GET YOUR RECORDS!!!
There is a lot of information needed below. If you need to send some information now and some later, that is fine. Just send the form that applies below with the partial information, and send it again later with the remaining information needed. Also, if you do not have your Service Record Book, I suggest you get it. It contains most all the answers to the below questions. Go to the Company Office and on the center column click on, "Get Your Records". To get your records coming right now, CLICK HERE to pop-up a window with instructions.
HOTEL ONLY FORM
There are three forms below. The top form, titled, "Hotel 2/1 1968 Registration Form, Hotel Only" is just for the actual time you served in Hotel Company. Other in-country time and the rest of your active duty time will be located in the second form. I suggest you read all three forms before you start any of them. It will make the process easier. There are two issues with the forms you need to know about. The first is, you can't save them, once you start you must finish them by clicking the submit button when you have completed it. The Hotel form takes about 90 minutes minutes to complete depending on how much you write. I suggest you write question 4 in a word processor and have it completed before you start on the form. That way you can just copy and paste it.
NOTE: You do NOT have to fill out all 3 of these at once. just fill out one form, then hit submit.
HOTEL 2/1 1968 REGISTRATION FORM, NON-HOTEL MILITARY TIME
This form is where you will place all of your military time outside of Hotel. A nice birds-eye view of your time in the Marine Corps and other service. This should take you about 2 to 2.5 hours to complete if you have your military records.
HOTEL 2/1 1968 REGISTRATION FORM, CIVILIAN INFORMATION
What has been going on in your life since the Marine Corps? We would genuinely like to know. I know we have some very successful Real Estate Agents, some Police Offices and Boarder Patrol Agents. We have at least one who is retired from the Post Office. Some of you have gone to school and obtained degrees. Tell us all about it. Please include a picture of you as you are now. I filled this form out in _____________ minutes but it could be wildly different for any of us.
BIOGRAPHY
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. A biography is more than a list of impersonal facts (education, work, relationships, and death), it also portrays the subject's experience of those events. Unlike a profile or curriculum vitae (résumé), a biography presents the subject's story, highlighting various aspects of his or her life, including intimate details of experiences, and may include an analysis of the subject's personality.
An autobiography is written by the subject himself.
As we have all learned from Jay, when we write or speak about the war we were in, we see it in our mind as the sliver in front of our nose. So slightly different versions of the same story are completely normal and expected. As you read them, simply enjoy the real life experiences of others.
INTRODUCTION
I served two (2) tours in the Republic of Vietnam. While assigned as the XO of Kilo 3/3 on Okinawa in February 1965, I was assigned to the 1st Arven Marine Brigade operating in and around Bong Son RVN. On May 10 I was ordered to rejoin Kilo company as it landed in Chu Lai RVN. In August 1968 I was assigned as C.O. of Hotel 2/1 operating in RVN. I was reassigned as Asst S-3, 1st Marines in December 1968
THE UNITS WITHIN HOTEL COMPANY I SERVED IN
Company Commander
NON-HOTEL UNITS i SERVED IN
Kilo Company 3d Bn 3d Marines 1965-1966
MEDALS AND AWARDS
Bronze Star Medal w/V
Purple Heart
Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Combat Action Ribbon
Navy Presidential Unit Citation
Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal w/1ss & 1bs
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Individual Award
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
I served 1 tour in Viet Nam. While there, I was in Hotel Company 2ND BN 1st Marines. I held positions as Platoon Commander, and Platoon Sergeant in the 1st Platoon as as Platoon Commander of the Weapons Platoon
I SERVED IN HOTEL FROM
4 Feb 1968 to Oct 22 1968
THE UNITS WITHIN HOTEL COMPANY I SERVED IN
1st Platoon Command Post
GOING TO WAR IN VIETNAM
I departed the States from beautiful California in late Jan of 1968. I spent my last evening there with Jim Rogers who had been a Drill Instructor with me at MCRD San Diego. We had a few drinks at the Marine Memorial Club in San Francisco and he took me to the airport.
The flight to Okinawa was uneventful. The stay in Okinawa was short. Just enough time to store sea bags , get my shots up to date and sign any important papers. I was supposed to fly to Viet Nam on a commercial jet but the air Field in Da Nang was getting hit with rockets so they decided to fly us in on C130’s. Definitely not the same ride. Loud, uncomfortable and long!
