From the Desk of the President—
a bio from John L. Scaduto
I was born in 1944 and raised on the Italian West Side of Buffalo, New York. I joined the USMC in September of 1962 on the four month Delayed Enlistment Pro-gram. The Cuban Crisis was in October of 1962. The Marine Corp Re-cruiter informed me that my "Delayed Pro-gram" might be cut short... But as it turned out the Cuban Crisis ended, and I left for Par-ris Island on January 9th, 1963.
I graduated from Parris Island, SC in April of 1963. Out of 70 Marine Recruits I was in the top 10% of my class be-ing the longest lasting Squad Leader through Boot Camp and I received my Private 1st Class stripe.
After Advanced Infantry Training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, I was sent to Camp Pendleton, California where I joined 1st platoon, India Co, 3rd Battalion Landing Team, 1st Marine Regiment, and became the Automatic Rifleman for our Fire Team. After another 6 months of "humping hills" in California and further Infantry Train-ing, I was sent to Camp Schwab, Okinawa with Alpha Company 1st BLT, 3rd Marines.
Our training consisted of "humping" through the jungles of Okinawa, the Philip-pines, Survival Training, Formosa Assault Training, Counter Guerilla Training, and Cold Weather Training on MT-Fuji , Japan.
On November 23rd 1963 we were handed live ammo for our M-14 Rifles and instructed to start digging 2-man fox holes around the camp because President Kennedy had been assassinated and the U.S. thought it might be the start of a war with Russia. After more "Jungle Training" we were sent back to Okinawa, when on August 2nd, 1964 we were mounted out to ships in the Harbor, with no one having any information or knowledge on where we were headed.
Later we found out we were in the South China Sea, at a place called the Gulf of Tonkin. Looking off the Bow of the ship, into the horizon, we saw a land mass. The Sail-ors' told us it was called...French Indochina. We still did-n't know why we were there. Our Company Commander took out a small patrol and was wounded in "the Buttocks". He was one of the first Marines to receive a Purple Heart in 1964 After 44 days aboard that hot, stinky, cramped APA (Amphibious Attack Transport Ship)
In September 1964 we went back to the "Rock" (Okinawa) and got ready to return to Camp Pend-leton, California. In November 1964, we returned and our new Battalion was India Co. 3rd BLT 7th Marine and we "humped" more hills in California. In December 1964 I was promoted to Fire Team leader.
After my promotion, our Platoon helped to set up the first Counter Guerrilla Warfare School at Camp Pend-leton, California. After Guerrilla Warfare the Marine Corps decided to re-establish the "Marine Raiders"
Our Company was chosen to start training as a Raider Company. We started our training with rubber boats in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. We were later sent to train with submarines in the waters of Ha-waii when I became a Scout Swimmer. During our "Raid Training" we were informed that a "successful" Raid could result in 90% casualties. They stopped training us as "Raiders" because of a place called Vietnam and sent us back to Camp Pendleton, California.
In April 1965, we were told to get ready to go back to that place we called French Indochina. All Marines that were 0311 grunts with 3 BLT 7th Marines who had more than a year left on active duty were going to Vietnam. I had less than a year left on active duty so I thought I got lucky and wouldn't have to go. My luck didn't last long because the Marine Corp came out with an involuntary extension for 6 months. I was lucky again in a way because most of us had been together for about two years, and we were very well trained as a Unit. On the other hand we weren't so lucky not having enough up to date equipment. Most of the equipment being from the Korean War and World War ll.
Operation Starlite August 1965: I was a Squad Leader with 1st Platoon India Co. 3rd BLT 7th Marines and we relieved Hotel Co. 2nd BLT 4th Marines after they took on heavy casualties. (2/4 had the first 2 Medal of Honor re-cipients...one Posthumous in 1965).
The 3rd BLT 7th Marines made the first Vietnam helicop-ter assault off the LPH Iwo Jima. After Operation Starlite, we were sent to Chu Lai and became Gulf Co. 2nd BLT 4th Marines and made 4 more major Operations. We never had enough equipment or replacements.
Additional Combat History:
1 July 1965-- 20 July 65: Defense of US Military Complex Qui Nhon 1
8 Aug 1965--24 Aug.65: Search and Destroy Mission at
7 Sept 1965-- 11Sept. 65: Operation Piranha
14 Dec 1965---18 Dec. 65: Operation Harvest Moon
26 Jan 1965---2 Feb. 65: Operation Double Eagle Bong Son
Awards and Ribbons: Combat Action Ribbon, 2 Presiden-tial Unit Citations. First and Third Marine Divisions. Navy Unit Commendation with Ribbon Bar, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Returning to civilian life, I retired after 43 years in the Restaurant, Hotel and Casino Industry.
A more detailed bio will be published later as Part II.
