Welcome to an "in progress" pictorial history of Charlie Battery 1st Battalion 12th Marines 3rd Marine Division Republic of Vietnam 1965-69
Charlie Battery Pictures Provided By:
Colonel Bill Rice-Provisional Artillery Battalion CO (67), Captain Rich Guinn-Charlie Battery CO, 1st Sergeant Jim Jerrell- Gio Linh Battalion Operations Chief (66-67), Staff Sergeant Terry Buss, Retired (66-67), Sergeant Jerry Kline-Charlie Battery Wire Chief (66-67), Steve Trent-FDC (66-67), Mickey Miller-Gun 2 (67-68), Steve Cook-Gun-3 (67-68), John Botchie- Gun 4 (67-68), Jerry Kollross-Gun 4 (67-68), Rich Colley-Gun 4 (67-68), Dan Sewell-Gun 5 (66-67), John Davis- Gun 5 (67-68), Bruce Parker-Battery Recorder & Gun 2 (67-68), Gary Conner-FO, FDC (67-68) Dean Dennis-Gun 6 (68-69) Billy Manry-Gun 6 (68-69)
Charlie Battery Pictures - 1966-67
These pictures are provided by Lieutenant Vic Vieira 1965-66, Staff Sergeant Terry Buss-Retired, 1966-67 and Sergeant Jerry Kline, 1966-67.
The battery was first in Okinawa, then on a BLT float, landing SW of Da Nang, then areas North in fixed positions between Mar & Sept of 1966. Lieutenant Vieira focused on the country, not the war. Some of Staff Sergeant Buss's photograph's show the opposite.
Charlie Battery at Gio Linh
Displaced from Camp Carroll on five hours notice, a convoy comprised of several units arrived in the Gio Linh vicinity 26 February 1967. This move 1100 meters south of the Demilitarized Zone initiated "Operation Highrise" the first authorized firing of Allied artillery into the Demilitarized Zone and North Vietnam. The North Vietnamese would not stand idly bye. 20 March 1967 brought the enemy's first use of artillery since 1954 at Dien Bien Phu. Captain Guinn was a "Mustanger;" A tough, professional Marine, he would do what he felt necessary to motivate his Marines who were facing overwhelming combat conditions. So loyal were his Marines, in one voice they said "if he ordered them to fight in hell, they would follow." Gio Linh was as close to hell as they would get., at least before dying..
The hand written captions below the first few pictures are Colonel Rice's hand writing; names appear such as Thieu, Ky Walt, and Hockmuth. One name that does not appear but is in the pictures:"Westmoreland." Thieu was, Premier Thieu, leader of South Vietnam, Ky was Vice-Premier Ky, second in command, Walt was Lieutenant General Walt, CG of 111 MAF, Hockmuth was Major General Hockmuth, CG of the 3rd Marine Division and Westmoreland was General Westmoreland and his staff, CG of all Allied forces in the South Vietnam. There is one photo of all military command and South Vietnamese leadership in Charlie Battery's Gun-5 Parapet. One well placed NVA mortar could have changed the war. Do you wonder what was REALLY going on at Gio Linh? :>) It was a hell of a time...
Charlie Battery at LZ Torch 11 June 1968
Click on the book above and read the short story about LZ Torch
Undoubtedly, one of the battery's finest hours, Charlie Battery Marines fought a numerically superior force with little or no combat experience among Marines brought to the field. Led by Lieutenant Jim Brown, who was awarded the Silver Star for his actions at LZ Torch, the battery repulsed an estimated two companies of North Vietnamese regulars, including Sappers.
There were many hero's that night but none shined brighter than Corporal Gary Conner. Corporal Conner was everywhere, encouraging his Marines to fight, resupplying ammunition, water, moving wounded, relocating the .50 caliber machinegun, including ammo and then giving a lesson on how to fire the weapon to his Marines in a fighting hole, all this and more while under fire.
Wounded by shrapnel in his arm, Corporal Conner remained undaunted, continuing to aid, support, and direct fire on the enemy. When three North Vietnamese infantry tried to breech the battery line Corporal Conner shot and killed the NVA soldiers preventing them access to the interior battery defenses. Corporal Conner was originally submitted for a Silver Star but mysteriously downgraded to a Bronze Star without explanation. The short story is above and pictures are available in the photo link.
Charlie Battery-1969
Charlie Battery, circa 1969 in several LZ's, then loading at Dong Ha, the withdrawal to Okinawa & the ride home. One has to wonder the feelings that would happen as the ships departed ports at Dong Ha in route to Okinawa; after the initial joy of leaving Vietnam I would think most of us would have quietly stood by the rails, watching the land fade from the horizon.
So much was left behind; I, for one, would be thinking about two bro's we buried in the jungle, NE of the Ashau valley in the summer of 1967. Well, not all of them but the remains that could not be shipped home. Then, all the American blood that stained the soil and the red earth that stained the souls of all who fought there.
Was it really this easy, board a ship and waste the sacrifice's of all who fought in that hell-hole of a country. We all knew when it came to it, the Gooks would never fight and defend their own land. Time and again, I witnessed them never forsaking a motto; "why fight when you can cut, run, and leave the combat to us."
It's over but, it will never be over inside of me; Vietnam will accompany me to my grave. Maybe in passing, I can finally forget...
Please enjoy the battery pictures; remember, this is a work in progress. I have begun to post our photos from 1968 and 1969. Please sign the guest book when you visit and leave your comments, thoughts, and suggestions for improvment.
Charlie Battery Picture Page Guest Book
The last 12th Marine's update was: 8 February, 2009
Battery Marines!!! Hello Battery Marines and visitors:
We are now linked to "Webshots:" If you have any problem finding the photo albums please contact me at charliebattery67@wavecable.com
