows talking about it. I hope to be half the man this gentleman was some day!
Yes ! Incredible story - his laughter is not humorous though, it's as if he is laughing at the absurdity of it all (my take on it). And he clearly loves his buddies from 1967.
I'll never forget my solo trip to the Vietnam Memorial in DC when I was 23 years old. It was just starting to get dark and the place was almost empty but there was a gentleman sitting alone in a booth near the wall. I asked him how I could find my uncle's name and he pulled out this massive book and asked for his name. There were three men in this huge book who literally had the same first and last name as my uncle and so after he asked me a few questions he figure out the correct location. Next thing I know he was escorting me all the way across to the other end of the dimly lit wall and took me right to his name. He gave me a small piece of paper and some charcoal and I scratched my uncles name onto the small piece of paper. When I got home, I gave it to my dad and it was one of the most emotional events ever to happen in my life.
Poor americand country boys of the 60's became puppets and pawns of the few elites and oligarchs of USA during the 1960's to 1970's. They have no choice because they are bunch of draftees.
