Mike & H&S Companies 

Third Battalion, Fifth Marines

Veterans of the Vietnam War

Mike Company Biographies  

M - Z

Tom Mahlum

Infantry Officer 1st Plt Mike Co 12-68 to 5-1-69 then S3 Alpha at 3/5 till 11-69 then 1st Shore Party Bn. Then to Manila as R&R Officer till 3-70. Back to VN with 1st Shore Party/Engineers till 6-70 then to MCB Camp LeJeune. Anybody remember my old ass please contact me. (910) 346-1771 (H) (910) 346-6028 (o) Semper Fi. Tom 

Bob Matteson

My MOS--0331 weapons, But in Dec (15) I went to 1st platoon/ Point man after McStravick was killed. My squad & 2 eng. got mixed up with L Co on May 12. On May 13 (with L) the battle started again and I caught a mortar round, fifteen minutes into it, I was hit in face & in the back. Finally medevaced on third chopper wave--long enough to see M Co come rushing up & exchange some advice to the Capt and others. Promoted to CPL after being LCpl for 26 days. Pay wise it shows that both were on May 1,1967. (this was probably due to both union's depleting the co). By July I was weapon again --no more point.

  Mike McFerrin (from his guestbook entry)

Mike 3/5, 08/21/68 TO 05/01/69. Third Platoon rifleman to fire team leader to squad leader to platoon guide and acting platoon sergeant.  SSgt Blackman was my platoon sergeant or acting platoon commander. Instructor at Regimental schools at An Hoa from May 68 through August 68, retrained 5th Regiment companies that had excessive casualties from mistakes. I taught mine and booby trap avoidance, ambush response, calling in supported arms and medevac. AFP (Armed Forces Police) platoon sergeant in DaNang September and October 1969. HAT (Hamlet Advisory Team) Leader November 1969 to June 1970.  Had 36 South Vietnamese civilians and 7 Marines. Similar to a CAP unit. Local security for the ville, training, and 2 to 6 man "Hunter-Killer" teams (50% Viet, 50% Marine) to harass enemy troop movements on an infiltration route.  POW compound sergeant-of-the-guard July and August of 1970.

Arthur Miles

Paul E. O'Connell

I served with Mike 3/5 (1st platoon) from October 1968 - September 1969. I arrived in country a PFC and by June 1969 was Combat meritoriously promoted to CPL. I was an 0311 and progressed from a rifleman to fire team leader, to squad leader, and for a brief time before I came home, right guide. I participated in Operation Taylor Common (103 days in the bush), Musgokee Meadows (kicked ass with Bravo 1/5), Pipestone Canyon (booby traps galore) and Durham Peak. Also participated in many other actions that never seemed to earn a name. I survived action in such dreaded places as the Arizona, Dodge City, Go Noi Island, and the Que Son Mountains.

Today I am a Deputy Fire Chief in the City of Quincy. I have been on the fire department for more than 25 years. Ten years ago I was the Chief of the department but resigned 19 months later, mostly because of PTSD.

I have been married 27 years and have a 27 year old daughter and a 24 year old son.

Although I don't think I am haunted by Vietnam, there isn't a day goes by that I don't think about Vietnam and the men of Mike 3/5....... Semper Fi

Terry Otell

Ranson J. Pelt (Randy)

Ron Pizana

Grady Rainbow

I joined Mike Company as a PFC in March 69 at the end of Taylor Common. I was wounded in a night ambush, walking point, on April 1st. I participated in Operations Muskogee Meadows and Pipestone Canyon. My second Heart came June 23, 1969 and I was Medivaced to Da Nang the 1st part of July. I left the hospital in September 69 and was assigned to the CG's Staff 1st Mar Div. I extended my tour and after making Sergeant transferred to MP Company, 1st Mar Div. I came home in August 1970. I reenlisted and served until 3 August 1984 when I was discharged for disability. I acquired nerve damage to my spine from injuries, and have no cartilage in either knee from running (the Corps got REAL big on running). I left the Corps as a Gunnery Sergeant and was on the promotion list for 1st Sgt. I served with "L" 3/3, 5th MAB, "L" 3/7 1st MarDiv, Recruiting Duty RSS El Paso, "G" 2/5 & H & S 2/5 1st Mar Div, Recruiting again RS Oklahoma City, HQ CO HQ BN 1st Mar Div (Company GySgt), Comm Co HQ Bn (1stSGT), Detachment GySgt/Guard Officer USS Long Beach CGN-9, OP's Chief LFTC PAC, Company GySgt H&S 3/3 1st Brigade.

