History



The History of the VVHP


The "Vietnam Veterans Home Page" is the vision and creation of Bill McBride ... Career Marine, Lt. Col. Ret., 3rd Recon Bn, in country '67-'68.

Bill started the "VVHP" on a machine in his office at SwRI in San Antonio, Texas, in the summer of 1994. The Page was officially opened that same year on Veteran's Day, November 11. This Site was then known as "grunt" at "http://www.vietvet.org/" and is Bill's tribute to the Warriors of this War. In 2001, the "grunt" Site was moved to and renamed "vets":

http://vets.appliedphysics.swri.edu/

The VVHP grew so fast, with so many contributions of stories, poems, maps, and images coming in worldwide, that Bill soon needed help. He "recruited" some of us "regulars" as Squad Leaders -- one for each main section to handle the email of that section and format the material sent to us for publication. Bill called us the VVHP "Platoon;" he is our "CO."

  • The First Squad, "How This Home Page Started," is run by Sally Griffis, whose Marine husband was KIA on his second tour in Nam.

  • Second Squad, "A Visit to Vietnam," is run by Nam Vet John Rossie (JR), Navy.

  • Third Squad Leader, for "Remembrance," is me...the civilian grunt around here. I also take notices for the VVHP "Marquee."

    I'm assisted in "Remembrance" by Roger Herrick, civilian, whose brother is still MIA in Laos -- Air Force pilot, Captain James Herrick ... his plane went down in '69.

  • The Fourth Squad Leader, for "Veterans Organizations and Support Groups," is Mike Hopkins, Nam Vet, lst (Big Red One -- BRO) and 9th Infantries, Arty.

    Mike is assisted by Nam Vet Bill Crumlett, Army.

  • Fifth Squad, "The PX," is run by Nam Vet Steve Robbins, Navy, who is assisted by JR.

"Vet. Orgs...." was first run by Dennis Koho, civilian, whose brother, a Marine FO, was KIA in Nam. Keith Brown, Air Force in Nam, took over from Dennis and preceded Mike. We lost Keith to a heart attack in August of 1997.

The VVHP soon became a worldwide "community" where Vietnam Veterans and their family members and friends can tell it like it was and is. According to our feedback from the Vets and others, the Page has also become a healing place ... a "voice" for the Warriors and their families, after so many years of "stuffing" their experiences and pain ... and a real "WELCOME HOME," after that nonwelcome they received so many years ago.

A "PTSD 101" forum, led by Patience Mason, was created to aid this "voice" in healing and to offer help in understanding why Vietnam Veterans act the way they do and what to do about it.

Teachers and students write to us often to use the resources of the VVHP in their classes and as part of the references in their projects, from grade school to doctorate thesis to research. The Page has also become a resource and learning tool, where interviews with the Veterans, firsthand, are frequently requested.

Because the volume of student, teacher, and other requests for interviews and information has grown so large, a "Vietnam War Interview Forum" has been created with Veteran and civilian volunteers, who served or lived in country. It can be accessed at:

http://vets.appliedphysics.swri.edu/interviews/index.htm

A "History of the Vietnam War 101" discusson forum on the history of the War in Vietnam was also created to handle the volume of email requests for this subject. It is found at:

http://vets.appliedphysics.swri.edu/vn101/index.htm

Our three Resident Historians are:

Dr. Bob Blackburn,
Dr. Edwin Moise, and
Dr. Dale Wilson

The VVHP began to have so many viewers worldwide that a second machine became necessary to handle the load. This was set up in Memphis, Tennessee, at FedEx. That's our "vietvet" Site at:

http://www.vietvet.org/

As time passed, the VVHP also grew into a worldwide "Family" of contributors and volunteers, who keep in touch by email, land mail, phone, and in person at designated gatherings across the country and around the world. When a "call" comes to us for support or information or just the need to chat from this VVHP "Family" or any of our viewers, the Family email "List" is notified for whatever we can do.

The contingent from Down Under on our mailing Lists ... the Aussies and KIWIs ... is growing fast. The "Yanks" and the "Mates" are having a renewed camaraderie.

