Michael David Boyer

Private First Class
C CO, 1ST BN, 9TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV
United States Marine Corps
29 January 1947 - 18 June 1969
Portland, Oregon
Panel 22W Line 072

3RD MARDIV

9TH MARINES
Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Michael David Boyer

28 May 2004

I didn't know Michael Boyer but my dad did, he said he was a really good guy. He was smart, funny and just an all around great person. I searched for hours trying to find information about him but failed. I think it is important that every man and woman who gave their life to keep others safe should be recognized.

From someone who remembers.
E-Mail may be forwarded via the
Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

05 Jul 2006

Although it has been 38 years, I remember Michael from platoon 2050 at boot camp in San Diego like it was yesterday. He was our platoon honorman and leader. He was tough minded, dignified, and very focused. It was indeed a pleasure to know him for a short time. Semper Fi!!!

Gary Jensen
jenpolaris@aol.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall

On 18 June 1969 the 1/9 Marines were under the operational control of the 1st Brigade, 5th (US) Infantry Division, participating in Operation Utah Mesa on the Khe Sanh plateau, where three battalions of the 577th Regiment, 304th NVA Division, were known to be located.

Reports of the 18 June action involving Charlie 1/9 can be found in the 1/9 and HQ MACV Command Chronologies for June 1969. The 1/9 Chronology states that

"At 1030H, Company C encountered a well-entrenched enemy .50 caliber machine-gun position with automatic weapons and suffered 9 KIA's and 14 WIA's. The company assaulted and secured the position and directed air strikes on the enemy situated on the high ground. Artillery was called in as the enemy withdrew into a draw. A total of 35 enemy were killed."
while the MACV Chronology reads
"At 1030 an element of the [9th Marines] was fired on by a well-entrenched enemy force of unknown size 4 miles SE of Khe Sanh. Reinforced by another element of the regiment, the Marines attacked, supported by artillery and air strikes. The enemy withdrew at 1830, leaving 35 of his dead (North Vietnamese Army). Four individual weapons were captured. Marine casualties: 9 killed, 14 wounded, of whom 9 were evacuated."
The nine men from Charlie 1/9 were
  • 2ndLt Gary W. Letson, San Francisco, CA
  • Cpl Enrique Miramontez, Anthony, TX
  • HM3 Paul A. Rezendes, Plymouth, MA, Corpsman, H&S with C/1/9
  • LCpl Edward W. Charles, Gillett, AR
  • LCpl Frank Cruz, Yakima, WA
  • HN Thomas D. Naughton, Dearborn, MI, Corpsman, H&S with C/1/9
  • Pfc Michael D. Boyer, Portland, OR
  • Pfc Robert G. Carr, South Holland, IL
  • Pfc Walter J. Griffin, Hawkins, TX (Silver Star)

The 1/9 Marines lost another man in a different engagement earlier that morning: Pfc Stephen Orosco of Tularosa, NM, from Alpha 1/9.

Pfc Michael Boyer is buried in the Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon.



The point-of-contact for this memorial is
one who remembers.
E-Mail may be forwarded via the
Webmaster@VirtualWall.org



Top of Page

Virtual Wall icon
www.VirtualWall.org

Back to
To alpha index B
OR State Index . Panel 22W
9TH MARINES Index

Webmaster@VirtualWall.org



With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 28 May 2004
Last updated 07/06/2006