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Tim "CAPVet" Duffie
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The Greatest Speech Of All Time |
Former Marine Looking For CAP Stories & Pictures
Dear Tim,
I have just recently been awarded a research grant by the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation to write a commemorative history of the Marine Corps Combined Action Platoons in the Vietnam War. I have estimated that it will take me six months to complete this project and it will be written under the auspices of the Marine Corps Historical Center. When finally completed and approved it will be published and become a permanent part of Marine Corps history and most likely be the last official written historical record of the CAP units.
I already have a lot of source material including the Command Chronology Reports for every Marine Corps Unit in Vietnam but I also need individual Marines' accounts of their experiences to include a written or oral interview and any pictures they might have. If you are willing to help me reach out to our CAP veterans please let me know and I will send you additional information to pass on including submission requirements. Please do not give out this email address until I am ready to request submissions.
Four your info, I have sent this same request to Fred Caleffie who posted a future CAP reunion in Washington in the most recent American Legion Magazine. You and I have corresponded before but in case you forgot, by way of background, I am a retired Marine MSgt and I served from 1965 to 1986. I was a member of the Marine Aircraft Group 12 Civic Action Team in Chu Lai most of 1968 and I had some interaction with the CAP units in the Chu Lai area including Tam Ky. You can read more about me and the books I have written at my author page at Amazon.com: Gene Hays Author Page
Thanks for your assistance,
Semper Fidelis,
Gene
E-Mail Stories To: Gene Hays
The Strategic Impact of Service Culture on Counterinsurgency Operations...United States Marine Corps
A Doctoral Dissertation by
Dr. Jeannie Johnson, Utah State University Political Science Professor
CIA Intelligence Analyst, DoD Advisor
For those of you who missed the reunion, you missed a powerful presentation by Dr. Jeannie Johnson. With irrefutable facts, as well as a clear understanding of the impact of ignoring the cultures of the countries in which we are conducting military activities, Dr. Johnson assured all present that our CAP Program worked…not in every aspect… but the overall program was a success. Quoting from no less than Gen Mattis, she had most, if not all, of the CAP Marines present in tears…as well as their wives. For most of us there, it was a cathartic moment… a moment when years of frustration, doubt and uncertainty, were put to rest once and for all.
As one CAP Marine told Jeannie later, "Halfway through the presentation I was proud to be a Marine. By the end of the presentation, I was proud to be a CAP Marine!"
She received a standing ovation…something extremely rare for an "outsider"!
I had the good fortune to spend quite a bit of time with Dr. Johnson…including attending a Mormon Church service on Sunday…a wee bit much for a Baptist Preacher's Kid, and a personal first for me.
Left: Dr. Jeannie Johnson, Utah State University Political Science Professor, CIA Intelligence Analyst, DoD Advisor
Months ago I sent her a pristine copy of the Life Magazine "To Keep A Village Free" edition. She used that article in her Poli Sci class at Utah State University the week of our reunion. She had looked up each member listed to see who had survived the war. She had said repeatedly that the Life Magazine is something she will treasure forever.
With Echo 2 fresh in her mind, one of her greatest hopes was that she would meet some of the Echo 2 Marines at the reunion.
On Friday night, as we were sitting on the bus waiting to leave for dinner, I vaguely remembered that I'd heard about a Marine named Ron Schaedel…and maybe…just maybe….he was Echo 2. Ironically, Ron was sitting just across the aisle from us on the bus.
"Ron….what CAP Unit were you in?"
"Echo 2."
I will never forget the look on her face, like a five year old child on Christmas morning, when she realized she was that close to one that she had studied so intently since receiving the Life Magazine. I almost regret not moving to another seat and letting her revel in that moment!
Thank you, Dr. Johnson. I will treasure that memory forever. As I told the CAP Veterans at the reunion when I introduced you, CAP has no greater friend than you!
I've attached a few "pdf" files of pictures from the reunion….those I took of her and several CAP Veterans. I'll add more later to the CAP Web Site as time permits.
Left to Right: Ron Schaedel, Dr. Jeannie Johnson, Mike Mullins, Gary Smith, All CAP Echo 2
Until then…..
…Dr. Jeannie Johnson…you have the love and appreciation of every Marine, and every wife, who attended the Reunion. You are a special lady, and we all hope to see you again someday!
