05 Dec 2005 A humble salute to a fallen friend who gave all for his country. Dennis A. Tague Captain USAF (Ret) Biloxi, MS dennymous@yahoo.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall In late February 1969 the 1/9 Marines were engaged in Operation DEWEY CANYON at the northern end of the A Shau Valley. Their Command Chronology for February 1969 contains the following commentary: "An aerial observer reported that there was an [sic] huge bunker complex, covering 6 grid squares, ... at YD197053, and on 22 February Company A returned to attack these complexes. On the fringe of the complex at YD199046 Company A met heavy resistance, killed 105 enemy and suffered 10 killed and 61 wounded." The Chronology also contains the text of a SPOT report from Company A, which, in paraphrase, reports that at 1300 22 Feb Company A "Charged on first enemy position with two platoons in assault. Heavy machinegun fire caused me to commit my 4th Platoon. With help of Broncos [OV-10 aircraft] and 81mm mortars moved through and wiped out the first enemy position. Directed air strike and arty against second enemy position." The SPOT report also states that in addition to inflicting 105 casualties on the NVA a considerable number of weapons and supplies were captured. The ten men who were killed in the assault described above were 1stLt Lee R. Herron, Lubbock, TX (Navy Cross) 2ndLt William J. Christman, Gaithersburg, MD (Navy Cross) Cpl Richard P. Hodges, Atlanta, GA (Silver Star) LCpl John R. Baird, Oak Lawn, IL (Silver Star) LCpl David A. Chacon, Gilcrest, CO (Silver Star) Pfc Larry J. Boehm, San Felipe, TX Pfc Fred Butler, Miami, FL Pfc Norman P. Chittester, Falls Creek, PA Pfc Anthony L. Johnson, Buena Vista, VA Pfc William B. Tarrance, Torrance, CA (HQ Co, 9th Marines with Alpha 1/9)

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