Letters Home From Men of the 12th Marines

Email your "Letters Home from Vietnam" to:

charliebattery67@wavecable.com

Dearest Mom & Dad & Girls,  (C 1/12)       29 April 1967

No doubt by now you have heard about the NVA attacks of yesterday. It all started with us at Gio Linh and then spread. God, it was terrible.

The NVA started hitting us with artillery (probably the same stuff we shoot & bigger) at about 6:00PM 27 April. They were so close we could hear their guns shoot before the rounds came in. They really hit us hard this time, they hit us almost continually until 4:00AM; they were really on us.

I would say it was three times as bad as the first artillery attack we went through because they were so much more accurate and they threw in a lot more rounds. We couldn't even begin to touch them either. They just hit one gun after another and then they hit our phone lines so we had no communications for sending missions to our guns. It was such a damn useless feeling because we were firing and firing but just couldn't seem to stop them. We got reports that they had 12 or more guns out there (**Historical note: In excess of 25 NVA guns were firing on Gio Linh) and they were all spread out.

I guess I could sit here and talk for hours about how close I and the others came to getting it but that doesn't mean much. All I can say is thank God I was in the right place at the right times. We had 36 medivacs (70 total WIA's, 2 KIA's) and one of our comm men was killed and another is in critical condition and later died.

A lot were injured when sick bay took a hit right near their entrance. It got all the wounded again plus one of our corpsman, Doc Johnson and most all the streacher-bearers, which when I am not on watch I am one; luckily I was on watch. The other recorder that works with me got it pretty bad and was medivaced out.

We only had two guns that could fire this morning at about 6:30AM when most everything was over and the expected ground attack had not come. They told us we would be moving out because they needed a battery with six operating guns and not just two. Now we are in Dong Ha and a big relief to most all of us. The Gooks rocketed Dong Ha last night but this place is so spread out and they tried to concentrate on the airfield. Here we are a long way from it, we feel pretty safe now.

I pray to God I am never that scared again. I just felt like I was going to throw up. I'm glad it's over and we are out of there, it was such a bad night. Over 50% of the battery received Purple Hearts in the two months we were there. I felt kind of sorry for the battery that relieved us up there today. Our area was a total mess, there were crater holes all over the place. A lot of our own rounds were scattered over the area after a few of the ammo pits were hit, caught fire, and then exploded.

I took a few pictures of the whole thing and will send them home. Boy, am I glad we are out of there. I am so gun shy now I jump at the least little thing. I will close for now but I will write again soon. God bless and keep you all.

Your loving son & brother,

Bruce

MAY 26, 1969

ONE DAY I CAN NEVER FORGET

(Alpha 1/12)

The Battery had been moved to the top of Dong Ha Mountain for a few weeks now. Battery A 1st Battalion 12th Marine Regiment 3rd Marine Division had built a position for their six 105mm Howitzers on the top of a high peak and was capable of providing close artillery support in any direction. The work was very hard. All materials, ammo, supplies and equipment had to be man carried and placed. No trucks, just a placement by CH-53’s and 46’s and the guns tended to sink in the mud. Thousands of sand bags filled with mud had to be assembled into gun pits and houches. The wind and rain chilled you to the bone. The fire missions were long and everybody was worked into a trance. The Marines in the battery were very close to each other. We humped ammo and worked together to accomplish our mission. Many life long friendships were born. Many lives were changed.

As a Battery the troops worked as a unit to accomplish the common tasks. Humping ammo, building fortifications and doing whatever was necessary. But the very close relationships came within the various Gun crews. When your Gun had duty, time off, chow or guard it was only your crew as all others were sleeping, eating or on work parties. The five Marines on your Gun were yours. On Dong Ha Mountain the Guns were arranged in line connected by common pit walls. I was on Gun #1 and shared some personal moments with Gun #2 and #3, but the farther down the line towards the CP the closeness seemed to fade a little. The firebase was the night rest stop for various infantry platoons; they would hump in and out daily. I do not recall even speaking to these Marines but their presents was always appreciated.

I remember Van Vleet as a skinny light haired kid from Utah. He was a hard worker, friendly and he knew how to stay out of the Sergeant’s ire. He was on Gun #2. Gutierrez had a slight build and was from California as was I, but I do not remember talking to him much about home. Although he was a Corporal he worked very hard and was on Gun #2.

