Steve
Howsmon
(picture
courtesy of Brad Reynolds)
Steve
Howsmon, Mike 3/5
I
served with Mike 3/5 from Nov. '67 to June '68. I was with Weapons
(Rockets). My MOS was 0351/0311. I was WIA in TET. 3 purple
hearts. A
friend told me about the Mike
3/5 site, and I thought I would investigate. I was looking up
2 friends of mine who were killed. They were Ron Markel and Forrest
Bartram. I came across Brad Reynolds' name, and it just hit me. The
picture he posted of the Marine sitting on the cot is me (pictured
above). I was in Rockets with him. I was totally blown away when
I saw it. I recognized Marines he posted, but couldn't remember
the names.
I
also remember the picture of Brad (above) sitting on the cot with
the 3.5 next to him and the .45 in hand. I think I took that picture.
It's been 34 years. Semper fi, STEVE
(click
pictures to enlarge)
Approx. Dec. 1967-May
1968
2.
Marine on left is Me, Brad Reynolds, William C. Mitchell and Ron
Markel, Notes on back of picture read: Taken in Phu Bai in May I
think. Starting from the right is Ron Markel; he got killed May
18 on hill 1192. Next is Mitchell. He’s in Japan here
with me. Next is Reynolds. He got a big chunk torn out of his rear
end. He’s in the states now.
3.
I’m the tall guy without a shirt and wearing a hat in the back.
The Marine with the cigarette is Townsend. And the Marine with the
towel around his neck is Tkots. Rock Giambrocco has the bandaged
arm. Notes on back of the picture read: The funny looking guy with
the towel is Tkots. He’s always clowning around. He’s awaiting orders
too.
4.
Unknown location. The Marine on the left lying down is my squad
leader in rockets, Victor Sosa from Puerto Rico. I’m the other guy.
5.
Starting from the left is: Bobby Williams, Brad Reynolds, unknown
Marine with elbow bandage. Next unknown, Townsend, Victor Sosa,
unknown. Notes on back of picture read: Here are all my buddies.
Everyone here has 3 hearts except one guy. See Sosa (second
from the right). We just got done tearing down our tents, so we
could move them elsewhere.
1.
Unknown location. The short Marine with the goofy face is Tkots.
The marine 2nd row back 2nd guy is Townsend. Can’t remember the
others' names although they all look familiar. Notes on back
of picture read: More buddies. You can see by the wet utilities
that you sweat a lot just standing there.
2.Vietnamese
on trail, can’t remember what the operation might have been.
3.
Steve Howsmon (with tattoo of Mouse on arm) on the left. Marine
down in the bunker holding the board was in my rocket squad (can’t
remember his name) this was at Truoi. I have no idea who the 2nd
guy was handing off the board. Notes on back of picture read: Here’s
what it looked like when our bunker roof caved in. That’s my rack
under that wood box.
4.
Notes on back of picture read: I took this picture from that 70
ft. tower. You can see the Marines down there swimming naked. The
Sea Bees built that new bridge.
5.
Black & White Dog w/my camera case. This is a stray dog that
I became attached to. I named the dog MICHELLE she’s pulling the
strap to my camera case with the camera in the case. This was taken
around Truoi Bridge. Notes on back of picture read: That’s Michelle
(she had a sad ending).
1.
This is me on radio duty. My right leg is laying over one of the
tools of my trade. My parents sent the am/fm radio setting above
the military radio.
2.
Can’t remember the significance of this picture. No story.
3.
This is me in the forefront as other Marine gets a haircut. Unknown
location. Don’t remember who the two Marines are.
4.
The Marine with his back to us is Pfc. Mitchell. The only other
Marine I remember is the one with his shirt off facing the camera
behind the Marine with his hands over his knees, he was with Guns.
Can’t remember his name. Location unknown.
5.
This is me taking a nap. Unknown location.
1.
Picture too far away to tell who was in the picture. But I believe
Brad Reynolds is the second one in next to the Marine with the red
beret. He’s not wearing a shirt.
2.
This was taken at Truoi Bridge on Hwy 1. Notes on back of picture
read: I’m standing on top of our bunker after we finally finished
putting a top on it.
3.
Unknown Marines having a haircut. Location also unknown.
4.
This is me looking into the camera. Notes on back of picture read:
The guy on the right is Bobby Williams. He’s in my rocket squad
and he got shot in the left forearm when I told him to cover me
so I could move on closer down the hill. He’s a real nice
guy and I sure miss him. He’s still in Nam.
5.
I’m the guy with the short sleeves. The Marine on the left was in
my rocket squad, but I can’t remember his name.
1.
