81mm mortar crew firing WP marking rounds for
a Close Air Support mission.
Indirect fire mission w/105mm howitzer, firing
north and over the top over 881N, probably at rocket site or once we had
a mission against some NVA tanks over there also. Note flat
tires - as usual, which made shifting trails difficult and dangerous,
since it required several Marines, offered NVA good target. That is my
gun, I am in the center, I only had enough men on the gun to fire the mission
the rest stayed inside, less got hurt that way. - Bob Miller
A bunker from the 'high rent' district
of Hill 881S. Room to stand up, ventilation provided by window and
room for several Marines. Light enough to read the last edition of
"Playboy" delivered by the helicopter crews. ******************* 17 March 2004 (St. Patrick's
Day) Dennis M. Mannion identifies
the Marine standing with this message posted on the Khe Sanh Veterans site: "St. Pats, Hills 881S
& North, Captain O'Connor CO C 1/13,..... 36 years ago today.
At the Khe Sanh Combat Base, Captain O'Connor had been saving a few 105
rounds of Green Smoke for just this day. Lt. Thomas Biondo ( standing)
is the officer in charge of C 1/13's three guns atop 881S. Captain O'Connor
radios up to ask Lt. Biondo if he (the LT) can see 881N. The response is
yes (maybe out of the very opening you can see in the photo of the LT).
Back at the base, C 1/13's head Irishman gives the OK to fire, and within
seconds Green Smoke shells impact on 881N. Back on the radio, Captain O'Connor
says, "Happy St. Patrick's Day, you guinea bastard, OUT!" Here's to those two Khe Sanh Marines and all Irishmen
(real or in the spirit of the day).
