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Hi, Fred: 29Dec

A few years ago I came across the Web site and – more specifically – some commentary by John Gillespie about CAP 113 and CAP 114 pictures. I corresponded with John then, and I have recently renewed the contact both by email and phone. At that time I also joined your fine association, sent in my $, and put my bio and email contact info into the hopper. When I went back to look this year, though, all mention of me had disappeared. I figured my membership must have run out, although I thought I remembered paying the lifetime fee.

Anyway, here it is again. I arrived in-country during the Tet Offensive and was assigned to the CAG while Colonel Day was still the CO (Lt Col Pearson relieved him shortly thereafter). After initially being assigned as S-2 and S-3 for about a week I talked myself into temporary command of CACO Lima in Bin Son, south of Chu Lai. After a couple of weeks there, I was re-assigned to command CACO 1-1, replacing Bill Kent, who went back to CAG HQ. Initially I worked off of India Hill (1-1-3) Just after I arrived we changed designators from letters (INDIA) to numbers (1-1, etc). Jake Gibbs was the CAP leader at 1-1-1, a big moose of a Sergeant was 1-2 when I got there, but he rotated and was replaced by SGT Bines, a balding, quiet, professional guy. 1-1-3 was led by “Pappy” Kinkaid, and you, no doubt, know more than I do about him. Pappy and I had our run-ins, and he was not the most aggressive guy in the Corps, but he was a reasonably savvy NCO. His replacement, just before I left, was a nut-case that I had to relieve and send back to the rear (I cannot remember his name, but he spent his nights firing bloopers randomly over the wire and claiming you were about to be overrun). I set in 1-1-4 with John Gillespie and worked out of there until he was all settled, then moved my CP to the airstrip with the Mobile Training Team, led by SGT Gandy. My Company Gunny was the (legendary) SSGT John C Butler, a baby-faced killer who really enjoyed combat and was better at it than most. In the summer I was re-assigned to 1^st Marine Division, where I commanded India, 3/7.

Here’s a PS. 12 years later I was in San Antonio TX on business and I looked up Jim Jesse, who had been the Army Major advising the Tam Ky District Chief, Dai Wi Loc. When I got to his house, there was Loc himself. He and part of his family had E&E’d all the way from Tam Key to Saigon and then escaped as Boat People. Jesse had searched all the refugee camps until he found him, and had set him up in San Antonio. After just a few years, Loc and his family were running a successful business and going to college.

As I said the first time I submitted my info, I recognized then, and even more so since, that you guys were the most extraordinary of young men. Stuck out in the middle of nowhere with very little training, support or guidance, you had to be commandos, diplomats, community activists, spies and cross-cultural specialists. And you were – making the CAP program the single big success of the war. It was an honor to know you and be a small part of your efforts.

I will be glad to join and pay-up again. Please get in touch.

I wish you and all my former comrades-in-arms a very happy holiday season, and hope that our successors in Iraq will have the same.

Semper Fi

Jim

James G. McDonough

1067 Via Impresso

Newbury Park CA 91320

jgmcdonough@adelphia.net