The 9th Engineer Battalion, First Marine Division, in Vietnam: 35 Personal Accounts, by Jean Shellenbarger, McFarland, Jefferson, N.C., 2000, $35.
Unlike most units that served in Vietnam, the U.S. Marines' 9th Engineer Battalion was created in November 1965 specifically for service overseas. It was deactivated in October 1970, after it was no longer needed in that country.
Shellenbarger's book is short on actual history but long on the flavor of daily existence, relying on individual accounts drawn from diaries and postwar memoirs. Thus the book is very interesting from the point of view of a social historian, but of less importance for the historian of campaigns and battles.
Here, for example, is an entire entry from Lance Cpl. Robert Sperling, Service Company, who served in 1966 and 1967: "One of my worst patrols was the one where the Army opened up on us with .50-caliber machine guns from their towers on the defensive perimeter of Chu Lai. These towers had been built for the Army's Americal Division by the 9th Engineers USMC." Well? What happened? Why did the Army fire on the Marines? What were the results? This is typical of the many items dropped in without any attempt to flesh out the stories.
Captain Jim O'Kelley apparently kept a diary, which was against military orders, and excerpts are reproduced without any editorial comment. One finds entries such as the following, for August 21, 1967: "Went north to new C Company campsite near Thang Binh. Went to Mag 13 about USAFI Physics Group Study for troops. Got PDD shot. Raining. Carried dud M-26 from Thang Bihn to B CP!" Some explanation of what this all means would have made the work much more worthwhile.
That having been said, The 9th Engineer Battalion does shed some light on the social aspects of the war, such as the vast gulf between enlisted men and the officer corps. Anyone interested in such topics will likely find Shellenbarger's book of great value.
Philip Katcher
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I would like to comment about the book.I served with the 9th eng.battalion from jan.1967 to sept.1968.I was very fortunate to have served with the guys in my company.B company did most of the mine sweeps when I was there.We also built bridges the viet cong blew up.We were just outside of HUE during the tet offensive of 1968.If you would like more info or pictures please contact me at my e-mail address.
Did you ever serve with Col. Darrell Davidson?
I served with C Company, 9th Engr Bn from Jan 68 to Sep 69. We were initially on Hill 10, with a platoon in Tam Ky. We then relocated to the Battalion HQ in Chu Lai but still had a platoon in Tam Ky. We relocated again north of DaNang which inluded building parapets for artillery units in th A Shau. We did 40 miles of minesweeps daily north and south of Hill 10. I remember meeting some of the guys from D Co, but I don't recall ever running into anyone from B Co..
served with 9th engr bn B company from oct 1967 to june 1969 was at ashau valley (fire base bastone.) Also at fire base birmingham,sea bee rock crusher,phu bai,hill 63 ,tam ky and chu lai.
My name is Joseph Ross and I was on hill 10 in 1968/69 with Golf Btry.3/11. I was on gun# 4 with Kenny Anderson.if anyone remembers me please email or call me. 763-567-1439
I served with the 9th Eng from March 68 to April 69, originally in Chu Lia the to Hill 29 then Hill 10. If you have any pictures please forward them to me, all of mine were destroyed in a house fire.
was on advancedparty uss mathews left long beach caalif may66spent 21months in countrywas in supply
Looking for information around this time let me know if you can help
I was there from August 1967 to October 1968 also during the TET Ofensive.Was Carlton the Wepons Guy at that time?
looking for someone that served on hill 10 Co B ,9thengineers,bravo company in 1969-1970
My father served with the 9th – Im not sure what time frame – he passed away several years ago – I was going through some of his belongings the other night and found a hand painted plaque that was given to him by a village there – I was wondering if there was anyone who might remember him and if so would be willing to tell me a bit about what he was like back then? My dad was Captain Donald S. Lloyd. I am trying to write a piece about him and his life – Id really appreciate it :)
I served with the 9th engineers battalion from 1965 when it was activated thru 1967. I was transferred to the 9th from the 8th engineers out of Camp Lejune….when the 9th was being formed to go to vietnam…we went by 3 ship and landed in Chu Lai sometime in april of 1966. I believe we were the first entire engineer battalion to land. I think all this information is correct it was along time ago.