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Vietnam War: Operation Dewey Canyon

By Marc Bernstein | Vietnam  | 43 comments  | Print This Post  | Email This Post

As 1969 began, the military situation in the northern I Corps tactical zone of South Vietnam—the closest to the Demilitarized Zone—appeared relatively quiet. The previous year had been the bloodiest of the war, and the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong had both suffered losses that would be difficult to replace. Still, appearances were deceiving. Each year, the Communists had launched a spring offensive in I Corps, and the pronounced lack of combat activity at the very start of the year suggested to the U.S. command in Saigon that 1969 would be no different.

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Evidence of enemy intentions began to accumulate. Reconnaissance uncovered road work being done on Route 548 in the A Shau Valley and its extension, Route 922 in Laos. As January progressed, as many as 1,000 trucks a day were observed on these roads, moving supplies south and east toward vital objectives inside South Vietnam. Activity at North Vietnamese Army Base Area 611 in Laos suggested that major elements of the NVA’s 6th and 9th Regiments were moving east through the A Shau Valley. In response, American and South Vietnamese forces probed farther into the mountains of western Quang Tri Province and near the DMZ, seeking to upset the enemy’s plans.

The U.S. 3rd Marine Division was responsible for defending Quang Tri Province. An element of the division, Task Force Hotel, operated out of Vandegrift Combat Base in western Quang Tri. Major Gen. Raymond G. Davis, a veteran of World War II and Korea, and a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions at Chosin Reservoir in 1950, commanded the division. He had taken charge in May 1968, and immediately set out to improve the unit’s combat effectiveness. “We had something like two dozen battalions up there all tied down (with little exception) to these fixed positions, and the situation didn’t demand it,” he later stated. “The way to get it done was to get out of these fixed positions and get mobility, to go and destroy the enemy on our terms—not sit there and absorb the shot and shell and frequent penetrations that he was able to mount.”

The 9th Marines, commanded by Colonel Robert H. Barrow, was the division’s swing regiment, the one most easily redeployed to meet any contingency. Barrow noted that the enemy’s first requirement was to “move all the things of war; all of their logistics forward from the sanctuaries of North Vietnam, just across the DMZ, or from Laos….We must do everything we can to find that stuff, wherever it exists, and obviously destroy it. And if we miss any of it, we must attempt by vigorous patrolling, radio intercept, signal intelligence, recon team inserts, and whatever else, to find out when any troops were moving in.”

The Communist technique was to pre-position supplies, then move in quickly with troops at the appointed time to marry up with the supplies and launch an attack. Clearly, as the Marines observed the increase in pre-positioning of supplies in forward areas, the need to preempt a Communist attack was becoming paramount. As the Marines’ official history notes, “A victory, even against one or more limited objectives of minor or temporary tactical value, could have significant impact upon the civilian population, and a more far-reaching effect upon bargaining positions at the ongoing Paris Peace Talks. The enemy’s jungle logistics system therefore would have to be destroyed before it could be used.”

At the time, General Davis was more direct about the situation: “It makes me sick to sit on this hill and watch those 1,000 trucks go down those roads in Laos, hauling ammunition down south to kill Americans with.”

Air interdiction of the supply routes had yielded only limited success, and the growing volume of anti-aircraft fire along the routes further indicated that the NVA was protecting something important. On January 14, General Davis ordered Brig. Gen. Frank E. Garretson, commander of Task Force Hotel at Vandegrift, to plan for a regiment-size search and clear operation into the Song Da Krong Valley, just northwest of the A Shau Valley, and north of NVA Base Area 611 in Laos. This would become Operation Dewey Canyon, whose primary purpose was not only to kill the enemy and deny him supplies, but also to block his access to the densely populated areas of the coastal lowlands.

