M14 Forum

carpshooter

I was there in 1970 and was issued a M-16 while serving in the
1st MAW ,VMGR-152 at Chulia and later at Danang .

Lewis

I was stationed in Danang 70-71, 1098th Medium Boat-78th Trans Battalion, US Army. I was told to check out a weapon at the armory and to keep it with me when in the company area and or on the boat when on duty. I went to the armory and there was a rack of M16's and in the back of the room there were about a dozen old dusty M14's. I asked them if I could check out an M14 because thats what I was best with in boot and I just liked it better period. They looked at me like I had rocks in my gourd and said "Why would you want one of those old things." I asked them if they had plenty of ammo for me, since we had a number of M60's they had a ton of ammo, I went over the M14s and selected a nice Springfield and grabbed a couple cans of ammo, an extra long set of suspendors and double mag pouches...still have those. Once on the boat and out on the water aways from shore I proceeded to sight the rifle in, the skipper told me I was the designated rifleman and to make sure I always had the M14 with me. Always have enjoyed shooting the M14-M1A, there is a certain comfort in knowing that any visible target out to 600yds away is all yours for the taking. I never had any reason to use the M14 in full auto, except on New Years Eve., we had a stern mounted M2 and 20mm Ehrlikan anti-aircraft guns port and starboard. We were never issued instructions and by accident I figured out how to cock one while cleaning the underside of the barrel on day, it was all over after that.

dwight55

I was told to report to the gun shack on the HeadsuppactSaigon compound to draw a weapon so I could deploy down to IV corps in the late spring of '66. The Gunner's Mate behind the half door handed me an M1 and one bandoleer of ammo (8 clips, 8 rounds each) and when I hinted for more, . . . he just more or less told me to have a nice war and move out.

Several months later down at Long Xuyen, . . . they rounded up the M1s and issued M14's. I wasn't sure about all that at first, . . . but it didn't take long, . . . love that 14.

All the PBR boats also had M16's aboard as well as some kind of barf head shotguns that loaded and ejected both through the bottom. Nahhhhhh, . . . didn't like them things.

I bought an M3 and a 1911 on the economy, . . . had to leave both in country, . . . but you can bet they went with me any time I had a reason, . . . including guard duty (unless the station supplied an M60, . . . ).

It took me 40 years + to get a replacement for the M14, but I wouldn't trade my M1A for anything else made (except just maybe an M60, . . . but I'd have to shoot it first ).

May God bless,
Dwight

rice paddy daddy

An M16-A1

polish29

Winchester M14 semi only, however I did have the pleasure to famfire several M14 FAs. Also was given the occasional use of a grease gun, and an M60 while on convoy duty.

TonyG

My dad was there '64-'66. He was issued Lst 1158!!Sorry couldn't resist.Tony

svdriver

I was at NKP RTAFB in '73 and was first given an M-16A1 as a back up for my M60 (Got a few rides in UH-1N&P's). After the -16 locked up tight one day, I traded it for a M-14, and that's how it all started!

MtScout

1969, I was with First Field Force in a combat support unit.
Being that I was the low man on the totem pole, I got to do all kinds of things, that "others" avoided. Most of these activities were outside the wire that went around the base camp at Nha Trang.
After my arrival, I was sent out for perimeter guard, now I had just bought this sweet little M2 carbine from a ROK marine for $100 mpc. After my tour of guard duty, 'Top' drove out to my post with my replacement, well he about s##t all over me when he saw that carbine. After he was done referring to my intelligence, and the origins of my birth, he flatly stated "give me that", and I never saw it again, (didn't ask about it either).
After that, the M14 I had been issued was my one and only.
There were other weapons, M60's, M79's, and I even had a 45 for a while, (had to duck tape the magazine in or it would fall out after the first shot), but the M14 with 5 mags and at least one bandoleer was always with me.

Michael

In 1968 5th SF Group issued newbies brand new M2 Carbines.
I took mine to my A Camp where all the strikers had carbines, M1s, BARs, etc.
I carried the M2 popgun until they sent us a 2nd planeload of modern stuff about a year later.
The 1st planeload was destroyed by an errant 155 round, courtesty !st Cav.

MistWolf

4X Rivit Gun, USAF United Kingdom 1982.

