Joe Henebury rarely, if ever, spoke of his combat experiences during Operation Harvest Moon — or any other details from his time serving in the Vietnam War.
A few years ago, however, after his young grandson asked whether he’d done anything important in his life, the Purple Heart and Silver Star recipient decided it was time to share his story. But even then, he didn’t go into graphic details about what he went through during Operation Harvest Moon, which is marking its 59th anniversary this month.
The lifelong Belmont resident served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1964 to 1968, enlisting at age 20. He served overseas in Vietnam and at the Charlestown Navy Yard’s Marine Barracks. When he returned to his beloved hometown after several brutal years in Vietnam, he decided not to dwell on what happened during the war.
His father, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, never talked about his war experiences.
“And then I never did,” said Henebury. “It was kind of taboo. You just get on with your life — at least that’s the way he [his father] operated.”
He said his philosophy was to “never bring your pain and suffering home to your family.”
When he returned home after serving in Vietnam, he married his “Belmont Belle” Patricia and had three daughters. Although an article was written about him and his heroism years ago, he never discussed his experiences or awards with his family.
“I left that behind and started my life,” he said.
Henebury said he didn’t talk about Operation Harvest Moon until his grandson asked years later.
Described as “the largest combined operation between Marine units and the South Vietnamese military,” according to the Marine Corps University, historians determined “at least 407 Viet Cong were killed during Operation Harvest Moon [Dec. 8-20, 1965]. The South Vietnamese Army’s losses were 108 killed in action and Marine losses were 56 killed in action.”
At the time, Henebury was a lance corporal with L-3-3 (Lima Company, third battalion, third Marine regiment). He recalled when 300 to 400 North Vietnamese soldiers and Viet Cong fighters ambushed his company, made up of 120 Marines, surrounding them on three sides.
“During the battle, a helicopter gunship … came in to provide us support because we were getting torn up,” Henebury said. “A sniper killed the [U.S.] pilot, and the helicopter crashed in the middle of this rice paddy. … I went out with some other Marines to get the crew out of the burning helicopter.”
Running out of ammunition, Henebury saw that the helicopter was filled with ammunition and two machine guns.
“For us to survive, I needed to get the machine guns and the ammunition,” he said.
Knowing there was no choice, he went into the burning helicopter to retrieve the essential arms he and his fellow troops needed.
“I got flame burns,” after rushing inside, he said. To make matters worse, jet fuel leaked from the helicopter into the rice paddy, where it crashed.
“As I’m going back and forth, I’m getting chemical burns,” said Henebury. “That’s why I don’t have pretty legs.”
Three days later, he couldn’t march anymore, he said. Henebury was evacuated by helicopter to a tent hospital where “they realized that I needed much more work to be repaired.”
Taken to Guam, he was treated for second- and third-degree burns and given skin grafts. A mere three-and-a-half weeks later, Henebury’s superiors said he had to return to Vietnam.
“You just go back. You’re in the Marine Corps,” he said matter-of-factly.
At the time, Henebury did not give details to his family about what had happened – just that he had to return.
Two other men from Henebury’s company were sent to Guam to recuperate, and all three went back to Vietnam on Jan. 2, 1966. However, while in Guam, three of the key members of his company were so severely wounded they were sent back to the U.S.
With a shortage of men from his original group, Henebury had to train recruits who complained about the monsoons, mosquitoes, and other woes in the country. He soon told them they would get to leave Vietnam in one of three ways: standing up, on a stretcher, or in a body bag, unlike their Vietnamese counterparts who would remain and likely die in the war-torn country. The U.S. soldiers soon stopped complaining, he said.
Returning to the U.S.
By July 1966, Henebury returned to the U.S., serving two more years in the Marines at the Charlestown Navy Yard’s Marine Barracks (now part of the National Park Service).
“It was a contrast,” he said. “I was just happy to be back. … I was looking at my next challenge.”
The war itself didn’t end until April 30, 1975 (although the last U.S. military unit left in 1973), and like many Vietnam veterans, Henebury did not receive a warm welcome upon returning home.
In 1968, when he finished serving as a sergeant E-5 at age 24, he decided to pursue his college education at Boston University.
Henebury recalled two anti-war professors targeting him but said his fellow students were supportive as he eventually earned a bachelor’s in business.
Over the years, the resident has worn many professional hats, including working as a budget officer for all the Coast Guard units in New England except Connecticut, a budget analyst at Volpe National Transportation Systems, a mental health specialist at McLean Hospital, a counselor at the former Metropolitan State Hospital; and a professor at Western New England College (now called Western New England University), among other positions.
When asked if he looks back on what he experienced during the Vietnam War, Henebury replied, “I never do.”
However, he does discuss that period in his life with fellow members of Belmont’s VFW Post 1272.
“When we get together, it’s the humorous parts” of their time in the military they discuss, he said.
A Post member since 1967, he was a commander for two years in the 1980s. He recalled that while other members of the public scorned many Vietnam vets, the Belmont organization “welcomed us with open arms. … It was a positive feeling.”
This summer, Henebury was the featured speaker at the Belmont Purple Heart ceremony. As the Voice previously reported, he praised fellow veterans and remembered those lost while serving.
Henebury also reminded the crowd gathered at the event to be aware of signs of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and to reach out to the VA as well as Belmont Veterans’ Services Officer Bob Upton for help if needed.
