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Subject: Vietnam War Marine Question
PuckaMan    4/16/2004 4:49:05 AM
G'day - Just a small question regarding the USMC in Vietnam.

The US Army Tour of duty was 12 months, while the Marines was 13 months, an rather ominous number. Can anyone tell me the reason for this? It's one of those small questions that is really hard to find an answer to.

Cheers,
Pucka
 
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TheGreyBeard    RE:Vietnam War Marine Question   5/4/2004 2:56:31 PM
I read that it was just Marine policy to do more than asked.
 
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taxigeorge    RE:Vietnam War Marine Question   5/18/2004 10:17:52 AM
In 1965 (1st visit to RVN) I went over to Okinawa by sea on the MSTS Matson, then flew to Danang. On my 2nd visit (Sept68-Oct69) I was offered an opportunity to return 2 weeks early if I would volunteer to comeback by ship rather than by air. IIRC I asked your very question to various Officers, and was told that Marines eravel by ship. The 13th month was factored in for travel to and from by MSTS (Military Sea Transport Service) ship. However, to the best of my knowledge less than 2% of the Marines who visited RVN acrually used MSTS.
 
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taxigeorge    RE:Vietnam War Marine Question   5/18/2004 10:23:06 AM
RE:Vietnam War Marine Question 5/18/2004 10:17:53 AM In 1965 (1st visit to RVN) I went over to Okinawa by sea on the MSTS Matson, then flew to Danang. On my 2nd visit (Sept68-Oct69) I was offered an opportunity to return 2 weeks early if I would volunteer to comeback by ship rather than by air. IIRC I asked your very question to various Officers, and was told that Marines eravel by ship. The 13th month was factored in for travel to and from by MSTS (Military Sea Transport Service) ship. However, to the best of my knowledge less than 2% of the Marines who visited RVN actually used MSTS.
 
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brandi    Butch in Washington St.   7/17/2007 7:01:22 PM
 
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brandi    Butch in Washington St.   7/17/2007 7:07:08 PM
The reason that Marines spent 13 months in the Nam was due to Marine Gen. Lewis Walt. When Walt found out that the Army was going to do 12 month tours, he said " If thats all the Army can handle, my Marines will do 13 months". That is truth, I was  a MSG in Mexico City when he visited and told us that story.
 
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