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.
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.
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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.
The 9th Marines were well prepared to launch this operation, as they had spent the previous eight months honing their mountain warfare skills in combat in Quang Tri Province. However, the operational planning was a hurry-up affair. As Barrow remarked later, "Dewey Canyon was planned, including command reconnaissances and support arrangements, and launched in five days." Nevertheless, he said, "The force that entered Dewey Canyon was about as ready as any force could possibly be."
Dewey Canyon would be a three-phase operation. In Phase I, the regiment would move into the area of operations and establish fire support bases for the supporting artillery of the 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines (2/12). Phase II would consist of patrolling near the fire support bases and aligning the infantry units for a jump-off into the next phase. Phase III called for a conventional three-battalion advance southward, with the infantry units moving overland rather than by helicopter because heavy anti-aircraft defenses in the area of the Phase III objectives made movement by foot preferable to General Davis' usual concept of high-mobility heliborne operations. But because the area was in the remote southwest corner of Quang Tri Province, helicopters would still be critical in the early phases and in resupplying the troops on the ground.
The upper Song Da Krong Valley is 62 kilometers west of Hue and 48 kilometers southwest of Quang Tri City, and the 9th Marines would be operating some 50 kilometers south of their main supply depot at Vandegrift Combat Base. The valley follows the course of the winding Da Krong River (Song Da Krong) and is surrounded by high mountains and ridgelines. Between it and the neighboring A Shau Valley to the south are two large hill masses, Tam Boi (Hill 1224) and Co A Nang (Hill 1228), the latter better known as Tiger Mountain. On the western edge of the valley stands a 1,500-meter-high razorback ridge named Co Ka Leuye. The eastern half of the valley is covered with dense jungle, while west of the river it is dominated by tall elephant grass and brushwood. The river itself runs east to west, then makes a sharp turn to the north.
Phase I began on January 19 with the reopening of Fire Support Base Henderson, eight kilometers southeast of Ca Lu. The next day, fire support bases Shiloh and Tun Tavern, which had been used by the 9th Marines in earlier operations, were reopened. On January 22, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines (2/9) air-assaulted into the northern sector of the Dewey Canyon area of operations to establish Fire Support Base Razor, eight kilometers south-southeast of Shiloh, near the Da Krong River. In order to construct Razor, large trees had to be felled and bulldozers were brought in by helicopter to clear the area and prepare it for the insertion of artillery. On January 24, the 3/9 air-assaulted onto a razorback ridgeline about six kilometers south-southeast of Razor to build Cunningham and begin patrolling in the vicinity. Cunningham became the center of the Dewey Canyon operation as two batteries of 2/12 moved into it to complete Phase I. The Dewey Canyon area of operations was now well covered as the effective range of the artillery at Cunningham was 11 kilometers. Eventually the 9th Marines' command post and that of the 2/12 moved to Cunningham to take advantage of its central location.
Enemy opposition to Phase I had been light. Accordingly, Phase II began without difficulty on January 24-25, when the 2nd and 3rd Battalions started intensive patrolling north of the Da Krong River. Almost immediately, 3/9 uncovered a four-strand North Vietnamese Army telephone line strung between trees running from Laos into enemy Base Area 101 farther east within South Vietnam. A special communications intelligence team was quickly brought in to tap the wires and break the code. A North Vietnamese hospital consisting of eight large permanent buildings—Field Hospital 88—near the Da Krong River, was discovered by 2/9. The complex, abandoned just a day before the Marines found it, contained large quantities of Russian-made surgical instruments and antibiotics.
Now the Marines positioned themselves to initiate Phase III. The 2nd Battalion patrolled the western flank of the operations area near Laos, while 3/9 maneuvered on the eastern flank. The plan was to bring 1/9 into the middle just as Phase III was about to jump off. But before Phase III could begin, 2/9 was given two additional tasks: Company G was to seize the important Co Ka Leuye ridgeline in the western extremity of 2/9's sector, and Company F was to build an additional firebase, named Erskine, so the battalion could continue to operate under a protective artillery umbrella as it pushed southward. In 3/9's sector, Company K began construction of Fire Support Base Lightning, east of Cunningham, which then received two battalions of the 2nd ARVN Regiment plus an ARVN artillery battalion late in January.
At the very end of January, bad weather became a serious factor. Visibility and cloud ceiling were both at zero. In early February, after several days of bad weather, Colonel Barrow instructed his battalions to pull their companies back to where they could be effectively supported from the fire support bases. Company G, which had completed its arduous climb to the top of Co Ka Leuye, now had to abandon that position.
As the company moved back down from the ridge on the morning of February 5, it stumbled into an ambush. Quickly, Captain Daniel A. Hitzelberger's 2nd and 3rd platoons were pinned down by a hail of automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Hitzelberger committed his 1st Platoon in a flanking maneuver that eventually freed up the 3rd Platoon and forced the enemy to withdraw, but not before the company suffered five Marines killed and 18 wounded. Among the dead was Lance Corporal Thomas P. Noonan Jr., a rifleman who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Noonan had braved withering enemy fire to drag a seriously wounded comrade to safety, inspiring the rest of his platoon to charge the enemy positions and reach three other wounded men who had been cut off by the heavy volume of fire.
After this encounter, Company G continued its difficult trek down the mountain. Hitzelberger later reported that "the stretcher cases were moving up and down slopes in excess of 70 degrees. We had to use six, eight and, at times, ten men to carry a stretcher and it would take us over 30 minutes to move one stretcher case over one bad area."
