AMMODUMPDONGHA

"20 Jun 68, 8,500 tons of munitions go up."

During that time frame, the "Class 2 Ammo Dump" (small arms) was destroyed. I remember it well. Several weeks after it happen we received a copy of the "Sea Tiger" (anyone remember that newspaper)

and there was a big article about how Charlie blew up the ammo dump. In reality, a fire started by a "pop-up" flare that didn't have a parachute in it set it off. If you remember, we use to keep several like that in our track vehicles. They were used to shoot

a flare directly into the jungle or hut from a moving vehicle. The flare was launched from a bunker in the US Army (Twin 40 AA) compound. It was quit a show. Luckily, no one was hurt. As Ollie

mentioned, we were hit so many times, it is hard to distinguish between events. From the Base Ops records, there were six major attempts at the main ammo dump during that time period.

Sgt. Rob Hawes 2111/2131 Ord. Maint. Plt.

Maint. Bn. FLSG-B Chu Lai/Dong Ha, RVN 1966-69

Regarding the article about the Dong Ha Ammo Dump photos from 6-1968, the following is provided. Charlie's artillery landed in the dump. Artillery landed next to our command bunker. I was in the bunker when it was collapsed by ARTY from the DMZ.

I find it fascinating how stories change over the years. I happen to be one of the perimeter guards, guarding the north end (think it was North) of Dong Ha (yea, right next to the Ammo Dump). Charlie did, in fact, artillery the Ammo Dump. That day in June is etched in my mind. I still have the article from the Stars & Stripes. Mark Merwin was pretty beat up from that experience.

We were evacuated by an Amtrac driven by Lt. Scribner. I personally thanked the Lt. that evening. I found Lt. Scribner the following day and again thanked him.

Cpl. Jack Roche

On the page where the pictures of the Dong Ha Ammo dump blew up there is a statement the on June 20th 1968 "Luckly no one was hurt" But we have a letter from Jack "Capt. K" Kinser stating that my brother in law Gerald Johnson died as a result of that explosion. You may want to correct the paragraph. Below is the letter Jack Kinser, Charles Thomas (who was KIA on March 5, 1969), and Gerald "Jerry" Johnson arrived together in Vietnam at Danang on June 19, 1968. When they got off the plane in Danang they were assigned to C-1-4. All they kept hearing was how C-1-4 had recently suffered a lot of casualties at a place called LZ Loon and they were part of the replacements for C-1-4. They spent the night at Danang and the next day were flown in a C-130 to Dong Ha, which at the time was the rear area for C-1-4 at the time I believe. Now this is June 20, 1968. They had been in Vietnam for ONE day. They went to the company Gunnery Sergeant to draw their rifles and other equipment. The Gunny told them that before they drew their equipment, they should go to the chow hall and get something to eat. As they were walking to the chow hall, the North Vietnamese started shelling the ammo dump at Dong Ha. The ammo dump blew up and started "cooking off"" rounds sending shrapnel everywhere. actual photo of June 20, 1968 Dong Ha ammo dump explosion Everyone was scrambling trying to find a trench or bunker to get into. As Jack, Charles, and Jerry were running for a trench, Jack said he heard something whistling in the air behind him. It made a "whak" sound. Looking back, he saw a piece of shrapnel had hit Jerry, lacerating Jerry's left hand and hitting Jerry on the side of his head. The round was so hot it cauterized the wounds. Jack and Charles drug Jerry to a nearby bunker to a Corpsman. But, Jerry had been killed instantly. Jerry had not even been issued a rifle yet. Jack remembers Jerry as being a light blonde "tow headed" Marine. I am really hoping to be able to find a picture of Jerry to post on Memorial Site and maybe tell part of his story. Jack took this picture the next day (June 21, 1968). It shows Jack sitting on the bunker that him and Charles took Jerry. Here are Jack Kinser and Charles Thomas together on LZ Neville, Christmas 1968. Thank you Jack for sharing this. I told Jack that I didn't want to call this a "good" story, but it is a story that needed to be told. Maybe one day we can find the family of Gerald Johnson and they will finally hear the story of what really happened. I hope this is correct Thank you