Alex Leon Quiroga

The database page for Alex Leon Quiroga

11 December 1997 Shot to death while tending his Marines. "Greater love hath no man . . ." Remembered by Chris Shepard E-Mail address no longer valid

19 Feb 2007 Alex worked for me at the Naval Hospital, Subic Bay. We shared many conversations about life and particularly his future. His plan was to muster out of the Navy and go back to college - in Seattle if I recall correctly. While being processed out at Treasure Island a recruiter urged him to re-up which of course he did. His death followed shortly thereafter. HM2 Quiroga was a fine person and is very much missed. Seth B. Goldsmith formerly LT, MSC, USNR. E-mail address is not available.

A Note from The Virtual Wall At 10 AM on 2 July 1967, Bravo Company 1/9 Marines were on patrol about 1 and 1/2 miles northeast of Con Thien when they made contact with what they thought was a small, well-entrenched enemy unit. Alpha 1/9, also on patrol nearby, came to help, and the two understrength companies found themselves in a meat grinder - the small enemy force turned out to be 5 NVA battalions that had crossed the DMZ. Even worse, the NVA troops were supported by artillery firing from within and north of the DMZ. By midafternoon, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines had been inserted by helicopter on the enemy's left flank and the massive weight of U. S. air and artillery support was taking its toll on the NVA. By evening the NVA had broken contact, withdrawing into the DMZ. By that time Bravo 1/9 had been destroyed as a fighting force - Bravo 1/9, understrength to begin with, had 56 men killed in action. Alpha 1/9 had 13 killed in action, and H&S Company 15 - including eight Corpsmen. "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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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 11 Dec 1997
Last updated 08/10/2009