Upon reaching the bottom of a rocky cliff, the company was met by a relief platoon from Company E, which brought medical supplies and some much-needed rations. Still, it took another 11⁄2 days for Company G to reach the Da Krong. At that point, two Marine CH-46 helicopters, flying through dense fog and enemy fire, evacuated the most seriously wounded to Vandegrift Combat Base. By February 8, Company G finally reached the safety of Landing Zone Dallas, west of Cunningham. Battalion commander Lt. Col. George C. Fox noted that Company G's ordeal on Co Ka Leuye "was a tremendous performance in leadership and fire discipline."
Meanwhile, Fire Support Base Cunningham was shelled by enemy 122mm guns located in Laos, receiving 30 to 40 rounds that disabled a howitzer and knocked out a battery's fire direction center on February 2, killing five Marines and leaving five more wounded. The enemy guns were beyond the range of the firebase's own 155mm howitzers. Cunningham continued to take sporadic artillery fire throughout Dewey Canyon.
All told, the 9th Marines were sidetracked by bad weather for nine straight days. Consequently, the 1st Battalion's airlift into the area of operations was delayed and the North Vietnamese had additional time to prepare and strengthen their defenses for the coming Marine assault into Base Area 611. It had been anticipated that operating during the monsoon would prove problematic and in fact the weather did cost the Marines crucial momentum. Finally, on February 10, the weather improved enough for elements of 1/9 to move forward from Vandegrift and Shiloh to Fire Support Base Erskine. Battery F, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines was shifted by helicopter from Razor southward to Erskine. Phase III was set to begin.
Early on February 11, 3/9 crossed Phase Line Red and forded the Da Krong River. The 1st and 2nd battalions crossed the river the next day. Each battalion had its zone of operations about five kilometers wide and an objective eight kilometers beyond Phase Line Red. In the eastern sector, 3/9 was to move along ridgelines 2,000 meters apart, sending one company to take Tiger Mountain and two more to take Tam Boi. This would put 3/9 on the edge of the A Shau Valley. In the center, 1/9 would advance along two parallel ridges toward an objective on the Laotian border. Farther west, 2/9 was to move through a valley and the ridges just east of it, also with an objective on the Laotian border. Colonel Barrow's plan was for each battalion to proceed with two companies in the van and two companies in trace.
After crossing the Da Krong, the Marines encountered strong enemy forces. On the eastern flank, Company M was mortared and attacked by a North Vietnamese Army platoon, suffering two dead while killing 18 enemy. The 1st Battalion ran into a large enemy force positioning to attack Erskine. Well-supported by artillery, 1/9 forced the North Vietnamese to withdraw, killing 25 and capturing numerous weapons. Company C engaged a reinforced North Vietnamese platoon on a hilltop, taking the hill while killing 12 of the enemy. An NVA effort to regain the position at night was successfully fought off by the Marines, using mortars and artillery. Overall, the enemy proved a tough adversary south of the Da Krong, sniping at the Marines from trees and attacking their positions at night in an attempt to delay the advance toward vital Route 922 in Laos.
The North Vietnamese efforts proved futile, however, as the Marines made good use of artillery and air strikes in pushing south. On February 17, 2/9's Company G engaged in an all-day running firefight with a company of NVA, resulting in five Marine and 39 enemy dead. Also on February 17, before daybreak, the NVA launched a major attack on FSB Cunningham, with sappers breaching the wire and throwing grenades and satchel charges at the Marines in a wild dash toward the center of the base. The 3rd Battalion's Company L and 2nd Battalion, 12th Marines fought hard to repel the intruders but sustained major damage in the first few minutes, losing centralized fire direction. Regaining control of the situation by sunrise, the Marines counted 37 North Vietnamese dead in and around the firebase. Four Marines were killed and 46 wounded in the fighting. The enemy sappers in this attack had been fortified by narcotics, which, a Marine lieutenant stated, "made them a lot harder to kill. Not one of the gooks we had inside the perimeter had less than three or four holes in him. Usually it took a grenade or something to stop him completely."
February 18-22 saw the heaviest fighting in the southward advance. Five kilometers southeast of Erskine, 1/9 ran up against an NVA platoon dug into reinforced bunkers along a ridgeline. The enemy fought tenaciously but Company A overran the position, killing 30 defenders. This was followed by Company C's assault against enemy hilltop positions the next day, which resulted in 30 more NVA dead. Continuing its attack on the same bunker complex on February 20, Company C encountered a large enemy force. After calling in air strikes, they took the bunkers, killing 71 North Vietnamese and capturing two 122mm artillery pieces and a tracked prime mover, at a cost of five Marines killed and 28 wounded.
With Marines approaching the Laotian border, the enemy kept up heavy shelling even while attempting to withdraw his artillery beyond the potential reach of the Marine advance. The ongoing enemy artillery attacks and concern over the vulnerability of the Marines' western flank prompted a request from General Davis to Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, to redirect its Studies and Observations Group (SOG) reconnaissance efforts from the Laotian panhandle toward Base Area 611. MACV approved the request. But an earlier request from Davis, seeking approval to conduct offensive ground operations inside Laos, had been tabled by MACV. Nevertheless, the then-current rules of engagement did permit commanders to take "necessary counteractions against Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army forces in the exercise of self-defense and to defend their units against armed attacks with all means at their disposal." That language proved enough to justify the Marines crossing the border into—as deemed by the 1962 Geneva Accords—a neutral Laos.
Even so, Army Lt. Gen. Richard G. Stilwell, commanding XXIV Corps, of which the 3rd Marine Division was a part, saw ample reason to push for specific authorization from MACV to conduct a cross-border attack. On February 20, he recommended to his superior, Marine Lt. Gen. Robert E. Cushman, commanding III Marine Amphibious Force, that a limited raid into NVA Base Area 611 within Laos, to a depth of five kilometers along a 20-kilometer front, be authorized. Cushman endorsed the proposal and forwarded it to General Creighton W. Abrams at MACV the same day.