On the day I can never forget the call rang out “battery adjust, enemy contact, rounds, charge, azimuth, deflection”. All Marines scrambled. It was wet and almost dark. I was standing behind Gun #1 loading powder bags into a canister. Mike D was next to me setting a fuse when I swear that it went completely quiet and I heard for the very first time in my life the words “short round”. For some reason, I will hopefully understand some day, I crouched down, there was a loud snap sound, and then screams. Robert Van Vleet and Raymond Gutierrez were on high ground when the round hit wire or air burst directly between Gun #1 and #2. They died and I was changed forever. Death, pain, blood, sadness and the realization of mortality was the lesson of that day.

I am a United States Marine Veteran but I must admit that at that moment I was a child. The gallant efforts displayed by other Marines inspire me. I will not name them but they were truly heroic. The Doc worked and men held the victims down, carried them to the Helios and I think completed the fire mission. I think all I could do was help. There was no shortage of leadership and courage.

After it was all over and quiet again I became overwhelmed and jumped into a bunker. I think I was scared. I remember thinking to myself “what the F*ck are you doing? There is no danger now”. The fact is that I was changed forever.

God bless Van Vleet and Gutierrez. They were taken at nineteen years. They are forever nineteen while those of us who survived are old. They missed what we were given and I will probably never understand why.

I will never forget these two Marines. They gave all so we can be free. When I hear people speaking of gallant war heroes with medals and citations I remember these two Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice with little if any recognition. They were the gallant heroes I knew.

(Quote)“All Marines die in either the red flash of battle or the white cold of the nursing home. In the vigor of youth or the infirmity of age all will eventually die but the Marine Corps lives on. Every Marine who ever lived is living still, in the Marines who claim the title today. It is that sense of belonging to something that will outlive our own mortality. It is belonging to something which gives people a light to live by and a flame to mark their passing.” (Author unknown)

Semper Fi,

Mike Stagner, aka “Orange”

0811, Battery A, 1st Battalion 12th Regiment 3rd Div.

RVN 1969

Dear Dad,           (C 1/12)                 13 April 1967

Well I guess everyone is pissed off at me - I didn't mean to go so long without writing.

I am inclosing a small map that will help orient my position. We are about 1300 meters "just short of a mile" from the DMZ, the firebase is called Gio Linh.

We have been here since February 26th; we got word to move off the plateau about 1:30 in the morning. At 6:30 that morning we were on the road. They beat the shit out of us the first night with mortars. We took about 800 mortar rounds in the first 2 days and over 3,000 rounds in the position to date, including arty. We have been hit 27 times only once with artillery. I don't mind the mortars but those arty rounds are a bitch. It was the first time the Gooks have used it in the war.

You might remember Spicer the colored kid that was with me in Okinawa. He got hit in the second mortar attack, a direct hit on his ammo bunker there was lots of shrapnel and the hit broke several rifles. Trent, the one in FDC with me got it two weeks ago, he was coming out of his hooch when a mortar hit about seven feet from him. It messed him up bad, he was hit in both legs, both arms, his neck, and lower abdomen. I got a letter from him yesterday, he's in Da Nang. He was presented his "Purple Heart" by General Walt.

Sorensen, the kid from California got hit the same day; he was hit in the leg while I was out on crater analysis. He is one of our corporals we got in FDC from Golf Battery.  When a mortar hits we take an azimuth from the holes left by the explosion, that's how we know what direction to return fire. As I was saying, I was taking this azimuth when Sorensen came up and was trying to tell me he had been hit. I was so damn busy trying to get the azimuth I didn't even pay any attention to what he was saying. I guess someone else helped him to sick bay; after the mortars, I tried to find him but they had already taken him out by copter. I feel bad about it, he regarded me as his best friend in the battery. I hope someday I'll get the chance to explain to him what happened. When those rounds are falling all over and you know if you don't get an azimuth to fire on they will keep right on coming. It's hard to think of anything except getting an azimuth. Maybe he will understand that what I was doing was more important than his or anyone's injury at that time.

We haven't been hit for three days now, I guess they

are up to something. C-1-12 is now being referred to as "Guinn's Misfits," Captain Guinn being our CO. As you probably read in the paper, Freedom Bridge, the bridge that spans the Ben Hai River between North and South Vietnam in the heart of the DMZ was attacked by American artillery. We are the battery who fired on it; we can see it from our position.

Well Dad I guess I will close for now, take care and give everyone all my best.

Love - your son,

Wally

PS: I think this is going to last a lot longer than people think and get much worse. I'm thinking of staying in until we get this mess cleaned up. I feel that would be better for me to stay over here, as I understand things much better than most of the new kids coming over.

Pss: Don't tell mother all I said as she would just worry more.

Gio Linh Chronicles

and More...

