Veterans and research

Following the footsteps of the U.S. veterans -

I interviewed ten local veterans about their service in Vietnam. Some of the veterans were in easy to reach locations: Saigon, Bien Hoa and DaNang. Others were stationed in remote areas. I have tried to find all of their locations. Posted here are some of my results. Also, see DaNang tab (Monkey Mountain).

1968 map of CAP 134

2019 coordinates of CAP 134 location

The Combined Action Program was a program within the U.S. Marine Corps. It operated from 1965 to 1971. The program placed 13 Marines in a location to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and local Vietnamese villagers. The purpose was to try to prevent the enemy from creating a sanctuary (strong hold) at the village level. The unit of U.S. Marines and the local militia members together was designated as a Combined Action Platoon (CAP). There were many CAPs spread over four provinces. One of the veterans I interviewed was in CAP 134. Locating this site was a bit of a struggle. I was able to get help from a librarian and an online researcher. The Marine provide some information about his site but it was vague (river to the north, 5 km from the ocean, and highway 1 was to the west). The map above (left) was from declassified documents and the google map on the right located the exact coordinates. The site was 2 hours south of Hoi An. I hired a driver for the day and took along a university student as an interpretor.

Resident of Hamlet

This man was extremely helpful. He remembered the locatiton of the Marine group. He said that the Marines gave him food in a can (c-rations) and demonostrated how he had to open the cans. He took me right to the site, talking the entire time. He said after the war the government removed all of the landmines. He had so much information to share about the war and his time with the Marines. He was 16 years old in 1969.

Wife of resident

The Marine I interviewed did not think I would be able to locate the site (above). He called it "The Rock". It was a remote outpost between two small hamlets (villages). The veteran didn't have much specific information to go. He wanted me to find the site because he wondered what had happened to the villagers. After he was injured for the third time, he was quickly removed from Vietnam (3 hearts and off you go). I wanted to find the site to show him that the village is doing well.

Terry's story.mp4

The veteran is on the right in the picture,and above in the video. The village, below, is doing well.

Black Virgin Mountain

During the war, there was an army base on the top of this mountain. Dr. Hardy from the Dayton VA, was stationed on this mountain. I returned to it to show him how it has changed. I was not able to reach the top - there is a Vietnamese army base there now.