I came to Vandergriff Combat Base with 3/9 in April of 1969. This battle was just over. But, I can't tell you how proud I am to know that till I die I am a US Marine that served with the 9th Marines in Vietnam. Semper Fi Brothers
I gladly took point with the M-60 machine gun many times. When you open fire with that gun, everyone on the receiving end immediately gets down. It establishes fire superiority as long as ammunition lasts. The feeling of power is awesome.
Fuck Yeah! Was MA2A qualified during my 07-08 tour!! Was an Amazing Weapon!! Made me feel like God was on Our side!!!! Turns out Allah had Nothing for it!!!!
As a Marine platoon commander at the time, I was on Operation Dewey Canyon. And yes, Marines always get the job done. But to be honest, our unit participated in Dewey Canyon, but we were not part of the most intensive fighting. By nature the Marines have an offensive mentality. I believed in 1969 that the only way to win the war was to invade North Vietnam like we did in WW II. But we allowed the North Vietnam Army to rest, train, re-equip, and launch attacks from safe havens we gave them. That is no how you win a war. We should have allowed the full force of Marines to launch and amphibious invasion into North Vietnam to decapitate the leadership and to crush the support that the North Vietnamese people had to continue the war. But we didn't. Instead we chose to conduct a war of attrition that we could not win because the North Vietnamese had more conviction to win that we did. The Vietnam War Memorial is a dedication to the disgrace of our politicians to fail to allow us to win. Instead they surrendered and 58,000 men and women who the politicians sent into harms way died for nothing--not counting the hundreds of thousands of horribly wounded. I live with that every day.
Thank you for your service, and sharing your experience, Commander. I was able to work, live, and relax yesterday thanks to you and others like you. I hope you had a peaceful Memorial Day.
Ya brother thank you for your service and so glad you made it out of there. American politicians have been undermining our military for quite some time I realize. My father was in Vietnam, and taught me a lot of all the sacrifices you made
I am not a military expert, but if we had invaded the north like in the Korean War, another communist power (USSR or China) would get involved more directly.
I hope you had a peaceful and memorable Memorial Day yesterday. Thank you for your service, and thank you for the legacy that men and women like us strive to live up to, and aspire to emulate. As I have said in the past, "Marines may fall into Department of the Navy... but they are the younger sibling that is so bad ass, that every branch celebrates their birthday... I'm honored to call them brothers/sisters... and God help those who mess with our family." Semper Fortis, Semper Fidelis USN, GWOT, 2005-UFN
I was a PFC in Alpha Company under Lt. Wesley L. Fox in the A Shau. He was wounded almost at the very beginning of the fight described and wounded again later in the fight, but refused to be evacuated until the next day when Colonel Barrow gave him a direct order to be evacuated. As noted, LT Fox was awarded the MoH, and retired from the Corps as a Lt. Colonel. He passed away in November, 2019. My Platoon Co, 2LT William Christman was killed during the fight and was awarded a posthumous Navy Cross. 1Lt Lee Herron was Alpha's Exec. He took over 2nd Platoon after the Lt leading the 2nd was wounded. At the beginning of the fight a mortar round landed close to the officers...that was when LT Fox was first wounded, along with every other officer in the company except LT Herron. But he was killed by mortar fire later that day. He was awarded a posthumous Navy Cross too. We piled up a lot of Purple Hearts that day. I got hit twice and the AK round that hit me in the left knee put me out of the Corps in August, 1969...you can't march, you can't be an active Marine. I'm 71 now, was just 18 then...doesn't seem like it happened that long ago. Fifty two years. I guess it has been that long. I guess I got old.
I met Col Fox while at the staff academy at Quantico. He was the CO at the time. One day he came into our classroom to observe and I found he was a humble man but he also had a presence that was unmistakable. When I got back to my unit I talked with my 1stSgt and mentioned I met him. He just looked up at me from his desk and said, “I was there with him the day he got that medal”. The post office issued stamps for Vietnam Medal of Honor winners. I don’t collect stamps, but I have those. When you have met the guy on the stamp it becomes kind of special.
Col Fox was the OCS CO when I went through. That man was a bad ass and tough as nails. Out there PTing (at 60!) as well as us young bucks. A true legend.
I would like to thank you for bringing the valiant and honor back to the men from our countries armed forces that fought in Vietnam. Growing up I saw all to well the cold hatred giving to those men after surviving the hell they were thrown into. I applaud you sir and keep the good work up!!!!
my brother was drafted into the us army sent to Nam came back mentaly wounded and never recovered he is OK today at 75 years old GOD bless all the vietnam vets
When I was in the Marine Corps as an infantry officer, I served in Vietnam as a platoon commander 1968-69. Operation Dewey Canyon was much larger than portrayed in the video. Part of the 1st Marine Division was also involved, and for a few weeks my battalion was supporting Dewey Canyon in a different operational area where the fighting wasn't as intense. Pipestone Canyon was a companion operation which I participated in as well. I was also a company commander during the evacuation of Saigon in April 1975. That was like salt in the wound. All my Marines who were killed and wounded while I was a platoon commander and all of the 58,000 men and women who died in the 10 years of that war died and were wounded for nothing. The military doesn't start wars, the politicians do. If the politicians let the military win, then I assure you will would have won that war, but we were not allowed to invade North Vietnam. There can't be any safe havens for the enemy in a war. In the end, the American people and the politicians became weary of a war of attrition and literally surrendered to North Vietnam. Think about it. We won WW II in less than 4 years. We demanded unconditional surrender and we invaded the enemy's territories. We spent 10 years in Vietnam in a war of attrition. We defeated Germany, Japan, and Italy in less than 4 years. There is only one way to win a war: overwhelming force to break the will of the enemy to fight as soon as possible with the backing of the politicians who sent us into harm's way. Colonel Barrow became Commandant of the Marine Corps while I was a major at Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, DC. My brother, LtCol Fite was his military aide at the time. I met Wes Fox when he was a major and company tactics instructor at The Basic School, Quantico, VA. and I was a 1st Lt in the same company tactics office with Wes before he was formally awarded the MOH. While I was there, he did go to the WH to receive the medal. Wes was also an avid skydiver and taught skydiving at Quantico, and he gave me my lessons and first dives there as well. Great individual. Fearless. Charismatic leader. He was a real character to know. Tough as nails. He retired as a Colonel to his home in Blacksburg, VA with his lovely wife Dotty. Wes passed away not too long ago at his home. Dotty was still alive 18 months ago, but I haven't heard from her since.
As you know there were 300,000 Chinese military personnel in North Vietnam supporting Hanoi. Consequently , a US attempt to invade North Vietnam would have probably meant a second direct confrontation with the Chinese similar to Korea which would have been too costly. The lost in Vietnam was not due really to US politicians but to the incompetence and unwillingness of the South Vietnamese and the ARVN to fight for themselves. The ARVN officer corps was corrupted to the core ,with the exception of a few good generals ( eg.Le Minh Dao). The US could not defend an ally who was unwilling to fight for itself. Even when the ARVN supposedly put up a fight in 1972 ,it still would have been overrun then if it was not for the direct intervention of the US air force and the B-52 raids.In the big scheme of things Vietnam was peripheral to US interests. Nowadays unified Vietnam is informally an authoritarian capitalist state and paradoxically an informal ally of the US against its key current main rival China.
you guys would also have to invade cambodia because they still got supplies and troops flowing to the south which would spark an international incident
@@thisguy9993 Actually the US and south Vietnam did a partial invasion of Cambodia accompany with B52's bombings in most of the countryside of Cambodia to cut those supplies. The results were tragic because most of the Cambodian peasants upset at the B-52 bombings ( such raids may have killed half a million cambodians) joined the Khmer Rouge . The end result was the triumph of Pol Pot and the horrific genocide in Cambodia.
Dont forget there was about 30 to 50 thousand Laotian hill tribe forces who kept about 70 thousand NVA troops pressure to the south...if allowed to invade the North the War would have played different...Politics really crippled the war strategy
Politics did not cripple the war strategy. The only right political move was to leave. Yes the US could have escalated further in a number of ways. But you have to remember both the Soviets and the Chinese were holding back. We escalated far further than they did. We got extremely lucky that our escalations did not cause greater Chinese and Russian support. And if you look at the long term our choice to not escalate paid huge dividends in not resulting in a split country with one side as a perpetual enemy. Our choice not to escalate further helped us win the cold war and is the reason that Vietnam today is buffer against China rather than vassal state of China. The population of Vietnam mostly supported the rebellion but despite that the US sent ground troop along with a massive bombing campaign while China and Russia only sent a handful of advisors and fighter pilots.