While the high command debated the political advisability of an incursion into supposedly neutral Laos, Colonel Barrow was taking matters into his own hands. On the afternoon of February 21, he ordered 2/9's Company H commander, Captain David F. Winecoff, to set up an ambush that night along Route 922 inside Laos. Winecoff had been in position to observe truck movement on the road, and had called in artillery fire missions on it, but the NVA traffic continued. As Company H was tired from patrolling, Winecoff requested a 24-hour postponement of the ambush operation. Barrow denied the request and further instructed the captain to be back inside South Vietnam by 0630 hours February 22.
After darkness fell, Winecoff took two platoons into Laos toward the road, a distance of over half-a-mile. The men stayed off trails, moving along a creek bed and a ridgeline, trying to minimize the noise of their approach. When they reached a small river running parallel to Route 922, Winecoff sent a platoon commander and a sergeant ahead to reconnoiter for a good ambush site. While waiting for the two scouts to return, the Marines observed more movement along the road. The enemy searched the area with a spotlight but the Marines remained undiscovered.
With a good site finally located, Winecoff sent his men across the stream and 35 meters beyond the road to set up a linear ambush and wait for oncoming traffic. Claymore mines were set out, but a number of vehicles were allowed to pass while the ambush was made ready. Meanwhile, back inside South Vietnam, Barrow sought and obtained approval from Task Force Hotel at Vandegrift for the limited border violation, presenting General Garretson with something of a fait accompli. The North Vietnamese were using Route 922 to move artillery out of reach of the Marine infantry and to continue moving supplies forward, so traffic along the road could be heading either east or west. As Winecoff's men lay in wait, at 0230 hours on February 22 the lights of eight trucks were seen on the road moving from the west. The first three trucks entered the killing zone, and then the column halted. Winecoff fired his claymore at the second truck, setting it ablaze and killing its occupants. The first truck also started burning and the third vehicle was forced off the road. The Marines poured automatic weapons fire into the hapless NVA trucks and called in artillery. After firing for several more minutes, the Marines moved back across the road and crossed the border back into South Vietnam. The ambush was a success, destroying three trucks and killing eight NVA troops while sustaining no casualties themselves. The III Marine Amphibious Force's chief of staff exclaimed: "Hit 'em hard! Good news—who knows where the border is anyway?"
The success of the ambush led Colonel Barrow to request a continuation of operations within Laos. A message from General Abrams to III MAF only authorized SOG forces to be in Laos, but the Marines knew that a local commander still had the right to self-defense. Barrow told higher headquarters that "my forces should not be here if ground interdiction of Route 922 [is] not authorized."
This prompted General Stilwell at XXIV Corps again to request authority from MACV for an advance into Laos "not exceeding two kilometers from the border at any point." Given the circumstances, Abrams reluctantly agreed to a limited incursion on February 24. Thus, the 2nd Battalion, minus one company, moved into Laos and proceeded to advance eastward along Route 922, staying inside Laos until March 1. American Ambassador to Laos William H. Sullivan and the Laotian prime minister were not informed of this border violation until operations were well underway and, fearing possible international political repercussions, Abrams insisted that public discussion of the incursion by subordinates be severely restricted.
The Marines moved rapidly up Route 922, seeking to force the North Vietnamese Army into the path of 1/9 and 3/9, still in South Vietnam. Along the way, 2/9 engaged in several significant firefights with enemy troops and captured a number of artillery pieces, plus large quantities of ammunition and foodstuffs: "It was an exhilarating feeling for Marines to be in the exploitive phase of a battle and raiding the enemy's supply dump/rear area," Captain Winecoff later wrote. "In this author's 27 months in Vietnam, this was the one time where intelligence was available down at the company level, the one time that operational plans were based upon a competent intelligence plan."
Officially, 2/9 lost eight men killed and 33 wounded while operating in Laos. During one NVA attack, Corporal William D. Morgan of Company H came to the aid of two wounded Marines by single-handedly assaulting an enemy bunker. Killed in the assault, Morgan's actions allowed the rest of his patrol to rescue the wounded men. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor—with the place of action listed as "southeast of Vandegrift Combat Base, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam," rather than where his heroism had actually occurred, inside Laos.
In 1/9's sector in the center of the Dewey Canyon area of operations, Lieutenant Wesley L. Fox's Company A engaged in heavy fighting on February 22. After overrunning a North Vietnamese Army squad located in bunkers, Fox requested that battalion send its water detail down to a nearby creek for badly needed replenishment. While the 20-man detail was filling canteens, it came under mortar and machine gun fire. Fox broke off the watering operation and began moving his company forward to attack the enemy. A platoon ran up against a heavily fortified bunker complex, backed by rocket-propelled grenade, machine gun and mortar emplacements on a ridge. Fox committed three platoons to the fighting, but was unable to make effective use of artillery because of poor visibility, terrain, and the closeness of the combat.
The company command group took a direct hit from a mortar round, killing or wounding everyone in it except the executive officer. Nevertheless, Fox continued in command and personally killed an enemy sniper with his M-16 rifle and destroyed an NVA position. With two dead radiomen, he took charge of the radios and took personal command of his 3rd Platoon after its platoon leader was killed. In fighting off a final enemy assault, Fox was again wounded, but refused all medical aid. Company D eventually came to beleaguered Company A's assistance, and by the time the smoke cleared, 105 North Vietnamese dead littered the battlefield. The Marines also captured 25 automatic weapons. Eleven Marines were killed and 72 wounded in the desperate fight.
