STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of LCpl Ramon D Arredondo, U.S. Marine Corps (1968-1972)

I grew up listening to my dad’s war stories of WW II, fighting in the Pacific against the Japanese. My Dad was, and is my HERO. I wanted to be just like him. Wanting to do my part in the service of this great country. I grew up playing war games with my brothers and cousins in our back yard. Being a military man and of course the dress blues of the USMC that I saw one day in High School. DUTY, HONOR AND GOD, I belonged to JROTC unit in high school. We thought that it was our duty to stop the spread of communism in the world. The dress blues and the challenge of being the best fighting unit in the armed services. I trained as a Marine Sniper. Although when I got in-country, grunts were in need and not snipers. I participated in operation Utah Mesa; lower A Shau Valley search and destroy missions. I ran into an NVA patrol. This was my first firefight. There were 2 NVA KIA’s and 1 wounded. We suffered 1 wounded Marine. This was just one of many patrols that I went on. The Operation continued into Laos. We cut off supplies of the Ho Chi Minh trail. Georgia Tar, Hekiemer Mountain operations.

I would go on patrols and pull convoy duty watching over the SeaBee repairing HWY 1, receiving small arms fire during this encounter! I was sitting atop a hill in the lower Khe Sahn area and looking up at the night sky. The stars made me feel lonely and scared. We had incoming daily from the DMZ rockets, motors, and artillery shelling. It was constant harassment from the NVA. Although not considered to be a major operation, the loss of life tells another story. Operation Utah Mesa came at cost of 145 Marines killed and some 300 wounded. Victory doesn’t come easy, when you are the one looking for the enemy. During the Fall Counter-Offensive we were Heloed into Thua Thein Province near the Loation border for search and destroy. The operation took about 3 weeks in December of 1969. Here we encountered light enemy fire, but we captured rice, a small arms stash and disrupted the enemies supply line. Semper Fi’ MY EXPERT BADGE and SNIPER Qualification AND MY Combat Action Ribbon for the fire fights I participated in, were a true test of your metal and the Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry Medal.

Then there was the death of LCpl Seiler, June 27,1969 and the death of two other Marines PFC Huriank and CPL Mc Masters. He, Seiler, was a short timer killed 2 week before rotating back to the states. We had been talking just moments before his death. How precious life really was to us. I spent another two and half years more in the Corps and I got out.

I went back to being a meat ciutter in the private sector and after 16 years, I went to work at DeCA. I became a meat cutter and then into Management for the Defense Commissary Agency at Lackland Air Force Base, and a tour in Holland at an Army Base. It provided me with the drive to succeed. I supervised 20 employees and ran a department that did $4 million in sales a year. Stay the course, be committed, use team work, be dedicated and go for gold!

The dress blues and belonging to the best fighting unit in the world, training and spirit de corps. I got assigned to a correctional facility at Kaneohe Hawaii, Marine Barracks, H&HQ Company Corrections. Then I was transferred to Marine Barrack, Barbers Point Naval Air Station. There I did a lot of Security duty, gate duty and vehicle patrolling the base, and the missile silos. I really enjoyed this duty, and thought about law enforcement when I got out. Some 16 years later I got a job at The Defense Commissary Agency at Lackland Air Force Base as the Meat Manager. I was transferred to Europe where I worked for one year. The War broke in 2001. I was the Store Manager at Schiennen Army Base in the Netherlands. Myself and my son traveled Northern Europe extensively. We also covered France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. I traveled to Omaha Beach and Normandy Beach in France too. The experience has impacted our son the most. Thankful to my God and Country.

On June 24th and 25th 1969 we lost 7 marines during the first days of the Operation Utah Mesa. The fighting was intense and costly. A chopper was shot down by ground fire where 5 where lost in the crash, so I was told. The other two Marines were to fragmentation.on the 25th.

The Operation Utah Mesa, it took us into Laos where we patrolled the mountains to make contact with the enemy and stop the supply line of the Ho Chi Minh trail. There was contact with an NVA patrol and a firefight started. The smell of gunpowder, the fear that strikes you heart, chaos, screaming for help. Memories etched in your mind. We had two wounded and one KIA. Medevac was called in and they were taken away. We continued with the search. The enemy lost two KIA and they dragged off the wounded. The jungle was hot and thick. The Mountain climbing and the 80 pounds of gear tires you to the core. There was a second Medevac for a marine with heat stroke. This operation lasted 3 weeks. It as called Georgia Tar and Heikermer Mountain. The fire fights and the constant shelling was harassing. I was sitting on top of a hill in the lower Khe Sanh area at an LP, and looking up at the night sky and seeing the stars feeling scared and lonely. We humped into Ah Shau Valley, always chasing and trying to cut off NVA.

In December of that year, we were choppered into Thua Thein province again, to search and destroy. We found caches of rice and weapons. After 3 weeks we were brought back to the USS Tripoli. We spent Christmas out of harms way. The nights were always the hardest to live through. The danger of the enemy sneaking up on you. Thank God I survived. The experience makes you appreciate life and just how fragile life really is and the fact we live in the UNITED STATES of AMERICA, how great is that !!!!

My assignment to Hawaii, Kaneohe MCAS and Barbers Point NAS. Sun, girls, the surf, tropical paradise. I really enjoyed the one year and seven month tour. Marine Barracks duty; spit and polish, physical in training we ran three miles every morning. Our areas had to be squared away always. Lockers at dress right dress, shoes and boots, spit polished. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I also enjoyed Japan. We trained with the Japanese Army in cold weather training. It was awesome seeing Mt. Fuji. Vietnam was the least favorite as it was not very good feeling getting shot at! The experience refines you but it doesn’t define you.