@@peterisawesomeplease The population of Vietnam did not mostly support the rebellion, there were only ever several hundred thousand VC in the south. Less VC than the amount of ARVN troops(half a million who died) who were willing to fight and die because they didn't want to live under communism. Regardless of that, the VC was wiped out before we left. Which left just the NVA. Unless you think that China or Russia would have actually started placing infantry units in the region, your point ends up being moot. We "lost" the war because we politically withdrew. Had we stayed there, the NVA would have been of little consequence to us. Sure, China and Russia could keep sending them supplies, but what good are those supplies when all the people who can use them are dead? The numbers of casualties don't lie. We were winning that war by decisive military standards. You end up being right because you're making a statement based on hindsight, sure it ended up working out geopolitically. That was after the North Vietnamese took over the country and extra judicially executed about 200,000 more people in both the north and south. But also you're wrong about WHY Vietnam doesn't belong to China. China literally invaded Vietnam in 1979, the reason that Vietnam isn't a vassal state is because in one month, Vietnam killed more Chinese soldiers than they killed Americans over 20 years. That's why Vietnam isn't a Chinese vassal state, because China couldn't fight them worth shit. And that's the country you previously stated might "not hold back" lol sure, the country that lost more troops to Vietnam in a single month than we did in 20 years sure is a HUUUUUUUUUUUGE military threat to us. I don't know where you learned your history, but you're missing some pretty vital pieces of context.
@@peterisawesomeplease if you really experienced the NVA side they were very desperate for the win that they were force recruiting everyone for their war efforts and by the famous NVA general Giap's own words was using US media to benefit and propaganda his war since hollywood played a big factor in the march against the war...Russia and china already were sending in advisors and military aid secretly...US political was too scared of Russian military...guess what the NVA had radars from Russia to detect US planes hence u see alot of downed american pilots...china supplied manpower in some areas just like they did in the korean war but US politicians didnt want to believe that chinese were fighting in the war...
You're right it would have been different. But the politics did not cripple the war strategy. Not invading the north the best choice. If the North had been invaded the USSR and PRC would have backed the north and likely would have directly intervened. Not only that, it is best teh US did not invade, they were killing enough civilians north and south of hte border through bombing and chemical and biological weapons without putting ground troops in.
@@commissarlorax3406 nope because the NVA wanted separation from USSR and China...they wanted independence from outside influence that's why u dont see chinese and russian influence today
Never forget what Lyndon Johnson said in October 1964, 3 weeks before the election: "We are not about to send American boys 9 or 10,000 miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves..."
My dad was in country 68-69, a Marine, a grunt, 3 purple hearts and i never really got to talk to him much about it. 3BN 26th Marines. Thank you to all who served.
Im proud to say im a member of the first battalion 9th marines and have had the distinct honor to meet some of these men for a unit function. Semper Fi brothers.
Mad Hatter87, Glad to see you are still breathing here in 2021. I was in Delta Co. 1st Blt. 3rd Marines, that was on the Special Landing Force that came by ships to help the 9th against the NVA in the DMZ encounter in1967 ! Salute to you men of the 9th! Standing your ground !That was a "Hell on Earth'' operation!
i was in The Corps from '73 thru '77 and though we were being trained to deploy to Vietnam I never did and never had a shot fired at me in anger. At the time I was itching to get into the fight before all The Marines were pulled out in '74 but as the years have gone by I have come to be very thankful. On guard duty I used to read the Official after action reports of The Marines big battles in Vietnam. It was clear the NVA were a very motivated, well trained, well equipped and well lead adversary fighting in their backyard. On top of that they gave no quarter and there were many well documented of their sadistic methods of torture and disemballment on captured or dead Marines. Then there was the weather and terrain...The Marines who fought in Vietnam have my upmost respect...Semper Fi Leather Necks
I was with Delta Co. 1st Bn 7th Marines in 1967. My first opp was Operation Union 2. . We had 110 dead Marines and 241 wounded, mostly guys from the 5th Marines. The counted over 700 dead NVA
Did Union 1, and Union 2, (E/2/1),'66-'67, but, you'd almost never know it, hard to find any book any where that records that we were participants, but, that is okay, "we", did not see $#!T, relatively speaking in comparison to what other units saw.
Excellent presentation. As a Marine in communications at LZ Stud in support of 9th Marines during Operation Dewey Canyon I remember those days vividly. One point you left out that should be noted: Those hill top fire bases were constructed by Naval SeaBees. They too got the Presidential Until Citation.
BlueBoy0316 : The U.S. won every major battle with the NVA,including the TET Offensive. But you'd never know because of the slanted reporting and because the U.S. was not allowed to go past the DMZ on the ground.
@@Blueboy0316 Koreans on the other hand, locals would point who's a VC if they want to leave a place unscathed after being "persuaded" while being questioned by them.
fun fact:The name Belleau Wood came from the Battle of Belleau Wood during World War 1 when the marine corp first earned their notoriety and fame when they fought the germans in Belleau Wood
As a Marine Corps wife, I can clearly see from this story why my husband speaks of history, pride, honor, courage, commitment and es·prit de corps. I can see why it's important for him to honor those who came before and for those who have sacrificed in preserving our freedom. I don't really see this level of interest from other services, not to disparage those groups. I'm grateful to have a Marine as my husband and even more grateful that there's a Marine Corps. I know it's not customary for a non-Marine, but here goes, Semper Fi Marines.
On the eve of losing Afghanistan, and after already losing Iraq and Vietnam, reflecting on this video, I totally admire the bravery and strength of the people in our military, and have total contempt for the politicians that have repeatedly wasted the blood and treasure of America. They should be prosecuted for their failure.
politicians lost all wars troops did not, piss poor leadership, political correctness, political leadership not military making decisions that cost tens of thousands of lives. No fire zones unless fired upon first killed thousands, unable to purse fleeing enemy units across borders and no bombing of the enemies heartland. Remember the White House ( LBJ ) selected all targets in North Vietnam and targets of opportunities were off limits. Planes flew fixed routes in and out of the north allowing concentrations of guns, missiles and radars guarding them.
He doesn't have more subscribers because he's not an historian, he takes sides in his videos. Listen again to what he says at the end of this current video.
I have a good friend from Hanoi. His father was conscripted into the NVA as a young man. The old boy speaks little about his experiences in this war other than it was terrifying, and trying not to get killed and also protecting his buddies was his only interest. Young men killing other young men and getting killed for no good reason, same story regardless who’s side you are on.
Missed a neat part of the op: an on line assault straight up on an NVA artillery position by one the platoons of 1/9 - two Russian 122m guns captured. Been too long to remember which unit. I had been xo of c-1/9 and was sent to help run the helicopter resupply operation at van de grift. Was mad at the time, but every officer of C company was killed or wounded, and the first squad of my old 3rd platoon was near wiped out when the radio man’s antenna tripped an 81m mortar round booby trap. There was great pride over that assault. One of the guns is on display somewhere I believe.
My grandfather was a Marine in WW2 and fought in the Gualdale Canal Campaign and then Iwo Jima where he was wounded, my uncle was a Marine at Kah Sanh during the siege thankfully they both returned home when so many didn't. Respect to all of our veterans
My cousin was there but when he came back he wasn't the same he died last year from agent orange he would have night mares he was on medication.how ever all these guys deserve the medal of honor they fought for buddy s saved them too .
My dad was there in operation Dewey Canyon. Door gunner. He received 8 air medals during that tour. If anyone knows where there is more content on this operation could you let me know please. Just trying to find out anything I can about the old man. Thanks 👍
My Dad was a Crew Chief on the same operation in the CH-46 Sea Knight. Check out this site and maybe you can find pics of your Dad! I know I did! Good Luck! popasmoke.com
@@madaprak You know, since your Dad was a Gunner on the 46' there's a descent chance that maybe your Dad and my Dad may have heard of each other. Even better, if they were in the same squadron, then there's very good chance that they not only knew each other, they may have served on the same aircraft at one point! My Dad told me, that he spoke to a friend of his in hospice care one more time before his friend died, over the phone and that I asked him who he was and he replied, "He was my Gun!" or Gunner. And his friend told my Dad, "Nate, you saved my life!" My Dad passed away in 2016 so this may have been 2014-2015 or so. Was this man your Dad? My father was MSGT Nathaniel Tucker USMC (RET.) and the last year he medivac out of Vietnam was 1969 but I don't know if it was because of this particular battle. I just knew he was shot down for the last time in 1969 and came home. He was shot down 3 times in that war.
