Reflections of a Walking Dead Marine: C/1/9 Vietnam War Veteran Jim Thompson

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  • Опубліковано 11 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 60

  • @Chevelle602
    @Chevelle602 13 днів тому +22

    What a great interview.
    I'm an Iraq War infantry Marine and we always thought the Vietnam war Marines were a bunch of total badasses. We walked in their shadows for sure.
    The radio etiquette story brought back a funny memory from me. I said "yeah" on the radio once and got my ass chewed big time.
    In my era, we knew about 1/9s history and it's legacy lived on.
    Props to the interviewer as well. You do a great job. Well done.

    • @zachwood1218
      @zachwood1218  13 днів тому +4

      @@Chevelle602 thank you and welcome home! I greatly appreciate your compliment I try my best to honor our Marines with every interview. I’ve been working with some Fallujah 3/1 veterans of late as well. What years were you in country?

    • @Chevelle602
      @Chevelle602 13 днів тому +5

      @zachwood1218 I was part of the big "surge" in early 2007 and then did another deployment in 2008.

    • @zachwood1218
      @zachwood1218  13 днів тому +2

      @ welcome home. If you’re ever interested in being interviewed let me know, I’d be happy to listen.

  • @SwampFox101-sj6ul
    @SwampFox101-sj6ul 11 днів тому +17

    Served with Bravo 1/9 3rd platoon. We were in the Hill Fights. 1967 and up at Conthien .Came back from R R to find out 3rd platoon had been wiped out Operation Buffalo really had a severe impact on me even to this day. Semper Fi.

  • @GeorgeWilkie-x4g
    @GeorgeWilkie-x4g 9 днів тому +6

    As an American Vietnam combat Veteran (US ARMY 505th PIR 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION) I was a Airborne Ranger Qualified LURP (Long Range Recon Patrol) my unit worked closely with the USMC Marine Force Recon. We were working out of PHU BAI and covered most of QUANG TRI. And, I loved the Marine Force Recon Grunts. Great People. We became true Battle Buds. The Marines were outstandingly disciplined warriors. And, this great Marine being interviewed In this Video reminds me of my old Force Recon Buds. My most sincere Thank You to the producers and staff of this excellent production. I must admit that my tears flowed once or twice, as I watched this truly outstanding Marine relive his time 'NAM. Again, THANK YOU!

  • @edwinclark5041
    @edwinclark5041 12 днів тому +6

    Yes Sir. You are amazing as well. And as the son of a Nam Vet, and a retired Marine. I thank you sincerely and from the depth of my heart. Semper Fidelis.

  • @willmears1111
    @willmears1111 7 днів тому +2

    Our Marines and MACV SOG Veterans I served with were fantastic.1967 -1969 I Corp. Phu Bai/Hue/Hill 950 and Laos. Thank you for everything. A Proud Vietnam Veteran.

  • @dansherrill9189
    @dansherrill9189 11 днів тому +3

    Loved this interview. A high school buddy, Steve Honnold was KIA 3 Jul 1967 in Operation Buffalo. He was with H&S 81 mike mike guns as RTO for the FO, attached to Bravo One Nine that day. Keith Nolan writes about him (not by name) in his book Operation Buffalo. Myself and Steve's sister met with Gunny Burns and Phil Sutherland (with RR section as I recall) back in the 90s at an Italian restaurant in Clairmont, CA to talk about what they could remember about Steve...not much as I recall, but a real honor to sit down with 1/9 veterans. Steve and I went our separate ways after HS, he to the Marines, me to the Army Reserve. We lived across the street from one another in Wire Mountain housing at Camp Pendleton, both our dads having been mustangs, my dad to captain, his to major. If my dad was ever ashamed of me being a "dogface", he never let on about it.

  • @michellethompson4564
    @michellethompson4564 9 днів тому +3

    Beautiful interview, thank you Zach!

  • @johnciummo3299
    @johnciummo3299 12 днів тому +24

    I was a Marine Dog Handler and knew Cpl. Rome and Hobo. I was was attached to Mike 3/7 when I got word of him being grievously wounded. I believe he was from Maryland. He had a great reputation among us handlers. Dewey Canyon was a bitch! Fact. 1/9 did have the highest KIA rate in Marine Corps history. They participated in 48 operation during their long history in Vietnam. Approximately 2600 Marines passed through the battalion over the course of the Vietnam War. Over 700 Marines were KIA. Far more were wounded. At times Marine Corps leadership bordered on criminal. Semper Fi.

