Every United States Marine stands on the shoulders of those Marines who came before us. It is our proud legacy. In this episode you will learn of the "giants" known as the Montford Point Marines. Ambassador Theodore Rosevelt Britton. Jr. Is one of those Marines. He, along with a little over 14,000 Black Marines integrated the United States Marine Corps in 1942. Listen as Ambassador Britton shares his story, his life, and his experiences as one of the first Black Marines. You will be mesmerized by the brilliance of the 100 year old Marine who helped make the Marine Corps the elite fighting force that continues today.
This episode is one of seven episodes that can be listened to individually or all at once. Grunts to Tankers (3 parts), John Heffernan, Pete Ritch, Hank Fuller, and Bob Skeels are a matched set. Together, they are a group of grunt platoon commanders who made their mark on Mutters Ridge. These men fought on Mutters Ridge at the same time as Karl Marlantes and Ollie North, and though less known were as good if not better than Marlantes or North. Just listen to their stories and you will agree.
The music is used under a license purchased by the USMCVTA from the copyright holders.
Episode 60 is a study in one tanker. A Canadian by birth, an American by choice, and a Marine by character, Burt was one of a kind. Burt was the choice of tankers "up north" to go into the field with. Hard as nails but the tank commander many of us trained under. He certainly taught your moderator how to survive in Vietnam. Listen as Lt. Jim Coan, Roger "Blues" Unland, and yours truly, Tree, speak to the character, stamina, and steely outlook of Sgt. Bert Trevail.
As usual, all music is purchased and licensed under contracts with the appropriate license authority.
This was originally a video designed to encourage members of the United States Marine Corps Vietnam Tankers Association to participate in any number of ways to share their unique stories with the rest of the world. It originally debuted at the VTA Reunion in St. Louis. If you are a member of the VTA and have not contributed to your own legacy, please do so as quickly as you can. If you have contributed, consider the other possibilities.
If you are a member of the listening audience, a subscriber or a follower of the podcasts, you are in for a treat. Almost every picture and certainly all the stories save one, are from Vietnam. Some of the Marines pictured in the video are now guarding Heaven's gates. If you should see one of these Marines, or any Marine, or any veteran, you will be appreciated if you say "Thank you". PLEASE NOTE: as indicated at the end of the video, all copyrighted material was licensed by the USMCVTA legally by our organization. Contact the Podcast mentor for further details on the licensing process.
Joe Sanders entered the Marine Corps in 1954. An accomplished author, Joe was one of the first Marines to hit the beach in DaNang. This is a fascinating story of the early years of Marine Tankers in Vietnam.
This is the episode that will explain all the others. 1st Sgt. Rick Lewis (retired) shares his intimate knowledge of the tank that was the backbone of every story on this podcast. Rick takes us from turret to track and from amor plate to drive sprocket as you find out why every Marine Corps tanker was so proficient a warrior in Vietnam. Once you listen to this podcast, you will want to go back and re-listen to all the others.
The story of the most valuable Marines in the Corps. These are the unheralded Marines that toil in the base camps to keep those of us in the bush supplied/resupplied. Without ammunition, food, parts, clothes, boots, etc. we could not do our work.
We have some very exciting news about where the podcast Tracking Our History is headed. Listen to this "short commercial" and find out.
In Episode 57 Tracking Our History explores the differences between the Vietnam War tankers and the more modern Marine Corps. A fascinating interview with Eirik Gohl leads into a discussion of tactics, the new MEU and the modern Marine that carries on with the legacy of the Vietnam Marine. All music is licensed by and for the Vietnam Tankers Association by way of continuing contracts.
This episode has 4 of the most tested Marine Tankers of 1967-68. It covers the 4 tankers overlapping tours of duty including their time in country during the first Tet Offensive. The listener will be informed, shocked, and entertained all at the same time. As all episodes this one is marked explicit as well.
In the background you will hear music from the Byrds, Arlo Guthrie, Dire Straits and John Fogherty (all of which are officially licensd to the USMCVTA from BMI, SEASAC, ASCAP, and authors and writers themselves such as Joe MacDonald and Sailor Jeri.
In this Episode we wrap up the interview with Hank Fuller, John Heffernan, and Bob Skeels. All three were Marine Infantry Officers before they were assigned to Alpha Company 3rd Tanks. These officers one and all led Grunt Platoons on Mutters Ridge, one of the most dangeous places in all of I Corps, South Vietnam.