Lieutenant (later Colonel) Fox, who had spent 16 years as an enlisted Marine and had extended his Vietnam tour of duty, received the Medal of Honor for his brilliant leadership during this battle. Three Navy Crosses and six Silver Stars were also awarded to Marines of Company A for their actions on February 22.
The 1st Battalion now moved eastward in the direction of Hills 1044 and 1224 (Tam Boi) and along South Vietnam's Route 548. On the slopes of Hill 1044 on February 27, Company D uncovered and destroyed one of the largest NVA arms caches of the war. The supply depot held 629 rifles, 60 machine guns, 14 mortars, 15 recoilless rifles, 19 antiaircraft guns and over 100 tons of munitions.
In the meantime, 3/9, responsible for the eastern flank of Dewey Canyon operations (all within South Vietnam), came across other important NVA facilities. At Tam Boi in late February, the Marines discovered a huge headquarters and administrative complex that comprised 11 major tunnels carved into solid rock and housed extensive repair shops, storage rooms and a hospital. These facilities could withstand direct hits from artillery and aerial bombs. After securing Tiger Mountain (Hill 1228) near the end of February, 3/9 established Fire Support Base Turnage to provide artillery support for continuing operations on the edge of the A Shau Valley.
By the first of March, Operation Dewey Canyon had met its most important objectives. The NVA was forced deeper into Laos, and a large quantity of enemy equipment and supplies were captured and destroyed. Among other items, the Marines had seized 12 122mm and four 85mm artillery pieces. Now it was time to begin the retraction of the 9th Marines and their supporting elements. The plan originally called for 2/9 to be airlifted to Vandegrift on March 3, followed by the other battalions and the artillery on succeeding days. But once again the weather intervened. Also, the 9th Marines were tasked with extracting SOG forces from Laos and destroying additional enemy weapons caches. Although the retraction of 2/9 was accomplished as originally conceived, everything else was delayed. It wasn't until March 17 that all of 3/9 could be lifted out of the area of operations. On March 18, 1/9 was extracted from Tam Boi after fending off a mortar-supported company-strength NVA attack before dawn that morning. The helicopters transporting 1/9 were under constant enemy mortar and anti-aircraft fire, but none were lost. At 2000 hours on March 18, the last helicopter landed at Vandegrift and Operation Dewey Canyon came to an official end.
In the long history of the Vietnam War, Dewey Canyon stands as one of the most successful American operations. Casualties, however, were heavy for both sides. Officially, 1,617 NVA were reported killed and five captured, while 130 Marines were killed and 920 wounded. The Marines had effectively disrupted a major enemy logistical center in Base Area 611, including in their total haul more than 1,000 NVA small arms, some 807,000 rounds of ammunition and about 220,000 pounds of rice. Marine fixed-wing aircraft flew 461 close air support missions, and Marine helicopters flew nearly 1,200 sorties. U.S. Army helicopters also flew numerous sorties in support of the Marines. The artillery fired about 134,000 rounds during the operation. This expenditure of effort proved worth the cost, as NVA plans for a big 1969 spring offensive in the I Corps Tactical Zone were derailed and, in fact, the Communists could launch no such offensive in the northern provinces that entire year. A major enemy attempt to strike at the population centers east of Base Area 611 had been forestalled by Dewey Canyon.
Praise for the Marine effort was quick in coming. General Stilwell declared: "Dewey Canyon deserves some space in American military history by sole reason of audacity, guts and magnificent inter-service team play. A Marine regiment of extraordinary cohesion, skill in mountain warfare, and plain heart made Dewey Canyon a resounding success. As an independent regimental operation, projected 50 kilometers airline from the nearest base and sustained in combat for seven weeks, it may be unparalleled. Without question, the 9th Marines' performance represents the very essence of professionalism."
Several years after the operation and by then commanding general at Parris Island, Colonel Barrow, addressed his fellow Marines at a Dewey Canyon reunion. He recalled "weather was the factor of greatest influence during Dewey Canyon. It was completely unpredictable from day-to-day and within a day. Extremely thick and low cloud cover and ground fog were common conditions. We were totally dependent on helicopters and they, in turn, on good weather." So, while at times the operation was critically slowed by weather conditions, Barrow pointed out that "the support of Dewey Canyon from within and from without was magnificent….The artillery, in a word, was superb. Helicopter support from the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and the 101st Airborne Division was outstanding. Fixed-wing aircraft support and the B-52s made a great contribution."
In addition, Barrow contended that surprise was a key element in the operation: "It appears that the enemy had deceived himself into believing that U.S. forces would not be so bold as to enter that remote area of Dewey Canyon. We didn't deceive him, he deceived himself, as his actions revealed….That we did what we did was a complete surprise to the enemy, a fact borne out by the enormous quantities of ammunition, weapons, and supplies captured or destroyed."
But not everyone saw Dewey Canyon in such a favorable light. The incursion into Laos was reported in the New York Times in early March 1969, with a story that noted, "Operation Dewey Canyon seems to indicate that allied commanders operating along borders may dip across lines to secure their flanks."
Thrown onto the defensive by reporters at a Vietnam news conference, Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird said of Dewey Canyon, "I would not confirm that they were there now but I would certainly say that there have been operations in which it has been necessary in order to protect American fighting forces that—that border being a very indefinite border—it may have been transgressed by American forces in carrying out this responsibility."
Ambassador Sullivan apologized to the Laotian prime minister for the incident. Responding to questions during 1973 Congressional hearings, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Thomas H. Moorer testified, "This was the first and only time where United States ground combat forces went into Laos."
