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Echo Company 2/7
Vietnam
Veterans Chapter
1ST
Marine Division
Association
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Two-Seven
Tooter
Message
Board
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8th
& I Marine
Barracks
Washington,
DC
USMC Drum &
Bugle Corps,
Silent Drill
Platoon and
Color Guard
Sunday
March 21, 2010
Rose Bowl
Stadium
101 Rose Bowl
Drive, Pasadena,
CA
FREE
and open to the
public
Gates open 1 PM
Event starts 2
PM
For more
information
contact:
Sergeant Monique
Wallace
(818) 373-5531
March 30 of
every year is
"WELCOME HOME
VIETNAM VETERANS
DAY"!! Welcome
home and thank
you for your
service!!!
FMDA Annual
Reunion San
Antonio
It's never too early
to start planning
for the 2010 Reunion
in San Antonio
Texas.
THE ALAMO CHAPTER
WELCOMES THE 63RD
ANNUAL
1ST
MARINE DIVISION
ASSOCIATION REUNION
AUGUST 23-29, 2010
This year's event
will be held at the
El Tropicano Hotel
on San Antonio's
famous Paseo del Rio
(Riverwalk).
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2/7 TRIP TO
VIETNAM IS CANCELLED
FOR
2010
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The 2/7 Return
To Vietnam Tour
scheduled for May
9-22, 2010, has been
cancelled. We did
not meet the
required minimum of
ten participants. If
anyone wishes
to return to
Vietnam with another
tour at sometime in
the future, you are
welcome to do so.
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The FMDA's
Official Newsletter
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The
Old Breed
News
The
official
publication
of the
1ST
Marine
Division
Association.
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Marine Corps Base
Camp Pendleton
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Marine Corps Base
Camp Pendleton also
produces an
excellent "On Line"
Newsletter called
"The Scout". This
Newsletter is the
only official news
site for Marine
Corps Base Cam
Pendleton.
Click
on the link below to
read the Camp
Pendleton Scout.
THE SCOUT
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The
1ST
Marine Division Official
Newsletter
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The Blue
Diamond is the official
newsletter of the 1st
Marine Division and
provides great info on
what the Division is
doing here in the States
as well as the front
lines. Click on the link
below to read the latest
issue of the Blue
Diamond.
THE BLUE DIAMOND
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Famous Quotes |
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"We
are
coming.
Deal
with
it.
Could
be
easy
on
you
or
hard
on
you,
but
we
are
coming."
~ Brigadier Gen. Larry Nicholson, Commander of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Unit in warning to Taliban
"There's
no
such
thing
as a
crowded
battlefield.
Battlefields
are
lonely
places."
~ Lt Gen Alfred M. Gray, USMC
"The safest place in Korea was right behind a platoon of Marines. Lord, how they could fight!"
~ MGen. Frank E. Lowe, USA; Korea, January 1952
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Echo Company 2/7
Memorial Monument |
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88 Fallen Hero's of E
2/7
 Yes,
we have met our goal
of $32,800.00!
We plan
to close out the
Echo 2/7 Memorial
Fund on April 30,
2010.
This will
give veterans one
final opportunity to
be part of history.
If you haven't
donated yet, this is
it- even if it's
just a few dollars.
You want to be a
part of this! We
want you to be a
part of this!
To
everyone that has
contributed we thank
you. It's an
extraordinary
feeling to see
Marines making this
commitment to our
fallen brothers.
Semper Fi,
The Monument
Committee
Donate & More Info
Here!!
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HBO
SPECIAL
Premiers
March 14th
"The Pacific"
will air on HBO
as a ten part
series.
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"The
Pacific" is
based on the
book "With
the Old
Breed". The
miniseries
follows the
exploits of
Marines
throughout
the war in
the Pacific
as seen
through the
eyes of 3
Marines. The
extraordinary
experiences
of these men
and their
fellow
Marines take
them from
the first
clash with
the Japanese
in the
haunted
jungles of
Guadalcanal,
through the
impenetrable
rain forests
of Cape
Gloucester,
across the
blasted
coral
strongholds
of Peleliu,
up the black
sand
terraces of
Iwo Jima,
through the
killing
fields of
Okinawa, to
the
triumphant,
yet uneasy,
return home
after V-J
Day.
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Enter your email
address below to
sign up for our
mailing list.
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We
look forward to
keeping you
informed. Semper
Fidelis!
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"Ready
for Anything
Counting on Nothing"
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01 March 2010
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R & R, or 'rest
and recreation',
gave Marines
serving in
Vietnam a brief
respite from the
war. United
States
servicemen on a
twelve-month or
more tour of
duty were given
seven days R & R
outside Vietnam.
In the early
part of the war
they could spend
this time in one
of several Asian
cities or
Hawaii.
Q: Once
a Marine got
R&R, how did it
work?
Everyone in
Vietnam was
permitted ONE
R&R during their
one-year (13
months for the
Marines) tour of
duty. You had to
complete 30 days
in-country to be
eligible.
