This is a conversation in a series of conversations I have conducted with the Marines of Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment in Vietnam from 1967-1968, in which my uncle was a member. My goal has been to document the experiences of the entire company between November 1967-Tet and to chronicle the individual and unique experiences of men serving in the same company. This is not a documentary, rather, it is for my research in a larger project to tell Mike Co's story and to share, rather than hold the interviews to myself. This was one of my first interviews and I hope to better my technique and video/audio editing in future videos.
Jim Hastings grew up in Framingham, Massachusetts. Jim joined the Marines and served in Vietnam from 1967-68 with Mike Company 3/7, in the Arizona and Dodge City areas of I corps. Mike Company was located on the far western flank of the 1st Marine Division's tactical area of responsibility (TAOR). Their job was to protect Da Nang from rocket attacks and infiltration of enemy forces coming off the Ho Chi Minh trail from Charlie Ridge. Jim would serve as a squad leader and member of the company Hunter Killer Team, seeking to interdict enemy fighters. He would serve in Vietnam until February 13, 1968, when his company encountered a large, well-equipped NVA force in Dodge City, where he nearly lost his life on that harrowing day.
5 окт 2024