And, in an early 1971 forum sponsored by the group Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Gordon Stewart, who had been a forward artillery observer with Company H, 2/9 in Laos, spoke about his experience: "The whole company had set up a base camp on a hill. For the next three days it was pretty much hell. We ran through a lot of contact and lost a lot of men….The men became quite embittered during this operation. It became easy to kill Vietnamese. You were just animalistic….When moving through Laos, taking our dead and wounded, we took a lot of casualties."
Stewart's statments seem to contradict both official casualty figures and contemporaneous news reports, which indicated that contact with the enemy while inside Laos had been comparatively light. But in the final analysis, it can be said that the actions taken by the 9th Marines during Operation Dewey Canyon, while controversial, were acceptable. Viewed through the prism of a very controversial war, Dewey Canyon yielded considerably more positives than negatives.
Marc D. Bernstein is the author of Hurricane at Biak: MacArthur Against the Japanese, May-August 1944, and numerous articles on military and naval history. For additional reading, see: U.S. Marines in Vietnam: High Mobility and Standdown, 1969, by Charles R. Smith; and Semper Fi Vietnam, by Edward F. Murphy.
This article was written by Marc Bernstein and originally published in the August 2007 issue of Vietnam Magazine. For more great articles, subscribe to Vietnam magazine today!
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My dad was in this operation.He doesnt talk much about it so this article taught me a lot about what really happened.
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
Iwas there that day too and helped bring the wounded and dead back up the hill that night.
Hey Doug…
Gary Almquist Here……
How the Hell are ya????????
I'll never forget finding that NVA hospital.underground…and all those bicycles in the middle of the Jungle..Amazing..
Been So Many Years…Please Contact me….
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,
I knew you and your brother from Hometown. I remember him well. I have thought of him often and I am very grateful for his service and sacrifice.
Hello Harry: I just found this website and I hope that you check it once in a while. I served with Freddie and he was a great guy and a good Marine. After all these years I still think of him;he was a freind to all that knew him.I can still recall the writing he had on his helmet cover:"jody is a bastard september is near."
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)
I was at Tiger Mountain with Lt. Henry Gross and SSgt. Britt, I was the first replacement the unit received in 52 days, though I had no orders. I delivered the mail from Vandergrift Combat Base, but because of incoming motor rounds the chopper pilot was not going to land. I was not going back and not deliver the mail. That's how I got my nickname 'Newbie'.
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
Lanny, hate to say but I can't remember what you look like, I was the raido operator that was with you, I was Fox 1/1 and later on after we were wiped out I was Fox 1/2. Update Pop Orr has passed away in 2005 he died of complications from an operation. I really miss him he was a good friend
Semper Fi
Terry B.
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.
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)
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.
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
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
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
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
doc I was wounded on razor I think. Got a nasty head wound.you may have been the man who attended to me. I did not get a purple heart as they said it was caused by fire in the hole. I did not know for sure . I wac air lifted to Quang Tri hospital for a few days then back to my outfit where I served the rest of dewy canyon, after that I don't remember where we went. I want to thank you if you are the doc. that cared for me . JC Jay I have my medical records I will try to find the dates for you.
I treated a guy with a head wound on Razor. He was a machine gunner. There was a Marine trapped in a hole and the NVA were trying to put a granade into his hole. The machinegunner got out of his hole and sprayed the brush so the kid could get out of his hole. That gunner got a gash on his head. I treated him.
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
wayne, I was a corpsman with Kilo Co. 3/9,and remember that day. We were ambushed and you were pinned down and I tried to give some cover fire,and fired at the smoke from thier rifles,turned to see where you were and got shot in the hand.I remember they couldn't land the medavac and we had to go up in a sling. The medavac got hit but they got it down at some firebase.Do you remember our old Lt.,Lt. Davis got hit that day and was on that chopper? His father was Gen.Davis the commanding Gen.and came to pick up his son, and I rode back to the hospital with them.I don't remember what hospital as the morphine was kicking in pretty good by then.I often wonderd about the marines I was with over there withwould like to hear about them if you have any info.Good luck and Semper Fi
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Doc Wright I believe you took Doc Ortiz place in Febuary 1969.
Was wondering if anyone remembers Philip Norman Chittester KIA 2/22/69 during operation Dewey Canyon. He was with the 3/9
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
Brian, thanks for your comment. Do you have any further information about Norman Chittester? Was he a corpsman?
Thanks,
Doc Doug
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
Dearest Cousin Sandy
I was reading this narrative about Operation Dewey Canyon quite matter of factly to honor You. Hope you are Ok.. Please drop a line. Love and Semper Fi
Cousin Greg 2119945 USMC
I was there C 1/9 davidgonzalez4848@yahoo.com
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
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
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
http://rupplaw.com/Whiskey2-11/DKent/dkdiary.htm
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
Mike (Mac) and I were dependents together in Mtn. Home, Idaho. My dad was transferred when Mike was just 13, and it sounds like he grew into a good man. I saw his father at a 9th Bomb Wing (Mtn. Home) reunion in the late 90's and found out about Mike. I think he was living in Boise at the time, but I cannot find my roster from the reunion. If anyone has his parents address, I would sure appreciate it. Thanks to all of you for your service. Back then, the military wasn't as appreciated as it is today, but those of us whose father's served (my dad was in pilot in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam) understand the sacrifice you and your families made. Freedom is mostly definitely NOT free!
Norma Mueller McGarrey
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
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.
Well hello heroes, all i can say is thank you for surviving and protecting the free. Ive always wondered what kind of person Mike was, I remember seeing a picture of him at Grandmother's house in his marine uniform. Mike and I seem to look so much alike. I seem to be drawn towards him. The only thing that reminds me now of him is the movie hamburger hill. Call it crazy or what u will, but at least it brings me closer to him. Please reply
sean, was good friends with ur uncle and met ur grandparents after returning from nam. they drove to roanke va. to talk about macs death.He always mentioned a brother who was in nam with army. Was that your dad? if you ever want to talk let me know. jim manning
Sorry, i am his nephew
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
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.