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  1. 43 Comments to “Vietnam War: Operation Dewey Canyon”

  2. My dad was in this operation.He doesnt talk much about it so this article taught me a lot about what really happened.

    By damon lyles on Jul 31, 2008 at 10:37 pm

  3. I was with D/1/9 when we went to help Alpa Company, and after when we encountered huge caches of materiel; that Ho Chi Min trail was something else; this article really brought back some memories; good friend Bill O’Shea was killed during an ambush

    By Randolfo V. Lopez on Aug 29, 2008 at 5:09 pm

  4. I LOST MY BROTHER FRED POTE ON 03/06/69 FROM 1/9 ALPHA CO. I STILL HAVE MANY PHOTOS OF CAPTURED WEAPONS I’M WILLING TO SHARE THEM,

    By HARRY A. POTE on Oct 19, 2008 at 12:34 pm

  5. I was there with Company I, 3/9. We were at Tiger Mountains
    supporting other elements of the 9th Marines operating in the
    area. It was one hell of an operation and I couldn’t more happier
    when it was over. Thank you Lord for protecting us and bless all
    those who were involved in this operation and throughout the
    years of the Viet Nam War. Thank you Marines. I’m retired now
    but our history is in my heart. I love you all and God bless you
    and your families.

    Puni Mikaele
    GySgt, USMC (Ret)

    By Puni Mikaele on Oct 26, 2008 at 5:40 am

  6. I was one of the FNGs with F2/9, we seen a communication line along the way. I got in one of the fox holes and couldn’t see out, I’m 5′9″ tall, we thought there may have been Red Chinese advisers near by. I was one of the ones that found Hospital 88. There was a small Ville near, the’re not far from FSB Erskine, Erskine was the support base F2/9 opened. 1st Platoon,1st Squad,1st Fire Team led by Pop Ore, Platoon Sagent, Harness, team leader ,radio man, myself and a couple others secured the hill so we could be resupplied but the fog set in and we were socked in for days but continued the mission. Note: Playtex 501 went down on it’s last resupply of the day, just infron of my position. Crew lived, but Marines on board were not straped in and lost their lies. Seper Fi Brothers, I love you. THE BAMBOOVIPER

    By Lanny Alan Roedel on Dec 21, 2008 at 5:54 pm

  7. On a lighter NOTE: Sections of line was cut from the communications lines found then was watch because someone was reparing them. At one of the locations, a little NVA cable repairman came calling. He walked into the center of the Marines possition with his rifle on his shoulder and undetected, when he stopped to check the line,he was in the middle of the CP and everyone was shocked,no shots were fired and he surrenderd his weapon. One of very few warm and fuzzy stories from the shadows of the Valley of Death.

    By Lanny Alan Roedel on Dec 21, 2008 at 8:33 pm

  8. Dewey Canyon. Yes, I was there, 1/9/3rd Mar Div. Entire op from start to finish. Damon, I can understand why your Father didn’t talk about it. It was a living hell. I was H&S Comm, attached to Delta company for most of the ooperation. Had my radio shot off my back, took a hit in the left thigh (Thank God it was an almost spent round) and nearly starved to death during the ‘foggy’ week or so when we couldn’t get supplys. Most of it I don’t remember clearly, and a Captain that I may have humped radio for said it in a way that makes sense; ” Most Marines that were in the Ashau Valley refer to their Nam experiences as ‘before Dewey Canyon, and after Dewey Canyon.’” Randolfo, I was with you there, Brother! Glad you made it home! Harry, God Bless your Brother, I remembered all of my comrads, named and unnamed this (and every) holiday at the meal. Harry, I would LOVE to see some of those pictures. I was sitting at the bottom of a 2000lb bomb crater with them all around me, and a film crew from the BBS took film and my name, but I have never seen the clip or seen any of the pics that were taken. Bamboo; I was on Erskin the second go around in Ashau when it blew up! That was something. The NVA could have wiped out half of 1/9 if they knew that we had left the mountain after the first explosion, and was standing lines for several days with a few M16’s and .45’s and maybe a dozen grenades. I actually stood lines in the Ashau Valley with nothing but a hand grenade! We had to wait for the EOD teams to clear the hill of un-exploded ordinance before we could go back up, and everyone had just scrambled off the top when the first 105mm gun pit blew! note: not long after that, almost half the BN came down with malaria (myself included) because no one had the anti-malaria pills to give out! Any of you may feel free to contact me, if this forum allows my email to be published, also I am active on the Together We Served Marine Corps site, God Bless you all, and God Bless our Men and Women serving so faithfully right now. Ed (USMC.GRUNT@Wildblue.net)

    By Ed Culp on Dec 26, 2008 at 9:06 pm

  9. My brother was killed in Dewey Cannon Operation Febuary 11th 1969 his name Corpral Fred L. Pettigrew lll We have been told several diffrent stories on how he was killed . Does or did any of you know him there? It was my brother’s second tour and he would have finished his tour there in about a week after he was killed. I Thank all of you there that were fighting for our country you are all American Hero’s as my Brother Ferd is also and who paid the ultimate Sacrifice he is missed greatley by his family and brothers in the United States Marines, and his Friends.

