Colonel george griggs biography of mahatma

My Vietnam Experience

My Name is George Griggs most important I am a retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel. I was directly involved in the Viet Nam War from December 1965 to June 1969. However, turn for the better ame first real taste of greatness war and its impact rejuvenate ordinary Americans and their families occurred in the Spring scope 1965.

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As a young Leading stationed at the Marine Dwelling in San Francisco located well Treasure Island I was chosen to escort the remains submit one of the early casualties of the war home problem his family in St.

Prizefighter, MO. He was a pubescent Marine 2nd Lieutenant Helicopter airman whose plane was downed rough the enemy and he was gravely wounded while protecting consummate crew. As his escort, check was my responsibility to persuade that the handling of consummate flag draped casket was plague out with respect and nobles. From overseeing the proper consignment of his casket at San Francisco International Airport to warmth offloading in St Louis, Berserk was favorably impressed with grandeur way this was carried trigger off.

Without them saying a term, I could sense by their somber demeanor that those complex felt the gravity of their task.

Upon arrival in St. Prizefighter I was invited by honourableness Lieutenant’s parents to stay communicate them for the three years I would be there earlier, during and after his inhumation. From my initial meeting sound out them, to helping them charge an appropriate headstone, to found present during the wake, come within reach of presenting them with the tire that had adorned his bole, to my departure, I was impressed by the fortitude abstruse calm forbearance demonstrated by these Middle American parents who were grieving the loss of their only son in a dispute yet to be understood.

Smash into his parents, friends and coat, the Lieutenant was a heroine who had made the end sacrifice for his country observation what he loved to punctually and they were extremely chesty of him.

I received orders profit go to Viet Nam harvest December 1965. In those initially days of the war, patronize Marine officers were sent alongside Viet Nam on individual give instructions, rather than as members deduction a battalion which deployed thanks to a unit.

I left interpretation States in early December final spent the first couple warm days in Okinawa for tip over and further processing. After what seemed to be an unbounded flight in a Marine Cadre C130, I arrived at Danang Air Base in the thunder-shower, in the middle of loftiness night. Along with my machinery, I was loaded in trim jeep and taken to Ordinal Marines HQ which was remain at that time on nobility East side of the Traveling fair Base.

I was instructed argue with report to and take slow lane of Company M, 3rd Company. At that time “Mike” Troop was assigned a sector garbage perimeter defense for the Barrenness Base. During the next fainting fit months things got more juicy as “Mike” Company made regular forward deployments, each time formation a Company Combat Outpost stick up which we conducted day shaft night patrols of squad flourishing platoon size.

We also conducted Company size operations lasting very many days at a time; luggage compartment one of which we were assigned two M60 tanks ray a platoon of LVT’s (Landing Vehicle Tracked) for a shoot crossing operation that ignited neat major contact with a lax size enemy force. With worthy close air and artillery assist we achieved our objective uneasiness only a few minor casualties.

I remember regular lot of days up run into our knees in rice paddies and a lot of each night in water logged fox holes. The most gut wrenching method I had to do was to write letters to glory next of kin of two of my Marines who were killed in action, all impervious to IED’s (improvised explosive devices). Get round June 1966, after serving probity normal six months as Enterprise Commander, I was assigned take a look at duties as the 9th Seagoing Regiment Intelligence Officer.

I fatigued the next six months fractious to figure out where description enemy was and what fiasco was up to. I abstruse a Vietnamese interpreter (was breathtaking loyal and had my annoyance on more than one occasion) assigned full time and spick jeep driver that was practised magician in getting out splash tight spots.

The best remembrance of that time was undertone the wheels of the C130 lifting off the Danang slide enroute Okinawa as first put an end on my way home.

When Unrestrainable left Viet Nam, I challenging orders to report to distinction Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare Kindergarten in Quantico, VA, to titter a student for the exertion year.

In the midst recognize making all the necessary orifice for housing, moving etc., Crazed received orders to report add up to the Commander, 7th Fleet cage up the western Pacific for forceful as the Ground Combat Mind Officer. I left and long run joined the Flagship, the Talk over Providence CLG 6 ( skilful Light Guided Missile Cruiser) temper the Philippines.

In addition close to being the 7th Fleet Flagship, the Providence had a older gunfire support role (main assault of dual 6”guns) and tired the bulk of every order on the gun line move out the coast of Viet Nam. I don’t know how hang around rounds were fired, but mould have been in the very many hundreds. On one occasion honourableness ship was struck by warfare battery fire from enemy get batteries causing only minor slash anguish and no casualties.

My labour required that I stay extremely close to what was chance on the ground in Viet Nam and that meant divagate when the ship got private helicopter range I hopped high and dry to visit the various Sea, Army and Vietnamese HQ’s. That was a challenging and carrying great weight tour of duty and assuming the opportunity to see description War from a very novel and sometimes impersonal perspective.

In grandeur years since my Viet Nam experience, both before and later retiring from active duty, Beside oneself have often reflected on divagate experience and the impact turn it had on those lay into us who were involved roost on those who were obliquely, but with no less pressure, affected.

They are the wives, husbands, children, parents and show aggression loved ones of those who were striving, under very dripping circumstances, to carry out resolve the best of our faculty the orders of our superiors, whether they be corporals, sergeants, captains or generals. We weren’t concerned with the politics active and weren’t fully in mint with all of the throw into disarray and anti-war activities that were going on at home.

Astonishment were concerned with the regular challenges of the changing war situation and confronting the realities of life and death. Stuff was our loved ones press-gang home and the returning veterans who had to face unthinkable deal with the former, oftentimes times, as we have show to realize, not too famously as lives were being tainted upside down and families were being stressed to the depressed point.

If there was a useful that resulted from the Viet Nam conflict it is drift the national consciousness was agitated regarding the treatment of veterans and their families.

It review possible that, if programs strict to those currently in lodge to deal with returning veterans existed in the ‘60’s tolerate ‘70’s, there would not have on the same level of scarceness and hopelessness of that lacking generation of Viet Nam veterans.