    • @zachwood1218
      @zachwood1218  11 днів тому +3

      Thank you for your service and welcome home! When did you arrive with M/3/7? A friend of mine was a dog handle and knew Rome and Hobo very well.

    • @user-PaulSean
      @user-PaulSean 11 днів тому +2

      Yes I heard some shit. No idea it was like that. 1/9 from 94'-95'. great unit until they changed over to 2/1 at that time. Got outta there and wormed my way into 2/1. Great unit as well. SF!

    • @johnciummo3299
      @johnciummo3299 11 днів тому +6

      ⁠I served in Vietnam from 2/68 thru 3/69.
      Was attached to various units in 1st MarDiv; 1st,5th,7th and 1st Recon.
      Was with 3/7 all of Feb. 69.
      Was awarded the Bronze Star w/ V for actions on 2/24/69 with Mike 3/7.

    • @johnciummo3299
      @johnciummo3299 11 днів тому +1

      ⁠please read my reply.

    • @johnciummo3299
      @johnciummo3299 11 днів тому +1

      @@zachwood1218

  • @MultiFisherofmen
    @MultiFisherofmen 10 днів тому +3

    Your interviews are so well done and professional. You have such good questions. Well done sir

    • @zachwood1218
      @zachwood1218  9 днів тому

      @@MultiFisherofmen that is the highest compliment I can receive, thank you so very much. I’m just glad veterans are willing to talk to me.

  • @garyhammond2213
    @garyhammond2213 10 днів тому +6

    I have great respect for both Marines and VN vets. As an anti-Communist, thank you for fighting the good fight.

    • @GeorgeWilkie-x4g
      @GeorgeWilkie-x4g 9 днів тому +1

      GARY As a US Army (505th PIR 82nd Airborne Division) Vietnam combat
      Veteran, You have my heartfelt Thank You for Your very kind and respectful Comment.

    • @garyhammond2213
      @garyhammond2213 9 днів тому

      @@GeorgeWilkie-x4g A number of my friends were VN vets. When I go back east I visit the local American Legion in my hometown where I'm always welcomed. I was born in 1953 and was about 1 year too young to be drafted. My number was 75 and they went to 73 and stopped the lottery. My parents did not want me to go in and I respected their wishes. Even back then I was anti-Communist and remain so today. I was shooting Hi-Power matches with the M1 Garand at the time and knew what it was like when the bullets hit the backstop. And I also knew they would be flying in my direction. A group of VN vets (the Green Capers) from the legion met President Ronald Reagan at the White House. He told them "you guys didn't lose the war, it was lost right here in this office." You guys did a good job!

  • @scottsbaitsandtackle
    @scottsbaitsandtackle 11 днів тому +4

    I was in the Marines from 78 to 81. I was in G3/11 Arty. We had a guy on the guns who was in this unit in Nam and was with them when some bad shit happened. He was out working with an officer as a foreword observer at the time. His name was Gardner. He said he was an E6 in Nam. When I knew the guy he was a corporal E4. He did not speak about it much but dude had some serious discipline problems. Good at his job but that was it. He finally got the boot!
    I was a radio operator 2531. It was an actual MOS when I joined. I went open contract so I didn't pick it! I know all about carrying that radio. It is an ass kicker. Pendleton got some big steep hills. Sure Nam's are bigger and steeper! Seen some vids and photos of it. My war was Desert Storm with the Army's 1st Cav. division. Got out of the Marines in 81 and joined the Army in 85.

  • @expandedhistory
    @expandedhistory 13 днів тому +4

    Amazing interview, please keep doing these.

    • @zachwood1218
      @zachwood1218  13 днів тому +2

      @@expandedhistory thank you so much! More are on the way.

  • @LrN2Swim-8541
    @LrN2Swim-8541 13 днів тому +6

    Does anyone know where I can find a copy of Don't Tell America? I had a buddy who was in 1/9 for Dewey Canyon, who unfortunately passed away a few years ago. Jerry Striker. I guess he was mentioned in the book. I always wanted to read the book.
    Thanks in advance.