A Quote From An E-mail From Dr. Jeannie Johnson To CAP Veteran Dave Anderson:
The most powerful take-away from this research for me has been precisely what you outline below: that we tend to naively repeat the same patterns in new counterinsurgency locations across time. The CAP program was a break, in several important ways, with that pattern. It shows we can do things differently, better. We don't have to be victims of our own historical inertia.The other take-away is that regardless of which counterinsurgency strategy we pursue -- including the very best bits gleaned from the CAP program -- we cannot succeed in the political endgame (typically the primary purpose of the war in the first place) without a steady and legitimate host government stepping in to provide services and connect with its people once Marines have created the security space to do so. Our counterinsurgency strategy will always rank second in importance to the ability of the resident government to inspire loyalty from its citizens. We can't create that bond for them. And it is the thing that most matters in the end.
Tim,
Very, very long story somewhat short, I'm an active duty Army officer, and my dad is a Vietnam vet. Years ago (when I was in grade school...I'm 38 now) I heard a story about him working with some Marines near where he was stationed (near Chu Lai), and I tried to locate some of them (without the internet...imagine that!). I eventually learned through a lot of cross-referencing that the Marines in question were likely part of the CAP program.
I can fill you in on more details but bottom line is: I'm hoping you can point me in the right direction to find a Marine LT who lost a leg around Dec '67 while part of the CAP Program near Chu Lai, Tam Ky, or Duc Pho. Years ago, I was hoping to get my dad a Silver Star, as the story was that he jumped off a half-track to grab the lieutenant under fire, but the statue of limitations for awards has long passed. Now, I'm just hoping I can find the guy and maybe facilitate a (re)introduction. My dad has been very active with his old unit, and I know it would mean a lot to him if I could locate the Marine. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Please let me know what information you need from me, and I hope to hear from you soon.
Take care,
E-Mail To: Shawn Russell
Hi Tim,
I would like to post a message about a group of us CUPP Marines that get together once a year. There are about 16 of us now. There were not many CUPP Marines and our experiences in Vietnam were somewhat unique (as were yours). The last CAP reunion I went to there were several CUPP Marines there. I just wanted to shoot out this invitation for them to get on our CUPP roster even if they are not interested in our get togethers. They can contact me thru my email John Berry. Thanks Semper Fi PS: We are also organizing a trip (for anyone) back to Vietnam in April 2014 thru Military Historical Tours. It is open to anyone and will cover north to south.
John Berry M.A.T.
Special Services Teacher
Carl Sandburg Middle School
Fairfax County,
703-799-6100
jeberry@fcps.edu
DEAR TIM
FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO SAY WELCOME HOME BROTHER. I WAS WITH THE 2ND COMBINED ACTION GROUP FROM AUG-68 TO NOV 69. I WAS AT 2 COMPOUND UNITS AND 1 MOBIL.
THE FIRST WAS NUI KIM SON(MARBLE MT.) THE SECOND WAS AT A HAMLET DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM MONKEY MT. RIGHT ON THE COAST, AND THE THIRD WAS DUE WEST OF FREEDOM HILL.
THERE WAS TWO MARINE UNITS ABOUT 2 OR 3 KLIKS TO OUR NORTH AND TO OUR SOUTH. I THINK ONE WAS A GRUNT HDQTERS AND THE ONE TO OUR SOUTH WAS AN ENGINEER UNIT....7TH MAYBY.
I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS A TAOR MAP THAT GAVE THE LOCATION AND CAP UNIT NUMBER OF THE 2ND COMBINED ACTION GROUP. WHEN I VOLINTEERED FOR CAG, CAG HDQTERS WAS IN DANANG. THAT'S WHERE I ATTENDED CAG SCHOOL. IF THERE ISN'T A MAP AVAILABLE OF THE 2ND CAG UNITS, I WOULD LIKE TO HELP PUTTING ONE TOGETHER. MY CAP UNIT HAD THE HONOR OF GREETING GEN LEONARD F.CHAPMAN AT AP HOA KOUNG, HOA VONG PROVINCE, IN AUG, 1969, CAP 2-5-2. I HAVE PICTURES I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU BUT I DONT KNOW HOW TO GET THEM IN TO THE CAG WEBSITE.
ANY HELP OR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
SF
JIM SPAIN, TROY, NEW YORK.
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