Dear Dad,                    (C 1/12)                 April 10, 1967

Sorry I have not written for a while; it is best you do not show this to mom. I am so tired Dad; we have not slept in a day and a half. There are rumors the Gooks are going to try and overrun us in 2 weeks, 8,000 of them. I don't know what to say to you, I do not know when I will leave this place if ever.

I keep trying to put one foot in front of the other, all of us are so exhausted we are ready to drop. We get maybe two - four hours of sleep a night, never all at once. Somehow, you reach inside and find strength to get through the day and then the night comes, the mortar attacks and fire missions never stop. The sun comes up, we are always glad the night is over but when the sun rises we get to do it all over again.

At least no artillery attack for a while but we all know it is coming again, not if but when. We have had so many guys in the battery wounded; everyday it seems like someone else is hit and goes down. Blood, bandages, stretchers, and then they are medivaced and gone.

Nobody has been killed yet, some hurt real bad, the grunts lost nine of their Marines last month just west of the firebase. All we could do was sit here and listen to it. Sounded like they walked into hell. They brought their dead back piled on an Ontos, then loaded them on a 6X6 truck and moved them to Dong Ha.

I have to go Dad, pray for us at Gio Linh; I just do not know if I will make it out of here and back home, its hard to stay alive.

Red

Dear Mother          (C 1/12)      13 April 1967

Hi Hon how's my girl? I hope you're not to angry at me. It's rather difficult for me to collect enough thoughts to put on paper anymore. They are keeping us busy and I've been sticking to beer only. Once in a while a little whiskey but not to a great extent.

Not really much to say as there's not much going on just the same old stuff. I'm now trying to catch up on some of my letters but I can only write to those who write to me. All my addresses's and old letter writing gear are back at the battery rear. Well Hon tell everyone I said hello and write.

Love,

Wally

Letters Home from Vietnam

Dear Mom and Dad,(C 1/12)

Well I guess I'll finally get some time to write. I have never worked so hard with so little sleep than I have in the last week. We have been firing 2000 rounds a night for the grunts but now we have slacked off because were about out of ammo at the dump. "May Day" is also coming and its a Communist holiday. We are expecting to be attacked on or before that day.

You remember I told you about that mortar round that landed so close to me, and then the colored guy got hurt? Well he lost his left eye. He is out of the Marine Corps now but what a price to pay.

You said something about draft card burners in your last letter. Well I'll tell you what it wouldn't do for one to get even close to me after what I have seen over here. These guys you live with on your gun become just like brothers and its pretty hard to see your brother get wounded and all you can do is keep on shooting hard and fast and hope your rounds are on target before another one of their's is. Dad probably knows what I am talking about. What's so funny about it is you ask yourself why them and not me? Then you think just lucky I guess. Well anyway, I can't understand why they want to demonstrate, we are doing our best.

Well, be sure and write and tell me about my bonds and get my camera if you can. So take care of yourselves and write soon when you can.

Love,

Steve

Mom and Dad,      (C 1/12)               March 31, 1967

We are being hit almost every night now. The mortars are not to bad (not like artillery) but someone seems to get hurt every time we get hit. Johnson was hit in the face just below his eye last night. He was standing a foot or so from me when it happened. A flare had just been fired over the firebase, the color of his blood almost looked black in the flare light as it dripped off his cheek onto his flack jacket. He was not seriously hurt but this is wearing on all of us. I am trying to stay alive, doing what I am told, obeying orders, there are no choices. Everyday we work until we almost drop, every night we run the Gook gauntlet. If we survive we do so to run it again the following night. I would be lying if I told you I was not afraid, I am. I think most of us feel the only way we will ever get out of Gio Linh is with a wound severe enough for medivac or a body bag. This is a difficult place and the fighting is heavy, I hope to see you, Rob, and Dave again.

Red

Mom and Dad(C 1/12)       11 July 1967

Its growing dark, the day is almost over; it has been a bad day. They killed my friend this morning; those  damned Gooks killed Jorge. I would kill each one of them with my bare hands if I could. Two 82mm mortars hit his fighting hole, one mortar hit Jorge in the back of the neck and the second one hit his friend Skutt in the back of his neck. They loaded them out on stretchers and one Marine buried the rest in sandbags between gun's 2 and 3. He would not let me help; I owed Jorge but he said he needed to do it. Jorge told me last night he was going to die, made me promise to find his wife and kids, especially his kids and tell them he loved them. He wanted them to know he held them in his heart when he went; God, I am so pissed, but there is nothing I can do but wait for the next fire mission and then I swear I will kill them all...

Red

This page was last updated: 14 February, 2008