    By connie gable on Dec 27, 2008 at 10:02 pm

  10. Ed Culp, glad you made it home brother. One more story you might be able to help me with. In late Feb, Fox 2/9 made our last raid in laos, area 611. I had falsiparum malaria for at least a week, I had a fever of 106. We were moving fast headed for the Vietnam boarder and I past out 2 hills away from where we were to be dusted off. Dust off spot I think was 1000 meters into Laos. With the enemy everywhere as you well know, my company couldn’t afford to stop and let me rest and all were too tired to help me. Not sure how many marines we had left but not a lot. Pop Ore deside to leave me there. They took my food, water, ammo, and the rest of the munitions I had, left me with a half canteen of salt water cause the corpsman thought I had heat stoke. They left me my M16 with a mag in it and pulled me off the trail a little. As you know, with the high fever and malaia, your out of your head if your awake, or out like a light. I want to know what all happen from the time I was left, till 2 friendlies stumble on to me and took me to a hill and got me medivaced. My company passed over the same hill but did not tell them I was down in the jungle. There were only 2 on that hill but said a few more was on another hill, I think they may have been SOG. I have no idea how long I was in the jungle alone, or what incounters I might have had, or how far I traveled on my own, if any. I tryed to stay awake and watch the trail so my company could make it out but I know I feel asleep a lot and not sure of all my thoughts. I remember hearing the friendlies and thought they were the enemy to0, but the fight was out of me and couldn’t raise my weapon, I remember the one saying, Where in the Hell did you come from? Not sure I even answered. He ask me where I was hit, I remember him checking me and asking about the blood. To this day it all bothers me and I need to know. Do you have any idea who those to guys could have been. They saved my life and I don’t think I thanked them. If you know or have an idea, or see a post somewhere, where they mention finding a marine, please let me know. Love you brother and hope life is being good to you. Semper Fi from THE BAMBOOVIPER, Lanny

    By Lanny Alan Roedel on Jan 12, 2009 at 11:33 am

  11. my cousin, robert ysguerra died during operation dewey canyon on 2/22/69, 3 others died from a mortar attack, have since talked to his platoon leader blaine moyer, he has some good stories about that operation, my heart goes out to all those who served in that operation. david sisneroz

    By david sisneroz on Jan 15, 2009 at 2:06 pm

  12. A good friend’s son was killed on or about Feb 10th in Dewey Canyon. His name was Tom Dickey from Concord, MA, PFC, Lima 3/9. I heard he was on point when patrol was ambushed…let me know of any and all details you know.

    I served Dong Ha, H&HS 3rd Marines, 1967-8.

    Semper Fi

    By Rocco on Feb 12, 2009 at 2:54 pm

  13. I was a Corpsman with Fox 2/12 on Razor and erskine during operation Dewey Canyon. We were attacked on Razor and six Marines were killed. Does anyone happen to remember the date of that attack and the names of the ones who were ilkked. I have reesearched this and cannot find any mention in 9th Marine or 12th Marine reports.

    Jay(Doc) Swartz

    By Jay Swartz on Feb 12, 2009 at 5:02 pm

  14. I was with Kilo 3/9 (3rd Plt.) during Operation Dewey Canyon. This was a very interesting read, quite informative. When your a grunt on the ground, you never know the whole story and how these operations with their stratagies are put together, your just trying to stay alive and protect your buddies. We were well aware the the operation was succesfull, but also knew we were getting our asses kicked also. Charlie was a tough son of a #@%$*. I was wounded during the operation, taking an AK 47 round in the butt, as a number of guys were either being hit in the head or fanny, I gladly axcepted the latter. In fact the round still resides imbedded in my left thigh as a reminder of my experience in Dewey Canyon. I wish all the veterans of the operation all the best, and my prayers are with all of you. Semper Fi

    By Wayne Forrest on Feb 13, 2009 at 12:51 pm

  15. My name is Henry Davis, I was on Tiger Mountain after I volunteered to deliver the mail and stayed with my unit, I3/9. I served under Lt. Henry Gross, S/Sgt. Britt, Sgt. Miller, Cpl. Kudor Brown. I was choppered out, but we could not land because of the mortor fire. The pilot said he was going back. I asked them to get as close as he could to the ground and open the back of the AH-46. I then jumped out the back ( about 15-20 feet) with three mail bags. I wasn’t going back. I was told I was the first replacement in 52 days to join the unit. Semper Fi.

