Joe Holt, 2000
Camp Marguarita in Camp Pendleton with our old barracks in the background. The trail up the hill in the background is something I used to dream about...me running up and up and up.....
Joe Holt, India 3/5 I joined the Marine Corps in August of '65. Just as basic training started, it was changed from a twelve-week program to an eight-week program. Lucky me. After ITR, I was trained as a machine gunner (0331) at BIT, then sent to Mike Company 3/5 at Camp Pendleton.
About two days before we shipped out aboard the USS Renville, I was transferred to India Company. I could talk all day, but to make a long story short, we trained in The Philipines, Japan, and NTA Okinawa. When we made our first amphibious assault south of Quang Nai in June of '66, we were the last stateside battalion to enter as a unit.
(click to enlarge)India Headquarters group in Okinawa just prior to shipping out to Vietnam. The only folks I recognize are in the bottom row. Sgt. Fletcher on the left, Lt. Kopfler in the center, and Gunny Walters on the right. Maybe somebody else can remember the rest of'em. (Update 3/18/02: more folks identified: Top Row left to right: Cpl. Dupree, Cpl Jerome Czarnowski (Ski II), unk, unk). Middle row on right is Zaidinski. Bottom row is Fletcher, First Sgt Thorpe, Lt. Kopfler, unk, and Gunny Walters).
We were quite a team. DECKHOUSE I. We were pulled out, and spent some absolutely monster liberty in Subic Bay before we were again called for an assault just south of the DMZ.
DECKHOUSE II. This progressed to Operation HASTINGS in the mountains of the DMZ. Long story here...later. When we eventually got back to our ship, the USS Pickaway, we were sent to Chu Lai. A month or two later, I got transferred to C 1/5. A very upsetting experience for me.
I was assigned to 60mm mortars. A very fun gadget to work with. I rotated back in April of '67 to C 1/28 in Camp Pendleton. I'm happy as a clam to say I never rated a purple heart.
Three or four months later, I had orders to go to the 1st Marine Brigade in Hawaii. I wasn't all that very thrilled about my prospects there, so I managed to get a quota to Sea School, San Diego.
As a Corporal, I was stationed aboard the USS Hornet in the Marine Detachment. Much great liberty in the home port of Long Beach, then an eight month cruise to Vietnam...or thereabouts. Thirty days at sea, then three or four in port. Great liberty again. Singapore, Hong Kong, Sasebo, Yokosuka, Hawaii. I actually received the same combat pay aboard the Hornet as when I was gruntin' the paddies, yet the Hornet never even came within sight of Vietnam! But I could shine the hell outa my shoes!
When we returned to Long Beach after our cruise, we found that the Hornet had been selected to recover the first moon astronauts, and President Nixon would be aboard. Very cool. Also many stories to leave for later.
When we got back to Long Beach, I ended my enlistment in August of '69 as an E-5. The most intense four years of my life, yet if I live to be a hundred, (it'll never happen. I exist on red wine and twinkies) my time with India company will have been the most meaningful. I remain Semper Fidelis.
After I got out of the Corps, I went to college some, partied some, was horribly bored some. The Green Machine was a tough act to follow. I slowly got civilianized and met my terrific wife, and we had three exceptional kids. My youngest is 20 now, and it occurred to me that I appear to be the biggest nonachiever of the family, but I'm content in being so. I've worked for the local utility company for almost 29 years. I've become a home care, gardening, TV watching kinda guy. I'm as happy as I can expect to be.~Joe Holt
(click to enlarge)Gary Bolen, M/3/5 (left) and Joe Holt, I/3/5 same time, same operations, 30 years later
(click to enlarge)Joe Holt and Ed Crisp, India 3/5 on Operation HASTINGS
(click to enlarge)1st Marine Division Reunion 2000
San DiegoThe group picture is in the Kilo 3/5 reception suite. Ron McCarville is the fella with the beard to my right, and the cherubic lookin' fella to my right is Ron Heath, their web guy.
(click to enlarge)Steve Dawson (left) and Joe Holt at a mini- reunion in Idaho
Vietnam Stories by Joe Holt
Joe has done some fantastic writing about his combat experiences with India 3/5 that are posted on the India 3/5 website.. His "stories" willl make you laugh, amd maybe cry a bit, but you will have a greater perspective of the Marines who fought in Vietnam, and why to this day, they remain Always Faithful. Thank you for sharing this important part of your life with us, Brother Marine.~DR
The Becky
Spit....
Sorry
Haalp!
Mush
Thirst
Burning Shitters
Just Too Stupid...
Joe's Hill 362
(Background and Title by Redeye)
(India 3/5 graphic by Vic Vilionis)
