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My
Memories of
VMA(aw)242
VMA (aw) 242 first arrived in the Republic
of Vietnam as an A6 Intruder squadron in November 1966. From November of
1966 to February of 1967 the squadron flew three types of missions: TPQ's,
close air support and Special Forces Camp support. During February of
1967, VMA (aw) 242 began flying missions in Route Package One area of
North Vietnam. In May, these missions were expanded to include the Rolling
Thunder areas which consisted of Route Packages Two, Three and Four. The
A6's went further into North Vietnam in June of 1967 when the Deep Rolling
Thunder missions began in the Route Package Five and Six area. During
January of 1968 the "242" A6's expanded their operations to
include interdiction missions in the Steel Tiger area of Laos.
VMA (aw) 242 remained based at Da Nang until 8
September 1970 when it was redeployed to the United States. 242 had
completed what would be the longest tour of the war zone for an A6A
squadron. That amounts to 58 months of continuous combat operations. The
last combat mission was flown on 27 August 1970 . The total number of
combat sorties flown in Indochina by the squadron was 16,783.
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I served
with VMA(aw)242 at Da Nang from January 69 to February 70. I
was in charge of the night metal shop during most of my tour.
I worked on the flight line most nights. I also done the Q/A
work for the metal shop.
I remember several Marine's names. I remember CPL Mike Pearl,
SSgt Owens, Sgt Elliott Anderson, all from avionics shop. Cpl
Chris Wilkins, from seat shop. Gunny Duffy, CPL Doug Stuart, CPL
Mike Lucas, all from ordinance shop. PFC Tom Lavarro, John Murawski and
Cpl Greg Southward. Sorry fellows. I don't remember what
shops you were out of.
It distresses me greatly that I can't
remember more. I've viewed the VMA(aw)242 roster at the
All
Weather Attack web site (it has been
de-activated) trying to recall names. Some names ring a
bell but I can't put faces to the names. Here are the things I do
remember.
I remember being in country less than 2 weeks and
seeing LCPL
Tom Stevenson killed by a 122 rocket. I was in my defensive
revetment position less than 50 feet away. I remember looking at
his body for 30 minutes before they took him away.
I remember smelling what I thought was brush killer
coming from the end of the runway. They sprayed from the end of
the runway out to red beach very regularly. Only later did we find
out it was agent orange. I often wonder if that is what has eaten
my lungs up.
I remember cooking steaks
out at China Beach. It was a feast! It was
always followed by a football game on the beach. Sand burns
hurt.
I remember the PX at Freedom Hill. I bought a new
Canon AE camera to replace the one that got stolen.
I never did buy a recorder to replace my Akai 7010 that was stolen.
I remember the rocket attacks every 3 - 4
days. Some got VERY close. I remember when we had 2 guys
wounded out on the flight line.
I remember when the I Corps ammo dump blew up April
27th, 69. We huddled behind our bunker so we could watch all the
fire works going on. We had several hooch's damaged by flying
debris. Fortunately, we had no one wounded.
I remember trying to find a place to catch 40
winks some time during the night. The area that held all of
the MAB's was a good place. On top of the conex boxes wasn't.
The OD caught me there one night. Just another ass chewing.
I remember Cpl Mike Pearl and I
transporting pilots from the officers hooch area to the flight line
every night when he was the duty driver. I would ride "shotgun" for
him.
I remember Cpl Mike Pearl and I getting caught
with liquor in our hooch during Christmas 69. All we got was
just another ass chewing.
I remember Cpl Mike Pearl giving me a AK-47 he
had just bought to transport back to the hooch area.
Unfortunately, the MAG 11 CO, Colonel Hefner, was driving by at
the time I was getting on the troop transport to head back to the hooch area.
Cpl Pearl and I got another ass chewing over that as well. I
sure hope Colonel Hefner is enjoying Mike's AK-47.
I remember Cpl Pearl and me getting drunk at the
EM club coming back to the hooch area and smoking those little
cigars his Dad sent him. Mike always played really good music.
If anyone remembers me please email me at
woofan1@consolidated.net.
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