Edward Lawrence Towslee
Private First Class
A CO, 1ST BN, 9TH MARINES, 3RD MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Akron, Ohio
February 17, 1948 to April 04, 1968
EDWARD L TOWSLEE is on the Wall at Panel 48E, Line 12

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Combat Action Ribbon
 

 
18 Nov 2007

Your family and friends miss you honor and love you.

From his nephew,
Joe Cramer
machjoe11@yahoo.com


 

A Note from The Virtual Wall

Operation PEGASUS, intended to break the siege of the Khe Sanh Combat Base, began on 04 Apr 1968. The 1st Battalion, 9th Marines (less B Company) was ordered to leave the combat base, assault, capture, and occupy Hills 471 and 552 overlooking Khe Sanh. Alpha 1/9, reinforced with elements from H&S Company, had been assigned responsibility for assaulting Hill 471. The Marines did as ordered, taking all assigned objectives by nightfall on 04 April. Once Hill 471 had been taken, C Company, previously in reserve, moved up and established a defensive perimeter on the east side of the hill. Meanwhile, D Company had encountered only token resistance while taking Hill 552. Heavy fighting continued through the 5th as the North Vietnamese counter-attacked in an effort to force the Marines from the hilltops, but the Marines held their positions. On 06 April 1/9 was relieved on Hills 471 and 552 by troops from the Army's 2nd Bn, 12th Cavalry, who were airlifted into position. 1/9 displaced on foot to a position about 1 kilometer distant from Hill 471, establishing a night defensive position by about 2100.

Twelve Marines were killed in action on Hill 471:

  • D Btry, 2nd Bn, 12th Marines
    • Pfc Dennis Smith, Bayonne, NJ (F/O team with A/1/9)

  • A Co, 1st Bn, 9th Marines
    • LCpl James O. Holloway, Newark, NJ (Silver Star)
    • LCpl Brian V. Lindberg, Dunnell, MN
    • Pfc Robert M. Jacob, Bristol, CT
    • Pfc Timothy J. Nightengale, Buffalo, NY
    • Pfc Edward L. Towslee, Akron, OH

  • C Co, 1st Bn, 9th Marines
  • H&S Co, 1st Bn, 9th Marines
    • Capt Walter C. Jones, Garden City, NY
    • LCpl Charles C. Miller, Mount Pleasant, IA
    • Pfc Ronald T. Cavazos, Detroit, MI
    • Pfc Steven L. Sparks, Columbus, OH
The fights for Hill 471 might have cost a 13th casualty - LCpl Walter M. Ostapchuk, assigned to Alpha 1/9, died of wounds on 05 April - but The Virtual Wall cannot determine if he was wounded at Hill 471 or in an earlier engagement.

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