@@badian37 Hey Brian. Firstly sorry to hear about your dads passing man, that's terrible. My dad was in hmm 161 during that operation. Next time I am able to get a hold of him I will confirm with him. Regardless I will still see if he recognizes your dads name. Seems like there might be a decent chance. My dad was there 66-67 as infantry, so if your dad was also on a second or third tour, even better chance. I will definitely check. Thanks for getting back to me. Really appreciate it. I've been looking at the site you sent me for the last few nights. All pieces of the puzzle for us man.
@@madaprak Thanks, my Dad lived a very full life and it was his time at 86 year's old! For sure, my Dad was in HMM-161, I remember the squadron patch on a wooden shield wall ornament that my Dad had among all the other squadrons he served in, in the hallway wall, while growing up. He also had a HMM-161 coffee mug with his name on it! Yeah the website is sacred.....hours can go by if you're not careful! My Dad told me about that website 20 year's ago! As in your wise words, "All pieces of the puzzle for us!" Please let me know what you Dad has to say, this is getting very interesting for us both!
I am an amateur historian of the war in SouthEast Asia ( aka the Vietnam War). I’ve read hundreds of first-hand account books, and articles, and viewed thousands of hours of films. Lesson: Take the fight to the enemy, kill them in their bed, and leave politics out of the equation. If we go to War, let the Military do its thing. The politicos can then thump their chests. History is written by the victors. Amen.
That's how Germany lost WWII, some dumb art school dropout always intervene with professional and capable generals the Germans had. Judging their tactics and strategy and alters it with his own mad/crazy ideas to win politically
Did you know LBJ became majority share holder at bell helicopter just b4 he sent troops to Vietnam did they tell you that in those history books it's all a big fat conn job now ain't it
Semper Fi my brothers. “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.” Ronald Reagan
BS lol. I know numerous Ex marines (yeah I know the joke that one is never an ex-marine) age 40 to 55 who are fat af, suffering from heart disease and high blood pressure and can barely waddle up 2 flights of stairs without sweating profusely and almost passing out. They endlessly whine about “liberals” and ask wtf happened to this country. Their only “good” moments in life were killing and mourning their fallen brethren during their 2-years of active duty. Quite sad they are.
Problem is, you may kick the NVA out, but if you leave, they just come right back. All our guys killed for a short term gain. Same thing for Afghanistan.
It really was, shame the North felt the need to invade Cambodia and Laos, build thousands of miles of illegal supply lines and start an insurgency to overthrow the southern government. Then it's a shame that the almost 500,000 ARVN and other south Vietnamese soldiers were willing to fight and die defending their home and families from communism.
After Dewey Canyon came heavy defensive fighting in Happy Valley (cause everyone was damn happy after they got out), Death Valley and the Arizona territory when in the 1969 summer offensive the NVA went after the Hiep Duc resettlement village defended by the overstretched green brigades of the Americal division ... the 9th Marines came in to take pressure off the 196 Bd which was badly mauled as recounted in Keith Nolan's outstanding 'Death Valley'...
I did a research paper over the A Shau Valley. Just looking at after action reports for the various large scale operations there (Massachusetts Striker, Dewy Canyon, Apache Snow, etc.), you can see a patter on US and ARVN troops going into the Valley, killing a lot of people, capturing a lot of weapons, and leaving. The PAVN would just come right back in. It was not exactly a fun place.
I enjoy your videos and find them very informative. Thank you. Operation Dewey Canyon was not fought in the A Shau Valley. It was fought in the Da Krong Valley, NW of A Shau. How do I know? In the movie you mention the withdrawal of the MACV-SOG forces from Loas before the Marines withdrew. Due to fuel and time of day not all SOG forces were withdrawn. I commanded the SOG platoon that was left behind after Fire Support Base Cunningham closed, the Marines withdrew and the weather turned bad. This left us to face the NVA with no support and very little ammo. I recount SOG’s participation in Operation Dewey Canyon in my book “Dawson’s War.” Dawson is derived from the original name of the operation Dawson River South.
Does anyone remember serving with L/Cpl Joseph R. Febres of Fox Co., 2/9 during operation Dewey Canyon? He was my brother and would love to hear from anyone who served with him in his unit.
I was Army Infantry 8yrs AD, 19 NG. I always liked the Marines (and all other branches. Everyone has their mission, are structured for it and do it exceedingly well). I hated to see in the Army how some units absolutely sucked and were a disgrace to the nation, when we had (and I served in) great units like the 82nd and others. I like how the Marines have a standard across the board. Where the Army has really good units and tolerates others and allows them to be abject shitbags. Salute Marines and all other branches and my beloved Army. From mechanics to cooks and fuck the Mechanized slackjaws.
An interesting fact for anyone who's curious is that Lcpl. Tommy Noonan, who received his MOH as told during this documentary, actually grew up and went to school with another MOH recipient. Sgt. Robert Emmett O'Malley, who was the first Marine MOH recipient in the Vietnam War. They grew up together in NYC, Bobby O'Malley would visit Tommy's mother every year on memorial day until her death.
my grandfather was also in the vietnam war (a soldier of the philippines), he was a communist geurrila during the world war at the age of 13 or 14 he joined the Hukbalahap 1943 (meaning in english: People's army against the Japanese) and in 1971 joined he was in the army and sent to vietnam for peace keeping but they were ambushed by the NVA and he was hit in the ear (As in his ear was removed due to a bullet wound) and he died in 2015 due to a heart attack.
I will never forget or forgive our Gov. for not allowing our military to win that filthy war!!! I lost my younger Bro. in that War!!--David USMC 1966-1969
On one hand it's impressive how much reserve the human mind can produce. On the other it's depressing that most wars fought were on the behalf of the rich and powerful.
I saw the news every night. It was the blues. All those Kids killed for nothing. Why ? I learned this country only cares about the big people ( fortunate sons) the little people must pay.
Can't salute these brave Marines enough. . This fighting spirit & Tenacity is what's going to be needed for the upcoming fight in the pacific... Semper Fi Marines 🫡
The NVA mastered guerilla warfare tactics and used their terrain and knowledge of their home land to strike and retreat. As badass as the US military is we couldn't fight an enemy we couldn't see.
My country did well during the Emergency and the subsequent insurgency. The Brits trained our troops and SAS were there as well. Small unit tactics were used in COIN against the communist guerrillas. We put the local ethnic Chinese in "new villages", you may see it like an internment camp but that's the choice we had back then as majority of the commies were local Chinese, originally their organization was put up as resistance group against the occupying Japanese in WW2.
Do one on the CURRAHEES, the 506th IN Regiment in the Ashau. In the movie Hamburger Hill, the 1/87 Rakassans actually get saved by the 506th but the movie doesn't illustrate this.
Hey would love to hear about the wars that we never fought ??bet u it's deep ,cos that swamp in Washington is deep and nasty oby the way thanks for your service m8 god bless.
Don't hear much about the South Vietnamese fighting in the A Shau Valley. Don't hear much about the South Vietnamese fighting at all. Kind of odd, since it was THEIR country. They sure got off their b*tts and got moving when it was time to come to the US as refugees.