    By Henry (Newbie) Davis on Mar 4, 2009 at 3:31 pm

  16. I was with 9th Marine Hq Scout Sniper Unit assigned to protect Col Robert H. Barrow (later 27th Commandant of USMC) along with other snipers during operations Dewey Canyon and Apache Snow. The General has gone to be with his loved ones and fellow Marines. Semper Fi General.

    By Edward Gonzales on Mar 8, 2009 at 3:10 am

  17. Hi Henry, I was the 1/4 (Tactical Air Control Party) radio operator for India on Tiger Mountain. I don’t remember your grand entry but the L.Z. was being handled by 12TH . Marines and I was just monitoring the net. You must have come in on the day that Doc Sprouse and I had our bunker blown up on us by mortar. He had just came in with the mail and I was laughing about a funny letter when it hit us. Staff Sgt. Britt was the acting Co.Gunny on Montana Mauler when we went out to assist the Army 5TH Mech. Div. I had a ball hanging out with him and we stole a ton of necessary gear off of the Army L. Z. and passed it out to our guys as they entered the position to be lifted by Hueys to the next ridge. I think you were the first Marine to come out to us but we got 4 new Corpsmen on Feb 15.

    By Warner DeFord on Mar 20, 2009 at 2:48 pm

  18. Hi Warner, Good to hear from you. The reason I volunteered to take the mail out to Tiger Mountain was because I was tired of filling sand bags at Vandergrift Combat Base. We had just completed a Post Office bunker that took about 15,000 sandbags. And I wanted to join my unit. When I first got to Quang Tri, that’s where I confiscated most of my gear, was from the Army units. Must thank them for their consideration. S/Sgt. Britt was one of the best, he watched out for all of us. Though, if you have contact with him you might ask him if he remembers when I went up to the club on August 5, 1969 to celebrate my birthday just before I went on an ambush. I told him that this was a h_ _ _ of place to be when your 19 yrs. old. Have a great day. Semper Fi. March 31, 2009

    By Henry (Newbie) Davis on Mar 31, 2009 at 8:35 am

  19. Was any of you near the Laos/S Vietnam boarder when the Fantoms was bombing and gun ships were there before or on Feb 20, 1969? I would love to here from any one that remembers anything around that time, or any SF of any kind that was in that area. 1bambooviper@sbcglobal.net Or anyone that know of or found a Marine that was left alone in that area.

    By Lanny Roedel on May 5, 2009 at 10:25 am

  20. I participated in both operations Dewey Canyon & Cameron Falls. I was a corpsman attached to 3/9 Kilo & Mike Co. and the CP group. I arrived in country in early February 1969. This is a tough story to tell, but I replaced a corpsman that was killed the night before in a ambush. If anybody has this persons name, or any knowledge of where he was from, etc. I would appreciate this very much. There isn’t a day that that goes by that I don’t think about being dropped off by the copter and seeing his body thrown into that same helicopter.

    Today, I’m attending many VA PTSD sessions. If you or anybody you know that are suffering from PTSD get help ASAP.