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
Hello anyone out there was with 2/9 81's during operation dewey canyon. I was on that one and it appeared that i was not going to get out of there. was in nam first tour for 13months and 20days when i got the call to the rear, what a wonderful call that was. But as it has been said, it something that no 18 or 19 yr. old should have to face.you never forget it as i deal with it every day, Thanks to all who served, cpl Frank Harris Raeford nc first tet january 68 to april 69
It is the BAMBOOVIPER stopping in to say Hi to my 9TH Marine friends, I made a trip to DC this year for the USMC Birthday! WOW! If you haven't done it before please do. I guess none of us will ever be the ourselves again but the trip let me come closer. I ran into "BIG", a Marine in H Co. standing by the 122MM that was taken on Feb 20, 1969, we talked, Frenchy, My friend was on point when those guns were taken and "BIG" was behind Frenchy, those 122MM had did a lot of damage to FBCunningham and tryed to hit Erskine. The almost got our patrol as they fired at Erskine and missed. That big tree with all the fire ants never looked so good as it did that day. But Those Boys of H Co. silenced those guns for ever! Thank you Hotel Co. by your bravery that day, I know you saved a lot of our brothers. One of their 122MMs rests in the USMC Museum. Being my first time there brought back many thoughts all at ones as the jets passed over head. I am not ashamed to say I had a weak moment that lasted a while, but as I sat on the wall a bearded figure put his arm around me and it had been a long time since I felt that safe. When I could speak, I ask if he was a pilot, he said yes, I ask if he was part of Operation Dewey Canyon 1969, again he said yes. I ask if he flew into Laos on a mission around Feb 20, again it was yes. As we lay hugging the ground with no cover that day, those pilots bravely hammered a safe path for us to get out of harms why, no dought it was him that made me feel safe that day as well. I didn't even get his name. I will be there next year and hope many of you will be there as will, it would be nice to have all the old 9TH together again. By talking to big that day, I was able to find my friend Hallet aka FRENCHY, what a Marine he is. Hope my email is posted and write me if you wish. 1bambooviper@sbcglobal.net Semper Fi
Sorry, forgot to tell you, the photographer for the Washington Post snaped some pictures of me at THE WALL. He placed one on Day in photos nov 12 2009 so if you would like to see what the BAMBOOVIPER looks like today, just type in those word and date and I'm the 3RD Photo. You will see, I'm still a very hansom 19 year old boy in a very weather beaten, raged body! he he Long Live My Brothers. Lanny
Well, another year has gone by.
Just thought I'd drop by this site again and say hello and Merry Christmas to all of the survivors of that all expense paid vacation in the A shau back in "69", sponsored and paid for by the 9th Marines.
Thanks for the kind words this past year and I hope 2010 holds a lot of good things for you all.
Regards,
Hank Gross, India company, 3/9
Dear LT.
I hope this message finds you in good health. Once again I want to thank you for your friendship and leadership when it was most needed.The strength of any unit depends on everyone watching each other's back, both with your commander and the Marines with him. We had the best. We are there anytime, anywhere. Your friend and fellow Marine Henry 'Newbie' Davis.
I was with Delta 2nd platoon, head wound going up hill 1044 Feb 26th. Oh what a day! They finnally sent me home for good 12 June operation Utah Mesa. Going to the 1/9 reunion in D.C. in August, hope to see some of you grunts there! Mox out! email rrmoxley19@yahoo.com
I came to LZ Cunningham as a young (short-timer) courier, along with a generator for the ground controlled experimental bombing system that was placed there. We had a large raydome behind our very large sand bagged bunker. We dropped bombs from the ground, mostly at night, from the BCC bunker. I remember the 0700 enemy rocket attacks each morning. You could set your watch for their beginning. I remember the emergency extraction day when we attempted to remove the big guns. May God bless all who served. Thanks to all of you who have shared thoughts and memories. Chuck Lemons (aka maddog)
There was a article written in the VFW magazine March 2008 on this situation. By Kelly Lanigan.E-mail klanigan@vfw.org. Sappers Take a Beating at Liberty Bridge. Scroll down to Aug 21, 2009. I was there. I also have access so much more materials.
I was one of the "Packyderms" (CH-47's) from the 101st that re-supplied you guys at Erskine and Cunningham. Many days we were out there without Marine air bring ammo, food, and water into the FSB's for the operation. On the morning of 28 Feb we went into Laos and picked up four Marine dead and several wounded off a low hill north of Route 922 then several more wounded a kilometer or so east on the hill right on the road. As we were leaving the pathfinder requested food and we dropped three or four cases of C-rats on the road. The next aircraft in was another Packyderm late in the afternoon with more food and water. That was 'Wierd' Harold, who was later killed on the east edge of the A Shau.
We received .51 and AK fire between the two locations but got Marine guns ships to keep the NVA heads down and successfully got to the second location. We took out Marines to Charlie Med at Vandegrift. Hope they all made it okay.
Semper FI guys. That was one hell of a rough area. Glad I wasn't on the ground!
Harry 'Rat'
hate to think of what would have happened without u guys! thanks from a marine grunt. SEMPER FI
I was with D/1/9; does anyone have photos of the attack on the mountain where all the materiel was found? there were many bunkers with new ak-47's, SKS rilfles,machine guns and tons of ammo; when we were attacking the mountain along the Ho Chi Minh Rd, a fuel dump or ammunition cache exploded and dirt rained on everyone, but we kept up the attack and finally secured the area. please sent to me at rvlpc@aol.com; semper fi
Hey Ed, just saw your posting about FSB Erskine that blew up, and you guys were all running around in the jungle below waiting for EOD to clean it. I was one of the two EOD guys up there cleaning it. My partner got hit with some flack during the cleaning and got choppered out. I got left alone. Was given a direct order to stop working but figured you guys were going to be in big trouble if I did. So I kept working alone for the next two days. Later on, it was between a court martial and a bronze star. Got the bronze star (but was shaking in my boots for a while). Glad you made it through.
