25 May 2001 Best Friend since grade school ... both of us left for in-country at the same time. Part of me is still there. Ken was the hero along with over 58,000 heros. I still feel guilty that I came home. Lest We Forget 21 Dec 2007 All gave some, you gave all. From his best friend. E-mail address is not available.

 

06 May 2006 Highway One, Spine of Memory Before you left for Vietnam you came by on the motorcycle to ask if I'd go for one last ride. We forgot to wear helmets to cross the Pacific Coastal range Sequoias blanched in light reaching for us we thought, but did not say. Only the wind we heard when we left the groves for San Gregorio, Half Moon Bay where the waves continue, today revising this shore and the sandpipers persist, today stitching the ocean's hem. From a friend. E-mail address is not available.

 

27 Feb 2008 In memory of you Kenny, I am your sister-in-law that you never met although I feel that I know you. I am compelled to say this in behalf of your brother, he does not like computers. Your brother Kevin misses you every day of his life. When he learned you would not come home 40 years ago, his life was shattered, his heart ripped from his body, an empty soul, he survives with your memory always with him, the tears never stopped. 40 years later, I too can feel his pain... We both are proud of you and keep your memory alive in us and in our 5 grandchildren, until we meet in heaven... From his sister in law (married to Kevin Claire 37 years), Evelyn Irene Ramirez-Claire for Kevin Claire 942 5th Avenue, Redwood City, Ca 94063 eclaire@co.sanmateo.ca.us

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The 1/26 Marines Command Chronology for February 1968 contains the following entry: At 9:15 AM, 25 Feb 3rd Plt, Bravo 1/26, a platoon minus security patrol, was taken under automatic weapons fire and was also receiving grenades fro bunkers and trenches at XD849409. Artillery and mortar fire was called to assist in withdrawal. Support elements moved into position to provide cover by fire. The enemy force was estimated to be a Company of larger. Contact resulted in 24 friendly MIA, 17 friendly WIA, and six friendly KIA. The patrol was about 1 kilometer south of the Khe Sanh Combat base when it came across an NVA observation post. The Marines opened fire on the NVA troops, who withdrew south. The Marines pursued the NVA and in so doing entered an ambush zone. The NVA allowed the Marines to approach within 15 feet before opening fire from concealed bunkers, spider holes and trenchlines. A reaction platoon was sent as reinforcements, but when it attempted to outflank the enemy position the platoon leader realized that his unit was being outflanked and sandwiched between the NVA position and additional enemy troops. The best the platoon leader could do was to provide covering fire for the remnants of the patrol as they withdrew, bringing out their wounded and six of their dead - but 24 men, most of them known to be dead, could not be brought out. Three of the 24 were able to evade the NVA on their own and made their way back to friendly lines. The 27 Americans who died in the action were 2ndLt Donald Jacques, Rochester, NY SSgt George McClelland, Passaic, NJ Cpl Frederick A. Billingham, Trenton, NJ Cpl Michael J. Brellenthin, North Bergen, NJ Cpl Kenneth W. Claire, Redwood City, CA Cpl Bruce E. Jones, Rockland, MA Cpl Donald E. Whitaker, Durham, MO LCpl Ronald P. Akins, Akron, OH LCpl James R. Bruder, Allentown, PA LCpl Jerry L. Dodson, Collinsville, IL LCpl Charles G. Geller, East St Louis, IL LCpl Phillips Hayes, New Orleans, LA LCpl Michael J. Laderoute, Boston, MA LCpl Richard W. McKenzie, Oxnard, CA HN Lloyd W. Moore, Wilmington, NC Pfc Michael B. Baptiste, Tampa, FL Pfc Joseph C. Battle, Houston, TX Pfc Doyle G. Clay, Chicago, IL Pfc John A. Lassiter, Slidell, LA Pfc Henry McDonald, Philadelphia, PA Pfc Kim E. Meads, Chicago, IL Pfc Arnold J. Rivera, El Paso, TX Pfc Willie J. Ruff, Columbia, SC Pfc David C. Scarbrough, Marietta, OH Pfc Walter F. Skinner, Soledad, CA Pfc Douglas W. Smith, Fort Worth, TX Pfc Clayton J. Theyerl, Racine, WI The Marines returned to recover their dead, but found that many of the bodies had been badly mutilated by mortar and artillery fire. On 16 March 1973 one Marine thought to have died in the engagement returned - Sgt Ronald L. Ridgeway of Houston, Texas had been captured.

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