STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of SGT Glynn Dover, U.S. Marine Corps (1969-1973)

We were raised believing it was our unquestioned duty to support the USA and its military wherever it was needed.

An uncle and an older cousin were in the US Army and went to Korea for their enlistment periods.

In 1969, an older childhood friend, Robert E. Bowers, ended his two years in the USMC and served as a Forward Observer for a mortar division in Vietnam. He was buried on 11/11/2004, the day after the USMC birthday. RIP.

I joined the USMC in 1969 and maintained the CH-53 helicopter’s electrical and avionic operating systems at MCAS (H), Santa Ana, California, USA, and aircraft crypto-systems at Marble Mountain, Da Nang, Vietnam.

I enlisted in the USMC for four years.

I grew up in Alabama and had never been out of the USA, so it was a perfect opportunity to see the world since I knew I was going to Vietnam.

I was employed by the Department of Defense (DOD), manufacturing Sidewinder and Sparrow III missiles at the Naval Air Rework Facility, Naval Air Station, in Norfolk, Virginia, when I decided to join the Marines.

I went to boot camp at Parris Island, SC, and ITR at Camp Lejeune, NC. I was stationed at MCAS (H) in Santa Ana, CA, before doing a tour in Vietnam. I returned to MCAS (H), was assigned to HMH-361, and completed my enlistment there.

I returned to the DOD after my Honorable Discharge from the USMC.

My military experience led me to spend the majority of the remainder of my employment history supporting the US military machine through my retirement.

Always support the USA, Semper Fi.

While in the USMC and during my tour of duty in Vietnam, I did my duty serving my country. I did what was asked of me and maybe more.

Unfortunately, upon returning from my assignment to Vietnam, I didn’t receive a “Thanks for your service” greeting except from fellow service members.

I was prepared for that, so even though it was not required, it can never be forgotten.

Perhaps the question should be, “Was there a possibility that I might survive?”

The life expectancy of US Marines and other military service members in Vietnam in the 60s and 70s was to be considered short, so we all expected to die; that is what kept a lot of us alive.

When arriving in Da Nang at Freedom Hill, as the hill was nicknamed, we were greeted with plenty of “in-coming” as expected. Charlie’s way of saying, “Welcome to Vietnam.”

At Marble Mountain, explosive satchel charges were delivered during the night in our hooch living areas by the friendly Vietnamese people who worked on the base during the daytime.

Nearby airfield fuel storage tanks made lots of noise and blackened the sky from direct hits.

After giving a Christmas party for an orphanage a short distance away from the Marble Mountain Air Base where I was assigned, the following day, a fellow Marine and I were fired upon as we walked by the orphanage entrance; fortunately, the sniper was either a bad shot or too far away to hit us. We only received dust and scratches from hitting the ground so quickly, and we both finished our tour of duty and lived to return to the USA.

My time in the USMC included being stationed at H&MS-16 Avionics, MAG-16, 1stMAW/3rdMAW, Marble Mountain MAF, Danang, Vietnam, from 1970 to 1971. I experienced many good, memorable situations there, which included turning 21 years of age; I was older than most of my fellow Marines.

I had completed two years of electronics training at a civilian Electronic Trade School and was employed by the DOD manufacturing and testing AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-7 Sparrow III missiles.

I felt that I was supporting the military machine in Vietnam by putting my electronic training to use in producing weapons very much used in the protection of our troops. This on-hand support drew me into the USMC and my tour of duty in Vietnam.

The Marines trained me to test/repair KY-28 Crypto Equipment used in aircraft. I was assigned to the responsibility of supporting helicopters at H&MS-16 Avionics at Marble Mountain MAF. My fellow Marines and I worked in a cargo container complex. I worked the 2nd shift, and I could only access the entrance to my cargo container through a locked vault-type door.

I met and worked with many people, some from the USA and others from various countries. While in Vietnam, I went to the Philippines for school and stayed on the USS Ranger, which was docked there. I enjoyed the country and the people and eventually returned there to marry my beautiful wife. We celebrated our 20th anniversary last month, 04,06/2024. We permanently relocated to the Philippines two years ago.

I truly regretted leaving Vietnam because I enjoyed a lot of good situations there. I also experienced a lot of not-so-nice ones, such as contracting CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE and other ailments from the spraying of Agent Orange. Life is made up of good and bad.

I had no bad duty stations.

I grew up in the Marines, especially in Vietnam, and have fond memories of a lot of great people and the good and bad times that we shared.

I have included a photo of my hooch-mates. The Marine sitting down in a chair on the right front is Loren Horn. I recently located and corresponded with him using the information received through TWS, and I will always be thankful for the assistance in finding him.

John Lumpkin’s is at the rear on the right side; Ferguson, I think, is lying on the bed in the center. I am embarrassed that I have forgotten the other two Marines’ names.

I would really like to know what became of these and the other brave Marines I served with; it has been 53 years since I last saw them.

If you know about them and are willing to share that information, please contact me or them through this website and/or my email, gdover.futures@outlook.com.

My assignment was not always part of the many dangerous and daily one-to-one positions many of my fellow military brothers and sisters were faced with while doing their duties. I thank each one of them for protecting me while I was doing my job there.

I will be 76 years of age this month; my DOB was May 29, 1948, and I still have fond memories of those experiences.

