24 Jun 2003 The photo and following article is taken from The Philadelphia Daily News, special supplement entitled 'SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY,' October 26, 1987. The special supplement was issued in conjunction with the dedication of the Philadelphia Viet Nam Memorial. Welsh had enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1962 after attending Thomas Edison High School. He had nearly completed his four-year enlistment and had signed up for an additional two years, hoping to be assigned to the Philadelphia Naval Base, when he was killed in Viet Nam on May 17, 1966. The 21-year-old grenadier had been assigned to Company D of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He was survived by his mother. SEMPER FIDELIS, MARINE! From a native Philadelphian and Marine, Jim McIlhenney christianamacks@comcast.net

 

29 Nov 2005 Rest in peace, Marine, thanks for your service. Sgt. D. B. Welsh USMC Fallujah, Iraq E-mail address is not available.

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall A common NVA/VC practice was to use a heavy mortar barrage to cover the infiltration of small sapper units. Once inside the defensive perimeter the sappers used demolition ("satchel") charges against bunkers, vehicles, and other targets of opportunity. On 17 May 1966 the 1/4 Marines were operating in Thua Thien Province. One of their positions was a temporary artillery fire support base occupied by guns from 3rd Bn, 12th Marines, and protected by the infantrymen of Delta Company, 1/4. The 1/4 Marines Command Chronology for May 1966 contains the following entry: "At 170230H, Company D/LSA/Provisional Artillery Group positions were attacked with 80-100 rounds of 81/82mm mortar fire and assaulted by an unknown number of VC (estimated to be a squad plus). The majority of the mortar rounds landed on the eastern portion of Company D's perimeter and also in the vicinity of the artillery/tank ammunition dump. An unknown but small number of VC penetrated Company D's lines in the vicinity of the mortar fires and attempted further destruction by the use of 3/4 pound demolition charges. The VC were expelled by fire and close combat leaving behind two dead and numerous unexploded 3/4 lb demolition charges and hand grenades." The 3rd Engineers Command Chronology also comments on the attack: "On 17 May LCpl F. I. BRANCH was KIA and Cpl D. C. Christopher and LCpl C. L. KUNKEL were WIA as a result of a mortar attack while in a defensive position with 1/4." The two Marines who died in the attack were LCpl Freddie I. Branch of Espanola, New Mexico, B Co, 3rd Engineers, and LCpl Lewis N. Welsh.

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