 You
had your choice
of the following
destinations:
Hawaii
Sydney,
Australia
Bangkok,
Thailand
Hong Kong
Kuala Lampur
(later changed
to Penang),
Malaysia
Manila,
Philippines
Singapore
Taipei, Taiwan
Tokyo, Japan
The first two
were seven days
(extra travel
time), the
others were five
days.
Once
you put in for
R&R you would be
assigned to the
next available
slot. (If you
picked a popular
destination, you
might have to
wait longer.)
You would
receive orders,
as for any other
military
assignment. This
was done through
the command
structure and
not your unit
(nor could they
disapprove it).
Yes, Marines
were taken out
of battles, sent
on R&R and came
back to them.
Q: What happened
once you
drew your
orders?
You were
pulled out of the
field, sent back to
your base area to
turn in your weapons
and gear, shower,
get some sleep and
then flown to either
Tan Son Nhut, Cam
Rahn Bay or Danang.
There, after about a
day, you would
change into your
khakis and board a
chartered commercial
airliner ("freedom
bird"), stewardesses
and all, and fly to
your R&R
destination. If you
had chosen
Australia, you also
had to undergo a VD
check prior to
boarding.
 You
took no military
clothing and your
baggage was
inspected. (Your
jungle fatigues were
checked at TSN, Cam
Rahn or Danang.) You
changed your MPCs
and piasters for US
dollars.
Once
your flight had
cleared customs, you
were bused to the
R&R center at your
destination. There
you would attend
about a two hour
series of lectures
as to what you
could, or could not
do. You again
exchanged your
dollars for whatever
the local currency
was. You were
required to rent
civilian clothing
from a local service
(and leave a hefty
deposit, which you
got back when you
returned the
clothing.) You were
required to rent
either a hotel room
or an approved
transient apartment
before you were
allowed to leave the
R&R center. You were
also given a list of
contact numbers. A
bus dropped you off
at your residence
quarters and you
paid for your room
in advance when you
checked in. You were
then on your own
until your flight
back. If you wished,
you could book
sightseeing trips or
other activities via
the R&R center at
nominal rates.
Hawaii was somewhat
an exception, as to
what you could or
could not do. You
could wear your
uniform, or certain
portions of it.
Hawaii was the only
location where
you were allowed to
rent or drive a car
or motor vehicle.
Marines chose their
destinations with
great care, talking
to other Marines who
had been to
different places.
Each had its own
attractions.
Hawaii was chosen
mostly by married
men. It was the
cheapest place for
their wives to get
to. But it was part
of the United States
and many single men
also went there,
trying to get back
to familiar
surroundings.
Bangkok was the most
common choice for
single men, Two
reasons: it was the
cheapest place to go
and there was rental
female
companionship.
Sydney? Well, it was
a Western city.
Everyone spoke
English.
Hong Kong?
Bangkok with
shopping. You
could buy all
kinds of things
in Hong Kong,
like expensive
cameras,
top-of-the-line
Akai tape decks,
Rolex and Seiko
watches, all for
perhaps
one-third of the
stateside price.
Manila and
Taipei were
tamer
versions of
Bangkok or
Hong Kong.
Kuala Lampur
and
Singapore
were more
expensive
versions of
Hong Kong.
Tokyo
was the most
expensive
place to go.
On R&R, you
were subject
to the
authority of
the local
civilian
police, as
you would
have been in
a US city.
If you got
in serious
trouble, the
military
would try to
recover
custody of
you if they
could. You
were
required to
have your ID
card and
your orders
on you at
all times.
On your
departure
date, you
put on your
khakis, a
bus picked
you up to go
back to the
R&R center,
and then you
caught
another
commercial
flight back
to Vietnam.
There you
got your
jungle
fatigues
back and
went back to
your unit.
If you
missed your
flight, you
were
considered
AWOL.
Q:
How about
in-country
R&Rs?
China beach was
more than just
sand and
surf. It
represented a
moment of calm
for battle weary
Marines. There
were two
in-country R&R
destinations:
Danang (China
Beach) for the
Marines and Vung
Tau, for the
Army.
 In-country
R&Rs were rare,
and usually
awarded for
things like
being your
unit's Marine of
the Month. They
were short, only
three days. You
were restricted
to the R&R
center, but it
had its clubs
and recreational
facilities. You
stayed in
barracks and
wore your jungle
fatigues (but
checked your
weapons on
arrival) or
casual (think
"beach party")
civilian
clothes. Oh
yeah, forget
about girls. An
in-country R&R
was sort of like
an "ataboy"
award from your
unit or to a
unit and did not
count as your
once-a-tour R&R.
Q: Could
you take leave
in Vietnam?
You are
entitled to 30
days annual
leave in the
military. This
requires
approval of your
unit, and can be
taken even one
day at a time.
HOWEVER, you
could NOT take
ANY annual leave
in Vietnam,
period.
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M79 40mm Grenade
Launcher
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The M79
launcher, called
by Marines the
"Blooper," or
"Thumper"
or "Thump-Gun" continued
to be a favorite
with Marines in
Viet Nam
One of the
few
completely
new Marine
Infantry
weapons to
appear
during the
Vietnam War,
the M79 had
no
counterpart
in 
the enemy's
arsenal. It
resembles a
sawed-off
shotgun and
fires a
spherical
40mm grenade
which has a
"kill
radius" of
five meters.
