Welcome to Covered Storage, General Stores Material Division.  I had arrived, after a short conversation about what we did and what was expected of me I was assigned to my first Warehouse,. General Stores Materials Warehouse 11. I was also informed that because of a shortage of 2^nd Class Storekeepers I would be An E4 filling an E5 billet, I was to be Warehouse Supervisor. I asked how I came to be selected for this position and was informed that because of my service records I was the best choice for the position. So here I was a 20 year old SK3 in charge of a multimillion dollar facility. I was shown the way to my new warehouse where I was introduced to a salty old First Class Storekeeper, maybe 5’ 8” and 120 lbs if he had rocks in his pocket.  He was ready to return home and retire from the Navy.  He welcomed me aboard and we sat and talked to get to know each other. Soon he gave me the grand tour of my Kingdom. We had a 4 Bay Butler Building, with each bay maybe 60 feet X 75 yards long.  We had all types of electrical supplies, spools of cable, Plumbing and other types of hardware.

Besides the covered area we had a large area between the warehouse and the perimeter fence that we used for outside storage. And  yet more outside storage between us and Warehouse 12 to our east. Behind our warehouse was the Foremost dairy Milk reconstitution plant, where they took powdered milk and make milk and chocolate milk for the troops. I made friends there real quick.  The ware house staff consisted of Korean Nationals hired through Philco-Ford, and Vietnamese Nationals, plus one US Navy seaman apprentice, and Myself.  I learned the layout and the day to day operations and soon was on my own as warehouse supervisor.  I enjoyed working with the Koreans, all of them were former Republic of Korea (RoK) Marines, and very hard working and intelligent. We talked of the customs of our countries and our differences. The Koreans were very appreciative of the United States assistance during the Korean Conflict.  I also enjoyed learning from the Vietnamese.  I had one Papasan that was very friendly and we enjoyed playing around, then one day he failed to report for work, and as I inquired as to why I was informed that he was a North Vietnamese Major and was working there so he could obtain information for the enemy. After that I was skeptical of all the Vietnamese personal.  After a while even thought I had good control of my warehouse, they obtained enough E-5’s to make one of them Warehouse supervisor over me and make me Assistant Warehouse supervisor.  After being in charge this did not sit well with me and soon I was in trouble with the division hierarchy.   The supervisor of Warehouse 21 told them “Put him in my warehouse I will control him!” He was wrong, we fought constantly, which led to my first stint on depot security.  During my time in Whse 11 and 21 I made many contacts with other branches of the service and would assist them in obtaining what they required either through proper channels or through what we referred to as “trading” LOL.  The Navy frowned upon this activity even though everyone did it to some extent. 

     My memory on my timeline in Vietnam is foggy at best so I will do the best I can to get it written, but I will be telling events as I remember them not necessarily in the order they happened. My next blog will be on Red Alerts.   

  

Welcome to Da Nang Viet Nam, Republic of

We boarded a plane at Norton Air Force Base, near San Bernadino California, for a trip into the unknown. We had been through our training and now it was time to serve our country. This is what we joined for. We knew we would be in a relatively safe area but still we were going into a war zone. I remember landing in Hawaii at Hickam Air Force Base, and having fresh pineapple for a snack. It was wonderful, I was traveling on a charter flight of course full of members of all branches of the military, a few of us sat around and ate and talked until it was time to re-board. We made one more stop on the flight but I cannot remember where. And then there we were descending into what would be our home for the next 365 days. It was February 11, 1969 when we touched down at Da Nang Air Force Base, "Home of the "Gunfighters" aka the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing. We could see helicopters and F-4 Phantoms in their revetments. It was our first sight of "The War". After we disembarked the plane, representatives of US NSA Da Nang lead us to the Haze grey busses for our trip to Camp Tien Sha, this would be the home camp for many of us and others would be sent to one of the Detachments in I-Corp. The popular name for the 1st Corp Tactical Zone, one of the 4 zones South Vietnam was divided into. Most of the fighting in I-Corp was United States Marines under the control of Third Marine Amphibious Force, better known as III-MAF, which was headquartered in Da Nang. We were there to support the Marines of III-MAF, and other US and Allied Forces in the area

As we boarded the busses we noticed the wire screens on all the windows, and it was explained that this was to prevent the locals from throwing things like hand grenades into the busses. Welcome to Vietnam. The trip across the Da Nang River onto the Tien Sha Peninsula was uneventful, and we spent most of our time looking at the scenery and people. Riding their bicycles, hondas and their 3 wheeled lambretta vehicles. Conical bamboo hats on almost everyone.  Squatting down with hand rolled cigarettes hanging out of their mouths. We saw many water buffaloes, and could not help but notice that much of the building material was scrap crates and tin. Soon we arrived at our destination, Camp Tien Sha Vietnam, an old French encampment that had been converted by the Sea Bees into our base camp.

 Main Gate Camp Tien Sha Vietnam

       As we approached the camp we were unsure what to expect, I mean this was a war zone after all, but what we really did not expect were the rows of buildings, and the lawns surrounded by the little white picket fences.   We stopped in front of the Master-At-Arms office and exited the bus; we were placed in ranks and marched to the transit barracks that would be our residence while undergoing our indoctrination to Naval Support Activity Da Nang.  We were given directions to the Mess Hall and EM Club, and pretty much released until the next morning.  The transit barracks had bunks with 3 high beds and I would up on the top bunk. Early the next morning, the Red Alert siren sounded and I quickly jumped forgetting how high I was and hit the floor with a thud, got up and followed the rest to the bunker. We were lucky that night nothing happened, and soon the all clear sounded.