The deaths of PFC Huriank and CPL Mc Masters and LCpl Seiler, June 27, 1969. He, Seiler, was a short timer. It was 2 weeks before he was to rotate back. Telling me about Labor day BBQ and Thanksgiving Dinner with his folks and moments later he is gone, dead. I was given the task of cleaning blood of his web gear and his grenade launcher and his 45 pistol, made me sick and angry. It made us realize just how precious life really is. We were preparing for Operation Utah Mesa and the constant shelling from Laos and the DMZ, this what got the L/Cpl Seiler. He was walking out the dispensary at Camp Vandercriff. The reality of war and the horror of death. You are breathing one moment, and you are dead the next. WOW!! What a reality check. The stench of Vietnam, the misery of the people, especially the children. Death chasing you every moment of every day, very stressful. What was daunting to me was I chose to serve. I wasn’t drafted, I volunteered. And what was mind boggling was that we were dodging bullets and bombs, facing death daily and people back home partying, protesting, them having a good time. Tragedy, death was eminent. I learned that I would appreciate life and everything life would have to offer, family, a loved one, children, career. Getting old. But first I had to survive. Never take anything for granted!

My Scout Sniper training. No medals for valor, except the Vietnamese government awarding us with Vietnam Cross of Gallantry for the sacrifice we all made defending the Vietnamese people. The Combat Action Ribbon(CAR) for being thrust into a life or death situation more then once. The constant digging of foxholes and trenches during operations, tired always and suffering from lack of sleep. You learned to sleep at the drop of a hat 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there and the Civic Action Medal, for after all the terror of war and chaos, the savagery, we brought a piece of humanity back into their lives. There was a human side to all of us. My Good Conduct Medal awarded at Hawaii, Barbers Point NAS, for service for 3 years and in keeping the highest traditions of the Marine Corps. Certificate of Completion for Correctional Specialist Training. Actually I am proud of all my awards.

My Combat Action Ribbon; My baptism under-fire in facing the enemy and surviving to live to tell about the experience. My Marine Corp Good Conduct Medal, I showed my commitment to my Country and my Corp by serving faithfully. My Expert Shooting Badge, allowed me to go into Scout Sniper Training at Camp Pendleton. Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, the Vietnamese government showing me gratitude for my part in defending their country, with my life and the Vietnam Civic Action Medal.

My Drill instructor S/Sgt Lovella in boot camp. He believed in me and I didn’t let him or myself down. This man worked me very hard during boot camp. My PT score was a 124, but by the time I graduated, I scored 339 PT. This man showed me how to believe in myself. I was one lean, mean, fighting machine until the bullets starting flying. But the training, the believing in myself. I survived to tell a very humble story. S/Sgt Lovella Platoon Leader of 2227, a great leader and mentor.

The stress of war takes its toll on ordinary 19-21 year old Marines. It was hard turning the war experience off and on. PTSD, The one thing that stands out during our cold weather training in Japan. We got to go to Tokyo and visited a Botanical Garden. It must of been field day for some of the Japanese school kids, cause they were there also. To our surprise they walked over to us and asked for our autographs. So for about 10 minutes, I signed autographs for the children. Teacher said some had never seen Americans. We were truly ambassadors in green. Brings a smile to face even to today, Semper Fi

I was a meat cutter by trade before joining the Corps. I went back to that trade working in the private sector for about 18 years. I went Civil Service, got into management and went to work for the Defense Commissary Agency at Lackland AFB. I managed a group of 20 individuals and increased sales for the government, providing a service to the Airman and Retirees .I was again serving my country and service members and their families. After 15 years there at Lackland, I applied and got to do a tour in Europe for the same Agency in Holland at an Army Base. Schennnin was a NATO base. There I was a Store Manager supervised some 65 American personnel and Dutch workers. Toured northern Europe; Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg. My son and wife and I really enjoyed the experience. God is Great, He is Faithful and Blessed me with opportunity, family and long life. The war broke out on 9-11 and I came home.

The Marine Corps League. Purpose and association with some Old Salts and Grumpy Former NCOs. Not really; they are dedicated, decent, Patriotic, Inactive Marines.

I approach life with commitment, dedication and a desire to get the job done. Team work. I supervised 20 employees and the department that did 4 million dollars in sales. They must embrace true value of life, it with all we have for ourselves and for our loved ones and our family. Learn to appreciate the fact you survived and try to enjoy every moment. You were allowed to make a difference in your families lives, your wife, children, grandchildren, community my GOD and my COUNTRY. Again thank you for this site that my story will survive for at least 100 years. Semper Fi

The training is hard but the value of team work will resonate all your life. Pride in self and getting the job done at all cost. Confidence in what you are trained to do and the mental and physical conditioning it takes to be a MARINE. Stay the course, achieve your goals through hard work and commitments in life and go for broke. Serve God, your families and your community. GUNG HO !!!!

By offering a website we can all come together after all these years. That era was not very friendly towards the Vietnam vet, Or the Vietnam war, the country was torn apart by social and political views.

My story is a very humble one, I served my country, I have had a few moments of valor and virtue, and since all of us will fade into the pages of history virtually unknown, this site allowed me to tell my story of DUTY-HONOR-GOD & COUNTRY!

Thanks!