This is me (see the mouse tattoo on right arm) unknown location.
2.
I think this was a fishing village. Note kid in the dark clothes
smoking. And the other up front with the “Thumbs-Up”.
3.
I’m the one with the mustache. Can’t remember where this was taken.
Notes on back of picture read: Starting from left is Cpl. Long,
he’s in the states now, and next is Evans. I don’t know what happened
to him.
4.
This is me. Unknown location. Notes on the back of picture read:
Not much to do here, I was still waiting for orders, and I was bored.
5.
Unknown location. The Marine in the lower front of picture facing
the camera is Bobby Williams.
1.
Notes on back of picture read: The guy on the left is Townsend.
He’s waiting orders just like me. The guy on the right is
Jones. He’s back in the rear because he’s got bad ears caused
by a concussion grenade. He’s in rockets, too. Taken
at Phu Bai.
2.
Unknown location.
3.
I believe this is Phu Bai. Me with 3.5 rocket launcher. The flak
jacket I got from an Army personnel that was wounded, also another
Mike 3/5 Marine got a .45 pistol from the same Army personnel and
later accidentally shot his knee cap off. He had to be medivaced
out at night.
4.
The Marine on left is Brad Reynolds, the other two I can’t remember.
5.
Front row, the Marine holding the 3.5 rocket launcher is Ron Markel,
the middle crouching down is Forrest La Wayne Bartram. The Marine
right holding the rocket launcher is Victor Sosa. Back row left
is Steve Howsmon, middle is unknown, and last is I believe is L
Cpl. Hoying. Notes on back of picture read: The Marine crouched
down holding a rocket is dead. His name was Bartram. He was here
only a month. The Marine on the right holding the tube is Vic Sosa.
He’s my squad leader, and he’s the one who wrote Marion a letter.
By the way, that flag isn’t a VC flag, it’s just a southern Rebel
flag. It’s more or less a joke.
1.
This is me in front of the weapons hootch, Phu Bai I believe. Notes
on back of picture read: this was taken right after I got back from
the hospital. As you can see, there’s only a band-aid on my head.
2.
The Marine on the left is Ron Markel, he was in rockets and KIA
in May 68 during Operation HOUSTON II (Hill 1192). The Marine in
the middle is Victor Sosa, my rocket squad leader, and me on the
end.
3.
Me lying on a coat in our hootch. The Rebel flag hanging over my
head had some significance, but I can’t remember just what it was.
The “Jim Bowie” knife above me was sent to me by my parents. I always
carried it with me on operations. I guess I figured I needed it
in case I got into hand-to-hand combat. Thank God I never had to
use it.
4.
I believe this is in Phu Bai in our hootch, The Marine on the left
is me, the Marine in the middle is Frank Henderson, on the end is
Ron Markel. Notes on back of picture read: This is a new building
we got around February to sleep in. It’s an old sergeants quarters.
The fellow on the right is Ron Markel, the fellow in the middle
is Frank Henderson.
5.
The Marine in the back sitting on the rock with his back to the
camera is Brad Reynolds (he’s just below the Marine standing up
without a shirt).
1.
I believe this was in Phu Bai at our hooch. The Marine on the left
is Cpl. Pratchard and the Marine on the right is Frank Henderson.
Notes on back of picture read: The guy on the left is Pratchard.
He’s my section leader. He’s a corporal and he’s got 2 months left
over here.
2.
Unknown location. This is me, Steve Howsmon. Note the rebel flag
above. Notes on back of picture read: That’s the M-60 machine gun
sign. The drew it themselves.
3.
This is me, Steve Howsmon. Notes on back of picture read: I’m standing
on top of an old French trestle (the rails are gone).
4.
Picture taken at Truoi Bridge. Notes on back of picture read: How
do you like those clouds? It rained that day, too. The mountains
to the right of the picture and in the background is Freedom Hill
or Hill 327. This is where Bob Hope had his Xmas show.
5.
This is at Truoi bridge. The Marine on the left standing was in
our rocket squad, but I can’t remember his name. And the Marine
bent over, I believe, is Brad Reynolds. Notes on back of picture
read: We’re cleaning up our demolished bunker. Believe me that was
a job pulling those sandbags out and building a new roof.
6.
Notes on back of picture read: This is looking down the old French
train bridge. The gooks blew it up when the French were here.
It’s real interesting.
LCpl. Ronald Markel Memorial
page
Pfc. Forrest La Wayne Bartram
Memorial page
Operation ESSEX
Operation AUBURN
Operation HOUSTON
Operation HOUSTON II
Operation MAMELUKE THRUST
Mike 3/5 website
