3/3 RVN Ass’n Vol 1 Issue 1 09/01/2004 Page 3
A Few Good Men and More,
Gather at Emotional Reunion
~Kelli's Heroes~ by Kelli Germeraad
Reprinted with permission
Visiting our nation's capital, Washington, D.C., is always an exciting adventure for me. The opportunity to immerse myself in our nation's history, while visiting several of our governing institutions is something I look forward to every couple of years.
I traveled with my husband, Jake to attend the 2004 reunion of members of Third Battalion/Third Marines who served in Vietnam together. It is a wonderful emotional time for these Marine veterans
to continue to strengthen the bonds of their
friendship and service.
At this reunion, more Marines of the battalion and their families attended than ever before. It was a week filled with joy, sorrow, camaraderie, war stories, family stories and of a time shared long ago.
More than half of those attending were there for the first time. I know my own husband had waited some 30 years to have the opportunity to see many he had served with in his company, who had never attended a reunion before.
In January 1965, the Second Battalion, 1st Marines left Camp Pendleton, under the old peacetime trans-placement system for a 13-month tour on Okinawa. Upon reaching Okinawa they were redesignated as the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines. They expected they would finish their 13-month tours in peace and return to the states, where discharge or orders to new duty stations would await them.
World events, however, would dictate a much different mission, and these Marines were moved from Okinawa to a new airfield being established near DaNang in South Vietnam, called Chu Lai.
They landed on May 12, 1965.
Initial operations were slow-paced against
semiprofessional guerrillas, most of whom were equipped with outdated weaponry. They were a tough enemy, but not nearly as well-equipped and organized as the North Vietnamese Army, which the battalion encountered later in the war.
Initial operations were slow-paced against
semiprofessional guerrillas, most of whom were equipped with outdated weaponry. They were a tough enemy, but not nearly as well-equipped and organized as the North Vietnamese Army, which the battalion encountered later in the war.
The war's first major operation by any unit in any service was fought by the Third Battalion Marines beginning on Aug. 18, 1965. "Operation Starlite" was fought against the 1st Viet Cong Regiment, which was planning an attack against Chu Lai. In August 1965, three Marine Corps battalions overran the 1st Vietcong Regiment and, during the course of a 6 day period, killed over 600 Vietcong soldiers with the loss of 51 Marines and over 200 wounded.
The battalion's causalities included Capt. Bruce Webb, India Company commander, who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions that day. Cpl. Robert E. O'Malley, a squad leader, was the battalion's first Medal of Honor recipient for his heroism in the action.
The Third Battalion later was involved in action at places called Rock Pile, Cam Lo, Khe Sanh, Con Thien and others. Even as many elements of the battalion boarded ship to leave Vietnam in October 1969, more than 50 percent of the men were transferred to other units and remained in Vietnam.
Of the 58,000 men and women who lost their lives in Vietnam, 644 were Marines and Corpsmen who served with the Third Battalion, Third Marines.
Among them, 554 fell while serving with the Third Battalion and 90 died during subsequent tours. America is lucky to have Marines like those who served with the Third Battalion. Semper Fi, Marines.
This was an amazingly emotional journey for me; I am in awe of all they have endured. They were heroes in Vietnam, and they are still heroes today. They served this nation with the commitment and honor of generations before them. They never lost faith in the mission, only in the politicians.
Another milestone was unveiled in Washington, D.C., July 8. A granite marker now stands in an extension of the plaza - where the statue of the three service members stands - near the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial. The marker is inscribed, "In Memory of the men and women who served in the Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service. We honor and remember their sacrifice.
It serves to honor the post-war causalities, those who have died as a result of Agent Orange or other related illnesses after their return home.
For me, this brings some closure in honoring the memory of my stepfather, George Steven Spesert, a Vietnam Veteran. I am thankful to all those responsible for this plaque being completed. This
plaque will be officially dedicated on Veterans Day.
To read more about these events, log onto
www.3rdbn3rdmarvets.org. Or look for the books "No Shining Armor: The Marines at War in Vietnam," "The First Battle: Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam," "The
Bridge at Dong Ha," "One More Mission, Oliver North Returns to Vietnam" or "America's Battalion: Marines in the First Persian Gulf War," which is scheduled for release in early 2005
The author can be reached at vetsfrst@aol.com.
and is the wife of 3/3 H-S Alumnus Jake Germeraad
