Scope and Contents

Less than one linear foot of correspondence, a biographical sketch, photographs and slides, books, and miscellaneous artifacts document Donald L. Swafford's USMC training and service from 1966 thru January 1970. Correspondence and images all date from his war service and describe Swafford's experiences during training with 3rd Battalion, Platoon 311, at the MCRD in San Diego, California, and his three tours of duty - thirty-six consecutive months - in Vietnam from July 1966-July 1969.

Biographical / Historical

Donald L. Swafford, Jr., 16 September 1945 (Levelland, Texas) - 29 October 2014 (Lubbock, Texas) joined the United States Marine Corps on 6 January 1966 at the age of nineteen. He completed boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) in San Diego, California and infantry training at Camp Pendleton, California. He received certification as an Occupational Specialty of Ammunition Technician and completed ammo school at Quantico, Virginia before going through a staging battalion at Camp Pendleton in preparation for Vietnam.

He arrived in Vietnam on 22 June 1966 and served in country for three tours - thirty-six consecutive months - with Force Logistics Support Unit #2 (FLSU-2), Ammunition Company. For three months (July-September 1966) he served in a replacement line company guarding the perimeter of Phu Bai, where he participated in Operation Hastings. In October 1966 he moved to Chu Lai Air Base, where he was with MABS-12 (Marine Air Base Squadron 12, assigned to Marine Air Group 12) at Chu Lai Air Base, working in the Bomb Dump from May-October 1967. In October 1967 he was assigned to Force Logistics Support Group-Bravo (FLSG-B), working first with Supply Company, Ammunition Platoon, and then with Logistic Support Unit #3 (LSU-3). He was promoted to Lance Corporal in October 1967.

Swafford was discharged honorably at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina on January 31, 1970. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (with 4 stars), Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and Navy Unit Commendation Medal. After the 1968 Tet Offensive, he volunteered to work with Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and was awarded the Commanding General's Letter of Commendation for his work in the recovery and disposal of hazardous ammunition.