19 Jan 2006 Doc Hines was killed in action on 5/19/67 while on Operation HICKORY just north of Con Thien. Doc was treating seriously wounded Marines who had been ambushed when he was mortally wounded. Doc Hines was assigned to the 3rd Platoon, and when he was needed he was always there. I'm always thinking of him. Semper Fi, Doc. From a friend and former platoon member Pete Rivera privera67@aol.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall On 18 May 1967 the Marines began Operation HICKORY with the intention of removing enemy forces and installations from the southern half of the DMZ. This was the first time the Marines had ventured into the DMZ in force. The attack was supported by a massive Navy-Marine-Air Force effort, the landing of SLF Alpha, and a parallel sweep by the 1st ARVN Division. HICKORY lasted through 29 May and resulted in both the loss of 129 Americans and the utter destruction of many North Vietnamese Army installations within the eastern part of the Demilitarized Zone. Extremely heavy casualties were inflicted on the NVA 326B Division, which held the ground and defended the area with vigor. No effort was made to hold the areas of the DMZ which had been cleared of NVA - political pressures precluded an American presence in the DMZ (apparently an NVA presence was acceptable) - and the rebuilt 362B Division eventually returned to the area. On 19 May, Hotel Company 2/9 Marines, lost 9 men: Cpl Richard K. Gillingham, Valatie, NY (Navy Cross) Cpl Wayne C. Harmon, Downey, CA HM3 Phillip M. Hines, Dodge City, KS (H&S with Hotel 2/9) LCpl Harold D. Shelton, Baltimore, MD Pfc Robert J. Brady, Elizabeth, NJ Pfc William J. Corbin, Joppa, MD Pfc Joseph M. Grantham, Goldsboro, NC Pfc Gregory P. Moser, Edmonds, WA Pfc Alan T. Read, Bloomington, IN (Bronze Star "V") "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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