He doesn't have more subscribers because he's not an historian, he takes sides in his videos. Listen again to what he says at the end of this current video
@@power2084 I don't know about you, but the history books I read tend to have a traceable element of taking sides, especially when it comes down whom was the 'least worst', such as in the Eastern Front, during WWII. That tendency gets more visible when reading up on the Korean War, and, finally, especially so, during the Vietnam War, in which the overwhelming enemy wasn't the NVA/Viet Cong, but rather Communism. As long as Communism could be contained to, say, 'just China and Russia', that lessens, or so it seems the plan was, to prevent any incursion of Eastern Europe, from South East Asia, given that they're not exactly a million miles apart. Thus those that, shall we say, have an emotional, or many other forms of attachment, to the American/South Vietnamese side of the Vietnam War, will always see it from that way ... But it takes a rather unusual mind that many, including myself, that is capable of viewing War from the side of those whom were defeated, or, to put it another way, see things from the side of the perpetrator, to get inside not just their mind, and thinking, but, and very occasionally, this, actually sympathise an individual solider 'on the other side'. Perhaps a great example is the serialisation of 'Das Boot', focused entirely on a German U-Boat, that sunk what they called enemy shipping. On top of that is the stress of living, and working inside a steel tube, that you hope will stand up to the water pressure at depth. Fresh water would be a premium, so little washing was done. Also, seeing daylight, and/or experiencing fresh air, was a rarity. Finally, if that wasn't enough, the tide severely turned against the U-Boats, and the hunter suddenly became the hunted ... But that is a rarity. Why on earth would any one read, let alone write, the story of the Vietnam War solely, and completely, told, from the side of the North Vietnamese, least they be called Communist sympathisers. Same deal goes with the Germans during WWII; in the Army, Airforce, and, especially, and particularly, the Navy, claims were made that they fought a 'clean war', although, even within the airforce, you had officers whom firmly believed in what Hitler was doing, and of the doctrine created by the NSDAP. Especially when you add in the horrors committed by the Waffen-SS, writing from a German point of view would be incredibly difficult; not impossible either, but writing it, without sounding like you are justifying their actions ... But going on to the Vietnam War, the way they fought, their treatment of PoWs, and much else, means anyone trying to write about the Vietnam War from _that_ side, means being prepared to go arm-pit deep in something pretty awful ... which includes what the ARVN, and American Forces did to them; no wonder, or so it seems, a number of Vietnam veterans are anti-war, given what they've seen of war, that close ... such as trying to storm up a unnamed hill, with no real objective save for clearing the enemy out, and staying alive, without getting ground up ... ... plus --- and I am prepared to be screamed at ---- the idealism of the USA being the Victor ... but of what, the rest of the world, would like to know ...
Funny that you should characterize as an “engineering marvel, “ when the NVA’s generals thought it was a failure, which it was militarily. The VC and NVA suffered huge loses and North Vietnam would not mount major offensive until the Americans had withdrawn from the country.
Nah, another major offensive was in 1972, before the withdrawal. It, along with Operation Linebacker I and II, ended the war. Which one forces which side back to the negotiation table is up to debate.
@@naradaian I always find it funny when someone uses American made technology to be anti-American haha 😂 go burn some kerosene and learn English via candlelight
@@naradaian Yeah! And when the Marines left there was a trail of dead dirt squirrels in their wake!! I’m not sure how you can claim the Marines were beaten given that fact. They left because their time was up, and none of them wanted to establish permanent residence in a shit hole.
B co 1stBn 9th Mar 1992-1995... of all units I served at, my time as a member of The Walking Dead is my proudest. We were always aware of the Marines who earned the TWD name; their sacrifice and spirit was something we tried to honor. We were very proud to be able to serve in the Battalion. Semper Fi Marines. Get some!
thanks boss, I live in a small town, my friend served with the Walking dead in vietnam, he made it home he is ok and old now but the hell he went through?
I called and asked my dad who served in Nam if he's ever been to Au Sầu Valley. he said "Hell no, I wouldn't be here today if I had", he said. He spent some time in Germany before returning home where he picked up a terrible addiction.
Yep - not being able to go into Laos due to political considerations in Washington underlines why the US eventually had to admit defeat. The NVA fought with no holds barred while the US fought with one arm behind its back.
“A veteran is someone who at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America for an amount of up to and including his life. That is HONOR, and there are way to many people in this country who no longer understand it!”
That war had nothing to do with Communism it had to do with "Helicopters" Lyndon Johnson and his wife ladybird they were primary shareholders to the Bell Helicopter Company made them multi-millionaires in no time back in the 60s.. that's why Johnson had Kennedy assassinated..All about money & Power even back then..Go to the WALL to see your friends everybody thought we died and fought for a reason..What was the reason to make Lyndon Johnson and the "Rothchilds" even more richer..Yep the Rothschilds they have been involved in every war since Napoleon they call it their bread and butter that's how evil rich people can be..🤮🤬💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰
I came to Vandergriff Combat Base with 3/9 in April of 1969. This battle was just over. But, I can't tell you how proud I am to know that till I die I am a US Marine that served with the 9th Marines in Vietnam. Semper Fi Brothers
Hey bro I was in 3/9 when they reactivated it and I went to afghan with them twice in 2010 and 2012. Semper Fi man, striking 3/9!
Welcome home.
I was with 2/9 in 1967. Medivacced from the DMZ in December 1967.
I gladly took point with the M-60 machine gun many times. When you open fire with that gun, everyone on the receiving end immediately gets down. It establishes fire superiority as long as ammunition lasts. The feeling of power is awesome.
Thank you for your service
Fuck Yeah! Was MA2A qualified during my 07-08 tour!! Was an Amazing Weapon!! Made me feel like God was on Our side!!!! Turns out Allah had Nothing for it!!!!
So the M-60 was a good weapon? Why am I reading negative reports on it from some sources that are saying that it was unreliable?
Thank You for your services.
@@iamzuesthisisthetruth8864 😁
As a Marine platoon commander at the time, I was on Operation Dewey Canyon. And yes, Marines always get the job done.
But to be honest, our unit participated in Dewey Canyon, but we were not part of the most intensive fighting. By nature the Marines have an offensive mentality.
I believed in 1969 that the only way to win the war was to invade North Vietnam like we did in WW II.
But we allowed the North Vietnam Army to rest, train, re-equip, and launch attacks from safe havens we gave them. That is no how you win a war. We should have allowed the full force of Marines to launch and amphibious invasion into North Vietnam to decapitate the leadership and to crush the support that the North Vietnamese people had to continue the war.
But we didn't. Instead we chose to conduct a war of attrition that we could not win because the North Vietnamese had more conviction to win that we did.
The Vietnam War Memorial is a dedication to the disgrace of our politicians to fail to allow us to win. Instead they surrendered and 58,000 men and women who the politicians sent into harms way died for nothing--not counting the hundreds of thousands of horribly wounded. I live with that every day.
Thank you for your service, and sharing your experience, Commander. I was able to work, live, and relax yesterday thanks to you and others like you. I hope you had a peaceful Memorial Day.
Ya brother thank you for your service and so glad you made it out of there. American politicians have been undermining our military for quite some time I realize. My father was in Vietnam, and taught me a lot of all the sacrifices you made
I am not a military expert, but if we had invaded the north like in the Korean War, another communist power (USSR or China) would get involved more directly.
Thank you. Very well said.
I hope you had a peaceful and memorable Memorial Day yesterday.
Thank you for your service, and thank you for the legacy that men and women like us strive to live up to, and aspire to emulate.
As I have said in the past, "Marines may fall into Department of the Navy... but they are the younger sibling that is so bad ass, that every branch celebrates their birthday...
I'm honored to call them brothers/sisters... and God help those who mess with our family."
Semper Fortis, Semper Fidelis
USN, GWOT, 2005-UFN
I was a PFC in Alpha Company under Lt. Wesley L. Fox in the A Shau. He was wounded almost at the very beginning of the fight described and wounded again later in the fight, but refused to be evacuated until the next day when Colonel Barrow gave him a direct order to be evacuated. As noted, LT Fox was awarded the MoH, and retired from the Corps as a Lt. Colonel. He passed away in November, 2019. My Platoon Co, 2LT William Christman was killed during the fight and was awarded a posthumous Navy Cross. 1Lt Lee Herron was Alpha's Exec. He took over 2nd Platoon after the Lt leading the 2nd was wounded. At the beginning of the fight a mortar round landed close to the officers...that was when LT Fox was first wounded, along with every other officer in the company except LT Herron. But he was killed by mortar fire later that day. He was awarded a posthumous Navy Cross too. We piled up a lot of Purple Hearts that day. I got hit twice and the AK round that hit me in the left knee put me out of the Corps in August, 1969...you can't march, you can't be an active Marine. I'm 71 now, was just 18 then...doesn't seem like it happened that long ago. Fifty two years. I guess it has been that long. I guess I got old.
Deus o proteja sempre!
I was with Alpha then shot Feb 18 3rd platoon guns
Respect
@@BELENENSE May God protect you always.
Which "Alpha" company were you with?
I met Col Fox while at the staff academy at Quantico. He was the CO at the time. One day he came into our classroom to observe and I found he was a humble man but he also had a presence that was unmistakable. When I got back to my unit I talked with my 1stSgt and mentioned I met him. He just looked up at me from his desk and said, “I was there with him the day he got that medal”. The post office issued stamps for Vietnam Medal of Honor winners. I don’t collect stamps, but I have those. When you have met the guy on the stamp it becomes kind of special.
