A Broad View by Jerry Hogan: Humor in Uniform

Rockwall County, TX (January 5, 2026) – I wrote this article about 15 years ago and more than one person has asked that it be repeated. Since it’s better to start the new year with a little humor, see what you think about the perils of this Marine unit in Vietnam a long time ago.

This story was told by a Marine Lieutenant by the name of Harry Hooper. It just shows that even though one can be in combat, there is still “Humor in Uniform”.

In mid-September of 1966 Hooper was ordered to an observation post in Vietnam called the Crow’s Nest. It was on top of Marble Mountain in South Vietnam just South of the airstrip in Danang. The mission of the Crow’s Nest was to protect the airstrip and to keep Viet Cong from damaging the air-conditioned trailers of the aviators and the barracks by firing rockets or motors at them. This mission was to be accomplished by calling artillery fire on any enemy who had the guts to attack the airbase.

Marble Mountain was several spindly shafts of rock that was several miles from Danang. The highest rose 105 meters straight out of the sand just west of the China Sea and it was upon this rock where the Crow’s Nest was located.

The mountain was mostly made of marble but turned to limestone nearer the top.

The entire mountain was full of caves and tunnels. Most were too small for a man to enter. If it could be split, it would resemble termite-eaten wood.

At the summit there was an area which was 20 feet at its widest and in length about 150 feet. This was occupied by a wooden platform upon which was placed a 106-millimeter recoilless rifle.

The plan was anytime the enemy fired rockets at the airstrip, they would be engaged immediately by the 106, and the Forward Observer, Lieutenant Hooper, would send a fire mission to an artillery battalion which would then blast the offending Viet Cong into rubble.

Life on the Crow’s Nest was not unpleasant. There were 8 Marines there and the days were spent eating, drinking beer, smoking cigarettes, and listening to a tape player which had a single Beatles tape.

One of the problems with 8 Marines on a small piece of real estate was that of field sanitation. This had been temporarily solved by placing a 106-ammo box with an appropriate hole cut into it, over a shaft in the limestone which was at least 12-15 feet straight down.

When consuming C-Rations accompanied by beer, the digestive system generated waste that was deposited audibly into the latrine pit.  In time, the Crow’s Nest, especially at night, became redolent of sewage. Lieutenant Hooper, as a brand-new 2nd Lieutenant, resolved to solve that problem.

He contacted the supply people by radio and requested gasoline so that the offending matter could be incinerated. The supply helicopter finally arrived with its cargo net containing 4 cans of diesel fuel.

As soon as the cans were unloaded, the ammo box was removed from the hole, and 20 gallons of diesel fuel was poured into the pit.  With great anticipation, a match was thrown in…and nothing happened! More matches were lit and thrown, but to no avail. The diesel fuel would not light.

The disappointment was obvious. The air officer was called, and he explained that the helicopters did not like to carry gasoline cans because a spark could cause them to explode while being carried and thus one helicopter, with its crew, would be destroyed.

After considerable debate, and insisting it was a troop welfare issue, the pilot agreed to retry using gasoline.

Next week the helicopter arrived with 25 gallons of gasoline which, when poured in, mingled with the diesel fuel which had pooled from the previous week’s effort.

It was late afternoon. The sea breeze wafted in from the South China Sea rustling the hairs on everyone’s heads which were already tinged with excitement.

Rather than a match, an illumination grenade was to be tossed into the hole. A volunteer agreed to do the deed and pulled the pin on the grenade. The device was thrown in the hole.

Dead silence. Then the mountain began to shudder, and then to vibrate, and then a loud roar split the silence of the afternoon. Flame burst from the mouth of the pit like a mighty tongue, and to everyone’s amazement, additional blasts roared from the sides of the mountain like fumaroles on the cone of an erupting volcano. It was Vesuvius, Krakatau, and Pinatubo rolled into one!

The radio immediately cracked to life with Battalion Headquarters located some miles away wanting to know the nature of the calamity. Flame and Smoke, they stated was coming everywhere from the mountain. They demanded information as to what was going on.

It was quickly reported that the site was safe and they were just doing a little house cleaning and field sanitation.

The air smelled of burning petroleum products. By dusk the fire was out and the opening was once more sporting the ammo box with the hole in it.

Just one more “Humor in Uniform” even in the middle of the Vietnam War some almost 60 years ago.