I have a wonderful wife ( a former WAC, USA) two grown daughters (One a former Marine). I now live in Oklahoma City and work as a Group Manager in Examination for the Internal Revenue Service. I am a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (the national convention is in Oklahoma City this year 1999), a Charter founder of the Second Amendment Task Force, NRA and a member of the NRA. I have written my memories of Viet Nam & Mike Co. for my children and would welcome any input from anyone that knew me.

Brad Reynolds

I was with Mike 3/5 from September '67 till June '68. The operations I was on include Shelbyville, Essex, No Name, Auburn, Baxter Gardens, Houston I, and Houston II, and Allenbrook. My third purple heart was after stepping on a mine June 14, '68 during Operation Mameluke Thrust.

Fred Riddle

I'm a 3/5 H&S Co. Veteran Of Vietnam. I served from May 21,1967 to June 
1968. I was attached to Mike Co. 1st in 60mm mortars but during Union II 2 
men were KIA and me and 2 other mortar men were wounded by mortar fire. I 
was assigned to 3.5 Rockets for the remainder of the operation. I later 
became Mike CO.'s F.O. for 81mm mortars and served on all operations and 
actions the Co. were involved in until Essex when on Nov. 9,1967 I was shot 
in the leg and taken out to 1st Med. in Danang. They then sent me to Guam 
at the Naval Hospital. On return to Vietnam I was placed on the 81mm motors 
and served as a radio operator and ammo carrier until June 1968.

Elliot Rubenfeld (adapted from his guestbook entry)

MY NAME IS ELLIOT RUBENFELD. SOME MAY KNOW ME AS RECON OR "JJ". I WAS WITH
2ND PLATOON M CO. 3/5 SGT PETERS SQUAD FROM 7/67 TO 12/67. I WAS THE SHORT GUY FROM 2ND RECON WHO WORE JUMP WINGS ALL THE TIME. MY BIG GAME TO FAME WAS ON OPERATION SWIFT 9/12 WHERE WE WERE ON AN AMBUSH AND GOT HIT BY SNOOPY IN THE EARLY MORNING. CARNELL DIED IN MY ARMS AND TWO OTHERS WERE SHOT AND MEDIVAC. I DID'NT GET HIT. I WAS HIT ON OPERATION ESSEX AND WHEN I RETURNED FROM THE HOSPITAL I WAS SENT TO 1ST FORCE RECON WHERE I STAYED TILL SEPT.1968 WHEN I GOT MY THIRD HEART, I WAS SENT TO HAWAII FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY MARINE CORP TOUR. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ON M 3/5 ROSTER AND HOPE TO HEAR
FROM GUYS WHO REMEMBER ME INCLUDING J.C.BOWERS WHO WENT TO NAM WITH ME. SEMPER FI

Larry Searight

CARLOS SEPTIEN (from his guestbook)

I CAME FROM 2/2/2MAR.DIV.CAMP LEJEUNE TO M 3/5 IN FEB.66 WE BECAME A COMPANY AT CAMP MARGARITA AND SHIPPED OUT IN MAR.66 TO HAWAII AND THEN TO OKI FOR JUNGLE TRAINING, THEN TO THE PHILLIPINES BEAUTIFUL OLONGAPO CITY. FROM THERE WE WERE OFF 
TO THE NAM. DID DECKHOUSE 1 & 2 THEN PRAIRIE AND LAST HASTING. WHERE I WAS WOUNDED AND SENT TO THE USS REPOSE. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER BACK TO M 3/5 THAT WAS IN CHU LAI.

Bob Spano

Arrived in country as E-4 and was assigned as a machine gun squad leader, later was weapons section leader with 3-stingers & 3-rockets designation. Early in Sep '69 was involved in Operation "Arizona" and
worked out of Liberty Bridge. Section included: L/Cpl S. G. Wilson, PFC W. F. Jackson, PFC D.D. Scroggs, PFC T. Malone, Jr., L/Cpl T. W. Wirth, PFC F. Westbrook, Jr., PFC J. B. Brown, PFC R. E. Martin, PFC J. R.Walker, and L/Cpl W. M. Thompson. Left country when twin brother arrived in Saigon as Army Signalman. Finished overseas duty in Okinawa and Philippines. Released from active duty as E-5, Aug '70.

Craig Sullivan

I joined the 1st Platoon of Mike Company 3/5, during Operation Union II on May 31, 1967, in the Que Son Valley. I filled the position of Platoon Right Guide, Platoon Sergeant, and Platoon Commander until after Tet. Then I became the Battalion S-3, Assistant Operations Chief for the Battalion. I departed for the world on 28 June 1968.

