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On March 15,
1966, FLC was born of necessity. A new unit, its mission essentially the
arming, feeding, clothing and supplying of Marine forces scattered
throughout MR-1.
Eventually
headquartered at Camp Jay K. Books, the command was an integral part of
the Marine Corps air-ground team in Viet Nam.
After the
initial landing near Da Nang in March 1965, Marine strengths continued to
grow until two reinforced divisions and a reinforced aircraft wing,
comprising III MAF, were situated between Chu Lai and the DMZ. FLSG-A
supported the 3d MarDiv., and FLSG-B supporting 1st MarDiv.
Forces. Two FSUs operated at Dong Ha and Phu Bai.
Each support
element operated under various controlling headquarters, and support was
complicated at best. It was decided that one senior headquarters would be
established from elements of FLSG-A and FLSG-B to coordinate all support
activity. Thus FLC was born. The goal to be attained was effective,
efficient, sustained logistic support to III MAF forces including ROK and
other Free World Forces in MR-1, with self sustaining, balanced mobile
logistic support elements.
Redesignated
from FLSG, FLSG-A came into being March 15 1966. Its subordinate units
were charged with supporting 3d MarDiv. troops from Phu Bai to the DMZ
LSUs were established at Phu Bai, Dong Ha, Hue and Khe Sanh.
In early January 1969, the main body of FLSG-A
was moved from Phu Bai to Da Nang after turning over many of its combat
support bases to the Army. FLSG-A was redeployed to Okinawa and
deactivated on Nov. 7, 1969.
The 7th MT Bn.
Arrived in May 1965, with its command elements arriving in Chu Lai in
March 1966.
7th
Motors participated in numerous operations against enemy forces. Rough
Rider convoys ground out nearly 4.5 million miles through choking dust and
sucking mud to carry more than 945,000 tons of cargo to Americans and
their allies before redeploying to the U.S. in late February 1970.
Originally
headquartered in Chu Lai, FLSG-B was redesignated from FLSU-1 on March 15,
1966. Later it moved to Quang Tri where it became responsible for
providing logistic support to all Marine and Allied forces near the DMZ.
At the height of operations, FLSG-B supported more than 70,000 troops.
During its four
years-plus, FLSG-B established LSUs at Quang Tri, LZ Stud and embattled
Khe Sanh to maintain closer contact with combat units.
Late in 1969,
FLSG-B was moved from Quang Tri to Camp Books. It was deactivated Sept.
15, 1970, and was reactivated as 1st service Bn., 5th
MAG, at Camp Pendleton.
Supply, Bn. was
established within the FLC structure at Camp Books in February 1967, and
provided a most vital link in accomplishing the FLC mission.
The 7th
Separate Bulk Fuel Co. dispensed more than 76 million gallons of petroleum
products from fuel points through-out MR-1
Ration Co. was
charged with procuring and issuing food. Marines unable to visit messhalls
received close to 11 million Individual Combat Meals in just a 13-month
period alone.
EOD Marines
recovered over 449,00 deadly U.S. and enemy explosive items, disarming and
destroying 95,000 of them.
The battalions
ASPs #1 and #2 dispensed ordinance ranging from 5.56mm rounds for M-16
rifles to 175mm shells for artillery guns.
The bakery made
and distributed more than 12 million doughnuts and almost 23 million
pounds of bread.
The battalion’s
Retrograde Facility charged with the shipping of all classes of excess or
damaged gear to other commands, transferred hundreds of thousands of
measured tons of equipment.
Maint. Bn. Came
into being in February 1967, and was originally located at the Da Nang Air
Base until commitments grew too large and space too small. In 1969, repair
sections began moving to Camp Books.
At MTM Co., more
than 4,235 vehicles were repaired and returned to their parent
organizations. BSM Co., disbanded in July 1970, processed nearly 5,700
work requests on items ranging from typewriters to canvas. Comm/Elect
Maint. Co. had repaired more than 40,000 damaged items. Ord. Maint. Co.
had replaced more than 1,600 barrels on small arms and artillery guns in
addition to refinishing other pieces. Eng. Maint. Co. provided maintenance
support for three Force Eng. Bns., two Division Eng. Bns., and all
engineer equipment organic to III MAF. Over 8,000 work requests were
processed.
H&S Bn. was
formed in February 1967. Among its many duties, the transportation of
cargo in support of combat operations and regulating administrative
functions ranked high on the list.
While
transporting two million tons of cargo in support of 1st and 3d
MarDiv. Operations, Truck Co. ground out over 11 million miles.
Comm. Co, FLC’s
communications link with the world, handled 12 million transmissions, both
incoming and outgoing on their complex computerized transmitters.
Perhaps one of
the greatest achievements by U.S. personnel in relation to Civic Action
was the construction of the spacious, 120-bed Hoa Khahn Children’s
Hospital at Camp Books.
From a tent
facility, the hospital grew and prospered, providing in-patient and
out-patient medical treatment to thousands of children. Operation of the
hospital was turned over to WRC in June 1970. |