Grooves in
its barrel
imparted a
spiral spin
to the
warhead
stabilizing
its flight.
The spiral
also caused
weights in
the fuse
mechanism to
arm the fuse
after about
thirty
meters of
flight,
after which
the shell
detonated on
impact. The
grenades
were thus
safe from
accidental
detonation
from a bump
or fall, or
if struck by
a bullet.
The M79 grenade
launcher is a
single-shot,
shoulder-fired,
Break-action
grenade launcher
which fires a
40x46mm grenade
and first
appeared during
the Vietnam War.
Because of its
distinctive
report, it
earned the
nicknames of
"Thumper",
"Thump-Gun", "Bloop
Tube" and
"Blooper" among
American
soldiers and
Marines.
Australian units
referred to it
as the "Wombat
Gun". The M79
can fire a wide
variety of 40 mm
rounds,
including
explosive,
anti-personnel,
smoke, buckshot,
flechette, and
illumination. The
stock is made
from wood, and
the butt is
fitted with the
rubber recoil
pad. Open sights
consist of a
hooded front
sight and an
adjustable
ladder-type rear
(with windage
adjustment), and
is graduated
from 75 to 375
meters in 25 m
increments. It
must be noted
that trained
operators often
left the rear
sight in its
folding down
position, and
aimed down the
barrel, still
achieving good
accuracy.
Ever use
one in-country? 
Post it to the
Message Board
Widely used by
Marines in
Vietnam, the M79
turned to be a
complete
success.
Reliable and
quite accurate
in the hands of
a trained
operators, it
provided
extremely mobile
firepower to
smallest of the
infantry units.
Following the
successful
development of
the M406 HE-FRAG
round, several
other types of
40mm ammunition
were rapidly
developed,
including smoke
and illumination
rounds, HE-DP
(dual purpose,
fragmentation/antitank),
incendiary,
buckshot
canister (for
close-combat and
self-defense).
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Words of War |
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Only one
slogan matters
The Vietnam War
generated numerous
slogans, mottoes,
and memorable
phrases from both
proponents and
opponents of the
war. Here is a brief
selection:
Sayings, and
other writings of
the Vietnam War.
On helmets:
"Just you and me!,
right Lord?"
"Don't shoot, I'm a
short-timer"
"It
don't mean nothing"
"Born to Kill"
"We Got to Get Out
of this Place"
Here's one we've all
heard:
"U numba one GI -
Short time two dolla"
Only one slogan
matters. Yours. Post
it here to the
Message Board
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Chapter Pride Apparel |
Echo 2/7 Vietnam Veterans Shirts, Covers, Jackets
USMarine-OnceandAlways.com
provides
pride
apparel
for our
chapter
and a
growing
catalog
of
products
for
Marines. 
Echo 2/7
Vietnam
Veterans
Chapter
and
members
of BOC
Class
5-67,
and 1/5
Vietnam
Veterans can
find
their
custom
logo
products
here and
support
their
group's
fundraising
with
your
purchases.
Stonehill
Productions
makes a
10%
donation
to our
chapter
of all
sales to
Echo 2/7
Vietnam
Veterans.
Get
quality
merchandise
that
looks
smart
and
wears
well
while
showing pride
in your
service.
In
addition
to
the
standard
apparel
products
with
the
Echo
2/7
logo,
consider
these
additional
products.
The
Echo
2/7
Logo
can
be
placed
on
any
one
of
them.
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Honor - Commitment -
Loyalty To One Another |
The
Values
That
Define
A
Marine
Marines are held to the highest standards, ethically and morally. Respect for other Marines is essential. Marines are expected to act responsibly in a manner befitting the title they've earned.
Semper
Fidelis
is
more
than
a
motto,
it's
a
way
of
life.
Semper
Fidelis
distinguishes
the
Marine
Corps
bond
from
any
other.
It
goes
beyond
teamwork
- it
is a
brotherhood
and
lasts
for
life.
Marines
pledge
themselves
completely
to
the
Constitution
of
the
United
States.
From
the
day
they
enlist
and
throughout
their
service,
the
oath
every
Marine
takes
is a
promise
and
a
reminder
of
their
commitment
to
the
defense
of
our
nation.
For
those
of
us
that
are
now
amongst
civilians,
this
is a
challenge. The
only
way
we
are
going
to
survive
with
our
values
intact
and
continue
to
make
a
difference
is
to
stick
together
and
strictly
adhere
to
and
enforce
these
values
in
the
same
manner
expected
of
us
when
we
wore
a
uniform. We
need
to
epitomize
these
values
individually
and
collectively
in
all
that
we
do. We
need
to
know
that
these
values
really
matter
and
they
really
are
for
life
with
NO
EXCEPTIONS.
The
core
values
can
continue
to
guide
us
in
becoming
the
point
of
the
spear
in
our
civilian life
in
regard
to
ethics,
standards
and
values
just
as
Marines
have
been
the
point
of
the
spear
for
the
armed
forces
throughout
history.
Semper
Fi,
Echo
Company
2/7
Vietnam
Veterans
Chapter
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