    By Doc Wright on May 23, 2009 at 8:28 pm

  21. Was wondering if anyone remembers Philip Norman Chittester KIA 2/22/69 during operation Dewey Canyon. He was with the 3/9

    By Brian Millwe on May 24, 2009 at 10:50 pm

  22. Was wondering if anyone remembers Philip Norman Chittester KIA 2/22/69 during operation Dewey Canyon. He was with the 3/9…….Messed up my name. It is Brian Miller

    By Brian Miller on May 24, 2009 at 10:53 pm

  23. Brian, thanks for your comment. Do you have any further information about Norman Chittester? Was he a corpsman?

    Thanks,

    Doc Doug

    By Doc Wright on May 25, 2009 at 2:31 am

  24. My name is Sanderson Hill, Grunt Machine gunner with M 3/9. I was shot twice on March 3 1969. Wilson received the medal of honor that day. Is there anyone out there that remembers that day. Not all of the action report of that day is true. You can contact me at Sandlh@comcast.net

    By Sanderson Hill on Jul 1, 2009 at 7:11 pm

  25. I was there C 1/9 davidgonzalez4848@yahoo.com

    By Gonzalez on Jul 23, 2009 at 2:47 pm

  26. Great article,

    I was 1st platoon commander India, 3/9 during this operation. S/Sgt Wyatt Britt was the platoon’ s sergeant, Sgt Jones, platoon guide.

    My helicopter was the last one off of Tiger Mountain late in the afternoon. I really didn’t think we were going to get back to Vandergrift that day. I can still remember watching the men of India walk by me in the dusk at Vandergrift when we did arrive…some of their ulilities were so filthy they were literally in shreds. 52 days without a bath!

    I have never really revisited these memories. This was a fine article. It put the whole operation in perspective, maybe to much so. I’ll probably start to dream about the “bush” again and those I lost when we ran into the bunker complex on the operation.

    My regards to those men of India and especially to those of 1st platoon, call sign “Lucy”.

    Semper Fi

    Lt Gross

    By Henry Gross on Aug 16, 2009 at 2:10 pm

  27. To Warner and Henry,

    That army unit India was called upon to reinforce was the 1st of the 5th mechanized. It was the most fouled up assignment India was called up to do while I was in the field. We walked point for that outfit for days and days and never saw an NVA soldier. They would let us through and then hit the army unit.

    I remember walking off with most of the 782 gear on that hill in that perimeter and I also remember loosing two corpsmen, one to friendly fire from that army unit and one to an NVA mortarman who dropped three rounds on my platoon while we were waiting to move into a position on the army unit’s lines. In three seconds I lost my radio man “Kitten”, my corpsman, who the motor shell fell directly on and one of my squad leaders,Dino.

    1st Platoon was lead platoon onto that next objective, lifted in by hueys. Myself, my new radioman and three othe members of 1st platoon were on the first chopper into the LZ. Thank goodness it wasn’t hot. I remember looking back at the position in the army’s lines that we had occupied and seeing the NVA attacking the position.

    I apologize because this isn’t about Dewey Canyon. I had to get this off of my mind before turning in for the night. This is why I don’t go to India company reunions or hang out at the VFW or AMvets telling war stories! The dreams start up all over again.

    Good night to you all…and good night to you,GySgt Puni Mikaeli. The last I heard of you, you were firing an M60 into a bunch of NVA that were massing for an early morning assault on India and another army unit they (India) were attached to at the time.

    Lt. Gross

    By Henry Gross on Aug 16, 2009 at 10:11 pm

  28. jim manning I co. tiger mountain S 2scout formerly with lima co. simper fi to all the brave men ooh rah you bad ass marines

    By LCPL JIM MANNING on Aug 21, 2009 at 1:13 pm

  29. http://rupplaw.com/Whiskey2-11/DKent/dkdiary.htm

    By David C kent Jr on Aug 21, 2009 at 9:23 pm

  30. lt. gross remember working with 1st 5th at khe sahn. was scout with Ico.capt arroyo our co. Our co. radio man killed in july cpl macmasters by rpg.was best friend in nam. wrote his parents and they drove to va. from Idaho to see how he was kia.still haunts me to this day.did you know lt. brossy was with cp group was a great leader as all of 3/9.was 18 when got to nam and would have been lost without such leadershift semper fi jim manning

    By LCPL JIM MANNING on Sep 11, 2009 at 8:52 am

  31. Jim,

    I was in DaNang with a provisional platoon from 3/9 guarding IIIMAF when that happened. Mac was an outstanding marine. I think a lot about what happened during that action. Mac’s death must have been a blow to Capt. Arroyo also. I was Executive Officer of the Company when that happened but as I said, I was T.A.D in DaNang at the time. If I had been there I probably would have been in the bunker with Mac, since a new lieutenant had taken over 1st Platoon. Not being there probably saved my life.

