Harold David Shelton
Lance Corporal
H CO, 2ND BN, 9TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Baltimore, Maryland
April 28, 1947 to May 19, 1967
HAROLD D SHELTON is on the Wall at Panel 20E, Line 50

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Combat Action Ribbon
 

 
24 Dec 2005

Shelton was an M-60 machine gunner. During Operation Hickory on May 19th 1967 his squad was ambushed just north of Con Thien. His gun team was taken out almost immediately by dug-in North Vietnamese forces.

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 8 men:

  • Cpl Richard K. Gillingham, Valatie, NY (Navy Cross)
  • Cpl Wayne C. Harmon, Downey, CA
  • 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")

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