Battery History

1st 155mm Gun Btry (SP)

Battery VIETNAM History

From Feb66 to Feb69 

(MMMYY denotes link – click to see that month’s Command chronology)

Feb66

7Feb66 departed 29 Palms w/1st FAG consisting of HqBtry, 1st Guns, and 3rd 8”

8Feb66 underway USS Ogden from Pier 6 San Diego

24Feb66 CO: 1st FAG ordered to drop 3rd 8” at Chu Lai, 1st Guns at Danang, and to deliver HqBtry to Okinowa

Mar66

3Mar66 USS Ogden arrived at Danang

Battery laid at AT988722

27Mar66 Battery moved to AT964712 (aerial view)

Apr66

CO:     Capt H. H. Brooks III

2Apr66 1st Guns CHOP 4th Bn 12th Marines

Battery Location AT964712

May66

CO:     Capt H. H. Brooks III → 18May66

           Capt N. M. Larimer II  18May66 →

Battery Location AT964712

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Jun66

Battery CHOP to 3rd Bn 12th Marines

CO:     Capt N. M. Larimer II → 18Jun66

           Capt W. H. Wantland 18Jun66 →

3Jun66 The Battery moved from the Danang area to the Phu Bai area. An advance party arrives by convoy.

6Jun66 The Guns arrived in Hue by LCU at 1000H, and the rest of the battery arrived by convoy at 1015H. The guns were laid at YD811160 (Gia Le)

9Jun66 Battery received 50 – 100 rounds of harassing small arms fire while putting up concertina wire.

14Jun66 Captain Larimer was conducting a survey of a possible new battery location when his vehicle hit a mine. He was severely wounded and MEDIVAC’ed to CONUS. Four enlisted men and one other officer were wounded in the incident.

Jul66

CO:     Capt W. H. Wantland

Battery Location YD811160

Aug66

CO:     Capt W. H. Wantland

Battery Location YD811160

Sep66

CO:     Capt W. H. Wantland

6Sep66 Battery moved on to southern perimeter of Phu Bai enclave (YD8932712786) where it remained until November, 1968. See on Google Maps

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Oct66

CO:     Capt W. H. Wantland

Battery Location YD8932712786

Nov66

Battery Location YD8932712786

Dec66

CO:     Maj E. D. Litzenberger

Battery Location YD8932712786

19Dec66 the Battery came under the operational and administrative control of 4/12

Jan67

CO:     Maj E D Litzenberger

US Army 40mm M42 gun and crew located with battery

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

30Jan67 one platoon 8” at YD643279 (PK17)

(Note: There is some discrepancy regarding the location of the cannons at PK-17. The location is noted as YD643279 and YD648277 in various reports however the weapons were never physically moved.)

Feb67

CO:     Maj E D Litzenberger

US Army 40mm M42 gun and crew located with battery

Battery adds 81mm mortar at battery center

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

one platoon 8” at YD643279 (PK17)

Mar67

CO:     Maj E D Litzenberger

US Army 40mm M42 gun and crew located with battery

Three Purple Hearts and one Bronze Star with combat “V” awarded

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

one platoon 8” at YD643279 (PK17)

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Apr67

CO:     Maj E D Litzenberger

one platoon 8” at YD643279 (PK17) 1-21 Apr: YD4827 (Shawnee AO) 21-30 Apr

Battery mess hall completed and in full operation

6Apr67 – Battery attacked at PK17. 1 8” Howitzer was lost due to a direct hit. 1 USMC KIA (LCpl Ernest Lemans Guitierrez), 1 USN KIA (HN Michael D Hemmerick), and 8 USMC WIAs resulted from the attack.