    What can I say to you about loosing a friend…It never really goes away does it. We’re old men now but it never really goes away.

    Best Regards,

    Hank Gross

    By Henry Gross on Sep 11, 2009 at 8:10 pm

  32. Lt Gross with the Bianchi shoulder holster, I have a picture taken the day Doc Perusso was killed….. I thought that you and an NCO were wounded by a mortar and were medevaced late in the evening…. Jim Manning I have pictures of you and I think one has Mike McMaster in it…. I was told about Mike at Quang Tri after coming back from R&R and it was all I could do to not do serious harm to the guy that told me…. We had a new C.O Capt Cisneros at the time Mac was hit…. I was taking orders from Gen.Davis over the radio the last day of Dewey Canyon and had to stay on the ground until everyone else was on the last helicopter and when I told Vandy DASC I was there at VCB the operation was officially over…. You can find me on … Together We Served Marines . com.. I would love to talk to you guys.

    By Warner DeFord on Sep 17, 2009 at 11:18 pm

  33. Warner,

    I gave that shoulder holster to a sniper and picked up an M-16 to replace the .45 auto, which I sent back to the rear.

    My radioman “Kitten” always stood within arms reach of me so that he could get the handset to me quickly. The motor round that killed Doc Perusso turned “Kittens” calves into hamburger and the airblast blew me down. Doc Perusso never knew what hit him. it landed right on him. He was right behind “Ktten”. “Dino”, a squad leader, was also wounded in the arm. He didn’t want to be medivaced, but I told him to get on the chopper!

    Good men all.

    Best regards Warner.

    Hankg

    By Henry Gross on Sep 18, 2009 at 12:16 pm

  34. Doc Wright, I was with both Mike and Kilo prior to Dewey Canyon and remember two Corpsmen that were twin brothers in one platoon and the HM-3 in the company CP who was a charactor but the names don’t register any more….. I heard that the twins pulled off some extreme heroics during a bad encounter with a large enemy unit.

    By Warner DeFord on Sep 18, 2009 at 3:38 pm

  35. Warner was it your hole that took direct hit on Tiger Mountain? I remember M16 was destroyed and luckly you were not in it. Remember everyone walking and looking inthe hole.great to hear from you.Jim manning

    By LCPL JIM MANNING on Sep 18, 2009 at 11:20 pm

  36. Hello Jim… I have a picture of you holding the remains of that rifle the night we got back to Vandegrift…. Everthing Doc Sprouse and I had was riddled with shrapnel except for what we had in the immediate area where we slept… Mike was the first person I saw when I came out of the bunker but our ears were ringing so bad we hadn’t heard him yelling and waited to be sure no more rounds came in before we came out … I had put sand bags on that open corner that morning or Doc Sprouse and I would both have been KIAs… I read your tribute to Mike on TWS…. I have tried to get in touch with you for a long time and have seen post by you on a few websites…. Man you can’t believe all of the memories that are flashing through my mind right now…. My email address is on my profile page at TWS and I’d really like to talk sometime…. Red Baron…. Semper Fi

    By Warner DeFord on Sep 19, 2009 at 12:44 am

  37. Lt Gross , That morning Sgt. Britt and I Walked from our position to the army C.P. and when 1st platoon got there I just hung out talking to Larry Peruso until Capt. Arroyo had me come to the L.Z. for the lift…. Larry had a strong premonition that he would die that day and pretty much told me his life story in a matter of minutes….. He was resigned to it and not afraid but knew it would hurt his family….. It took me 17 years to find his brother Russell who had taken him in and raised him when their parents died…. Was “Kitten” a black kid that Britt called Geraldine?

    By Warner DeFord on Sep 21, 2009 at 8:43 pm

  38. Warner,

    “Kitten” was a white marine from the north eastern part of the country. He was quite a character with an “attitude”. The kind of guy you would expect to be a marine. His last name may have begun with “H”. For the life of me, I wish I could remember it. I can see his face in my mind as clear as day.

    He called me while I was stationed at Lejeune and we talked. He had recuperated from the shrapnel wounds and was working for the Post Office.