Col Fox was the OCS CO when I went through. That man was a bad ass and tough as nails. Out there PTing (at 60!) as well as us young bucks. A true legend.
I would like to thank you for bringing the valiant and honor back to the men from our countries armed forces that fought in Vietnam. Growing up I saw all to well the cold hatred giving to those men after surviving the hell they were thrown into. I applaud you sir and keep the good work up!!!!
my brother was drafted into the us army sent to Nam came back mentaly wounded and never recovered he is OK today at 75 years old GOD bless all the vietnam vets
When I was in the Marine Corps as an infantry officer, I served in Vietnam as a platoon commander 1968-69. Operation Dewey Canyon was much larger than portrayed in the video. Part of the 1st Marine Division was also involved, and for a few weeks my battalion was supporting Dewey Canyon in a different operational area where the fighting wasn't as intense. Pipestone Canyon was a companion operation which I participated in as well.
I was also a company commander during the evacuation of Saigon in April 1975. That was like salt in the wound. All my Marines who were killed and wounded while I was a platoon commander and all of the 58,000 men and women who died in the 10 years of that war died and were wounded for nothing. The military doesn't start wars, the politicians do. If the politicians let the military win, then I assure you will would have won that war, but we were not allowed to invade North Vietnam. There can't be any safe havens for the enemy in a war. In the end, the American people and the politicians became weary of a war of attrition and literally surrendered to North Vietnam.
Think about it. We won WW II in less than 4 years. We demanded unconditional surrender and we invaded the enemy's territories.
We spent 10 years in Vietnam in a war of attrition. We defeated Germany, Japan, and Italy in less than 4 years. There is only one way to win a war: overwhelming force to break the will of the enemy to fight as soon as possible with the backing of the politicians who sent us into harm's way.
Colonel Barrow became Commandant of the Marine Corps while I was a major at Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, DC. My brother, LtCol Fite was his military aide at the time. I met Wes Fox when he was a major and company tactics instructor at The Basic School, Quantico, VA. and I was a 1st Lt in the same company tactics office with Wes before he was formally awarded the MOH. While I was there, he did go to the WH to receive the medal. Wes was also an avid skydiver and taught skydiving at Quantico, and he gave me my lessons and first dives there as well. Great individual. Fearless. Charismatic leader. He was a real character to know. Tough as nails. He retired as a Colonel to his home in Blacksburg, VA with his lovely wife Dotty. Wes passed away not too long ago at his home. Dotty was still alive 18 months ago, but I haven't heard from her since.
SF
🍻
As you know there were 300,000 Chinese military personnel in North Vietnam supporting Hanoi. Consequently , a US attempt to invade North Vietnam would have probably meant a second direct confrontation with the Chinese similar to Korea which would have been too costly. The lost in Vietnam was not due really to US politicians but to the incompetence and unwillingness of the South Vietnamese and the ARVN to fight for themselves. The ARVN officer corps was corrupted to the core ,with the exception of a few good generals ( eg.Le Minh Dao). The US could not defend an ally who was unwilling to fight for itself. Even when the ARVN supposedly put up a fight in 1972 ,it still would have been overrun then if it was not for the direct intervention of the US air force and the B-52 raids.In the big scheme of things Vietnam was peripheral to US interests. Nowadays unified Vietnam is informally an authoritarian capitalist state and paradoxically an informal ally of the US against its key current main rival China.
you guys would also have to invade cambodia because they still got supplies and troops flowing to the south which would spark an international incident
@@thisguy9993 Actually the US and south Vietnam did a partial invasion of Cambodia accompany with B52's bombings in most of the countryside of Cambodia to cut those supplies. The results were tragic because most of the Cambodian peasants upset at the B-52 bombings ( such raids may have killed half a million cambodians) joined the Khmer Rouge . The end result was the triumph of Pol Pot and the horrific genocide in Cambodia.
Dont forget there was about 30 to 50 thousand Laotian hill tribe forces who kept about 70 thousand NVA troops pressure to the south...if allowed to invade the North the War would have played different...Politics really crippled the war strategy
Politics did not cripple the war strategy. The only right political move was to leave. Yes the US could have escalated further in a number of ways. But you have to remember both the Soviets and the Chinese were holding back. We escalated far further than they did. We got extremely lucky that our escalations did not cause greater Chinese and Russian support. And if you look at the long term our choice to not escalate paid huge dividends in not resulting in a split country with one side as a perpetual enemy. Our choice not to escalate further helped us win the cold war and is the reason that Vietnam today is buffer against China rather than vassal state of China.
The population of Vietnam mostly supported the rebellion but despite that the US sent ground troop along with a massive bombing campaign while China and Russia only sent a handful of advisors and fighter pilots.
@@peterisawesomeplease The population of Vietnam did not mostly support the rebellion, there were only ever several hundred thousand VC in the south. Less VC than the amount of ARVN troops(half a million who died) who were willing to fight and die because they didn't want to live under communism. Regardless of that, the VC was wiped out before we left. Which left just the NVA. Unless you think that China or Russia would have actually started placing infantry units in the region, your point ends up being moot. We "lost" the war because we politically withdrew. Had we stayed there, the NVA would have been of little consequence to us. Sure, China and Russia could keep sending them supplies, but what good are those supplies when all the people who can use them are dead? The numbers of casualties don't lie. We were winning that war by decisive military standards. You end up being right because you're making a statement based on hindsight, sure it ended up working out geopolitically. That was after the North Vietnamese took over the country and extra judicially executed about 200,000 more people in both the north and south. But also you're wrong about WHY Vietnam doesn't belong to China. China literally invaded Vietnam in 1979, the reason that Vietnam isn't a vassal state is because in one month, Vietnam killed more Chinese soldiers than they killed Americans over 20 years. That's why Vietnam isn't a Chinese vassal state, because China couldn't fight them worth shit. And that's the country you previously stated might "not hold back" lol sure, the country that lost more troops to Vietnam in a single month than we did in 20 years sure is a HUUUUUUUUUUUGE military threat to us. I don't know where you learned your history, but you're missing some pretty vital pieces of context.
@@peterisawesomeplease if you really experienced the NVA side they were very desperate for the win that they were force recruiting everyone for their war efforts and by the famous NVA general Giap's own words was using US media to benefit and propaganda his war since hollywood played a big factor in the march against the war...Russia and china already were sending in advisors and military aid secretly...US political was too scared of Russian military...guess what the NVA had radars from Russia to detect US planes hence u see alot of downed american pilots...china supplied manpower in some areas just like they did in the korean war but US politicians didnt want to believe that chinese were fighting in the war...
You're right it would have been different. But the politics did not cripple the war strategy. Not invading the north the best choice. If the North had been invaded the USSR and PRC would have backed the north and likely would have directly intervened. Not only that, it is best teh US did not invade, they were killing enough civilians north and south of hte border through bombing and chemical and biological weapons without putting ground troops in.
@@commissarlorax3406 nope because the NVA wanted separation from USSR and China...they wanted independence from outside influence that's why u dont see chinese and russian influence today
Never forget what Lyndon Johnson said in October 1964, 3 weeks before the election: "We are not about to send American boys 9 or 10,000 miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves..."
True American thoughts. I agree 👍
And it still took a decade for them to leave . . .
Yea he was hoping you would’ve forgotten by now.
@@Ektalon they are finally leaving afghanistan this year
Bobby Kennedy in 1965. “We’ll send the Big Red One in there and clean this up in 6 months!” 4 years later We were still cleaning up!
My dad was in country 68-69, a Marine, a grunt, 3 purple hearts and i never really got to talk to him much about it. 3BN 26th Marines. Thank you to all who served.
I greatly appreciate how much you honor these men with how well you cover their stories. Thank you.
Im proud to say im a member of the first battalion 9th marines and have had the distinct honor to meet some of these men for a unit function. Semper Fi brothers.
Semper Fi...and an 0311 from Alpha 1/9 thanks you.
