27 May 2003 To my brothers in arms, and especially my friends HN Joe F. Kelley , HM3 William Broad, and Cpl Bobbie Ratliff . I think of you all even though it has been 38 years. I remember seeing Joe and Bill in body bags on that fateful day on Operation DeSoto, my heart went numb and has been so since that day. Only the death of Mills Miller created a greater void in my life. I was in the Philippines when I read of the death of Bobbie, and again I wondered why I made it out alive. I wish you all were here with me, to laugh and retell the stories of by-gone days. I will join you someday, keep a rubber lady on a cot for me... Doc Riddle condoc@hctc.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall Mike Company, 3/7 Marines, lost six men on 28 Jan 1967: SSgt Fred L. Pedersen, Azusa, CA Sgt Russell M. Wagner, Vallejo, CA HM3 William R. Broad, Tulsa, OK (Silver Star) CPL Jackya K. Grant, Chicago, IL CPL Pedro A. Swenson, Willow Grove, PA HN Joe F. Kelley, Applegate, CA The two Corpsmen, HM3 Broad and HN Kelley, were formally assigned to H&S Company, 3/7, but were in the field with Mike Company. Petty Officer Broad received the Silver Star, America's third highest award for valor in combat, for the actions which led to his death. "You guys are the Marine's doctors - There's none better in the business than a Navy Corpsman ..." -- Lieutenant General "Chesty" Puller -- Visit John Dennison's Medics on the Wall memorial which honors the Army Medics and Navy Corpsmen who died in Vietnam.

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