The VVHP now has a MIDI-Music Gallery called "Gooood Morning, Vietnam!!!" in the "Remembrance" main section, put together by the "Three Stooges:" Moe (Steve Robbins), Curley (Skip Dempsey), and Larry (Deanna Shlee Hopkins), with the wonderful assistance of the "Fourth Stooge," Shemp (Ray Argabright).

As you can see, we are a diverse group, coming from many places and perspectives on the War, but with a common goal and purpose. The ever-growing Platoon comes from a lot of different States; but, through the wonder of technology, we can work together for the Sites and for our Veterans and their family members and friends.

The VVHP is the project of Bill McBride. I'm honored to be a part of it.

Hugs,
Deanna (aka "ED")
EDitor
VVHP

Revised 04-11-2002 by DGSH


Generic Names of Military Areas
in Southeast Asia (SEA)


INTRODUCTION

This is a List of generic, mostly English names for areas found in SEA. You'll understand when you start to read it. With the names is a short description of where that place or area can be located. I worked this up because I know that there's a lot of us former vets who operated in areas or who heard of areas that they could never find on a map.

I know that this List is NO WAY complete. (I've even listed a few places I KNOW existed but don't have precise enough info to tell people where they can be found.) I'm hoping that others viewing this can either make contributions or know of people who can. If there is anyone that wants to make an addition to the List or a correction, please drop me a line at:

Dr. Robert M. Blackburn
Platoon Historian
"History of the Vietnam War 101" Gallery
Vietnam Veterans Home Page


Angel's Wing -
Name for the small bulge of the Cambodian border into South Vietnam along the northern part of the Parrot's Beak.

Annam -
French name for one of the three (with Tonkin and Cochin China) major regions of Vietnam. Composed of the area from Cambodia and Laos on the west and the South China Sea on the east and south of the 17th parallel.

Antenna Valley -
Area located about six miles south of An Hoa City in Quang Nam Province.

Arizona Territory -
An area north of An Hoa City between the Vu Gia and the Thu Bon Rivers in Quang Nam Province.

A Shau Valley -
Located in the southwestern part of Thua Thien Province along the route of the Rao Loa River.

Boi Loi Woods -
Wooded area northeast of Chu Chi City in Hau Nghia Province.

Central Highlands -
A mountainous area running from, approximately, Ban Me Thuot, in Darlac Province, north to Kontum Province and the southern border of I Corps.

Charlie Ridge -
A low ridge area west of Da Nang City in Quang Nam Province.

China Beach -

Cochin China -
French name for one of the three (with Tonkin and Annam) major regions of Vietnam. Composed of the six most southern provinces of South Vietnam.

Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) -
A five-mile wide area which ranged from the Song Ben Hai River to the Bo Ho Su Hamlet, then in a straight line to the Laotian border. Usually considered to be the 17th parallel.

Dixie Station -
The reference point for all of the U.S. Navy's Task Force 77 operations in 1965 and 1966. Located at 11=B0N 110=B0E.

Dodge City -
Area of military operations located ten miles south of Da Nang City and bounded by the Ky Lam River, the lesser La Tho River, and Highway 1.

Fishhook -
A geographical region in Cambodia, approximately 50 miles from Saigon. Usually considered to be the area of Cambodia that is bounded by the South Vietnamese Provinces of Kien Tuong, Hau Ngha, and Tay Ninh.

Golf Course -
Nickname for the original base camp for the 1st Cavalry Division, located just north of An Khe City.

Hai Van Pass -
Located on the boundary between Thua Tien and Quang Nam Provinces.

Hamburger Hill -
Ap Bia Mountain located to the northwest of the A Shau Valley.

Happy Valley -

Hill of Angels -
The area in and around Con Thien in Thua Thien Province.

Ho Bo Woods -

Hong Kong Mountain -
A low mountain located near An Khe City. Used as a training area for the new, in-country recruits of the 1st Cavalry Division.

I Corps Tactical Zone -
The most northern military district in South Vietnam, consisting of the Provinces of Quang Tri, Thua Thien, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, and the island of Cu Lao Re.

II Corps Tactical Zone -
The most central military region of South Vietnam, consisting of the Provinces of Kontum, Pleiku, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Phu Bon Darlac, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Lam Dong, Quang Duc, and Tuyen Duc.