I received a USMC Meritorious Combat Promotion to Corporal during my tour -of duty in Vietnam and a USMC Promotion to Sergeant as HMH-361 Assistant NCOIC of the Avionics Flight Line, supervising 25 Marines and the readiness of sixteen CH-53 Helicopters. Returning to the USA from my deployment to Vietnam developed my “positive mindset,” which I used during the completion of my employment history.

I spent years supporting the military aerospace industry, modifying, installing, repairing, troubleshooting, and testing military aircraft systems.

I held positions, including Aircraft Avionic Technician positions at Boeing on USAF C-17s, at Pemco on USAF KC-135 refuelers, and at Naval Aviation Depots, where I worked on numerous US Navy fixed-wing aircraft systems such as A-6s and E2B/Cs.

I was a Lockheed Martin QC Site Rep on a US Coast Guard HH-65 helicopter re-engineering project.

I worked at Redstone Arsenal, modifying US Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters before they were deployed to Afghanistan.

I was an R&D Engineer in an underground bunker complex at NOSC (Naval Ocean Systems Center), Point Loma, San Diego, California, on a US Navy nuclear submarine project during the “Star Wars” era.

I was part of The CATB Program Team at BAE Systems, Mojave, California.

We successfully converted a 737 300 aircraft to replicate the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter avionics suite for validation, modifications, operation, and testing hardware and software before it was installed on the F-35 Lightning II.

I held non-military civilian positions, such as a Hospital Operating Room, Anesthesia Gas Monitoring Mass Spectrometer System, and a Field Service Representative supporting veterans in VA hospitals all over the southwestern and western US, from San Diego to Seattle to Salt Lake City to the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Denver, Colorado.

I was employed as a Banking/Business Machine Service Department Service Manager, an Electro-Mechanical Office/Business Equipment Production Supervisor, and a Radio Shack Store Manager.

The direction that I took in successfully achieving these position requirements and goals was because of the professionalism I obtained in the USMC.

I received a USMC Meritorious Combat Promotion to Corporal during my tour of duty in Vietnam.

It was meaningful because it was my first pat on the pack for doing my job. I also qualified for a USMC Promotion to Sergeant after returning to the USA from my deployment to Vietnam.

GySgt. H.D. Roe, the NCOIC OF HMH-361 Avionics Flight Line, MCAS (H), Santa Ana, California, provided me with guidance to keep the “ESPRIT DE CORPS” in my mindset while in the USMC.

Thanks, my friend.

I spent time on the job and off the job with GySgt Harold D. Roe and Sgt. T.F. Campbell while stationed at MCAS (H), Santa Ana, California. I am afraid that both may be deceased at this time.

While at Marble Mountain MAF in Vietnam, I thoroughly enjoyed my off-duty time with many of my hooch-mates, including Sgt. Loren Horn, Lcpl. John Lumpkin, and Cpl. Ferguson. Unfortunately, I have forgotten my other fellow hooch-mates’ names.

I would also like to know what is the status of Cpl. Harrold.

I have recently contacted Sgt. Loren Horn.

I would truly like to know how the other Marines mentioned above are doing.

A fellow Marine and I were enjoying our time off from work. I guess we were in the water when a Sea Snake did not like us in its territory. It vigorously chased us out of the water back onto the beach. A nearby pole eliminated the threat. It was not very funny at the time.

After returning to the USA from Vietnam, over the next two years, I purchased two garter snakes, six boa constrictors, a python, two iguanas, and six assorted tarantulas, all of which crawled all over me. That Sea Snake incident still makes me laugh, but I still feel guilty about killing it because of my fear.

My USMC, CH-53, and CH-46 helicopter experience led me to spend the majority of my employment history supporting the US military machine.

US Army, UH-60, and CH-47 helicopters at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama.

USAF, C-17 cargo aircraft at Boeing San Antonio, Texas.

USAF, KC-135 refuelers at Pemco-Aeroplex, Birmingham, Alabama.

USCG, HH-65 helicopters at Columbus, MS.

US Navy, A-6, and E-2B/C AEWs at NADEP, Norfolk, VA, and NADEP, San Diego, CA.

US Navy, R&D Nuclear Submarine Project, Pt. Loma, San Diego, CA.

I enjoyed my entire Aerospace career.

I have retired and presently live in the Philippines with my beautiful Filipina wife. We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary last month, 04/06/2024.

I will be 76 years of age on the 29th of this month, DOB 05/29/1948.

I joined the VFW in Okinawa on my way back from my tour of duty in Vietnam, but I never visited any of the posts in the USA.

The VA Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama, is the only real military association that I have been actively involved with, quite by accident, literally.

My employment retirement started rather abruptly when I slipped on my unsteady workshop steps, fell on my back, and fractured my T-12 vertebrae, pinching a lot of nerves. I did not move much for a year except for necessities. Fortunately, the VA Medical Center had a staff of good doctors, and without operating, they managed to put me back together again, sort of like Humpty-Dumpty, but I still have a few cracks, ha-ha.

My military experience led me to spend the majority of my employment history supporting the US military machine.

I miss the daily camaraderie with my fellow Marines.

Enjoy all the memories, good and bad; they come hand and hand.

Be sure to use your GI Bill.

I was forced to make my failing memory come alive again about my time spent in the USMC.

I wish I remembered more of my fellow Marines’ names.

Semper Fi!!!