Stephen John Hinds

The database page for Stephen John Hinds

27 Sep 2003 Steve was a good friend of mine back in 1966 and 1967. We were heavy equipment operators (MOS 1345) in the 13th Engineer Battalion in Camp Pendelton. I went to Vietnam in November of 1967 and lost contact with my friend. After Vietnam I came back and the world had changed. I never really fit anywhere, and without my Marine brothers and Vietnam I didn't know it at the time but it was me that was so different. Many years passed and my life had many changes, the "me" I once knew was on a trip looking for something. After some 30+ years I found it time once again to find my brothers, and with this new age of the internet I started looking. Stephen J Hinds was the first guy I thought of and in two days I found him - listed on the Wall site. My heart broke and Vietnam became my life once again. Steve was a great guy, one everyone liked and respected. A big kid, tough and hard but gentle as well. I never thought he would be a KIA ... A hero yes, as he is and always will be! Steve, I love ya, bro, thanks for the best of times, my friend, and thank you my brother for all you gave! God bless you my friend, I know you're smiling down on us. You are today as you were in 1967 - my brother and my friend! SEMPER FI, BRO ... YOU WILL ALWAYS LIVE IN MY WORLD David R Wingfield Vietnam 1967/68 9645 N Portsmouth St, Portland Oregon 97203 drwpapa@aol.com

31 Jul 2005 We lost 24 good men on that day in a "No-Name" operation. It was our first major encounter with the NVA who were entrenched in well built bunkers and tunnels. Alpha Company lost 10, Bravo lost eight good men, Charlie lost three, and H&S lost three, two of them Corpsmen. We suffered heavy WIAs too. Sadly, it was the day before Easter Sunday. 1968 was a very bad year for us. It was the TET Offensive. I am honored to have shared the field of battle with all of you MARINES. SEMPER FI. From a fellow Marine in 1/27, Sergeant Arturo Garza sgteseusmc@yahoo.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall On 13 April 1968 the 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, fought a bloody battle with elements of the North Vietnamese Army east of the city of Hue. The fight cost the Marines dearly - 26 dead, even worse than Sergeant Garza remembers, and 46 wounded - but killed at least 62 enemy soldiers and helped to clear the area of remaining NVA/VC forces. The dead were A Company: SSgt Glennis R. Kellams, New Albany, IN (Silver Star) Cpl Kenneth M. Watson, Toledo, OH LCpl Richard L. Embrey, Warren, AZ LCpl Stephen J. Hinds, Osseo, MN Pfc Raymond Armstrong, Cleveland, OH Pfc Frank W. Atherton, Templeton, PA Pfc Robert C. Healey, Trenton, NJ Pfc Kenneth L. Hinnant, Johnson City, TN Pfc Larry C. Hopper, Ontario, CA Pfc Jerry A. Snipes, Albemarle, NC B Company: 2ndLt Alan A. Kettner, Springfield, MN Cpl James E. Hodge, Macksburg, OH LCpl Terry L. Fuhrman, Fort Wayne, IN (DoW 14 Apr 68) LCpl Alfred V. Whitmer, Morenci, AZ Pfc Roger A. Boomsma, Arcadia, CA Pfc Douglas L. Long, Savannah, GA Pfc Barry D. Lord, Findlay, OH Pfc Paul L. Whitthorne, Memphis, TN Pfc William W. Wilson, St Marys, WV Pvt Ray T. Comfort, Northumberland, PA C Company: Cpl Joseph C. Reid, Baton Rouge, LA Pfc Donald L. Mansfield, Rockland, ME Pfc William G. Parker, Detroit, MI H&S Company: SSgt Fred J. Hayes, Walnut Creek, CA (Silver Star) (with Delta 1/27) HN3 Robert L. Dodsworth, Franklin, IL HN Richard E. Cawley, St Joseph, MO

The point-of-contact for this memorial is a Marine brother and friend, David R Wingfield 9645 N Portsmouth St, Portland Oregon 97203 drwpapa@aol.com 27 Sep 2003

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Last updated 08/01/2005