Somebody had to keep them A-10s in the air

carpshooter

While at Chulia ,knew a ROK Marine who got on the morning plane out of there every other day .Talked him into getting me a M-1 carbine for $50 MPC ,well when he did show up with the rifle ,he wanted $100 instead.

I thought looking at this all muscular short zipperhead ( he was about 5' 6" & 160+ lbs ) that there was going to be a Marine (ROK ) VS. Marine ( US ,I was 6'2" @ 200 lbs ) free for all .
He left as he wasn't taking anything less than $100 ,we never talked to each other after that ( were good friends up until then ) !

I never tried to get another weapon as the Americal (23rd Infantry US Army ) station at Chulia were getting $ 165 (US currency ) for captured SKSs as they had alot on hand .Nobody brought AK47 as they were available for less !( couldn't take them home as tropheys of war ).

PS. I never have forgotten that ROK,he was a career guy and just about took yours trully out ! (lucky me )

MtScout

carpshooter
I agree with your estimate of ROK's. They are alittle different.
My understanding is that to join a Korean unit, if you don't have a direct family connection (brother or father served or serving), your not chosen. And joining was for life. After a mission, you'd see their 'duces' returning to base with all kinds of stuff loaded in them. I asked one time, "what's with all the booty?", and was told flatly, 'retirement'.
They drank this beer called 'tiger'. It wasn't a bad beer, but the alcohol content varied greatly from can to can. I usually got hammered while visiting on party nights. I've seen ROK's all fired up on tiger beer, get into a difference of opinion, and the first thing they would do was pull out big knives and going after each other. All the while their buddies were making bets on who would be the winner.
All that said, you could not ask for a better soldier when it got thick. I understand that the NVA refused to take an ROK marine prisoner, they were too much trouble.

lucky52

S & W 4" 38 was what they gave us.I figured that wasn't enough so I paid $30 for an M1 carbine that was sawed off in front of the bayonet lug and behind the pistol grip part of the stock.This was from May 70 to May 71.

Lewis

For a period of time I worked as a radio operator at Harbormaster Danang, Danang had a pier called "Deep Water Pier" ocean going merchant marine rigs like those owned by SeaLand and American President Lines could dock there and Danang had probably the best deep water pier operation in the republic, it had a terrific tidal surge and with good control of tugs and pusher boats we could get them alongside nicely.
Most of our stevedore work was done by South Koreans, I was told they were conscripts, or ex-cons whatever...they were a hard working bunch at any rate. One night I had done everything I could for a Cpt. on board a Sealand ship to get him alongside and he asked me "What time to you get off duty?" I told him 0600, he then asked me when was the last time I had had steak and eggs for breakfast...."About a year sir..." You come down when you get off and we eat breakfast together. So 0600 rolls around, my relief shows up, I jump in the old man's Korean War vintage jeep and roll on down to the pier. Now it was dark at that time of year at around that hour for starters, I had never been down on the pier after dark, stories about wharf rats big as cats, all that crap, never had any reason to. There were a bunch of the Korean guys hanging around a burn barrel and as I approached one of the larger guys steps in my way...Them Korean guys are thickset fellers, this guy didn't have much of a neck and outweighed me by a good 50lbs even though I was 6' 4" at the time but only 185lbs. He says in broken english "That nice jacket you have, I like it." I was wearing my issued fatique jacket as it was on the chilly damp side at that time of the morning. A few of the other fellas start to take notice and turn our way, one takes a step toward me a good 12ft away. This is one of the times when I was glad to have been in the habit of never going anywhere after dark without my .45 in M7 holster, it was under wraps. To this day I don't know what I was thinking or why I did what I did but I unzipped the jacket and pulled it off as quick as I could which immediately let them know that I was packing, I held the jacket in my left arm and told the guy "I like it too, keeps me warm" then I reached up and patted the .45 which made him wince and the other buy went back to the barrel. I said "Maybe you better go back over to the fire and stay warm." He did as he was told and I went on my way over to the gangplank, as I was going up the stairs I hear "F### You Joe!" I would hate to think what would have happened if I hadn't been packing, probably over the side of the pier, there was noone out there but the Koreans.

BIRDDOG

Here it is a H&R M-14 with my basic 782 gear. It served me well and is without a doubt in my mind the best weapon for the job. I still have the green plastic watch and the Ka-Bar in this photo taken in June 1966.http://i49.tinypic.com/2zp4l20.jpg