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Inoculation Day
I think this was Inoculation Day and in order to reassure the villagers that it was not harmful, even beneficial, all of the Marines in Combined Action Platoon 218 went first, though we had no need for it. I no longer remember what it was for but remember our Corpsman HM2 Bill Sherefkin, who was giving the shots, saying somewhat a bit too casually that it "probably" wouldn't affect us much.
We (11 Marines, 1 Navy Corpsman and 22 Viet "Popular Forces") lived and worked (day patrols, night ambushes and medical aid) in that village from October 1969 till March 1970.
Corporal Terry Franks(L), Sgt. T.P. Dunne(R) in the Village of Phu Son 1969.
During that time we managed to get the materials for a school (which the villagers built/the cardinal rule of helping people is "If you have to do it yourself. You've failed") and kept both the Viet Cong and the South Vietnamese government from bothering the 400-500 people that lived there. It's been nearly a half a century since our time among those fine people and I hope they did not suffer for our friendship.
It's been nearly a half a century since our time among those fine people and I hope they did not suffer for our friendship.
Years ago at a reunion of the Marine Combined Action Units. The Colonel, William Corson who started and commanded the Program was asked if maybe it had all been for naught, or even worse, and maybe the villagers in the 114 hamlets we served among suffered for our presence. He said that "During your time among these people, they could sleep peaceably, and dream of a time when the war would be over."
I left from that Village in March 1970, after nearly three years in their country, and I hope it was true.
Biographical Details
Submitted From: St. Paul, MN
Primary Location During Vietnam: Da Nang, Vietnam 
Story Subject: Military Service
Military Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
Dates of Service: 1966 - 1972
Veteran Organization: VVA CHAPTER 320
Unit: 3RD MARINE AMPHIBIOUS FORCE
Specialty: 0351/0331/03609
Story Themes: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 3rd Marine Amphibious Force, Da Nang, Demilitarized Zone, DMZ, Eye Corps, I Corps, Marines, Reflection, Relationships, Saint Paul, St Paul, Thomas Dunne, Vietnam Veterans of America, VVA Chapter 320
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