We landed without incident and got to see a number of destroyed planes and other things alongside the runway that had been hit by rocket and mortar attacks. So, maybe being in Viet Nam is not such a good idea.
Once on the ground and out of the aircraft, the next stop was the administrative section where I was assigned to my unit. I was lucky enough to get 1st Marines. From there, I got assigned to barracks to wait for transportation to my unit.
My first night there proved to be exciting. The base got hit with rockets and machine gun fire. I had no weapons and had no clue as to what was going on. The only thing I could do was watch the pretty tracers and hope that I got through our first night without getting hit.
Fortunately, it was not long before I got a flight to Phu Bai where the 2nd BN 1st Marines had its headquarters. Upon arrival, I was taken to the Regimental Sergeant Major for assignment to a unit. Initially he was going to send me to Charley Company, but when I found out who the company gunny was, I begged him to send me anyplace but there. (The Gunny and I had been Drill Instructors together and I knew that I did not want to serve under him.) The Sergeant Major heard my story and sent me to Hotel Company. Sometimes, things work out.
At the Hotel Company office, I was assigned to the 1st Platoon and sent to supply where I was supposed to be issued my 782 gear (pack, poncho, weapon and the other things one needs to function in the field) I say supposed to be issued because most of what I needed was not there and some of what they had was bloody and torn. I was issued a pistol but no magazines or ammunition. When I asked for the missing gear, I was told I would get it when I got to Con Tien where my company was located. I was not a happy camper.
While I waited for transportation to Con Tien, The NVA opened the Tet offensive. Hue City got hit very hard.( the base at Phu Bai is very close to Hue City) I talked to a number of Staff NCO’s who were hauling supplies up to the Marines fighting in the city. (Charley Company was one of the units heavily involved in the house to house fighting.) It was a true slug fest.
My transportation to Con Tien was a truck convoy. I still did not have ammunition or magazines for my trusty 45 cal pistol. Going through Indian country with nothing to fight with was not my first choice.
I arrived at Con Tien with no problem and joined my platoon. Lt. C. V Taylor was the platoon commander and was a sharp, experienced officer. I was happy to draw him as my boss.
The Lt. and I shared a bunker so we had some time for him to brief me on the troops and let me know what he expected of his platoon sergeant.
My first night there, I inspected the line and asked questions of the troops about their defensive position. I found that most of them did not know what the Final Protective Line was. (It is a line where each Marine is supposed to fire his weapon when a specific signal is given. The FPL signal is given only when the enemy is about to overrun the defensive positions. It is very important that every Marine know the signal and the line he is fire down. It creates a wall of fire that the enemy has to get through in order to reach the defensive positions.
When I got back to the bunker and told the Lt what I found, we agreed that we would hold school the next morning. About two hours later, the Lt. asked me if I was awake and I said I was. He said he was scared to death that something would happen before we got the problem fixed. I assured him that we would get the problem handled the next morning.
The next few days, I held some classes, had the men test fire their weapons so I could see how well they handled them, and in general got to know my subordinate leaders. I sensed that both the Lt. and I were comfortable.
On my 12th day in country, we headed out for my first operation outside the defensive positions. To read about that experience, go to Our Stories and see my piece called “First Fire Fight”.
AREAS I SERVED IN
Con Tien
Khe Sanh
Cau Viet
POW Compound
Tu Cau; Quang Nam Province
NAMED OPERATIONS I SERVED IN
Operation Scotland, Khe Sanh, 21 January and 8 April 1968
Operation SCOTLAND II in Quang Tri Prov. 25 April to 21 June 1968
Operation ACOTLAND II/c in Quang Tri Prov. 22 June to 6 July 1968
Operation NAPOLEON SALINE II in Quang Tri Prov. 7 July to 19 July 1968
Operation KENTUCKY in Quang Tri Prov. 19 July to 21 July
Operation NAPOLEON SALINE II in Quang Tri Prov. 21 July to 23 Aug. 1968
UNNAMED OPERATIONS I SERVED IN
Operation against Communist Forces, DaNang, Quang Nam Prov 24 Aug. to 24 Oct. 1968
Counterinsurgency Operations DaNang 2 July 1968 to 25 Jan. 1970
WOUNDED IN ACTION
Yes, Twice
RIBBONS I EARNED
Bronze Star with Combat V
Purple Heart with star (2 awards)
Good Conduct with 3 stars
Combat Action Ribbon
Drill Instructor Ribbon
PUC
Expert Rifle
Expert Pistol
MY MARINE CORPS TIME NOT IN HOTEL
I served 1 tour in Viet Nam. While there, I was in Hotel Company 2ND BN 1st Marines. I held positions as Platoon Commander, and Platoon Sergeant in the 1st Platoon as as Platoon Commander of the Weapons Platoon
I ARRIVED IN VIETNAM
Oct. 14, 1968 and was assigned to Hotel Co.
