I was an 18 year old college dropout from Pomona, California when I joined the U.S. Marine Corps in January 1966 and underwent boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. My military occupational specialty was 2142, Amphibian Tractor Mechanic. I attended amtrac repair school which was at Camp Del Mar, on Camp Pendleton after boot camp and infantry training (ITR)After amtrac school, about May, 1966 I was assigned to 5th Amtrac Bn, also at Camp Del Mar. This was a period just after a major troop deployment to Vietnam had depleted the force at Camp Pendleton. The 5 th Marine Division (mothballed since WWII) was reactivated. I reported for duty with 5 th Amtracs with three or four other newly-minted mechanics from my class. I believe that about six or seven men (total) comprised the outfit when we showed up. We four or five were assigned to Headquarters & Service (H&S) Company. That made the total battalion strength about ten to twelve men. Of course, others quickly followed. Most of the new members were equally divided between mechanics and crewman fresh out of school, and salts newly returned from Vietnam. I progressed from Private (E1) to Corporal (E4) at 5 th Amtrac Bn.
Cpl Joe Smith was one of those three or four new mechanics that reported with me to 5 th Amtracs. Around late January, 1968 Joe and I each received identical orders to take a 20 day leave then report to Norton AFB for transport to Vietnam. We spent our leave together, at Joe’s home in Orlando, Florida. The Tet offensive started while we were on that leave and was continuing when we arrived in-country. Joe & I sat side-by-side on the Flying Tiger MAC charter to Okinawa, then waited a day or two for transportation to DaNang.
Upon return from Vietnam (March of 1969), I was assigned to the 5 th Force Service Regiment located at Camp Del Mar. There I achieved the rank of Sergeant (E5). I stayed at 5 th FSR until I was discharged in March, 1970.
Contact Info:
Patrick Jones
422 W 6 th St.
Ontario, CA 91762
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Patrick Jones website Printing Resources
Home Phone: 909.983.8066
Work Phone: 909.981.5715
FAX: 909.981.9396