Cappodanno was with my platoon on Operation Swift, when he was killed. Sergeant Peters was a Squad Leader with 2nd Platoon. He had linked his squad up with my First Platoon to give me some reenforcement when he was killed.

Jerry Trent

My name is Jerry L. Trent, aka, "Gunslinger." I was in the 1st Marine Div. 3rd. Batt. 5th. Marine Reg. 3rd. Platoon. I served in 1967- 1968. I was in operations "Swift and Essex." I 'm looking for buddies in Vietnam through the internet, over countless hours of searching, I finally stumbled upon this site. I was thrilled to find it. When I looked in the Roster and in the Guestbook, so many of the names sound familiar to me, however, the faces to the names are hard to recall. I can remember the faces to buddies, but I can't really remember their names. it was a long time ago. I'm hoping to reach anybody that knows me, by signing the guestbook. Hopefully, someone might remember my name, and I can get in touch
with them. It would be very helpful to me, and to all of us for that matter if we can reach our long lost buddies from " over there." Good website, Keep up the good work, was very pleased with it. Thank You. Jerry L. Trent, aka "Gunslinger."

Michael (Turk) Wears

My MOS was 0311 and I started out as a radio operator. I was with the 2nd Plt I think. I didn't get much past my squad leader who whose Vernon Randolph. I do remember S/Sgt Beaver and Sgt. Blair. We mostly were on night patrols when I got started out. I was in the CP group as a radio operator for a long time and again in the 1st Plt with Lt. Clemens. I am sorry but the people and the dates are not where they should be. I thought I went to Mike Co in Oct. But after seeing some of the names on final roll call it may have been more like Nov. I thought I left Mike in March but I was on R/R when Jeff Goss was KIA I thought he came to the CP when he got into country. but when I saw the Picture of him with the cast I remember now that he came there when he had that on his leg. We had moved up to Hwy 1 Security when I was transferred to 2nd CAG. That was in May or June. I did however when going back to Caps go back to Dein Ban and on a patrol of my self and some PF's went back to the ville where Fischer was MIA. Finding nothing. Amusing how they forgot so much in just a few months.
There are a lot of People missing. Like Gary Wells, is there any way I can get a company roster of the time. I have tried to get some records but they are still unavailable. I have a lot of faces but no names. Oh yes I talked to Debbie over the week end and found out Spanky's name was John Reigel. I will try to help in any way I can. I did find out Jim Mitchell's business address. If you don't have it I will send it along. I did get an email back from Lt. Graler. He told me he wrote a couple of emails to Skipper with no returns. I was hoping he would write back. Will wait and see.

Donald L. Weger (from his guestbook entry)

SERVED WITH MIKE CO. DEC68 TODEC69 60MMMORTARS STARTED OUT AS AMMO HUMPER ENDED UP AS SECTION LEADER OPERATIONS TAYLOR COMMON AND PIPESTONE CANYON HIT BOOBY TRAP SAME TIME DOC PYLE HIT HIS WE WERE WALKING IN TWO COLUMS I HIT MINE FIRST IT BLEW ME INTO A DITCH IN BACK OF ME MY BUDDY IN BACK OF ME YELLED CORP MAN UP THATS WHEN DOC PYLE GOT HIT I ENDED UP WITH SOME SHRAPNEL IN MY LEGS MY BUDDY CAUGHT SOME IN HIS FACE I UNDERSTAND DOC PYLE TOOK THE WHOLE BRUNT OF THE GERNADE HE HIT I HELPED CARRY HIS BOD. AFTER ALL THE ACTION WAS OVER I HELPED CARRY DOC PYLES BODY AWAY IT WAS A BAD DAY AND I STILL THINK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME. ALSO JOHN KIRSHNER AND I WENT THRU BOOT CAMP ITR BITS AND STAGING TOGETHER WE WERE SENT TO MIKE CO TOGETHER AND WENT OUT TO THE BUSH THE SAME DAY. HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND.

SERVED WITH MIKE 3/5, 1ST MED BN. FROM OCT. '69-'70. I WAS A CORPSMAN WITH 1ST PLT. MIKE CO. FOR APPROX. 6 MOS., THEN AT BAS IN AN HOA WHILE WAITING FOR TRANSFER TO 1ST MED. BN. IN DA NANG WHERE I WORKED IN TRIAGE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MIKE KEMPELS PARENTS FOR PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND AM GOING FOR DINNER WITH THEM THIS SUN 02/27/00 TO CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY. MIKE WAS KIA SEPT. '70. WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANY FORMER DOC'S OR GRUNTS.