3/3 RVN Ass’n  Vol  1  Issue 4    09/01/2005                                                                                                Page 8

From: John F. Brennan

Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2005 6:14 AM

To: Scott Muir

Subject: Sunrise Easter Sunday 2005

A remembrance of Colonel Joseph Muir

Commanding Officer 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines RVN 1965

Scott,

I am a 3/3 Marine from RVN 1965.   Doc Hoppy and Doc Hardin those intrepid "Grunt Hunter's " pulled me in a few months ago and even though I was a combat engineer attached to your dad's command and not a Grunt, they didn't throw me back.  I saw the picture of you and your mom in the 3/3 Marine RVN Newsletter.   I was very pleased to see that you all were at the reunion.  

Doc Hoppy called me on Palm Sunday and in the course of our conversation I told him a favorite remembrance that I have of your Dad.   Please take a minute to read the MS Word document attached to this email.

 

Also please know that this Marine fondly remembers your father.   Somehow Easter Sunday seems a very appropriate time to remember your dad and all our own who have preceded us into eternal life. 

Jack Brennan

1st Lt. 3rd Engineers

RVN 1965-66

“C4 MONKEY WRENCH” RVN 1965

Jack Brennan

03/26/2005

Forty years ago in Danang, Republic of Viet Nam seems long ago, far away, and at the same time like yesterday.   Doc Hoppy called me last Sunday morning and for a while I was that 23 almost 24 year old Marine from east Baltimore.   Because I had worked for Explosive Engineers in Texas, MD the Marine Corps decided that 1302 Combat Engineer was a good MOS for me.  I have no complaints.   My Combat Engineer training at Court House Bay, Camp LeJeune  had been completed in early December 1964 and my orders were for 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Engineer Battalion on Okinawa in January 1965.  Assigned to Charlie Co. 3rd. Engineers, 3rd Platoon our mission was to provide combat engineer support to the 3rd BN, 3rd Marines.  That put me in contact with 3/3’s Commanding Officer Colonel Muir. 

Even before we sent ashore at Chu Lai, but particularly in his staff meetings in Chu Lai, Colonel Muir always impressed me with his sharp mind, clear judgment, and leadership.  Occasionally in these meetings I got a question or could offer a comment about engineer support for the operation he was planning, perimeter defense, or similar matter.  It amazes me to this day, with what straightforward generosity, he interacted with me.  To say that I was “green” is no exaggeration.  Colonel Muir was a senior officer with full responsibility of the mission and the lives of his Marines in the 3/3 TAOR (Tactical Area of Responsibility).   He always made me feel that my engineers were a valued part of his command.  It was the kind of leadership that made you want to do anything necessary to get this man what he needed. 

Every Marine who served with him could draw from his strength and determination. 

This particular remembrance is important to me because it gives a glimpse of Colonel Muir’s humanity and sense of humor.  It may not even be noteworthy to anyone but me in comparison to 3/3’s victories and successes under the Colonel’s command in that first year of combat operations, but I hope it will give you also a glimpse of the Marine and the man.   

It was after 3/3 had moved north to DaNang.  On a hill south of DaNang there were some Tankers deployed with 3/3.   In the rear of the perimeter and coming up the slope of a hill one morning I saw an M-60 Tank with the crew working with hammers and pry bars to remove the end connector joining the out board ends of  two rods through two adjoining rubber track blocks on the tank’s tread.  

Combat Engineers use heavy equipment and it was not hard to appreciate the amount of work it was taking to beat and pry the end connectors off the two track bars.   As we passed the sweating Marine Tankers one of them stopped me and asked if I could blow the end connector off of the track block with C4 plastic explosive.   As strange as that sounds some “ole salt” had told at some point previously that this would work.   We had C4 and I had blasting caps in a wooden pocket box in my utility jacket.   The hill side was empty and no other Marines were in view so I figured “what the hell” I can do it.  

I packed the space between the end connector and the rubber track block with plastic explosive and wedged in a blasting cap crimped to with a 45 second length of fuse.  All present found a covered position.   I lit the fuse and retired to a shell crater some yards down the slope of the hill.  The explosion cracked through the morning air and the end connector took off for North Viet Nam.   Just about  the time I was thinking that this little enterprise had gone completely unnoticed by anyone but the Tankers and Engineers I heard a familiar voice over my right shoulder.   Turning towards the right I saw Colonel Muir and some of his staff moving up the hill behind us.   The Colonel was moving with his usual quick and deliberate gait.   It suddenly occurred to me that I was setting off high explosives on “his hill” and had not thought to get his “ok”.  

While I was starting to develop some “high anxiety”, he never slackened his pace. 

He gave me a look that told me this type of “high explosive tank maintenance” wasn’t anything he hadn’t seen before.  

Then he said in a clear and loud voice “See you are using a C4 Monkey Wrench Lieutenant. “  I answered with a quick and equally clear and loud “Yes Sir.”  In a few seconds he was out of site.   The tankers said thanks and hurried to get the track repaired.   We went on with our duties.   It was a few seconds in the demanding day of the 3/3 Commanding Officer but it meant the world to me. 

The Colonel’s memory has stayed with me for forty years.   It is a memory of leadership, courage, and inspiration.  It was my honor to serve with him and work for him.  

      

Semper Fi,   Jack Brennan

1stLt., 3rd Engineer.  Bn., “C” Co. 3rd Plt.

RVN 1965-66