HQ112A

For every Marine in the field or at forward firebase's near the DMZ, there were five to seven Marines working in tenuous areas such as Dong Ha, JJ Carroll; or further south at Phu Bai, Chu Lai, and Da Nang. Their responsibilitys included administration duties, moving supplies, men, and equipment while keeping Marines in the field fed, clothed, and equipped to do their job. Without the effort of these Marines, whose jobs and MOS's varied the forward firebase's and operations would not have been able to function, let alone exist.

Dong Ha, points west, east, and south received mortar and rocket attacks; the same at Da Nang. These Marines were not impervious to combat, they faced incoming and took their turn on the lines depending on what area they served in. Often tagged with the moniker "REMF" it was a name they would learn to wear with pride. (continued below)

Photographed from the southern perimeter looking north; in the upper left of the map reveals the Cam Lo river, the upper right is the refugee camp.The forward slope is the main artillery concentration, featuring 105, 155mm Howitzers and USA 175mm Guns. Route 9 appears in the upper left, the main east-west road, spaning from Lang Vei to Dong Ha. This is home to Headquarters Battery 1st Battalion 12th Marines Camp JJ Carroll.

After all, field Marines had to be processed, fed, sheltered, supplied, resupplied, medically cared for, counseled, paid, entertained, (if it was safe enough) and damn near anything and everything else by REMF Marines; They were the grease that kept the war wheel turning.

These "all-area" Marine's name derived from "Rear Echelon Mother Fu...uh, well, you get the idea." Their battles were often against enemies unknown to most; generally, rear echelon command was efficient, well disciplined, and professional but there were those certain Marines who seemed adept at creating boredom, tedium, and petty bureaucracy.

Yes they had cold beer and other "bennies" not available in the field, but hey, they never asked for the damn job of baby sitting the "FEMF" Marines, it was their duty; somebody had to drink the beer...