| Full Name | Teddy Gibson | Previous Duty Station | Camp Pendleton, CA |
| Service Branch | USMC | Location In Area | LZ Russell |
| Unit | 3/12-H | Date Arrived In Area | Nov, 1968 |
| Date Entered | 10/1/1967 | Main Job In Area | Sctn. Chief guns 6&1 |
| Date Discharged | 9/1/1970 | Rank When There | E-3 |
| Highest Rank | E-4 | Date Left Proximity | Sept., 1969 |
| MOS | 0811 | Next Duty Station | NAS Lemoore, CA |
| Boot Camp Location | San Diego | Medals Received | The Usual |
Note:
Teddy lives in Griffin, GA
I remember going on a plane from
We went from Da-Nang to Quang-tri on a C130, sitting on the floor with a strap pulled all the way across from the one bulkhead to the other...seat belt for 10 Marines. We then were picked up, put on a deuce & a half truck and taken to Dong-Ha...3/12 Hotel Battery's rear area. I spent a few days there changing tires on said trucks. We had big green tents to sleep under but the mildew smell was so bad, I slept under the stars.
We then went in convoy to Vandergrift Combat Base. The old timers would give us these packs of Kent cigarettes to throw to the kids that would run along with the trucks when we went through a town. The Kids threw rocks at us & called us #10, also other choice names in English.
We then flew by chopper up to L.Z. Cates. I was put on gun3. I had a SGT. Buck in charge of me. He taught me all I needed to know about 105s.
We then moved to L.Z Russell. We were all excited about the move & had no idea how much different things were going to be. I was put in charge of gun6. I was lucky; I had some really good men that learned the gun quickly & worked as a unit. If I remember correctly that gun was the fastest gun on the hill.
I left to take over gun 1, 'cause Sam was
going home. It took awhile for me to fit in with the men on that gun.
Sam's shoes could not be filled, but after awhile things worked out. As
you all know when you are on a gun or a squad you become closer than family; and
that's what happend. I miss those guys & the good times we had...Lance,
George, Stan, Biggy Rat, Hanna, Paul Newman, Shannon & I know I'm missing
someone. Im proud to of known you men. We worked long hours, let go with a lot
of sweat and didnt bitch all that much. OH SGT Gage is one of the ones I missed.
But together, as a
I also always wanted to thank the GRUNTS that pulled perimeter around us. They are the backbone of the Marines. I had the fun of getting to fire the big mortars with I think Echo 2/4 and I let him fire Gun 1. Thanks for that memory.
I remember the big cetipedes. the swarm of bees that come over the hill; the Monsoons- never seen so much rain in my life; the rats...need I say more?
There is one thing I took with me from Vietnam; live everyday like its your last, 'cause this life is full of surprises. Your shadows are with me every day. Some of my friends have probably passed on bye now-but they're still with me.
Ted Gibson