All the music is licensed under cotract with ASCAP, BMI, Universal Music, SEASAC, and/or the author and performer.
We are in the middle of a fascinating story of three tank officers who began their career in Vietnam as Marine Infantry Platoon Commanders. John Heffernan, Hank Fuller, and Bob Skeels continue their discussion including their time on Mutters Ridge. Mutters Ridge was a ridgeline overlooking the DMZ and was cause for deep concern anytime the Marines were headed there. For further reading see Matterhorn, by Karl Marlantes.
This is Part 1 of a 3 part Podcast featuring 3 tank officers that first spent 30 days or more leading a grunt (Marine Infantry) Platoon before transferring back to tanks. This is a fascinating look at three Marine Officers that brougt a unique experience with them when they arrived at their respective tank plaoons. Take a listen and see what you think.
All music is officially licensed under contract with the appropriate owner/publsher in compliance with all copyright laws.
Folks, this is an amzing episode. This podcast focuses on a Tank Commander who through his heroic actions, was awarded the Silver Star. The Silver Star is third only to the Distinguished Service Medal and the Medal of Honor.
Folks, listen to the whole podcast, it is amazing!
The music used is by permission from the author and writr of the song, Sean Householder and Tom Reynolds. I thank them for their generosity.
This episode is a departure from our usual. Today we interview Rick Curtis, a DesertShield/Desert Storm Marine warrior. And in a further departure Rick's MOS is 352. That work will become clear as you listen to the podcast.
However, the most fascinating part of Rick's life comes after his discharge from the Corps. Listen and be both informed and entertained. As always the music used is granted by the copyright holder.
Alonzo Jacobs was a motor transport Marine assigned to First Tanks. "Heavy Duty" brings a different perspective to our podcasts. Assigned to First Tanks as a Motor T guy, Alonzo talks about many of the firefights and incidents reported by others assigned to First Tanks but from the perspective as a witness as much as a participant. Listening to Alonzo weave a story is a great joy.
The music is used by license from the owners.
As with so many of our tanker friends, Dennis today is deeply involved and quite successful in the automobile racing experience. This episode takes him back to his time in First Tanks and the fire fights in and around Goi Noi Island and Hoi Ahn.
Episode 34 with Ron Colucci is another in our series of tankers who are providing the true stories behind the Viet Nam War. I have included the post Viet Nam discussion to provide some additional flavor of the kinds and types of discussion that routinely take place between Marine Tankers. There are couple of noteworthy notes in this part of the interview. First and foremost is the exceptionally fascinating assignments Ron had after Viet Nam. You will also hear a little about the upcoming Wyoming mini-reunion in DuBois, Wyoming. The primary goal of this trip is to get a bunch of "old farts" back behind the wheels of and M48-A3 tank one more time. Shortly after the trip to DuBois there will be a podcast detailing the trip and the experience of the M48 one last time. That is one podcast you will not want to miss.
a note bout the picture for this podcast. The hole you see was made by and rocket propelled grenade. The damage on the outside is minimal compared to the horrific shattering of the inside wall of the tank.
The music is licensed to the United States Marine Corps Viet Nam Tankers Association by the various organizations that own the rights.
Episode 33 is a unique podcast in that our main interviewee is a unique individual. Mike represents the transition from Viet Nam to Stateside. Mike has experienced the strong need to get to Viet Nam to fight with his comrades-in-arms and the disappointment of being denied that opportunity. And the experiences Mike has since his time in the Corps is also relatively unique in that he has stayed in very close contact with the Marine Corps through the Marine Corps League. In the city in which he resides he has had opportunities that are rare even for non-military persons. For example, he has been in close contact with such noteworthy people as George Schultz, former Secretary of State, Dianne Feinstein, current California US Senator, and Jackie Speier, current US Congresswoman. You will hear that and much more in this long podcast. It is well worth your time to listen.
We are so very fortunate to have on our podcast the creator and builder of the Vietnam Memorial Wall. This is a terrific podcast where Jan goes from his own experiences in Viet Nam to the creation and then the completion of the Viet Nam Memorial Wall. There is a very special introduction to this podcast. We all have heard of Margaritaville have we not? For you young-uns' it is Jimmy Buffett's most notable song. Turns out that Jan Scruggs and Jimmy Buffett are good friends. While Jan was in the hospital Jimmy Buffett wrote a little song for Jan. With permission, that song is the intro to our podcast tonight. All music used by permission of copyright/owners.