PFC LEO VERNON BEAULIEU

 

"It is better to have lived one day as a lion than one thousand days as a sheep." Inscription on the stone of Lieutenant Colonel Charles G. Clinger Section 8, Arlington National Cemetery The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the NAVY CROSS posthumously to LEO VERNON BEAULIEU Private First Class United States Marine Corps for service as set forth in the following CITATION: For extraordinary heroism as a machine gunner serving with Company E, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in action near Chu Lai, Republic of Vietnam, on 16 May 1966. Private Beaulieu's squad was engaged in search and destroy operations against Communist insurgent forces when it was ambushed by a Viet Cong force of sixty men. Heavy machine gun and automatic rifle fire from three sides pinned down the squad in an area offering little or no protection. Private Beaulieu was hit in the first volley of fire and knocked away from his machine gun. Although critically wounded in the chest, he crawled back to his gun and put it into action, delivering heavy, accurate fire on the enemy. He refused to take advantage of the limited cover available in order to bring punishing fire on the ambushing force, and as a result he was hit a second time as the machine gun malfunctioned. Still disregarding his own personal safety, he worked desperately to clear the weapon, and while doing so he received a third wound, which was fatal. Through his extraordinary initiative and inspiring valor in the face of almost certain death, he kept the enemy at a distance until reinforcements arrived, and enabled most of the members of his squad to be rescued. Private Beaulieu's calm and courageous actions under hostile fire upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the cause of freedom. Placed by a friend. jmporras@raytheon.com 21 Apr 2003

 

25 Jun 2007 Uncle Leo, Please stay with us and protect us as we work to use the wisdom of American Indian cultures to develop rituals to help all veterans. The medals won by PFC Leo Vernon Beaulieu pictured on this memorial are the     Navy Cross Medal;     Bronze Star Medal with "V" Device;     Purple Heart;     National Defense Service Medal;     Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star Device; and the     Republic of Vietnam (RVN) Campaign Medal.     From his nephew, Larry Gross vetsrituals@yahoo.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The 2nd Bn, 5th Marines Command Chronology for May 1966 contains the following entry: The two men killed in the firefight were LCpl Rodger L. Trammell, Independence, Missouri, and Pfc Leo V. Beaulieu, Lengby, Minnesota (Navy Cross).

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