AD and JJ in Vietnam

[stepperry]

American Dreams Spoilers and Speculation #4

There are inacrancies in the show concerning JJ and the Marines. The answers are from Jack Riely Vietnam vet.

I watch the T.V. show American Dreams and JJ (a character on the show) joined the Marines and went to Vietnam. He shipped out in early 1965 he was supposed to be Bravo Co., 3/9 and than he was transferred to India Co. [/COLOR] There is no Bravo Company in 3/9. Bravo is in 1/9. I, K, L, M, H&S are the companies in 3/9.

What battles could he have been involved in? India Company was the very first U.S. infantry combat company to land in Vietnam on March 08, 1965. The objective was to secure the DaNang air base and then those areas in Quang Nam Province south of the AB. India moved to An Hoa in early 1966 and operated there until December 1966 when we moved into the mountains of HyVan Pass. From there we moved to the DMZ in February 1967. I was told the character was wounded in action (wia) at Quang Tri while using an M-14 rifle. We were in Quang Tri on several occasions (south of Dong Ha along the DMZ) so this would have been in the Spring of ’67. I 3/9 was not at Quang Tri in 1966. We replaced the M-14 with the M-16 in April 1967. Our battles were too numerous to name.

He just came home and won't be able to go back into combat and he became a recruiter. He is having trouble with PTSD and sometime soon to stop being a recruiter. It is supposed to be about July 1966. PTSD as such had not been diagnosed as a combat related problem in 1966.

Does this mean that he would be discharged? Combat fatigue if severe enough was grounds for discharge but NO Marine is ever assigned to recruiting duty that is not completely “squared away” and a “lifer” or career Marine.

In one of the upcoming shows he gets married and in one of the promotional pictures he is wearing his dress blue tunic (we call it a Blouse) with his ribbons and White uniform pants (trousers, Marines don’t wear pants). Very observant of you!

Would that be a uniform that would have been provided for by regulations of the time? Yes, if he was a recruiter.

Stephanie Perry
stepperry2008@yahoo.com

What battles could he have been involved in? What battles could he have been involved in? PTSD as such had not been diagnosed as a combat related problem in 1966. Does this mean that he would be discharged? Yes, if he was a recruiter.

The blue are my questions and most of the stuff in black are his answers.
JJ probably should be in India Co. throughout his time in Vietnam or been transferred from India Co., 3/9 to Bravo Co., 1/9.
On March 08, 1965 the ground unit in Vietnam I(ndia) Co., 3/9. They were there to secure the Air Base at DaNang but there battles were in Quang Nam Provnice. India Co., 3/9 was actually south of the Air Base in 1965. The Company moved to An Hoa in early 1966. I 3/9 was not in Quang Tri in 65 or 66. In fact they were not there until Spring of '67. At least they used the gun for the time.

PTSD was not called that in '66 but the flashbacks would be part of what is now called PTSD.

squared away- In good shape, everything in place, prepared
lifer- Career Marine

In other words Mr. Riely is saying that JJ would not have been assigned to be a recriuter unless one he in good shape and prepared as well as being a career Marine.


No, 3/9 was in I Corps until 1969. India Company did go to Saigon in 1975 to rescue the American personnel at our embassy.

Jack

From: Stephaine Perry
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2004 1:53 PM
To: Jack Riley
Subject: RE: India3/9 Questions/Comments

Would your unit or any other unit have near the Cambodian border let alone in Cambodia in late 1965?

Stephanie Perry

In 1964 when JJ enlisted in the Marines the enlistments were 6 years with 4, 3, or 2 years active duty with the rest being reserve that is to say 2, 3, or 4 reserve service after the active duty. He has at least one more year left of his active duty service.

What does everyone think of this info? Does anyone think that the script writers should take these things into consideration?