CPL. PHILIP M PAGE

By: Ian Hutchinson&

Garrett Kelly

Before

Today

Personal

US Marine retired Partially deaf due to explosion inVietnam Has relative in Martin Luther King Was in 5 different divisions before

retirement Went to collage but stopped after 8

months

Divisions

3rd Battalion 1st Marines

1st Battalion 9th Marines

2nd Battalion 3rd Marines

Barstow Security Co.

4th Force Reconnaissance Company

3rd Battalion 1st Marines

Nick named the Thundering Third

Was in Vietnam from January 1966

To May 1971

1st Battalion 9th Marines

Nicknamed the Walking Dead

During Vietnam 1/9 had the

Highest casualty rate in Marine Corps

History

Out of 800 men only 51 men survived

2nd Battalion 3rd Marines

Infantry battalion in the USMC

Consisting of approximately 1000

Marines and sailors

Based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii

Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow

Main mission is to rebuild and repair

ground-combat and combat-support

equipment and to support installations on

the West Coast of the United States

4th Force Reconnaissance Company

Provided deep and amphibious

Reconnaissance support to 1st

Marine Expeditionary Brigade until the MEB

stood down from Hawaii in mid 1990s

Questions

Where were you born?

Midwest City, Southeast of Oklahoma City.

Where were you raised?

Riverside California and Mira Loma

Why did you pick the branch you were in?

I was already fascinated with it

Questions

Where were you first stationed?

Camp Pendleton

What was your MOS (Military Occupational

Service)

I always wanted infantry and I op-ed to be a Machine

gunner and ended with 3.5 Rocket launcher anti-tank

Questions

Did your MOS change during your time in

the military?

Yes in April 29, 1966 I changed to Marine Corp

Supply Center at Barstow Ca. Security Co.

HqBn. Military Police

Questions

Did you do anything special to get

through training?

They offered extra classes for people that

needed to catch up for Marines like me

Questions

Did you see any combat?

Upon arrival during our first year of

deployment in Viet Nam

Were you a POW

No

Questions

What were some of your more memorable experiences? How to impress your CO: Captain Welsh

coming back from the beach after some R&R while I was on my way of being drunk, fell out of the back of a truck and landed flat on my face close enough to the CO and as he bent down to help me up I jumped to my feet hitting the CO right into the chin and putting him on his back and as I laughed he gave me an ugly look and as I was walking away I saw him smiling.

Questions

Were you awarded medals or citations?

Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit

Commendation, Vietnam Civil Actions Unit

Citation, Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit

Citation and an individual award Gallantry

Cross with palm, Combat Action Ribbon

Questions

Did you carry or do anything special for

good luck?

My mother gave me the first addition of King

James Bible, pocket size that I kept wit me in

my pocket through the rest of my service

career, and to this day I still keep it with me

Questions

What did you do for entertainment?

Cards, bowling, golf, and going to the pistol

range sharpening my skills

Where did you travel during the service?

US, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Mexico,

Canada

Questions

After the service, did you go back to

school, work, or retire?

All three, first work, at the same time school

and at 63 years medically retired by the state.

Questions

How did the marine Corps affect your

life?

There was no use for a 3.5 rocket man nor 60

mortar men so I went to the Air Craft Industry

for 16 years.