12 May 2008 My dad was a good friend of his, he was the reason my father joined the Corps. By chance my dad came across the Moving Wall in Fontana, CA and his was the first name that came to my dad's mind. He was one of many brave people that who their lives with no hesitation. I am proud to say he was my dad's friend and one of my heros. From the daughter of a friend. rbrown229@yahoo.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall In May 1968 the 1st Bn, 3rd Marines participated in Operation NAPOLEAN/SALINE, a multi-regiment sweep of the area bounded by Con Thien to the west, the DMZ to the north, the South China Sea on the east, and the Cua Viet/Cam Lo Rivers on the south. During early May the 1/3 Marines worked on the north bank of the river in the area north of Dong Ha. On 05 May the battalion had a sharp engagement with NVA troops at Som Soi, killing 151 NVA but losing 17 Marines and sailors: C Company: Pfc Richard C. Madison, Richmond, VA D Company: Cpl Jimmie A. Dolen, Bremerton, WA Cpl Alvin C. Knight, Elizabethtown, KY Cpl Tommy L. Taylor, Chattanooga, TN LCpl Gregory T. Indrecc, Detroit, MI LCpl Michael L. Johnson, Tulsa, OK LCpl Joseph R. Pierce, Mattoon, IL Pfc Johnnie H. Beasley, Lakeland, FL Pfc Thomas N. Dean, Washington, DC Pfc Richard W. Hagel, Hayward, CA Pfc Ralph J. Hitchcock, Jacksonville, FL Pfc Jerry L. Janeway, Delhi, CA Pfc Kenneth P. Shasteen, Estill Springs, TN Pfc Peter R. Turcotte, Rowley, MA H&S Company: HM3 Harvey D. Gray, Plainfield, WI HN Paul R. Holley, Columbus, OH (with Bravo 1/3) Pfc William E. Grekela, Flint, MI During the fighting, CH-46A BuNo 152531 from HMM-165 made a desperate attempt to get in to pick up wounded Marines. The helicopter was shot down, but the crew was able to escape the aircraft. The pilot, Captain Edward W. Connelly of Agawam, Massachussetts, was killed by gunfire after leaving the aircraft. He was awarded a posthumous Silver Star for his actions in trying to pick up the wounded.

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