Gregory Rea Benton, Jr

The database page for Gregory Rea Benton, Jr

10 Apr 2007 I started wearing Greg's bracelet 2 years ago when my son and I visited the Wall in DC. His was the first bracelet I picked up. I feel a kinship to him because he is from Vallejo, California (I'm from Sacramento) and we both are Native American. I have visited the Memorial in Sacramento and seen his name on it, but couldn't find it on here so I wanted to enter it and thank him for his service. Thank you, Tammy Simon simon_tammy@yahoo.com

25 May 2007 I have worn the bracelet, and told the story of PFC Gregory Benton Jr each Memorial Day weekend since the early 1970s. Thank you for reminding others that there are still soldiers missing in Vietnam. P. Fort Upper Michigan E-Mail will be forwarded by the Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

13 Sep 2007 My brother was the only MIA from Delta Company, 1/9 Marines. From his sister and primary next of kin, Mary E. Benton 803-38 Paseo Tesoro, Indio, Ca 92201 powmay2369@earthlink.net

11 Nov 2007 I wore a bracelet remembering Pfc Gregory R. Benton as an MIA throughout the early 1970's. I wish I still had it, as both the pride and the sadness with which I wore it still linger. If only we were able to learn what history teaches us, so as not to repeat our mistakes. Gabriel Schaff violin.bows@verizon.net

A Note from The Virtual Wall During the later part of May 1969 the 2/9 Marines were participating in Operation APACHE SNOW which was conducted in the far southwestern part of Quang Tri Province along the Laotian border. On 23 May Delta 1/9 was occupying an unnamed hilltop southwest of the Da Krong River Valley near the tiny village of Ap Boum, right on the border. The 1/9 Command Chronology and After-Action Report contain several entries regarding the loss of then-PFC Greory Benton: "23 May - At 1130H a Company D patrol was ambushed at its point by 8-10 enemy using LAAWs, RPGs, M-79s, and automatic weapons. Company D sufferred 2 KIA and 1 WIA, while inflicting 3 enemy killed, probable, and capturing 4 LAAWs, 1 RPG, and 4 M-79 rounds. At 1400H Company D suffered an MIA, not recovered." (page 8, Significant Events) FROM: CC [1/9 Marines] TO: PS [9th Marines] CLASSIFICATION: CYPHER PRECEDENCE: PRIORITY TYPE OF MESSAGE: FINAL SPOT REPORT MESSAGE A. CCD [D Company 1/9] B. 231130H MAY 69 [time 1130 am, 23 May] C. 158030 [UTM grid coords YD158030] D. While on patrol, point elements were fired upon by enemy, hasty ambush. Enemy utilized LAAWs, RPGs, M-79s and automatic weapons. Estimated 8-10 enemy. E. Made contact with enemy. Called in 60mm, 81mm, and Arty on contact area. Reinforcements arrived and enemy pursued. F. 2 [friendly fatalities] G. 1 [friendly wounded, evacuated] H-I: N/A [not applicable] J. 3 [enemy killed] K. Captured 4 LAAWs 1 RPG and 4 M-79 rounds M-N: N/A [not applicable] FROM: CC [1/9 Marines] TO: PS [9th Marines] CLASSIFICATION: CYPHER PRECEDENCE: PRIORITY TYPE OF MESSAGE: MESSAGE SUBJ: POSSIBLE MIA One [Marine] from CCD [D Co 1/9] missing at present. May have gone aboard medevac helicopter which took out 2 KIA and 1 WIA. Last seen just before bird lifted out. May have received mental shock and wandered off. May have been snatched. Checked area where last seen. CC4 [S-4, 1/9 Marines] checked C Med. CC1 [S-1, 1/9 Marines] checked 3rd Med. Checking CC areas at QT [Quang Tri] and VCB [Vandergrift Combat Base] now. Also checking with helicopter which provided medevac. FROM: CC [1/9 Marines] TO: PS [9th Marines] CLASSIFICATION: CONF PRECEDENCE: ROUTINE TYPE OF MESSAGE: MESSAGE Request formal declaration on MIA rep[ort]. 232000H May 69. Translated, a Delta 1/9 patrol was ambushed by an NVA squad at 11:30 am. Supporting arms fire and reinforcements were used to recover the ambushed Marines, who had 2 dead and 1 seriously wounded. Pfc Benton's squad was part of the reinforcements. After the medevac helo departed the Marines returned to the Delta 1/9 perimeter, where it was realized that Pfc Benton had not been seen since the helo departed. Local area search and checks with out-of-area locations where Pfc Benton would have ended up if he had boarded the medevac helo were fruitless, and at 8 pm 23 May the 1/9 Marines requested that Pfc Benton be formally declared Missing in Action. The three men lost on 23 May were LCpl Donny R. Lawson, Grandview, WA (KIA) Pfc Gregory R. Benton, Vallejo, CA (MIA) Pfc Yvon E. Girouard, Littleton, NH (KIA) Five days later, APACHE SNOW was terminated and the Marines withdrew from the Da Krong Valley and surrounding mountain areas. Pfc Benton had not been found when 1/9 departed. He was carried as Missing in Action, and promoted while in that status, until the Secretary of the Navy approved a Presumptive Finding of death on 30 June 1978.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is his sister, Mary E. Benton 803-38 Paseo Tesoro, Indio, Ca 92201 powmay2369@earthlink.net

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 10 Apr 2007
Last updated 11/16/2007