Mike
Lt. (Hank Gross) I would like to say there are only great Marines when there are Great Leaders, you, SSgt. Britt and Sgt. Miller were three of the best. We had some bad times and we had some not so bad times. One of the good times was when you brought us back a bottle of (I believe) was Silver Fox Whiskey or maybe the good stuff- Jack Daniels. I will never forget your leadership or your friendship. All of us were proud to have served with you- anytime, anywhere. Your friend and fellow Marine- Henry Davis. dswordfishtwo@aol.com.
Semper Fi- Keep The Faith
Warner DeFord, I do remember that your bunker had been hit. The first Marine I made contact with was our radioman and his name was Henry also, he told me that a bunker had been hit and you and Doc Sprouse were in it. Shortly after, SSgt. Britt, who was about 6'1+, stuck his head in Henry's (radioman) lean-to and asked who I was. I said to him I'm Henry Davis, who are you. He said, well Henry Davis, Your commander (Lt. Gross) wants to see you. I don't remember what Henry's (radioman) last name was, but we were laughing that his, Lt. Gross and mine name was all Henrys'. Thought it might be a good sign and I have to say, it was. They ( my squad leader Kudor Brown and others) gave me the nickname 'Newbie' because I was the first new guy that they got on Tiger Mountain. Take care and Keep the Faith.
I was the senior corpsman with I 3/9 on 27 July 1969 with Capt. Cisneros, SSGT Wyatt A. Britt And Mike McMasters. I was there about 20 feet from "Tank" McMasters was killed. Hello LT. Goss, LT. Brosey and the rest of India 3/9.
Do u have any stories or pictures of "Tank" Mike, my uncle?
Would like to hear from members of foxtrot 2/12 that were on tun tavern and vandegrift fire sup-port bases as well, as cunningham. This would help with some closer that I badly need for my ptds.
Henry Davis, Jim Stubblefield!
It's good to see you guys are still verticle. I'll be 65 this month and have lost six friends over the last eight months to everything from heart attacks to cancer. Sort of feel like I'm down in my hole on Cunningham waiting for one of those 122mm NVA artillary rounds to drop in with me.
It never ceases to amaze me how this site and Operation Dewey Canyon still brings people together. I've looked at a lot of these blogs on this site about Vietnam and non of them has had so many people keep in contact with each other.
You guys were talking about SSgt Britt…I remember when we were on an operation with the 1st of the 5th mechanized…an Army unit we talked about back up the page. One of the platoon fell over from heat exhaustion, and SSgt Britt took off his pack and threw the Marine over his shoulder and carried him to the top of the hill for a "dustoff". I was going to be a smart ass and carry his pack and mine up behind him. They almost had to medivac me too. His pack contained a whole case of c rats, a portable record player and some PRC25 batteries to power it,, a half a dozen 33 1/3 rpm ALBUMS by Diana Ross and the Supremes. The man new how to live in the bush!
Best regards to all.
Hank Gross
Hank Gross, I remember Sgt Briitt carrying the new guy and thought you were going to fall out any second. My ass was kicked or I would have helped you… I ran across a recording of a guy named Larry Lawler who spoke of Kitten, Mike Hugger was his name… The first time I talked to SSgt Britt he was listening to Country Charley Pride and telling all of the brothers that he was listening to soul music….Happy Birthday……..Warner DeFord. Oh Yeah,, SSgt Britt was 6'6"…..
Warner,
Sgt Britt used to take a lot of good natured flak about Country Charlie Pride from the soul brothers in the platoon.
I really thought I was through that day. I would'nt have fought to hard if they had tried to throw me on that "dust off". Thanks for Kitten's name…I can still see his face in my mind's eye, but could'nt remember his name. I hope he is still alive and doing OK. He was a good radio man and a fine Marine. If he would'nt have been standing so close behind me when that mortor round came in, I would have gotton the blast. Some times I wonder how I've lived such a charmed life.
Best regards to all,
Hank gross
Hank….. I always thought we all were very lucky in India co… We were sent to take and occupy the the main objective of the operation and it was said to be a suicide mission yet we met with a large force once and when I called for a flare ship they sent an AC-47 and we never had to fire a shot.. I remember only one fire fight on phase one and on phase 2 a pretty bad one,trucks and tracked vehicles less than 100meters from us kept me awake and on the radio to call in support but we stayed quiet and lost Sully when we moved out that following morning….We were busy moving for those days and it is amazing to me that we weren't wiped out being that we were so out numbered….Captain Arroyo had done another tour with India I believe as a platoon commander and knew what he was doing and kept us out of trouble on that Op. Take care Sir….. Dee
my brother Joe Nettles was in the Dewey Cannon operation,he still lives in Jacksonville,fl. operating a collision repair center. he was with the 1st batalion 9th marines he told me about this site,I really appreciate the sacrifice you made to make this a great nation,willing to fight for other peoples rights to be free. sincerely a receiver of that right Lou Nettles
I probably dont belong here, but i wanted to say thx to u all, for when i leave a place i think of the fallen heroes that can no longer go there.
