Tracking Our History

The concluding part of Grunts to Tankers. You will also find individual podcasts with Hank Fuller, Jay Heffernan, and Pete Ritch. Pete is not included in this roundtable discussion only because Pete passed before this episode was created.

NOTE TO FOLLOWERS: These three episodes are revised editions of the original podcasts with the same titles. At the ripe old age of 76 I make a mistake. My apologies to all those that may now be more confused.

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This is the first of a 3 Part podcast including Hank Fuller, Bob Skeels, and Jay Heffernan. There are four tank Officers that entered Vietnam at about the same time. It was said that General Davis was trying out the idea that to be the best tank officers, you had to first "pound ground".

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The continuing saga of Lts. Fuller, Heffernan, and Skeels as they learn the details of war as grunts and then take that valuable knowledge with them into tank operations.

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On May 18, 1968, the PAVN (NVA) decided to give to Ho Chi Minh a birthday present. Learn about the surprise "Uncle Ho" got instead.

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This is Part 3 and the final Chapter of Hank Fuller, Jay Heffernan and Bob Skeels.

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It has been a lengthy series, however these officers deserve a very special amount of attention. With Captain Michael Wunsch as the Alpha Co. commanding officer, the finest command structure of my tenure.

This is a public service announcement to all Marine Track vehicle veterans. if ou have not done a podcast or if you have done a podcast and you would like to do another- contact me

Mark Creighton, a 2141 Tank Mechanic from Alpha Company, 1969, is writing a very poignant book on Veterans' Suicide. Mark was replaced by Steve Dowdell the fateful night of July 28, 1969. This was the operation in which Captain Wunsch, Corpsman Colton, and Steve were KIA. While the book is in progress, you can read some on Mark's website forgottenfiles.net.

This episode carries an "explicit" warning do to the topic. The very first minutes carry the people to call if you or someone you know is thinking about suicide.

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Every United States Marine stands on the shoulders of those Marines who came before us. It is our proud legacy. In this episode you will learn of the "giants" known as the Montford Point Marines. Ambassador Theodore Rosevelt Britton. Jr. Is one of those Marines. He, along with a little over 14,000 Black Marines integrated the United States Marine Corps in 1942. Listen as Ambassador Britton shares his story, his life, and his experiences as one of the first Black Marines. You will be mesmerized by the brilliance of the 100 year old Marine who helped make the Marine Corps the elite fighting force that continues today.

This episode is one of seven episodes that can be listened to individually or all at once. Grunts to Tankers (3 parts), John Heffernan, Pete Ritch, Hank Fuller, and Bob Skeels are a matched set. Together, they are a group of grunt platoon commanders who made their mark on Mutters Ridge. These men fought on Mutters Ridge at the same time as Karl Marlantes and Ollie North, and though less known were as good if not better than Marlantes or North. Just listen to their stories and you will agree.

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