Mad Hatter87, Glad to see you are still breathing here in 2021. I was in Delta Co. 1st Blt. 3rd Marines, that was on the Special Landing Force that came by ships to help the 9th against the NVA in the DMZ encounter in1967 ! Salute to you men of the 9th! Standing your ground !That was a "Hell on Earth'' operation!
i was in The Corps from '73 thru '77 and though we were being trained to deploy to Vietnam I never did and never had a shot fired at me in anger. At the time I was itching to get into the fight before all The Marines were pulled out in '74 but as the years have gone by I have come to be very thankful. On guard duty I used to read the Official after action reports of The Marines big battles in Vietnam. It was clear the NVA were a very motivated, well trained, well equipped and well lead adversary fighting in their backyard. On top of that they gave no quarter and there were many well documented of their sadistic methods of torture and disemballment on captured or dead Marines. Then there was the weather and terrain...The Marines who fought in Vietnam have my upmost respect...Semper Fi Leather Necks
I was with Delta Co. 1st Bn 7th Marines in 1967. My first opp was Operation Union 2. . We had 110 dead Marines and 241 wounded, mostly guys from the 5th Marines. The counted over 700 dead NVA
Did Union 1, and Union 2, (E/2/1),'66-'67, but, you'd almost never know it, hard to find any book any where that records that we were participants, but, that is okay, "we", did not see $#!T, relatively speaking in comparison to what other units saw.
Excellent presentation. As a Marine in communications at LZ Stud in support of 9th Marines during Operation Dewey Canyon I remember those days vividly. One point you left out that should be noted: Those hill top fire bases were constructed by Naval SeaBees. They too got the Presidential Until Citation.
Semper Fidelis gentlemen
BlueBoy0316 : The U.S. won every major battle with the NVA,including the TET Offensive.
But you'd never know because of the slanted reporting and because the U.S. was not allowed to go past the DMZ on the ground.
@@ebayerr guerrilla warfare, an uncooperative public and weak leadership. This can undermine any capable fighting force.
@@Blueboy0316: I think the leadership in Vietnam was undermined by the micromanagement by officials back in D.C.
@@Blueboy0316 Koreans on the other hand, locals would point who's a VC if they want to leave a place unscathed after being "persuaded" while being questioned by them.
My brother died in that Battle!! had only 1 week left in Country!! Cpl.Darrell G. Napier "Echo' 2/3" weapons Platoon. squad leader__David.
He is in a better place now.
Semper Fi, man.
My dad’s retired Navy and the last ship he served on was the USS Belleau Wood LHA-3
Did he enjoy Sasebo ?
fun fact:The name Belleau Wood came from the Battle of Belleau Wood during World War 1 when the marine corp first earned their notoriety and fame when they fought the germans in Belleau Wood
As a Marine Corps wife, I can clearly see from this story why my husband speaks of history, pride, honor, courage, commitment and es·prit de corps. I can see why it's important for him to honor those who came before and for those who have sacrificed in preserving our freedom.
I don't really see this level of interest from other services, not to disparage those groups. I'm grateful to have a Marine as my husband and even more grateful that there's a Marine Corps. I know it's not customary for a non-Marine, but here goes, Semper Fi Marines.
On the eve of losing Afghanistan, and after already losing Iraq and Vietnam, reflecting on this video, I totally admire the bravery and strength of the people in our military, and have total contempt for the politicians that have repeatedly wasted the blood and treasure of America. They should be prosecuted for their failure.
politicians lost all wars troops did not, piss poor leadership, political correctness, political leadership not military making decisions that cost tens of thousands of lives. No fire zones unless fired upon first killed thousands, unable to purse fleeing enemy units across borders and no bombing of the enemies heartland. Remember the White House ( LBJ ) selected all targets in North Vietnam and targets of opportunities were off limits. Planes flew fixed routes in and out of the north allowing concentrations of guns, missiles and radars guarding them.
@@Grunt0369USMC that makes American politicians enemies of the Constitution and the country, doesn't it?
How does this channel not have more subscribers, this is one of my absolute favorites
were in at the ground floor
Definitely my favorite channel
Bc people are dumb asf and learning things hurts thier smooth brains
He doesn't have more subscribers because he's not an historian, he takes sides in his videos. Listen again to what he says at the end of this current video.
He's just a narrator reading a script at lighting speed. Ironically if you go back to when he first started he used to talk so slow. It was weird.
I have learned more from this channel then i ever will in school
Fax
Absolutely
School isnt supposed to provide the details of the war, just the who, where, when and most importantly why. It's the public school system, not ROTC.
I think that goes for a lot of us with a public school edumacation!!!
I would advise you to try to stay in school kiddo some day you'll understand
Semper Fidelis, Marines!
such a f***** up war....but I have so much respect for the veterans of this conflict.... God bless all of them
I have a good friend from Hanoi. His father was conscripted into the NVA as a young man. The old boy speaks little about his experiences in this war other than it was terrifying, and trying not to get killed and also protecting his buddies was his only interest. Young men killing other young men and getting killed for no good reason, same story regardless who’s side you are on.
That's the fastest I've ever seen a title changed. Playing Hide and Seek in Vietnam was the OG title.
Why would they change it that’s such a funny title
That is a super gangster title for real
listing it as the original mission designation will help with google searches for those looking for it, probably a good move for views
@@porkins1802 also a good point
@@porkins1802 Dark Docs has changed it multiple times though on like every video
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it"
- George Santayana -
"Those who be with them stank ass hos gonna have they D's fall off"......
-The Dali Lama-
True wisdom
Jorge
Missed a neat part of the op: an on line assault straight up on an NVA artillery position by one the platoons of 1/9 - two Russian 122m guns captured. Been too long to remember which unit. I had been xo of c-1/9 and was sent to help run the helicopter resupply operation at van de grift. Was mad at the time, but every officer of C company was killed or wounded, and the first squad of my old 3rd platoon was near wiped out when the radio man’s antenna tripped an 81m mortar round booby trap. There was great pride over that assault. One of the guns is on display somewhere I believe.
My grandfather was a Marine in WW2 and fought in the Gualdale Canal Campaign and then Iwo Jima where he was wounded, my uncle was a Marine at Kah Sanh during the siege thankfully they both returned home when so many didn't. Respect to all of our veterans
Semper Fi.
yes
Semper Fi.
Dig the vid on the USMC. Best vid and fighting force the world has ever known!! Semper Fi Yat-Yas 3rd AABN
I feel like most of the war was basically grand-scale hide and seek
In ancient times it was like tag with swords. Now it’s hide and seek with guns.
That's basically it mate 😜
Sneak and peek was most of the last 3 years of my enlistment!
@@dr.froghopper6711 my dad USAF, and uncle USMC both where in Vietnam, thank you for your service👍😎
Like the worst match of Battlefield you've ever played lol yea you're right
Semper FI. I can say the proudest day of my whole life was the day I earned the right to put on the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.
God bless you sir
excellent and dispassionate recounting of the tale, keep up the good work, audio backdrop is great
My cousin was there but when he came back he wasn't the same he died last year from agent orange he would have night mares he was on medication.how ever all these guys deserve the medal of honor they fought for buddy s saved them too .
My dad was there in operation Dewey Canyon. Door gunner. He received 8 air medals during that tour.
If anyone knows where there is more content on this operation could you let me know please. Just trying to find out anything I can about the old man. Thanks 👍
My Dad was a Crew Chief on the same operation in the CH-46 Sea Knight. Check out this site and maybe you can find pics of your Dad! I know I did! Good Luck! popasmoke.com
@@badian37 thanks man. Much appreciated.
@@madaprak You know, since your Dad was a Gunner on the 46' there's a descent chance that maybe your Dad and my Dad may have heard of each other. Even better, if they were in the same squadron, then there's very good chance that they not only knew each other, they may have served on the same aircraft at one point! My Dad told me, that he spoke to a friend of his in hospice care one more time before his friend died, over the phone and that I asked him who he was and he replied, "He was my Gun!" or Gunner. And his friend told my Dad, "Nate, you saved my life!" My Dad passed away in 2016 so this may have been 2014-2015 or so. Was this man your Dad? My father was MSGT Nathaniel Tucker USMC (RET.) and the last year he medivac out of Vietnam was 1969 but I don't know if it was because of this particular battle. I just knew he was shot down for the last time in 1969 and came home. He was shot down 3 times in that war.
@@badian37 Hey Brian. Firstly sorry to hear about your dads passing man, that's terrible.
My dad was in hmm 161 during that operation. Next time I am able to get a hold of him I will confirm with him. Regardless I will still see if he recognizes your dads name. Seems like there might be a decent chance. My dad was there 66-67 as infantry, so if your dad was also on a second or third tour, even better chance. I will definitely check. Thanks for getting back to me. Really appreciate it. I've been looking at the site you sent me for the last few nights. All pieces of the puzzle for us man.
