Com-Central.net

Here some pixs I found for dontos.

Thanks Lil J

The bottom 3 are of the APG Prototype Ontos taken several years ago

The top few are from 'wartanks.com' whose is in the process of producing a 'die-cast' Ontos. (hopefully available soon....)

Here are a few good Ontos related sites. For those interested...

MSN Ontos VET Website

Homestead Ontos VET Website

....And, of course My Ontos History Site:
Ontos History Website

Pardon the shameless promotion....

Don

Ya..well almost right on the history of 3rd AT Bn.
1. "C" company 3rd AT Bn home was MCAS Kaneohe Hawaii as part of the 3rd Marine Corps brigade, it was a two year duty station for single marines and a three year station for married with dependents marines.
2. The Brigade boarded ships in Pearl Harbor on Feb 12th 1965 and sailed for Okinawa on Feb 18, 12 days later they landed (the troops had been told they going to California..however even dumb marine know were the sun sets and rises. ( the dependents were told the same story).
3. On Apr 10th the 3rd plt "C" company boared ship at White Beach Okinawa as a element of BLT (Bn landing team) 3/4.
On Apr 15 , 1965 the BLT landed at Hue city South Veitnam (because the imbrication officer failed to "combat load" the small arms ammo each Marine was issued seven (7) rounds of ammo for his M14 rifle from the ships ready lockers for the landing), the BLT moved to Phu Bai airfield area.
In June 3rd plt "C" company became 3rd plt "B" company and that is why the official Marine Corps history list both 3rd pltoon "C" company and 3rd pltoon "B" as supporting 3rd Bn 4th Marines in 1965...they were one and the same pltoon..and this is the first Marine unit to lose an Ontos in combat (June 16th 1965).
Oh ya..I was at "Frenchy" Bousquet's wedding in 64, he was still a newlywed at the time of his death.

- oldtop

Ya..well almost right on the history of 3rd AT Bn.
1. "C" company 3rd AT Bn home was MCAS Kaneohe Hawaii as part of the 3rd Marine Corps brigade, it was a two year duty station for single marines and a three year station for married with dependents marines.
2. The Brigade boarded ships in Pearl Harbor on Feb 12th 1965 and sailed for Okinawa on Feb 18, 12 days later they landed (the troops had been told they going to California..however even dumb marine know were the sun sets and rises. ( the dependents were told the same story).
3. On Apr 10th the 3rd plt "C" company boared ship at White Beach Okinawa as a element of BLT (Bn landing team) 3/4.
On Apr 15 , 1965 the BLT landed at Hue city South Veitnam (because the imbrication officer failed to "combat load" the small arms ammo each Marine was issued seven (7) rounds of ammo for his M14 rifle from the ships ready lockers for the landing), the BLT moved to Phu Bai airfield area.
In June 3rd plt "C" company became 3rd plt "B" company and that is why the official Marine Corps history list both 3rd pltoon "C" company and 3rd pltoon "B" as supporting 3rd Bn 4th Marines in 1965...they were one and the same pltoon..and this is the first Marine unit to lose an Ontos in combat (June 16th 1965).
Oh ya..I was at "Frenchy" Bousquet's wedding in 64, he was still a newlywed at the time of his death.

Thanks for the 'first hand' info. Its always nice to learn from 'those who were there...'

Don

Poor Lt Terry, it took years for him to "finger out" why the menbers of that plt appeared on both company rosters (C and B) man for man the same, We were basicly the lost plt. If you notice on the Ontos web pages you won't see a word other than there was a plt at Phu-bai...some day when you have time I'll tell you the very strange and bazar story of the Ontos plt, you won't believe it.