Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

SEARCH RESULTS

my selections

10,581
Videos
49
Photos
148
Docs

Search Again

advanced search

Tim Dunn

Vietnam | Scout Sniper Platoon, 1st Marines

As his rotation date approached, Tim Dunn went on one last patrol, which was, thankfully, uneventful. As he waited for transportation home, he began to feel remorse over leaving his buddies. (4:37)
It was the first time any of them had seen a miniskirt. Tim Dunn was in a group that just returned from Vietnam. What had happened while they were gone? He didn't experience any hostility until he was out on the town with some buddies and they introduced him to a girl who said something totally unexpected. (3:53)
After his Vietnam tour, Marine sniper Tim Dunn had 18 months left to serve. He was assigned to the 2nd Marines but they had no interest in using his skills in their sniper school. That puzzled him but he finished his service with no complaints and went to try his hand at higher education. (5:31)
After he had been working as a sniper for awhile, Tim Dunn was getting a little salty. When he was sent to help out a company on an operation, he walked in and said, "Gunny, your troubles are over." When the sergeant looked up and he saw who it was, he snapped to attention. (4:23)
Tim Dunn saw an ad in Leatherneck magazine about a gathering at a ship dedication. That started him on reconnecting with his Marine comrades at reunions, including one for his Scout Sniper unit. He has been back to Vietnam and reports that the people there are completely over the war and genuinely welcoming to Americans. (6:53)
Tim Orr

Vietnam | 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines

His father was very disappointed. Tim Orr wasn't doing well at college and was about to lose his student deferment. Knowing that his dad was a Marine veteran, maybe becoming a Marine himself would smooth things over. (4:29)
His Marine MOS out of boot camp was 0331, machine gunner. Tim Orr finished his infantry training and flew off to Vietnam where an overwhelming bad smell smacked him in the face as he walked off the plane. Soon he was standing lone 2 AM watch in the bush. (6:19)
The Marines in the machine gun squad were great guys. They welcomed Tim Orr into the fold when he arrived in Vietnam and he has kept in touch with some of them through the years. (3:19)
It was relentless for the Marines. Tim Orr remembers the cycle well. Go into the bush and dig in. Set up ambushes at night and patrols during the day. Then move to another spot and repeat. When the regiment was sent home early, he volunteered to stay as a part of a special unit which moved into a village and stayed there, protecting the villagers from the VC. (5:20)
The Marines enjoyed robust artillery and air support in Vietnam. They did not enjoy the booby traps, though. Tim Orr recalls an incident in which his squad narrowly avoided a disaster when a trip wire was nearly triggered. Another favorite method of the VC was to put hand grenades in old C-ration cans. (4:22)