@@madaprak Thanks, my Dad lived a very full life and it was his time at 86 year's old! For sure, my Dad was in HMM-161, I remember the squadron patch on a wooden shield wall ornament that my Dad had among all the other squadrons he served in, in the hallway wall, while growing up. He also had a HMM-161 coffee mug with his name on it! Yeah the website is sacred.....hours can go by if you're not careful! My Dad told me about that website 20 year's ago! As in your wise words, "All pieces of the puzzle for us!" Please let me know what you Dad has to say, this is getting very interesting for us both!
Thanks for honoring those Marines with this excellent video.
I am an amateur historian of the war in SouthEast Asia ( aka the Vietnam War). I’ve read hundreds of first-hand account books, and articles, and viewed thousands of hours of films. Lesson: Take the fight to the enemy, kill them in their bed, and leave politics out of the equation. If we go to War, let the Military do its thing. The politicos can then thump their chests. History is written by the victors. Amen.
That's how Germany lost WWII, some dumb art school dropout always intervene with professional and capable generals the Germans had. Judging their tactics and strategy and alters it with his own mad/crazy ideas to win politically
defending a fixed position is how the French were defeated...
Amateur? Yes, it shows.
Did you know LBJ became majority share holder at bell helicopter just b4 he sent troops to Vietnam did they tell you that in those history books it's all a big fat conn job now ain't it
Have you ever been in a contact? I suspect not because you have a childlike understanding of modern warfare.
Wesley L. Fox was my BN commander when I was with C. Co 1/6. He was an Awesome leader. His motto for our BN at the time was ATTACK-ATTACK-ATTACK.
Semper Fi my brothers.
“Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.”
Ronald Reagan
Only because such thoughts are beyond them....... I personally prefer green myself
What difference did the Marines make in Vietnam?
@@nedludd7622 What difference have you made ?
BS lol. I know numerous Ex marines (yeah I know the joke that one is never an ex-marine) age 40 to 55 who are fat af, suffering from heart disease and high blood pressure and can barely waddle up 2 flights of stairs without sweating profusely and almost passing out. They endlessly whine about “liberals” and ask wtf happened to this country. Their only “good” moments in life were killing and mourning their fallen brethren during their 2-years of active duty. Quite sad they are.
This is the stupidest quote ever! They come back with mental illness or disabled. You don't sound clever at all.
Problem is, you may kick the NVA out, but if you leave, they just come right back. All our guys killed for a short term gain. Same thing for Afghanistan.
Didn't like the NVA at the time, but have to give them credit...as soldiers they were badass.
I've seen a bunch of your videos. I love them, so i bought a year of that doc service to say thanks.
Warriors - ALL OF THEM - with balls of steel, leadership from top to bottom. Just as tough and heroic as their brothers of WWII and Korea. Semper Fi!
As a Vietnam-era vet, I cannot believe this escaped my attention. I never knew about this.
From memory, eleven US troops were awarded medals after having covered grenades with their bodies and thereby saving the lives of their mates.
This war was a brutal disgusting disaster.
It really was, shame the North felt the need to invade Cambodia and Laos, build thousands of miles of illegal supply lines and start an insurgency to overthrow the southern government. Then it's a shame that the almost 500,000 ARVN and other south Vietnamese soldiers were willing to fight and die defending their home and families from communism.
How many honorable wars do you hear of?
All war is a disaster. Usually for civilians more than any one else.
@@musicwelikemang Star Wars.....duh
@@benisaten The inhabitants of Coriscant and the Ewoks might not agree.....
@@shannond9945 True
After Dewey Canyon came heavy defensive fighting in Happy Valley (cause everyone was damn happy after they got out), Death Valley and the Arizona territory when in the 1969 summer offensive the NVA went after the Hiep Duc resettlement village defended by the overstretched green brigades of the Americal division ... the 9th Marines came in to take pressure off the 196 Bd which was badly mauled as recounted in Keith Nolan's outstanding 'Death Valley'...
I did a research paper over the A Shau Valley. Just looking at after action reports for the various large scale operations there (Massachusetts Striker, Dewy Canyon, Apache Snow, etc.), you can see a patter on US and ARVN troops going into the Valley, killing a lot of people, capturing a lot of weapons, and leaving. The PAVN would just come right back in. It was not exactly a fun place.
Marines are just built different, yo.
Your units and times can be disputed and some can't. Thank you my friend. Peace!
I enjoy your videos and find them very informative. Thank you. Operation Dewey Canyon was not fought in the A Shau Valley. It was fought in the Da Krong Valley, NW of A Shau. How do I know? In the movie you mention the withdrawal of the MACV-SOG forces from Loas before the Marines withdrew. Due to fuel and time of day not all SOG forces were withdrawn. I commanded the SOG platoon that was left behind after Fire Support Base Cunningham closed, the Marines withdrew and the weather turned bad. This left us to face the NVA with no support and very little ammo. I recount SOG’s participation in Operation Dewey Canyon in my book “Dawson’s War.” Dawson is derived from the original name of the operation Dawson River South.
Thank you all for your service and sacrifice so that our children and there children would have a good life may god bless all
I have no memory of our last fire fight. I awoke in an Okinawa hospital 3 weeks later in 1974. I later learned I was the first man downed.
Thank you for sharing their story. Outstanding men!!
Do a video on the use of the battle ships at the start of the war. They were too effective and demoralizing and they stopped using them.
Does anyone remember serving with L/Cpl Joseph R. Febres of Fox Co., 2/9 during operation Dewey Canyon? He was my brother and would love to hear from anyone who served with him in his unit.
I was Army Infantry 8yrs AD, 19 NG. I always liked the Marines (and all other branches. Everyone has their mission, are structured for it and do it exceedingly well). I hated to see in the Army how some units absolutely sucked and were a disgrace to the nation, when we had (and I served in) great units like the 82nd and others. I like how the Marines have a standard across the board. Where the Army has really good units and tolerates others and allows them to be abject shitbags. Salute Marines and all other branches and my beloved Army. From mechanics to cooks and fuck the Mechanized slackjaws.
It was just a new Mothers Day idea.
My Hmong great grandma was a Former S.G.U Major General 2nd military commander.
*VETS, HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!*
Thank you.
@@katsanddoggies9904 thank you sir. You’re sacrifice is so much appreciated.
I was in elementary school when these events happened. It’s sad for all the people that died
An interesting fact for anyone who's curious is that Lcpl. Tommy Noonan, who received his MOH as told during this documentary, actually grew up and went to school with another MOH recipient. Sgt. Robert Emmett O'Malley, who was the first Marine MOH recipient in the Vietnam War. They grew up together in NYC, Bobby O'Malley would visit Tommy's mother every year on memorial day until her death.
my grandfather was also in the vietnam war (a soldier of the philippines), he was a communist geurrila during the world war at the age of 13 or 14 he joined the Hukbalahap 1943 (meaning in english: People's army against the Japanese) and in 1971 joined he was in the army and sent to vietnam for peace keeping but they were ambushed by the NVA and he was hit in the ear (As in his ear was removed due to a bullet wound) and he died in 2015 due to a heart attack.
God bless your grandfather he is a true hero fought in battle
Never considered how difficult it is to blow up a dirt road.
I will never forget or forgive our Gov. for not allowing our military to win that filthy war!!! I lost my younger Bro. in that War!!--David USMC 1966-1969
On one hand it's impressive how much reserve the human mind can produce.
On the other it's depressing that most wars fought were on the behalf of the rich and powerful.
I saw the news every night. It was the blues. All those Kids killed for nothing. Why ? I learned this country only cares about the big people ( fortunate sons) the little people must pay.
Can't salute these brave Marines enough. . This fighting spirit & Tenacity is what's going to be needed for the upcoming fight in the pacific... Semper Fi Marines 🫡
I was there, and this video is pretty accurate. Some of us called it "the aw shit valley".
Very well done. Thanks for the video.
The NVA mastered guerilla warfare tactics and used their terrain and knowledge of their home land to strike and retreat. As badass as the US military is we couldn't fight an enemy we couldn't see.
My country did well during the Emergency and the subsequent insurgency. The Brits trained our troops and SAS were there as well. Small unit tactics were used in COIN against the communist guerrillas. We put the local ethnic Chinese in "new villages", you may see it like an internment camp but that's the choice we had back then as majority of the commies were local Chinese, originally their organization was put up as resistance group against the occupying Japanese in WW2.
