Oceanview

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   Just finished book titled "Praying for Slack" -- written by Robert Peavey, a Marine M-48 tank commander who spent a good deal of time at C-4 and Oceanview. Describes the place quite thoroughly and has photos. Easy and interesting read.

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pluffmudder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Quote Reply Topic: Oceanview Posted: 06 Feb 2010 at 13:35
	Just finished book titled "Praying for Slack" -- written by Robert Peavey, a Marine M-48 tank commander who spent a good deal of time at C-4 and Oceanview. Describes the place quite thoroughly and has photos. Easy and interesting read.

hugh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 05 Jan 2009 Location: Washington DC Online Status: Offline Posts: 169	Quote Reply Posted: 03 Mar 2010 at 12:41
	After reading your post, I bought the book. I agree with your review and recommend it to other AmGrunts. For those of us who also spent time in DaNang, the first part of the book covers familiar territory... Hill 55, Hoi An, Hill 327, several of the bridges, etc. The only mistake I found in the book, was when he inadvertently included Cua Viet as one of the four corners of Leatherneck Square. It should have been Con Thien, Gio Linh, Dong Ha and Cam Lo. However, when Googling Leatherneck Square just now, I did come across the same mistake on a site called Answers.com. Here's their blurb: Marine Corps Dictionary: Leatherneck Square (Vietnam)The area south of the DMZ with the following outposts as its corners: Con Tien (NW), Cam Lo Hill (SW), Cua Viet (SE) and Gia Linh (NE). Later in the war the Marines built "Ocean View" to the east of Gia Lihn along the ocean for better control of enemy troop movement.
	Semper Fi, Hugh

pluffmudder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Quote Reply Posted: 03 Mar 2010 at 15:17
	Hugh: You are correct. There are some errors in the book -- as there are in many. On a couple of them, I went back on the author -- and he verbally retracted. The biggest, to me and to us, was the way in which he described "the lowly Amtracers" assigned to the tanks as crew members in his Company. He said he really didn't mean to come across that poorly. The other, which I found humorous, was that he talks about the role of his tank (and others) "in support of the Grunts" holding Oceanview. When I told him those were Amtracers and we owned that TAOR, he was amazed. He never knew that before now. Swore it was an Infantry platoon up there. Good disguise! Richard

hugh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 05 Jan 2009 Location: Washington DC Online Status: Offline Posts: 169	Quote Reply Posted: 03 Mar 2010 at 15:23
	Yeah... I had the same reaction about the "grunts" at Oceanview as soon as he discussed the "grunt" that just happened to have a line charge available.
	Semper Fi, Hugh

Yankee 49er Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 02 Jan 2009 Location: Federal Way, Wa Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Quote Reply Posted: 03 Mar 2010 at 18:31
	Wasn't Oceanview also known as A1? Dan

hugh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 05 Jan 2009 Location: Washington DC Online Status: Offline Posts: 169	Quote Reply Posted: 03 Mar 2010 at 18:54
	No... It was never officially part of the Strong Point Obstacle barrier system. Hill 31 was A-1. On the other hand C-4 was C-4.
	Semper Fi, Hugh

2 Beer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 27	Quote Reply Posted: 02 Apr 2010 at 01:10
	Hello, I am a bit puzzled by the confusion some persons have regarding the "McNnamara Wall", which was a feeble attempt to channel the NVA through breaks in the static combat bases along and below the DMZ. It was referred to as the "Strong Point Obstacle Defense System" in Military think/speak. I know most of us have "CRS" or may possible have never been informed correctly about their surroundings in the 1st Amtrac Battalion TAOR during their tour(s) of duty during the war. But. let me confirm and support Hugh Connelly on making a few things clearer for those who are curious to know. Hill 31 was designated as "Strong Point A-1" when we helped the ARVN 1st Infantry Division build bunkers and perimeter defenses by transporting the materials for them from Camp Kistler in October and November 1967. Additionally, some persons have erroneously called or referred to Hill 23 as"A-1". It was simply Hill 23, which was an ARVN outpost with US Army advisors attached to them. Hill 23 was due south of Hill 31 about a mile or so in distance and was locate very close to the village hamlet of Nhi Ha. Nhi Ha was a real hot spot of NVA activity because it had a shallow ford crossing "Jones Creek" and at one time even had a primitive footbridge. "Oceanview" was a platoon-sized forward observation post/mini combat base, and was built in December 1967 through January 1968. It was located in one of the northern most abandoned village sites, nearest to the southern boundary of the DMZ along the coast in the Australian Pine tree line. I was not "A-1"! To learn more about the "Strong Point defense Obstacle Defense System" just Google the KEYWORDS, or search "The McNamara Wall"... because they are "Same same". Ron Barron Alpha Company, 3rd Platoon 1967-68
	1st Amtrac Battalion Alpha Company Headquarters Platoon & 3rd Platoon - 1967-1968

Yankee 49er Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 02 Jan 2009 Location: Federal Way, Wa Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Quote Reply Posted: 05 Apr 2010 at 18:45
	Ron Thanks for the info. I mulled over how I was not aware of the Oceanview and other AO data points during my tour At first I thought, I was a H&S Comm Tech and never got north of C-4. But that was too easy. I am a tech and have spent my career since Nam working in engineering. I am into detail. So then I thought, maybe I missed a meeting where there was a definition of our position and basic requirements. I don't remember such meetings in 18 mos. except when we stood down in 69. I was just a corporal at the end and was not privy to senior leadership and their vision. I have never looked at my tour in this way before your response. I guess it is a credit to all of us Amgrunts that we did our job with the information we had in hand. And maybe that information was all that we required. Reeb

showhorseman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Location: Oroville, WA. Online Status: Offline Posts: 16	Quote Reply Posted: 05 Apr 2010 at 22:49
	Hey Pluffmudder, I have a picture of my sorry ass Marine Corporal existing to this day, sitting on that so-called decrepit bridge across Jones Creek. I crossed the damn thing many times late at night and came back across it in the darkness of morning taking patrols out into the patties and up along the west bank of Jones Creek into Nhi Ha! Left the Corps, Sgt. James J Landis 2374628 Alpha Co. 1st Platoon Dec. 67 to Jul 69.

Oceanview

Leatherneck Square