Jim
Cravey and his Viet squad, "Good Soldiers"
July/August 1967
Jim
Cravey, Mike 3/5
I served with M Company 3/5-2nd. plt. from 6 Sept. 66 till 8 Nov.
66. I was WIA on Operation MUSTANG along with Reynolds (KIA on UNION)
and Riddle. My first squad leader was Sgt. Grif and Cpl. Vernon Ford,
and my first fire team leader was St.Clair (later KIA). M company
CO was Capt. Pettengill.
When
I returned to M Company after my hospital stay at Yoko, Capt. McElroy
was the new CO. My plt.cdr. was JD Murray, and the Gunny was Denny
Dinota. I was briefly under Sgt. Barlow and then Sgt. Bailey (KIA
on UNION).
I
stayed with M Company till the 1st part of April. Capt. McElroy
was asked by Battalion for people to man the CAC unit and I volunteered,
so began my CAC adventure and what an adventure. Our NCOIC Sgt.
Swann was KIA on June 8, 67 while leading an Army patrol (of all
things). He stepped on a mine and triggered 2 or 3 others. He was
a good NCO and a friend. We never supported an Army patrol after
that.
During
my entire time incountry I was blessed with being under the command
of Capts. Pettengill, and especially Capt. McElroy and Lt. JD Murray
and later on, Lt. Earl Darlington at CAC; these were fine officers
and they deeply cared about the Marines they commanded. Their leadership
ability and thoughtfulness saved a lot of our comrades, some of our
boys were not that lucky, but they will always be in our hearts.
SEMPER
FI, Jim Cravey
Jim
Cravey on Hill 35, March 1967
(Gary Carter is in the upper left)
Hill
39
5th Marines Hill prior to UNION, March 1967
Left
to Right: Dennis (KIA), Sgt.. ??, Lt. Richards (married Gen. Lou
Walt's daughter), Sgt. Howard Bailey (KIA), my squad leader.
Remembering
Sgt. Howard Swann
H&S 3/5 and CAP
Kilo 1-4
Sgt.
Howard Swann had previously been in 3/5 81's and was on Operation
HASTINGS with 3/5-H&S Co.....He was my NCOIC at the CAP unit
after I was tranferred in Apr.' 67. After he was killed, the Camp
was named after him. He was a great NCO and a GREAT leader...we
all missed him that served with him.
(click to enlarge)
CAMP SWANN
"My
squad that I trained...pretty squared away, huh..."
35
Reunion 2002 in La Grange, Georgia
Mike Co. 66-67
Front: D. Krueger, C. Septien, Vernon Ford, JD Murray
Back: S. Lindblom, J. Cravey
Carlos
Septien, Jim Cravey, Gen. Ray Davis, Dave Krueger, JD Murray
(Background
by Redeye)