III Corps Tactical Zone -
The military region surrounding the capital of Saigon, consisting of the Provinces of Tay Ninh, Binh Long, Phuoc Long, Long Khanh, Binh Tuy, Phuoc Tuy, Bien Hoa, Binh Duong, Hau Nghia, Long An, and Gia Dinh.

IV Corps Tactical Zone -
The most southern military region of South Vietnam which consisted of the Provinces of Kien Tuong, Kien Phong, Chau Doc, An Giang, Sa Dec, Vinh Long, Kien Hoa, Dinh Tuong, Go Cong, Vinh Binh Binh, Ba Xuyen, Bac Lieu, An Xuyen, Chuong Thien, Kien Giang, Phong Ding, and the islands of Con Son and Dao Phu Quoc.

Indian Territory -
Any area controlled by the enemy. Term was used by all military units operating in Vietnam.

Iron Triangle -
A 125-square-mile area located 25 miles northwest of Saigon. Bounded by the Saigon River, the Song Thi Thinh River north of Bien Hoa, and the Than Dien Forest in Binh Duong Province.

Leatherneck Square -
A region in Quang Tri Province bounded by the villages of Dong Ha, Gio Linh, Con Thien, and Cam Lo.

Li Minh Forest -
An area in the northeastern region of An Xuyen Province.

McNamara's Wall -
A planned, 25-mile-long "fire break" area along the DMZ which was to consist of cleared ground, mines, barbed wire, acoustic sensors, and infrared intrusion detectors. Work began on it in April 1967, but it was never completed.

Marble Mountain -

Michelin Rubber Plantation -
The largest rubber plantation in South Vietnam. Located in Binh Duong Province.

Monkey Mountain -

Mu Gia Pass -
Located in Quang Binh Province and part of the Truong Son Mountain Range.

Mutter's Ridge -

Newport -
A U.S.-built port facility outside Saigon to help relieve the shipping congestion in the other ports of Cam Rahn Bay, Da Nang, and Qui Nhon.

Parrot's Beak -
The area of Cambodia that juts into South Vietnam west of Saigon and north of the Mekong River. Part of the Fishhook Area.

Pinkville -
A section of the Batangan Peninsula known for its many enemy controlled hamlets.

Plain of Reeds -
A flat, treeless area mostly within the Provinces of Kien Phong and Kien Tuong, but also consisting of parts of the Provinces of Dinh Tuong, Long An, and Hau Nghia.

Rock Island East -
A large supply depot area located northeast of the Fish Hook area in Cambodia. Discovered during the Cambodian Invasion.

Rockpile -
A small mountain located 16 miles west of Dong Ha and about 10 miles from the southern boundary of the DMZ.

Rung Sat Special Operations Zone -
An area between the Saigon and Dong Nai Rivers in the Mekong Delta.

Seven Mountains -
An area in the southwestern areas of Chau Doc Province.

Sihanouk Trail -
Communist supply lines into South Vietnam that stretched from the Cambodian port of Kompong Son to the area just north of the Fish Hook. This trail supplied the southern part of South Vietnam and complimented the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Street Without Joy -
The area along Highway 1 that ran from Quang Tri City to the DMZ. Named after the book of the same title by Bernard Fall.

The City -
A hugh bunker and supply complex discovered during the Cambodian Invasion located in the jungles outside Snoul, Cambodia.

Tonkin -
French name for one of the three (with Annam and Cochin China) major regions of Vietnam. Composed of the area from the 17th parallel north to the border with China.

War Zone C -
Major Viet Cong guerrilla area north of Saigon. Bordered by Cambodia on the west and containing the western half of Binh Long Province and the northwestern quarter of Binh Duong Province.

War Zone D -
Major Viet Cong guerrilla area north of Saigon. Located to the east of War Zone C, including the northwestern portion of Binh Duong Province, the northeastern portion of Bien Hoa Province, the southern portion of Phuoc Long Province, and the northern portion of Long Khanh Province.

Wonder Beach -

Yankee Station -
The staging area used by the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet Attack Carrier Striking Force (Task Force 77) from 1966 to the end of the war. Located at 17=B030'N 108=B030'E in the South China Sea.

Revised 05-04-1999 by DGSH


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