    I have a good picture of Mac and Gunny Robinson along with a third marine, all sitting or standing in front of a half assed bunker at KeGia Bridge. I wish there was some way to get a copy to you guys. I’m pushing the emotional envelope coming back to this website the way it is. Revisiting these memories are not the easiest thing for me. I did my best when I was there but sometimes feel it was not enough.

    Regards,

    Hank

    By Henry Gross on Sep 22, 2009 at 1:07 pm

  39. Lt. Gross….. You were a great platoon commander, it showed when I knew you were in Vietnam and it shows in what you just said….. I was at one time or another the 1/4 in every company in 3/9 and you are one of three P/Cs that I can both recall the name of and visualise…. My last memory of you was when you went to talk to Captain Arroyo at the end on March 28th 1969 and I could see the toll taken on you that day….. There was a guy with you that stopped to talk with me that had been wounded on Dewey Canyon and recently returned from being hospitalized in Japan…. You and he walked back toward the lines and I took a picture of you two standing on the crest of the ridge line scoping things out and seconds later a mortar round hit close enough to the two of you that he was wounded and had to be carried to where he could be medevaced…. He was the second person that day with a premonition that I’d spoken to…. I don’t think that his wound was life threatening but he kept yelling at me saying” I told you so….. You and he were standing so close I thought you’d been hit also…… The intensity and insanity of what we went through scrambles up the order and time of so much I saw or experienced….A lot of what I remember is bits and pieces but I do remember more about India company than any of the others and I remember you as being an intelligent competent and caring officer that should have have no doubts whatsoever about doing enough…… You might have known me as Dee, 1/4, DeFord or Red Baron………Semper Fi…….. And a hand salute to you sir………Warner DeFord

    By Warner DeFord on Sep 23, 2009 at 3:41 pm

  40. Warner,

    Thanks for the kind words! They mean a lot.

    I’m having the same “bits and pieces” type memories come and go through my mind too. Sometimes I can put a supposed logical sequence to things and then I read things that you and the rest of the men who served with India have to say and I think “how could I have missed that”.

    A few years ago after I retired, I went to a psychologist to see if I could sort things out. I always had the feeling there were things lying just beyond the back of my eyes that wanted to become clear but could’nt. She said “the subconcious mind protects us from the realities we have experienced that could literally drive us mad if we had to deal with them again”. I think she was right!

    Again, thanks for the kind words and remember that you all had to deal with things, some of which are better left in the subconscious.

    Regards,

    Hank

    By Henry Gross on Sep 23, 2009 at 6:17 pm

  41. i was with echo 2/9 on op dewey canyon for entire op,i remember looking into laos at night and seeing the nva trucks,i remember all the nva gear we found,they had so much,and i remember lz stud,i know that it became vandergrift,it was always stud to me semper fi,i’ll be in dc with 2/9 marine corp bd

    By lawrence noon on Oct 14, 2009 at 3:04 pm

  42. semper fi marine hope u here from buddies in 2/9. have heard from friends from 3/9 and has been unreal. all 9th marines in dewey canyon all brothers. will will never forget the hardships and the fond memories of our brothers in combat;ohh rah from roanke va.

    By LCPL JIM MANNING on Oct 17, 2009 at 9:55 am

  43. Jim. … Remember our little ARVN friends we ate and tried to sing Vietnamese love songs with that would make us coffee and bring it to us in the mornings ….. I remember that you and I were adopted by a couple of those little guys…. The one that hung around me was named Duc and was fathered by a Japanese father toward the end of World War II during the occupation….. They knew we had been without food for days and when there was any there was very little and they shared with us…. I often wonder how that little guy is doing….. S/F Take care brother. Dee in Texas.

    By Warner DeFord on Oct 18, 2009 at 7:20 am

  44. warner,slightly remember them making us chow at night.remember that they were so noisy that lines were told to open fire to hush them up.Got quiet after that. not sure which op.we were on; think dewey Canyon.what part of texas are you from.Had friend from Brownvill visit me a few months after nam.name was cpl.martin.Wish had your E mail feel like I am tying up this site.Staff sgt.britt was in hole with me when mac was kia.gunny sgt.robinson was a hell of a leader. Do you remember lt.brossy? was from atlanta . will try to leave my E mail jim.manning@cox.net.Take care brother. Jim

    By LCPL JIM MANNING on Oct 25, 2009 at 8:10 am

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