     The next day we started our indoctrination, classes about the same as we had been through in Coronado. Stay out of the local villages, treat the locals with respect, and so on. That night I was assigned to the Shore Patrol, my job was to stand at the back door of the 21 room at the club and when the sailors went to the head make sure none of the 18-20 year olds snuck back into the 21 room.  I had my painted helmet liner and duty belt, I was official yeah right.  I remember one individual, coming back from the head stopped and being shorter than I , looked up at me and remarked, “You look mean in that helmet!” I simply replied “I AM” and he went on his way.  At closing, many of the Shore Patrol were assigned to the “Drunk Busses”, escorting those very intoxicated folks back to places like the deep water piers, and Tien SHa Annex. We were there to break up fights and do crowd control. I had the DWP bus and there were no major problems.  I did that for a couple of nights before we received our placements into divisions. I was assigned to, General Stores Material Division, Covered Storage compound. We simply called it GSM. I was escorted to their barracks on Tien Sha and started meeting the shipmates that would be my family for the next year. The bulk of the barracks was open and shared by everyone from Seaman Apprentice, to Storekeeper Third Class. In the back half of the barracks were rooms for the 1^st and 2^nd Class Petty Officers, the Chiefs and Officers had their own sleeping areas elsewhere. I found an empty bunk and put my things away. I was home!

               Camp Tien Sha looking down from Monkey Mountain

Preparing for NAM

Pre Vietnam Training:

   In early January 1968, I reported to US Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado California, “West Coast home of the US Navy SEAL’s  for pre Vietnam training. Coronado is just south of the  US Naval Air Station, North Island on San Diego’s Silver Strand. It was very interesting to see the SEAL’s training, and I knew I would never try it lol I had a friend try it but he rang out early, and he was a pretty stout guy.

   My training was to be three weeks during which I would be indoctrinated into the language and culture of Vietnam.  I was staying with Pat & Sam, and most  evenings  I would catch a ride to North Island to meet up with Sam and we would ride the “Nickel Snatcher” across the bay to where his car was parked. Some days I would just hop on. the LCU “Liberty Boat” out of ‘Phib base.

   During training I was scheduled to go through the “Survival School” in Warner Springs for Survival, Evasion, Resistance, & Escape. “S.E.R.E” I had heard horror stories about SERE, and seen a few guys that had returned with multiple bruises.  They even had a replica POW compound where they would teach you resistance and how to attempt an escape. But when you got caught they treated you like a real captured escapee.  I was both anticipating and dreading this little adventure.  Early in our indoctrination we learned that the SERE class was now a 3 day classroom event. If you passed the written exam after the lessons you did not have to go to wonderful Warner Springs. If you however failed the exam, you were given a second exam and if you failed twice, you were awarded with  a week long stay at the Warner Springs Resort. Needless to say I passed on the first try.

   One week of our training was Weapons Training at the US Marine Base Camp Pendleton .  W boarder charter buses at Amphibious Base, and headed to Camp Pendleton, upon arrival we were greeted by a very testy Gunnery Sergeant that informed us how we would act while on HIS base One point he made clear was that since many  Chiefs and Petty Officers wore collar devices, we would most likely receive hand salutes from the young marines  stationed there. When this happened we were to smartly return said salute without any remarks, or gestures or we would be his guest for two weeks of Marine Boot Camp.

     Weapons training was a highlight of my Naval service, we were instructed in the breaking down cleaning, and reassembly of the M16 and the M1911, and other weapons we might be using in Vietnam,. Then we were taken to the range to be shown the proper way to use each weapon.  My favorite was the M79 aka “Blooper”, a shotgun looking 40 mm grenade launcher. It was a single shot, break apart loading heavy duty weapon for short distance.  When it was time to shoot we were given 3 rounds, and told to shoot them at the car bodies on the next hill.  I was lucky enough to be one of the early shooters, and my first shot fell about 3 yards short of the target. But both other shots were  dead on and it was quite a feeling to watch the car body ripped apart. We also shot the M16 & M1911, where I was not as good, but did hit the target a few times with each. While we were training on the M1911, 45 caliber pistol, an Ensign right out of the Academy was taking his turn, and after the first shot the recoil caused his hands to go straight up in the air where he again  pulled the trigger and this continued until the magazine was empty. Thankfully no one was injured in the incident, but it was not the last time he would have a problem.

Another of my favorite activities was learning to throw the hand grenade. After our demonstration we were each given 2 practice and one live grenade to throw.  I did as good as anyone at this, but our favorite ensign stepped up and threw his two practice grenades  like he was shown, but when he got the live one he got nervous and it barely went down range. The Sergeant yelled “Hit the DIRT” and we all dove to the ground. We were  peppered  with dirt and dust but otherwise unharmed. 

   Other weapons we were instructed on were 30 and 50 caliber machine guns, and mortars. One day as we were sitting in the bleachers getting our instructions, I think it was on mortars, we heard a whistling sound overhead and watched an explosion on the next hill. We found it quite entertaining until the Sergeant  grabbed the field phone and started screaming at some one. It seems that another training group was shooting in the wrong direction. Can we say OOPS??.

   After my pre-nam training, I was given another 14 days to report to my flight for US Naval Support Activity, Da Nang, Vietnam, Republic Of.  I headed for Tucson to visit with my Sister Geneva and her Hubby, Allen Kendal Armstrong, US Air Force.  When I got there I was informed that Allen would be joining me in Da Nang, in six months. He had received  orders to US Air Force base Da Nang.