Vox Populi
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Doug Anderson: Operation Badger Tooth
Once a year, on December 25, a darkness comes up from the earth into my life.
On December 24th, nineteen sixty-seven, a battalion landing team comprised of three infantry companies from Third Battalion First Marines, left the ship and landed in an area just north of the Qua Viet River. They swept west through a village called Thon Tham Khe where intelligence had indicated a large unit of the PAVN was dug in. The marines found nothing and returned to the ship for Christmas dinner, the last Christmas many of them would see.
On December twenty-sixth, they left the ship and repeated the sweep. They got within grenade throwing distance of the village before the PAVN opened up on them with small arms, rpgs and mortars from deep camouflaged bunkers.
I had been rotated out of the battalion because I was short and sent to First Hospital Company in Chu Lai before being sent home. I read about the operation in the Stars and Stripes, a military newspaper that offered a highly redacted version of the massacre. My old company, Lima, was the point company and my platoon, the third, took the brunt of the ambush. Kilo company took fewer casualties because they had tanks. The tanks, however, had compromised radios because of the wet landing, and could offer little help. The PAVN ambush was expertly organized and the whole battalion was pinned down. Every time a marine got up to help another he was picked off by a sniper. By the end of the day, there were sixty killed and over three hundred wounded.
From the safety of the hospital company I read the names of men I knew from third platoon. The PAVN unit had planned its escape well and exited through tunnels that extended far beyond where a reaction force was expected to arrive. If I had been on that operation I would probably be dead or maimed. Nevertheless, the darkness.
All this in a war that should have never happened. All of this because of a huge political stupidity left over from the McCarthy era that assumed that communism would take over the world. It has not. It has gone the way of all ideological dreams. And apparently we have learned nothing at all: look at the condition of the world. Listen to the posturing of our politicians, and of a president-to-be who has no idea what it is like to fear for his life.
Copyright 2016 Doug Anderson
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Doug Anderson: 1967 Que Son Valley, Vietnam
Vox Populi 
Doug, your wrong on many issues regarding operation Badger Tooth. We as in Lima company did not go through the village untill December 26, 1967.
On the 27th, Lima Company 2nd Platoon was seperated from the rest of Lima Company wheb we were sucked into this well executed ambush by the 117th NVA Lima two took the blunt of the over whelming fire power and superior positioning. The commander of Lima and first and third platoon joined up and suffered as well. I was there and you can see where most of the KIA’S wjat platoon. It was a bad day for Lima and 3/1 over all. We all paid the price.
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Thanks, Larry. I believe that Doug Anderson has replied to you privately. Thank you for keeping the memory alive.
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Do you remember any of the names of the men you served with my uncle was killed in Vietnam in the province of Quang Tri
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3/1 had four companies Lima, Mike, kelo and India. We landed on the 26 December and Lima second Platoon was sucked into the ambush we were torn up in a few only 18 of us not hit. Lima 1st and 3rd platoon came to our rescue and were shot up as well. Then the rest of the battalion joined us. Marine count 48 dead 88 wounded.
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3/1 had four companies Lima, Mike, kelo and India. We landed on the 26 December and Lima second Platoon was sucked into the ambush on 27 December, we were torn up in a few only 18 of us not hit. Lima 1st and 3rd platoon came to our rescue and were shot up as well. Then the rest of the battalion joined us. Marine count 48 dead 88 wounded.
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Hi Mr Christensen
my uncle Douglas Young was in Lima Co 3rd/5th. He was wounded late in Dec ’67. We lost him on Feb 18th ’68 somewhere Quang Nam province.
As You may know, It’s nearly impossible to find detailed information from anyone. I would be grateful for any help You can give.
I know I’m asking You to look back “there” and I do understand if you can’t help me. Take Care and Thank You
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I got in county oct67 to dec68! I was with Lima co. 3rd.plt! We were south of marble mountain, then on Blt 3/1 ,everyone thought we would cruise up and down the vietnam coast, until the shit hit the fan!! ha!ha! We’ll the shit hit the fan dec67, until 3/1, went south again June 68! Everyone one I knew got Kia or wia! I kind of remembered you! My squad leader was Nathy? but he was short,didn’t go on Blt,my squad leader was Peters,he was Kia on Jan,28 68! Went to a few reunions,helped me out a lot,to cope! welcome home!! Semper Fi! you’re friend Vic Budnik !
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Mr Budnik my uncle Douglas Young was in Lima Co 3rd/5th. He was wounded late in Dec ’67. We lost him on Feb 18th ’68 somewhere Quang Nam province.
As You may know, It’s nearly impossible to find detailed information from anyone. I would be grateful for any help You can give.
I do understand I’m asking You to look back there, so I do understand if you can’t. Take Care and Thank You
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I was with 3/1 H&S Company Flames at that time. A few days or so before December 24 1967 I was out on a mission probably assigned to one of the line companies and no hostilities had taken place. We came back aboard ship, I was on the Valley Forge for Christmas dinner. On the 26th I was supposed to go back out for Operation Badger Tooth but at the last minute I was told to remain on ship. I remember early that morning well, I was assigned to the hangar deck were casualties were brought down from the flight deck and teams of medical personnel were standing by. They didn’t want the sailors getting in the way gawking or taking pictures and such I guess. I stayed there all day and guarded the Kia,s who were placed on stretchers stripped naked and wounds etc.exposed,I have not and never will forget the terrible wounds I saw that day. I had to help the mortician carry the dead into the morgue to do what he had to do and go back in and move our boys into the large freezers in those black bags. Anyway I counted 43 and I guess 5 more died down below later from there injuries. They reported 48 Kia’s on that operation I think. We kinda got revenge on Badger Catch even though I saw a couple of good friends die, and more wounded. Weird how after all these years one still has survivors guilt!
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Thanks for sharing this, Donald.
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Thank you for sharing my uncle was there and didn’t make it home
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I’m so sorry for your loss, Roberta. — Michael Simms
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Thank you for your honesty. My father was in Lima company. He did not come home.
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Glad you came home, and welcome back, every day.
Here is a story from a friend of mine about his best friend and brother in law who didn’t come home. Ric appears at then end of this clip from a closely related movie, “My Father’s Vietnam” (also accessible from this link).
http://www.calmfrenzy.com/
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From another poet grateful for the support of the Joiner Center: I respect so much your effort to tell the truth of this as complete as you can make it, including that last paragraph.
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