THE WALL OF FACES

Operation Mameluke Thrust (May 19 - October 23, 1968) was a 1st Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force search and destroy mission into Happy Valley southwest of Da Nang in Quang Nam Province, RVN. The objective of Mameluke Thrust was spoiling attacks against North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) base areas to preempt any planned offensive against Allied complexes in the Da Nang area. On the early evening of September 17th, Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines was settled into a night defensive position four kilometers (2.4 miles) northwest of An Hoa Air Field when they were attacked with intense small arms, rocket-propelled grenade, and mortar fire followed by three successive ground attacks by an estimated 30 NVA soldiers throwing satchel charges and grenades. The Marines returned fire with unit weapons and called in artillery, 60mm and 81mm mortar, and U.S. Air Force AC-47 “Spooky” gunship fire to suppress the enemy’s advances. Contact with the enemy was broken at midnight. A sweep of the battle area revealed eight NVA killed. U.S. losses were one dead and two wounded requiring evacuation. The lost Marine was machine gunner PFC Dewayne Corbitt. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “1st Marine Division (Rein) Command Chronology for September 1968” at ttu.edu]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. While all deaths in Vietnam are tragic that you died just eight days before your 20th birthday is especially so. May you rest in eternal peace.

Dear PFC Dewayne Corbitt,
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your vallient service.You inspire me to stand up for what is right.And people like you will NEVER be forgotten.I will never forget you,and I hope to one day meet you when I go to heaven.Rest well soldier,youve earned it.

Dear PFC Dewayne Corbitt,
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your vallient service.You inspire me to stand up for what is right.And people like you will NEVER be forgotten.I will never forget you,and I hope to one day meet you when I go to heaven.Rest well soldier,youve earned it.

Semper Fi, Marine