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Doug Bower's Letter

In our continuing effort to piece together the history of the Interrogator Translator Teams, the Navy Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center (NMITC) has allowed "us" (MCITTA) to expand our display in the hallways at the Training Center. ONI and others have determined that NMITC should display historical items throughout the building. We basically have a whole "new" wall to display ITT memorabilia and historical items. I plan on putting up some of the photos sent to me by various people and the various ITT logos I have collected. Also, scanned copies and the originals of documents being entered into the USMC Archives.

The "centerpiece" is a photo of a flag representing significant ITT foreign involvements, and a series of 4"X8" frames with a write up below the flag describing the events. What I am looking for and will be required from the members of MCITTA to make this a reality, is information along the following time lines:

1959- I have the history of the 2d Composite ITT submitted by Jim East. His history along with the documents he sent and other references indicated that the 2d Composite ITT and the 2d Composite IT were stood up for deployment to Beirut, Lebanon. The 2d CIT went to Lebanon, but I don't know if the 2d CITT (or portions of) ever deployed?

1960-1961- 1st ITT stood up. Any significant deployments?

1963-1965- Looking for ITT Marines who may have served in the Caribbean— Haiti or DomRep?

1964-1975- Vietnam. Any and all information, photos, documents, etc., from this most important era of the ITTs. This was the zenith of ITT functioning.

1964- Capt Donald G. Cook sent to Vietnam. Do any ITT's arrive before/at this time as well?

1966- 9th ITT arrives Vietnam (Some History of 9thITT by Ron Bragdon)

1967- 11th ITT arrives Vietnam. At least nine ITT's had stood up prior to or during the Vietnam War (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 15th and 17th) How many ITT's actually served in Vietnam?

1970's- Besides Vietnam? What were the Teams doing in CONUS? Information on Mayaquez, Frequent Wind and other operations is needed.

1983- Beirut. Looking for any information or anyone who served with attached ITTs. I do have at least one source I can get a hold of, but would like some more.

1983- Grenada. Looking for anyone who served. I do have at least one source I can get a hold of, but would like some more.

1989- Panama. I have a few friends I can get hold of to provide some information, looking for more.

Looking for others in the 1980's in Central America, El Salvador

1991- Gulf War. I have a few contacts to provide some information, looking for more.

1992- Los Angeles Riots (A domestic "engagement"; however, significant as Spanish and Korean speakers from ITT's did deploy)

1993- Somalia. Personal experience here. Looking for more detail and other sources.

1994-1999- Haiti. Several sources, but always could use more

2001- Post Sept 11 deployments (CONUS)?

2002- Afghanistan. Have some sources. Looking for more information and sources.

Any other suggestions?

I want to add something on DOCEX, if anyone has some good materials/experiences? I have a few from the 1990's (personal experiences) and a few from Jim East and in the WWII history. Anyone else?

What I'm looking for are significant actions/operations that ITT performed and any developments made in the ITT field. I have all the KIA ITT and actions they died in, and that will be included as well.

Please forward all information, pictures, files, memorabilia etc., to the new Historian

Warren V. Smith
186 Partridgeberry Ln.
Swanzey, NH 03445-3707
Email: wvhistory@ne.rrcom
 

NMITC plans on instituting a similar display for the Counterintelligence field. For those of you who serve in both worlds (and sometimes they blur), if you possess any CI history material, I will receive it and forward it along to the POC for the CI display. This display will be in close proximity to that of the ITT.

Many thanks for your support and contributions. You are the ones who have the knowledge and information about our history. Let’s get into those old footlockers and make this a real testimony to our ITTs. Don’t let our contributions fade into unrecorded history.

Semper Fi,

Doug Brower