28Apr67 Battery received incoming mortars – battery replied with 50 Cal MG and Army 40mm AA gun netting 7 VC KIA

May67

CO:     Maj E D Litzenberger → 2May67

           Capt M. M. “Harry” Baig 2May67 →

(look here and here for interesting information about “Harry” Baig at Khe Sahn)

US Army 40mm M42 gun and crew located with battery

Battery lost the use of the 81mm mortar

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

9May67 one platoon of 155s at (YD829153) to support Operation Cumberland

14May67 one platoon of M109s from L/4/12 came under OpCon of 155mm Gun Btry

Jun67

CO:     Capt M. M. “Harry” Baig

Two US Army 40mm M42 guns and crews located with battery

one platoon of M109s from L/4/12 under OpCon of battery

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

one platoon of 155s at (YD829153) to support Operation Cumberland

Extensive floodlighting erected on battery perimeter for night defense

25Jun67 platoon of M109s from L/4/12 released from OpCon of battery

29Jun67 platoon of 155s moved to (YD716106) to support Operation Cumberland

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Jul67

CO:     Capt M. M. “Harry” Baig

Two US Army 40mm M42 guns and crews located with battery

one platoon of M109s from L/4/12 under OpCon of battery

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

12Jul67 platoon at YD716106 receives 50 – 70 82mm mortar round attack receiving 1 WIA

17Jul67 platoon of 155s at (YD716106) returns to Phu Bai

31Jul67 1st platoon placed under OpCon of 1st FAG

Aug67

CO:     Capt M. M. “Harry” Baig

Two US Army 40mm M42 guns and crews located with battery

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

One platoon at YD620095 to support Operation Cumberland

5Aug67 platoon released from 1st FAG and returns to BC

Sep67

CO:     Capt M. M. “Harry” Baig → 16Sep67

            Maj N. J. Beckman 16Sep67 →

One US Army 40mm M42 gun and crew located with battery

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

9Sep67 one Gun platoon moved to Gia Le (YD829151) in support of Operation Cumberland

Oct67

CO:     Maj N. J. Beckman

One US Army 40mm M42 gun and crew located with battery

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

One platoon at Gia Le (YD829153) until 28Oct67

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Nov67

CO:     Maj N. J. Beckman

One US Army 40mm M42 gun and crew located with battery

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

Battery issued M-16A1 rifles

Dec67

CO:     Maj N. J. Beckman

Two US Army 40mm M42 guns and crews located with battery

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

Jan68

CO:     Maj N. J. Beckman

Two US Army 40mm M42 guns and crews located with battery

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

15Jan68 Battery OpCon to 1st FAG, 1st MarDiv

16Jan68 2nd Plt 3rd 8” How Btry OpCon to 1st Guns

28Jan68 Battery received 60-80 rounds 82mm Mortar – 10 WIA

29Jan68 2 Guns (no personnel) transferred to 5th 155mm Gun Btry (SP) at Camp Evans (YD53453153) in support of 1st AirCav

Feb68

CO:     Maj N. J. Beckman

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

4Feb68 54 rounds of 105mm friendly fire received by battery from “B” Battery, 321st Artillery, 101st Airborne. 3 WIAs resulted

The battery fired 5 missions and provided an FO team in support of the Battle of Hue

Mar68

CO:     Maj N. J. Beckman

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

13Mar68 Gun #2 exploded killing 6 and wounding 1. The wounded Marine died later in the month.

The names of the casualties are:

PFC James Louis Buchy
PFC Vernon R Stead
CPL. John Michael Noonan
PFC Guy E Ray
PFC Francis J Dowd
PFC Edward L Glover
PFC Douglas Edward Dishman

See a tribute to Francis Dowd here that was created by Ariana Eshraghi, a student at Westlake High School in the Eanes Independent School District in Austin, Texas.

Apr68

CO:     Maj N. J. Beckman

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

8Apr68 two guns moved to western sector of Phu Bai perimeter (YD87361265) to improve fire coverage

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May68

CO:     Maj B. A. Mutch Jr.

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

One platoon located at YD87361265

16 – 20May68 2nd Platoon 3rd 8” Btry (SP) located at BC

26May68 one platoon from B/1/11 located at BC

28May68 platoon moves from YD87361265 to YD929071

Jun68

CO:     Maj B. A. Mutch Jr.