  • @LZZEBRA
    @LZZEBRA 10 днів тому +2

    You have trouble explaining your feelings abou t making it through it you are proud to make it through it and you should be. I'm feeingl proud of you man 1/9 was a bad ass unite I'm so glad sir your here to tell us.The field command was pretty good it was the rear command that got it wrong most of the time.I hope your life has been good to you sir.
    2/12 -68-69

  • @redwemette5942
    @redwemette5942 День тому

    Camp Carroll was crazy in 1967 most of us that were there never talk about it. We were young, I was 19 most of the guys were 18 to 20. In all these years this is the only Marine I ever saw talk about it. 1/9 Semper Fi

  • @FrankP846
    @FrankP846 7 днів тому +1

    I was in from November 1965 to November 1968. I was one of the lucky few who did not go to Vietnam. The last part of ‘68, I was the company clerk for Marine Barracks Philadelphia. When the guys were discharged from Philadelphia Naval Hospital, they came through Casual Co. prior to being re-assigned or discharged. A large number of them were from 1/9, especially Charlie Co. The story at the time was that on nine guys from Charle 1/9 were not killed or wounded. I absolutely refuse to watch the TV show “The Walking Dead” because to me it dishonors those who served with 1/9. And I am finally glad to hear that someone besides me has an extremely low opinion of “Full Metal Jacket”

  • @user-gunrx
    @user-gunrx 4 дні тому

    I had a good friend that was wounded in Operation Buffalo. We lost him to cancer a few years back. I’m thinking he was with Charlie 1/9 but may have been with Bravo. My Dad was with Charlie Motors (C/1/7) in 65/66. I served with the 3rd MAW as an armorer then transferred to Marine Security Battalion
    Bangor Sub Base Washington. ‘74/‘78. Semper Fi. Kevin

  • @RTWMC
    @RTWMC 10 днів тому +2

    "Wear anything ya want..." that's kool & that sorta says it all!!

  • @ypaulbrown
    @ypaulbrown 12 днів тому +3

    Great video

  • @robertpaulson6388
    @robertpaulson6388 11 днів тому +6

    Lance corporal mafia rules - Semper Fi

  • @jinyingjiang4628
    @jinyingjiang4628 5 днів тому

    God Bless you and your lost friends !

  • @Rickie-x2
    @Rickie-x2 12 днів тому +5

    My fav in the 70s were ham slices cooked with juices.

  • @MikeNel33and49
    @MikeNel33and49 6 днів тому

    He's right about junior ,DIs been some of the same places over there saw1/9 go up a hill as dark came the whole place blew up just off hi-way 9 mi from South bridge Rockpile!!!

  • @kennethprice5628
    @kennethprice5628 12 днів тому +8

    What kid EVER listens to Dad?😂😂😂

  • @rutrutbella600
    @rutrutbella600 11 днів тому +3

    Welcome home

  • @redwemette5942
    @redwemette5942 День тому

    What he couldn't explain was how we bonded

  • @PanSearedRibeye68
    @PanSearedRibeye68 3 години тому

    I’m sorry, but Full Metal Jacket was an excellent Vietnam movie! One of the most realistic! Just because they got the radio communications wrong doesn’t mean the movie was unrealistic. Stanley Kubrick was in the Nam!!!

  • @rutrutbella600
    @rutrutbella600 11 днів тому +3

    Brother 1st cav camp Carrol danny Williams

    • @GeorgeWilkie-x4g
      @GeorgeWilkie-x4g 9 днів тому

      1st Air Cavalry (Air Mobile) were outstanding Troops. They fought in most of the major battles throughout the Vietnam War. They were
      badass Warriors!

  • @xxxxxx-tq4mw
    @xxxxxx-tq4mw 9 днів тому +1

    Non filtered camels ? You didn’t smoke them, they smoked you.

  • @PanSearedRibeye68
    @PanSearedRibeye68 2 години тому

    The WWII veterans never really respected and welcomed the Vietnam veterans into their clubs. They couldn’t believe that they lost to a bunch of barefoot peasants.

  • @williamwilson9283
    @williamwilson9283 12 днів тому +3

    🇺🇸🤘🏾💯

  • @johnn.eropkin9895
    @johnn.eropkin9895 13 днів тому +15

    All heros treated badly by the left when they got back.

    • @paulacopeland8360
      @paulacopeland8360 12 днів тому

      Are you serious?????🤣

    • @GeorgeWilkie-x4g
      @GeorgeWilkie-x4g 9 днів тому +1

      As a Vietnam combat Veteran (US Army 505th PIR 82nd
      Airborne Division), my most sincere Thanks to You, Johnn, for Your very accurate Comment. Yes, the American Left-Wing attempted to portray American Vietnam Veterans as modern day Nazis. I'll never forget, or forgive the Leftists for doing this.

  • @Watchmasterfelix
    @Watchmasterfelix 13 днів тому +2

    Hey Mr wood

  • @coldc7
    @coldc7 10 днів тому

    Bad to the Bone on this dudes ringtone. Goddam right.