The problem was they were willing to lose 40 to 1, forever. And we weren't.
Thanks man...Semper Fidelis warrior poet
Do one on the CURRAHEES, the 506th IN Regiment in the Ashau. In the movie Hamburger Hill, the 1/87 Rakassans actually get saved by the 506th but the movie doesn't illustrate this.
Thank you for telling the story of the Marines without glamorizing the fight. You also present a well balanced story of both sides in the fight.
Hey would love to hear about the wars that we never fought ??bet u it's deep ,cos that swamp in Washington is deep and nasty oby the way thanks for your service m8 god bless.
The A Shau was a place that still gives me a few nightmares.
Don't hear much about the South Vietnamese fighting in the A Shau Valley. Don't hear much about the South Vietnamese fighting at all. Kind of odd, since it was THEIR country. They sure got off their b*tts and got moving when it was time to come to the US as refugees.
You are sooooooo right. WTF were we fighting someone else's war?
The US invades Vietnam. Who are the Vietnamese gonna fight themselves or the invaders.
You should do a video on the Battle of Dai Do in Vietnam. 750 marines essentially stopped a second Tet offensive attack.
Dark Docs is the real deal
He doesn't have more subscribers because he's not an historian, he takes sides in his videos. Listen again to what he says at the end of this current video
@@power2084
I don't know about you, but the history books I read tend to have a traceable element of taking sides, especially when it comes down whom was the 'least worst', such as in the Eastern Front, during WWII.
That tendency gets more visible when reading up on the Korean War, and, finally, especially so, during the Vietnam War, in which the overwhelming enemy wasn't the NVA/Viet Cong, but rather Communism. As long as Communism could be contained to, say, 'just China and Russia', that lessens, or so it seems the plan was, to prevent any incursion of Eastern Europe, from South East Asia, given that they're not exactly a million miles apart.
Thus those that, shall we say, have an emotional, or many other forms of attachment, to the American/South Vietnamese side of the Vietnam War, will always see it from that way ...
But it takes a rather unusual mind that many, including myself, that is capable of viewing War from the side of those whom were defeated, or, to put it another way, see things from the side of the perpetrator, to get inside not just their mind, and thinking, but, and very occasionally, this, actually sympathise an individual solider 'on the other side'.
Perhaps a great example is the serialisation of 'Das Boot', focused entirely on a German U-Boat, that sunk what they called enemy shipping.
On top of that is the stress of living, and working inside a steel tube, that you hope will stand up to the water pressure at depth. Fresh water would be a premium, so little washing was done. Also, seeing daylight, and/or experiencing fresh air, was a rarity.
Finally, if that wasn't enough, the tide severely turned against the U-Boats, and the hunter suddenly became the hunted ...
But that is a rarity. Why on earth would any one read, let alone write, the story of the Vietnam War solely, and completely, told, from the side of the North Vietnamese, least they be called Communist sympathisers.
Same deal goes with the Germans during WWII; in the Army, Airforce, and, especially, and particularly, the Navy, claims were made that they fought a 'clean war', although, even within the airforce, you had officers whom firmly believed in what Hitler was doing, and of the doctrine created by the NSDAP.
Especially when you add in the horrors committed by the Waffen-SS, writing from a German point of view would be incredibly difficult; not impossible either, but writing it, without sounding like you are justifying their actions ...
But going on to the Vietnam War, the way they fought, their treatment of PoWs, and much else, means anyone trying to write about the Vietnam War from _that_ side, means being prepared to go arm-pit deep in something pretty awful ... which includes what the ARVN, and American Forces did to them; no wonder, or so it seems, a number of Vietnam veterans are anti-war, given what they've seen of war, that close ... such as trying to storm up a unnamed hill, with no real objective save for clearing the enemy out, and staying alive, without getting ground up ...
... plus --- and I am prepared to be screamed at ---- the idealism of the USA being the Victor ... but of what, the rest of the world, would like to know ...
@@nigelft too long didnt read
Funny that you should characterize as an “engineering marvel, “ when the NVA’s generals thought it was a failure, which it was militarily. The VC and NVA suffered huge loses and North Vietnam would not mount major offensive until the Americans had withdrawn from the country.
Nah, another major offensive was in 1972, before the withdrawal. It, along with Operation Linebacker I and II, ended the war. Which one forces which side back to the negotiation table is up to debate.
I feel for the U.S. Marines that had to go through that.
The ARVN troops went through far worse than the US troops much worse
hats off to these guys💪
HEY! Slow down! We're not going anywhere.
And some of us ended up like me, wounded and praying for our Brothers...
Semper Fi -3rd battalion 8th Marines Taliban hunting club Helmand province, Afghanistan 08-09
Beaten out of both places
@@naradaian I always find it funny when someone uses American made technology to be anti-American haha 😂 go burn some kerosene and learn English via candlelight
@@naradaian Yeah! And when the Marines left there was a trail of dead dirt squirrels in their wake!!
I’m not sure how you can claim the Marines were beaten given that fact. They left because their time was up, and none of them wanted to establish permanent residence in a shit hole.
B co 1stBn 9th Mar 1992-1995... of all units I served at, my time as a member of The Walking Dead is my proudest. We were always aware of the Marines who earned the TWD name; their sacrifice and spirit was something we tried to honor. We were very proud to be able to serve in the Battalion. Semper Fi Marines. Get some!
thanks boss, I live in a small town, my friend served with the Walking dead in vietnam, he made it home he is ok and old now but the hell he went through?
Video starts at 2:12.
The hero we needed.
@@SpectreFleet I'm far from a hero. I'm more like the crazy guy screaming at trees for being lazy and not talking back anymore.
@@theFLCLguy Every City needs it's Joker too ;-)
I called and asked my dad who served in Nam if he's ever been to Au Sầu Valley. he said "Hell no, I wouldn't be here today if I had", he said. He spent some time in Germany before returning home where he picked up a terrible addiction.
2:12 is when the video starts
Yep - not being able to go into Laos due to political considerations in Washington underlines why the US eventually had to admit defeat. The NVA fought with no holds barred while the US fought with one arm behind its back.
Working those M60's like a boss, OOHRAH!
Oh, TG. here i was falling asleep to that bbq guy & Nancy sews on PBS.😁👍
“A veteran is someone who at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America for an amount of up to and including his life. That is HONOR, and there are way to many people in this country who no longer understand it!”
I like dark docs and dark 5 but why does it always sound like he's talking at 1.25%
It's an affectation, to appear more 'military' perhaps?
The guy drinks Redbull to get to sleep
I like it. A sense of urgency.😳
Hope his wife is just as pleased :)
@@stevensimms7014 will definitely be pleased about the speed he can move his tongue 👅
Army 72 to 75 lots of respect for the Marines. Thank you for your service
The Marines always get the job done. Too bad the politicians did not want us to win.
The last Major Offensive for the Marines in 1969 was Operation Idaho Canyon on Mutters Ridge just south of DMZ..
The heroes for me are the veterans from VVAW in the 1971 Operation Dewey Canyon III.
I like these before I watch them because I know it's going to be good 👍
Thank you for saying they received medals, not "won" them. It drives me nuts. It's not a contest.
They went through hell and won a medal. They didn't just "receive" it
@@noahleek3968 wrong. They received it for what they went through. Ask ANY veteran. Oh wait, I AM a veteran.
@@hoosierpatriot2280 I just fucking said that
@@noahleek3968 the way you worded it looks like you said they won medals.
@@hoosierpatriot2280 well I don't think "won" is the correct word but you earn a medal. Thank you for your service by the way
I served with Echo Company 2/9, 1st Platoon back in 79.( Hell in a Helmet ).
After all the money and lives lost in this war, what did it prove? Vietnam was a war that the USA shoulda never entered.
That war had nothing to do with Communism it had to do with "Helicopters" Lyndon Johnson and his wife ladybird they were primary shareholders to the Bell Helicopter Company made them multi-millionaires in no time back in the 60s.. that's why Johnson had Kennedy assassinated..All about money & Power even back then..Go to the WALL to see your friends everybody thought we died and fought for a reason..What was the reason to make Lyndon Johnson and the "Rothchilds" even more richer..Yep the Rothschilds they have been involved in every war since Napoleon they call it their bread and butter that's how evil rich people can be..🤮🤬💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