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

One platoon located at YD929071

15Jun68 105mm platoon moves to 3rd 8” location

28Jun68 105mm platoon returns from 3rd 8” location

Jul68

CO:     Maj B. A. Mutch Jr.

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

One platoon located at YD929071

1Jul68 platoon from B/1/11 leaves

5Jul68 platoon from E/2/11 joins battery

18Jul68 platoon from E/2/11 leaves

25Jul68 platoon from F/2/11 joins battery

26Jul68 platoon from F/2/11 leaves

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Aug68

CO:     Maj B. A. Mutch Jr.

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

One platoon located at YD92530708

Sep68

CO:     Maj B. A. Mutch Jr.

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

One platoon located at YD92530708

Barrels containing Napalm located in perimeter wire to improve defenses

3Sep68 platoon returns from YD92530708 to BC

4Sep68 MPQ-10 (Counter Mortar Radar) from 1st FAG lactated at Phu Bai BC

Oct68

CO:     Maj B. A. Mutch Jr.

Battery in Phu Bai (Battery Location YD8932712786)

Nov68

CO:     Maj B. A. Mutch Jr. – 8Nov68

          Capt M. H. Long 9Nov68 – 13Nov68

          Maj R. E. Leva 14Nov68 –

 Battery Location      YD8932712786 (Phu Bai) – 19Nov68

                                 AT96606216 (hill 55) 20Nov68 –

                                 AT87595744 (hill 65) 20Nov68 –

Battery’s mission changes from reinforcing XXIV Corps Artillery, US Army, to general support of 1st MarDiv coincidental with its move from Phu Bai to south of Danang

Dec68

CO:     Maj R. E. Leva

Battery Location       AT96606216 (hill 55)

                                AT87595744 (hill 65)

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Jan69

CO:     Maj R. E. Leva

Battery Location       AT96606216 (hill 55)

                                AT87595744 (hill 65)

01Jan69 Hill 65 position received mortar fire. Ron Watkins, TW Kish, and  and Dave Weller return fire with the .50 Cal. and silenced the mortar.

Battery sharing location with Counter Mortar Radar from 1st FAG

Preparing for delivery of 175mm Guns (M107) – training at “B” Btry, 8th Bn, 4th Arty Corps US Army at Chu Lai

Feb69

CO:     Maj R. E. Leva

Battery Location       AT96606216 (hill 55)

                                 AT87595744 (hill 65)

28Feb69 Battery receives 175mm Guns – official designation changes to 1st 175mm Gun Btry (SP)

23Feb69 CP, co-located with a company from the 7th Marines and Kilo 4/11 (M109’s), recieves mortar, B-40 and small arms fire. Kilo battery returns direct fire against attackers.

1st 175mm Gun Btry (SP)

Battery VIETNAM History

From mar69 to OCT70

Mar69

CO:     Maj R. E. Leva

Battery Location    AT96606216 (hill 55)  1-8 Mar

                              AT87595744 (hill 65)  1-2 Mar  “A” Plt

                              AT98557194 (hill 34)  8-31 Mar  CP

                              AT86624707 (An Hoa)  5-31 Mar  “A” Plt

5Mar69 Battery became operational with 175 Guns at 1200H .

Platoon A participates in Operation Taylor Common as part of Task Force Yankee (7Dec68 – 8Mar69) earning a Navy Unit Commendation. See here for more info.

“A” Plt recieved ~20 82mm mortar rounds resulting in 1 WIA and 3 WIANE

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Apr69

CO:     Maj R. E. Leva

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)  1-30 Apr  CP

                              AT86624707 (An Hoa)  1-12 Apr  “A” Plt

 AT96606216 (hill 55)  12-30 Apr “Alpha detachment” 3 Guns

27Apr69 ASP-1 (Ammo Dump) explodes causing FDC control to be turned over to “A” Plt and for several Guns and personnel to be moved.