If you can, can u post a pic of mike mcmaster for me? He is my uncle. And also can u think of a memory u had with him and share it? My email is seancoulter@q.com
Does any of you marines in 1/9 hotel company remember my brother Fred Lafay Pettigrew lll at Dewey Canyon he was killed Today FEBUARY 11TH 1969 IN DEWY CANYON OPERATION .Would welcome any information you have to offer.
Gable,
To help you with your search, Hotel Company was 2/9
I checked the virtual wall and found your Brother. He was 1/9 Delta Co. I was with Charlic Co, transferred in the field to Delta, just before Feb 22nd and back to Charlie on the 24th or 25th after the big battle on the 22nd.
Check the Virtual Wall site: http://www.virtualwall.org/dp/PettigrewFL01a.htm
I am sorry, I can't remeber him, but this may give some leads.
Ed
I had the Honor of serving with Mike Company 3rd Battalion 9th Marines 2nd Platoon, Squads Call signs Underdogs-Freelove- Bushbeaters on Operation Dewey Canyon. My nickname was Buzzard & served in Bushbeaters as Squad Leader. On 2/10/69 we were ambushed on a Platoon size Point Patrol for the Company as we were prepared to set up a night perimeter on a small finger knoll. To those Brave Warriors that gave their all that night leading to the next day I have never forgotten your Bravery or Sacrafice. We had Puff called in for support through the night and reinforcements reached us the next morning after humping all night to reach us. Forgotten names but your faces will be with me for eternity, God Bless our KIA's your not Forgotten.
Semper Fidelis
I was a squad leader in first platoon, snoppy. What a night thank God for puff, I remember you
.
I am glad you made it back to the world.
Semper Fidelis
Pardon any intrusion…Cousin David Schneider was killed on Feb 19, 1969 with Mike Company..still miss him…any knowledge of him? Thanks for your sacrifices.
I was on lz cunningham during the sapper attack I was assighned to hq as a wireman and radio operater I was off duty that night but our radio antennas were knocked out by enemy fire. Pete Hyla and I got them put up during the fire fight and sapper attack. when day light came I was sitting on an ak 47 mag and there was chicom in my fox hole.Thank you 9th marines on the line you are the bravest men I have ever known. I received a head wound months or weeks earlier on lz razzor so my memorey is not so good. jc
Hi J.C…. India Company had just reached the top of Tiger Mountain the day of the night attack on Cunningham… I was at the highest point inside the perimeter on Tiger Mountain and remember listening to what was happening on the TAC Party frequency and watched the AC- 47 gunship drop flares and fire in support of you guys… It looked pretty cool from where I was but sounded like hell over the radio… I had ran an AC-47 mission a night or 2 before that when we were encircled by what was told to me by the observer on board the aircraft was a battalion sized unit… We were lucky the guys on lines had heard movement or it would have been bad. No one on either side on the ground fired a shot…They were still carrying off dead and wounded when the sun came up and when they were all gone we moved on out to reach the top of Tiger Mountain…
I was with 3/9, M company, 3rd platoon from July 1968 until February 12, 1969. I was a squad leader and when I had to leave country because my brother had come over, PFC Ed Hock took my place as squad leader. Ed was KIA on Feb 12, 1969. He was one of the two that was KIA from that attack after crossing the Da Krong. I served the rest of my tour in the states and never believed that Ed was really dead until I saw his name on the Wall. I loved Ed like a brother-my only regret is that I never got to Washington State to see his parents and tell them what a great Marine he was. God rest his soul!
My cousin David A. Schneider was with Co. M, 3rd Battalion and was killed on Feb 19th while on night perimeter guard…he was in country just 6 weeks. If not too painful, would like to hear from folks who might remember him…I want to archive something more that the news clippings we have from his hometown…Hamilton, OH. Thanks to all who fought with him…miss him dearly.
As a Marine that was born was on Parris Island 1983 3rd Bn and later served 16 yrs before injuries forced an early retirement as a Gunny. I want to thank you all for your service, tell you welcome home you did a great job and most importantly what you guys did was help develop and force doctrine and a mindset that helped me keep my Marines alive in the Gulf War and Somalia. Obviously different "clime and place" than Vietnam but many of the things you guys did became our tactics and discipline. I was a FO/Naval Gunfire Spotter and later Counter Intelligence. Anyhow, many of my first Plt Sgts, E7s E8s and E9s were Vietnam vets. they knew their "stuff" and they instilled in my generation a way of being a marine that we all carried through our careers.
I also had the honor of working under Col W. Fox who received the MoH for action in this operation. He was an amazing Marine, one we all looked up to and he always made sure we knew that he represented all of you. When he spoke of OP Dewey Canyon those listening knew that he loved and respected you all.
I am now a 46 yr old executive at my 3rd Silicon Valley corporation and the discipline and work ethic I learned as a Marine has been responsible for carrying me this far. God Bless you all and I cannot tell you how proud I am to have served in the shadow of your valiant efforts. In many ways you are all a father to me. you are all heroes, you are all protectors of our nation. you all did an amazing job. Again welcome home we are glad and honored you are with us.
Respectfully,
John
my brother fred pote was kia in dewey canyon. i believe there are a few marines from 1/ 9 around this board, would like to hear anything about what you went through ! i was only 14 yrs old at the time, and was following all thati could read, but to no avail ! in my adult life have studied dewey canyon and its effects on the viet nam war, not alot out there, so much the government hides. was hoping the proud men that were there would fill me in ! so proud of all of you that served during a major conflict ! happy for all of you that were able to return home ! god bless, harry pote
Harry: I knew your brother, my email is mikeflanagan98@yahoo. com.I will be happy to share with you my memories of Freddie. Some of my recall of the operation comes and goes but I will answer any questions to the best of my ability. It seems like most off the respondants on this site have ptsd myself included but I,ll share what I can.