This is a conversation in a series of investigative interviews about Mike Company 3/7 Marines in Vietnam from 1967-1968. These interviews are conducted after many unrecorded phone and sit-down conversations. I use my research from the National Archives, literature, and written accounts as well as stories of others to aid in helping the interviewee recall events or to inform them of what others have told me. I do this not to hijack the story but to piece together the events, and pinpoint times, locations, and actions. These sessions began as research about the battle of Hill 25 and have evolved into a deeper project on the company. My goal is to interview all surviving members of the company who served around November 1967-Tet. I am no professional and hope to better my interview skills in future interviews.
This interview is with my uncle, Paul Grimala, from Grafton Massachusetts, who served in Mike Company. Paul grew up outside of Worcester, Ma. and joined the Marines in 1966. In 1967 he was sent to Vietnam where he was assigned as a rifleman with Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. Paul would go on to serve in the 3rd platoon, located in southern I corps, seeing combat in the Arizona Territory, Dodge City, An Hoa, and Liberty Bridge areas. Paul would eventually make it to squad leader, but his tour was cut short in his 8th month when he nearly lost his life.
Photos courtesy of:
Paul Grimala
Jerry Chong
Jim Hastings
National Archives Vietnam war photo series (7th Marines)
5 янв 2023