May69

CO:     Maj R. E. Leva

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)  1-31 May CP 3 Guns

AT96606216 (hill 55)  1-31 May  “Alpha detachment” 3 Guns

Security bunker expanded into FDC bunker.

Jun69

CO:     Maj R. E. Leva

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)  1-30 Jun CP 3 Guns

AT96606216 (hill 55)  1-30 Jun  “Alpha detachment” 3 Guns

Jul69

CO:     Maj R. E. Leva          1-12 July 1969
Capt. F. H. Douglas  13-31 July 1969

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)  1-30 Jun CP 3 Guns

AT96606216 (hill 55)  1-30 Jun  “Alpha detachment” 3 Guns

19Jul69 FDC bunker completed

23Jul69 Lt. Ward shoots unidentified person in perimeter wire. No body recovered at  day     break.

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Aug69

CO:   Capt. F. H. Douglas

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)  1-31 Aug CP 3 Guns

AT96606216 (hill 55)  1-28 Aug  “Alpha detachment” 3 Guns

AT92048008 (Northern Artillery Cantonment) 28-31 Aug  “Alpha detachment” 3 Guns

Battery firing in support of Operation Pipestone Canyon

Sep69

CO:   Capt. F. H. Douglas

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)  1-30 Sep CP 3 Guns

AT92048008 (Northern Artillery Cantonment) 1-30 Sep  “Alpha detachment” 3 Guns

5Sep69 ~12 NVA/VC attempted to probe the CP position resulting in an estimated 5 enemy casualties. at first light a squad-sized patrol swept the area and captured a wounded VC MSgt who disclosed their mission was to destroy the 175mm Guns and as much of the CP as possible. No friendly casualties resulted from this action.

Oct69

CO:   Capt. F. H. Douglas

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)  1-31 Oct CP 3 Guns

AT92048008 (Northern Artillery Cantonment) 1-31 Oct  “Alpha detachment” 3 Guns

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Nov69

CO:   Maj. F. H. Douglas

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)  1-30 Nov CP 3 Guns

AT92048008 (Northern Artillery Cantonment) 1-30 Nov  “Alpha detachment” 3 Guns

Dec69

CO:   Maj. F. H. Douglas

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)  1-30 Nov CP 5 Guns

AT92048008 (Northern Artillery Cantonment) 1-30 Nov  “Alpha detachment” 4 Guns

4Dec69 4 three guns from 3rd 175mm Gun Battery CHOP’d to 1st 175 Guns

31Dec69 Premature burst in Gun 1 causes tube to be severed and large fragments thrown up to 700 meters. No injuries to personnel reported.

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Jan70

CO: Capt. C. W. Meier

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)  1-30 Nov CP 5 Guns

AT92048008 (Northern Artillery Cantonment) 1-30 Nov  “Alpha detachment” 4 Guns

26Jan70 one of 3rd Gun’s 175’s detached from 1st Guns and moved to hill 65.

Feb70

CO: Capt. C. W. Meier

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)

AT92048008 (Northern Artillery Cantonment)

NOTE: The records for this month are lost but it appears that by the end of the month there were 9 guns at hill 34, 6 guns from 1st Guns and 3 guns from 3rd Guns. All the guns were under the operational control of 1st Guns Battery.

Mar70

CO: Capt. C. W. Meier

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)  1-31 Mar

AT92048008 (Northern Artillery Cantonment) 5-31 Mar “Alpha detachment” 3 Guns

5Mar70 3 guns from 3rd Gun Battery returned to operational control of 3rd Guns and moved to An Hoa.
5Mar70 3 guns displaced to the Northern Artillery Cantonment.