I SERVED IN VIETNAM
Oct.1968- Oct. 1969
I SERVED IN HOTEL FROM
Oct. 1968 - May 1969
I SERVED IN
B co. 1st. Med. Bn. May 1969-Oct. 1969
THE UNITS WITHIN HOTEL COMPANY I SERVED IN
2nd Plt. CP
AREAS I SERVED IN
NAMED OPERATIONS I SERVED IN
Counterinsurgency Operations DaNang 2 July 1968 to 25 Jan. 1970
Meade River, Quang Nam Province, RVN 20 Nov. 1968 to 9 Dec. 1968
WOUNDED IN ACTION
AWARDS AND MEDALS RECEIVED
Purple Heart
Combat Action Ribbon
Navy Presidential Unit Citation
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal w/2 Bronze Stars
Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm and Frame
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 Device
MY MARINE CORPS TIME NOT IN HOTEL
PRIMARY MOS
Hospital Corpsman for four years
MILITARY SCHOOLS
Naval Hospital Corps School San Diego,Calif.
Field Med School Camp Pendelton, Calif
MY CIVILIAN CAREER
After I left the military, I began a career in the heating and air-conditioning field.I owned my own business for 22 years until I retired.
I have been married to the same woman for 41 years.
I SERVED IN HOTEL FROM
Aug '67 To May '68
THE UNITS WITHIN HOTEL COMPANY I SERVED IN
1st. Plt. 1st. Squad
AREAS I SERVED IN
Con Tien, Khe Sanh, Da Nang, Phu Bi, Quang Tri,
NAMED OPERATIONS I SERVED IN
21 January 1968 – 8 April 1968
10 October 1967 - 20 October 1967
WOUNDED IN ACTION
No
I ARRIVED IN-COUNTRY
I arrived in country in February of 1967 and was transferred out in March of 1968. I was in Hotel Company, 2nd Platoon my entire Vietnam tour. When I was first there we were in Da Nang providing security for the airbase and working operations south of the airbase. We were then moved up to Quang Tri and operated in that region until we were sent up to Con Thien. I rotated out of Con Thien shortly after TET (though we saw very little activity up on the "Z" when things hit the fan down in Hue, Quang Tri, Da Nang and Saigon).
I SERVED IN HOTEL FROM
02/18/1967 to 03/09/1968
THE UNITS WITHIN HOTEL COMPANY I SERVED IN
2nd plt. 2nd Squad
I SERVED AS A . . .
. . . rifleman, later a point man; Fire Team Leader, Squad Leader. Just before I rotated out I was Platoon Guide, for a short while (at Con Thien). I was on numerous operations while in-country, including Medina where most of 2nd Plt got wounded or KIA - I was uninjured.
AREAS I SERVED IN
Da Nang, Quang Tri and Con Thien
WOUNDED IN ACTION
Yes
THOUGHTS ON MY SERVICE
Throughout my life I have looked back at my TOD and thought of it as an experience that I would not trade for a million dollars, nor would I do it again for a billion dollars. Of course, money ain't what it used to be.
1st. Lt. Wayne T. Haaland
Lt. Haaland arrived in-country in November 1967 and was assigned as the Platoon Commander of second platoon. In October of 1968, he was re-assigned as Asst Battalion S-3. His final assignment was leader of a kidnap team for S-2.
OPERATIONS SERVED ON
Operation PEGASUS, 1 April 1968 to
Counterinsurgency Operations DaNang 2 July 1968 to 25 Jan. 1970
OTHER MARINE CORPS EVENTS
Wayne T. Haaland Capt USMCR ret