CHARLIE RIDGE

HILL 25

Mike Company Area of Operation

Map of Southern I Corps. The rocket belt refers to the protective ring of Marines ringing Danang to interdict enemy rocket teams. Red dot is Hill 25.

Map of Southern I Corps. The rocket belt refers to the protective ring of Marines ringing Danang to interdict enemy rocket teams. Red dot is Hill 25.

Bulk of 1st Marine Division's bases south west of Danang. Danang was the hub of the Marine operations in Vietnam, and the busiest airport in the world at points in the war.

Bulk of 1st Marine Division's bases south west of Danang. Danang was the hub of the Marine operations in Vietnam, and the busiest airport in the world at points in the war.

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1st Plt. Commander, Lt. Thomas McAninch's personal map

1st Plt. Commander, Lt. Thomas McAninch's personal map

Hill 25 located south center of map

Hill 25 located south center of map

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Hill 52

Hill 52, looking north from tower

Hill 52, looking north from tower

Hill 52 Tower, Charlie Ridge

Hill 52 Tower, Charlie Ridge

Flooded river view from Hill 52

Flooded river view from Hill 52

Hill 52 water-bull

Hill 52 water-bull

WP rounds Hill 52 and Charlie Ridge

WP rounds Hill 52 and Charlie Ridge

Looking north-west

Looking north-west

"Ma Deuce" (M2 .50 cal)

"Ma Deuce" (M2 .50 cal)

Aerial view, Hill 52

Aerial view, Hill 52

Hill 52 Viewed from bottom

Hill 52 Viewed from bottom

Hill 25

Hill 25, View of main gate, looking north with Charlie Ridge in background

Hill 25, View of main gate, looking north with Charlie Ridge in background

Cpl. Willet Amendola, Mortar Squad leader and Vietnamese translator runs up to the main gate of Hill 25, which is located in the southern-center (6 O'Clock) position of the perimeter. David Kiener and and Wayne "Andy" Anderson's MG bunker would have

Cpl. Willet Amendola, Mortar Squad leader and Vietnamese translator runs up to the main gate of Hill 25, which is located in the southern-center (6 O'Clock) position of the perimeter. David Kiener and and Wayne "Andy" Anderson's MG bunker would have been guarding the entrance here.

Hill 25 LZ looking east from the tower at the 3 to 4 O'Clock positions

Hill 25 LZ looking east from the tower at the 3 to 4 O'Clock positions

Hill 25 and Charlie Ridge viewed from under the eastern side of the tower

Hill 25 and Charlie Ridge viewed from under the eastern side of the tower

View of Hill 25 looking down from the tower and North to Charlie Ridge. From L to R are bunkers and secondary mortar pit, CP, and supply dump. The bottom center is a protective bunker for CP.

View of Hill 25 looking down from the tower and North to Charlie Ridge. From L to R are bunkers and secondary mortar pit, CP, and supply dump. The bottom center is a protective bunker for CP.

Hill 25 Tower

Hill 25 Tower

View from the tower looking North-NE. The Plt. CP and supply dump in the foreground. The pond or "pool" lay just beyond the northern perimeter. The base of Charlie Ridge is one thousand meters (1 click) away.

View from the tower looking North-NE. The Plt. CP and supply dump in the foreground. The pond or "pool" lay just beyond the northern perimeter. The base of Charlie Ridge is one thousand meters (1 click) away.

South Eastern (4 & 5 O'Clock) Bunkers

South Eastern (4 & 5 O'Clock) Bunkers

View of northern bunkers from mortar pit under tower. Cpl. Pierce's mortar squad's bunker in foreground.

View of northern bunkers from mortar pit under tower. Cpl. Pierce's mortar squad's bunker in foreground.

South western (8 O'Clock) Bunker, looking toward rt. 4, the Song Vu Gia and Hill 52 to the right of the picture 1.8 miles away. Nov. 2, 1967 attack likely originated from this area.

South western (8 O'Clock) Bunker, looking toward rt. 4, the Song Vu Gia and Hill 52 to the right of the picture 1.8 miles away. Nov. 2, 1967 attack likely originated from this area.

Looking directly west from 25, was the trash pit, and western entrance to Hill 25. two knolls obstructed clear views from the north-west. Notice both the arty strike on Charlie Ridge and civilians cleaning Marine utilities for C-rations or other good

Looking directly west from 25, was the trash pit, and western entrance to Hill 25. two knolls obstructed clear views from the north-west. Notice both the arty strike on Charlie Ridge and civilians cleaning Marine utilities for C-rations or other goods.

Lcpl. Patrick "Canuck" Dearborn of Ontario Canada, stands on Hill 25 aka Dinnen Hill (in Memory of 2nd Lt. Thomas Dineen). Dearborn was KIA on Hill 25 November 2, 1967.

Lcpl. Patrick "Canuck" Dearborn of Ontario Canada, stands on Hill 25 aka Dinnen Hill (in Memory of 2nd Lt. Thomas Dineen). Dearborn was KIA on Hill 25 November 2, 1967.

Hill 52 re-supply (CH-53 Sea Stallion)
CH-46 (Sea Knight) Embarkation Hill 52
H-34 and Charlie Ridge
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H-34 Door gunner mans his M60
H-34 med-evac
Ch-46
Marines disembark Ch-46 and Infil the LZ
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Ch-46 inbound at twilight
H-34 taking off from Hill 52

Photos: National Archives


  • (Lt.) 1st Platoon Commander.

    Texas

Mike Company

Most photos used here and in the interviews were shared by the following men of Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines. If you want to share photos or questions please email or contact @Acommonvirtue


  • 3rd Platoon, Squad leader.

    North Grafton, Massachusetts.


  • 2nd Platoon, Mortar squad leader.

    Indiana


  • 2nd Platoon, Squad Leader, “Dirty Dozen”.

    Jacksonville, Florida


  • 2nd Platoon, Staff Sergeant/acting platoon commander.

    Ohio


  • 3rd Platoon, Squad Leader, Hunter Killer Team.

    San Francisco, California.

Jim Hastings


  • 3rd Platoon, Squad Leader

    Framingham, Massachusetts.


  • 3rd Platoon, Grenadier

    Texas

TheArizona

Liberty Bridge

Dodge City

Gò Nổi Island

Photos: National Archives College Park, MD. 127-GVC: color photographs of Marine Corps Activities in Vietnam, 1962-1975