Apr70

CO: Capt. C. W. Meier

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)  Battery CP 3 guns 1-30 Apr

AT92048008 (Northern Artillery Cantonment) 3 guns 1-30 Apr

May70

CO: Capt. C. W. Meier

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)  Battery CP 3 guns 1-31 May

AT92048008 (Northern Artillery Cantonment) 3 guns 1-31 May

Jun70

CO: Capt. C. W. Meier

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)  Battery CP 3 guns 1-30 Jun

AT92048008 (Northern Artillery Cantonment) 3 guns 1-30 Jun

Jul70

CO: Capt. C. W. Meier

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)  Battery CP 3 guns 1-14 Jul

AT92048008 (NAC) ALPHA Position 3 guns 1-31 Jul

AT87595745 (hill 65) BRAVO Position 3 guns 15-31 Jul

16Jul70 Battery firing in support of Operation Pickens Forest.

Aug70

CO: Capt. C. W. Meier 1-14 Aug

       Capt. R. P. Kempf 15-28 Aug

       Capt. R. R. Craig 29-31 Aug

Battery Location     AT98557194 (hill 34) Battery CP 1-31 Aug

                               AT92048008 (NAC) ALPHA Pos 3 guns 1-31Aug

                               AT87595745 (hill 65) BRAVO Pos 3 guns 1-31Aug

8Aug70 CP recieved one 122mm Rocket with no injuries or damage sustained.

24Aug70 Operation Pickens Forest ends.

25Aug70 Battery begins support of Operation 5th Mobile Strike Force.

Sep70

CO: Capt. R. R. Craig

Battery Location    AT98557194 (hill 34)  Battery CP 1-30 Sep

                              AT92048008 (NAC) ALPHA Position 3 guns 1-19 Sep

                              AT87595745 (hill 65) BRAVO Position 3 guns 1-16 Sep

                              AT86384718 (An Hoa) BRAVO Position 3 guns 17-21 Sep

20Sep70 the guns at the NAC displaced to hill 34.

17Sep70 3 Guns at hill 65 moved to AT865471 (An Hoa) to support Operation Catawba Falls until 21Sep70.

21Sep70 1st Guns are all located Hill 34 (AT955715) and stands down in preparation for embarkation to CONUS.

Oct70

CO: Capt. R. R. Craig

Battery Location     AT98557194 (Hill 34) 1-11Oct

                               Deepwater Pier, Danang, RVN 12Oct

10Oct70 Hqtr Battery 4th Bn, 11th Marines, “M” Battery 4th Bn 11th Marines, and the 1st 175mm Gun Battery (SP) deployed to 29 Palms, California. (Reference here).

11Oct70 – 31Dec70

CO:      Capt. R. R. Craig 12Oct70 – 24Nov70

            Capt. G. E. Hodge 25Nov70 – 31Dec70

Battery Location:      Aboard USS Juneau (LPD 10)  12Oct70 – 30Oct70

                                 Marine Corps Base, Twentynine Palms, CA 31Oct70 – 31Dec70

12Oct70 Battery embarked aboard USS Juneau (LPD 10) and sailed for CONUS at approximately 0200 on 13Oct70. 30Oct70 USS Juneau docked at Long Beach, CA.

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Operations participated in (partial list):

Bacon

Bighorn

Cannon

Catawba Falls

Chinook I

Chinook II

Cumberland

Deckhouse

Donahue I

Durham Peak

Hastings

Houston

Lam Son 134

Liberty

Macon

Meade River

Nightsticker I

Oklahoma Hills

Orange

Pawnee I

Pawnee II

Pawnee III

Pickens Forest

Pipestone Canyon

Prairie

Primness I

Rush

Shawnee

Taylor Common

Unit Citations:

1Mar66 – 15Sep67    PUC  3rd MarDiv

16Jan – 31Oct68       PUC  1st MarDiv

20Nov-9Dec68          PUC  1st Mar

Dec68 – Mar69          NUC  Task Force Yankee (Plt A)

Map References Series L7014 Sheet 6541 IV Hue, Sheet 6641 III DaNang, 6640 IV Dai Loc

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