THE WALL OF FACES

LCpl Cousins was a Radio Operator attached to Fox Co, 2/3rd Marines as a FO. 2/3 Marines had been brought inland to assist 3/9 with body recovery of 21 Marines were left behind after 2 companies were overrun by the NVA during Operation Buffalo. ⁣84 Marines were KIA in one day. ⁣
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On the night of July 8th, 1967 second squad had come under heavy fire. LCpl Cousins was attached with third squad, which began to rush to second squads position. Before third squad could reach second squads fighting holes they came under heavy artillery fire. LCpl Cousins was hit in multiple places by shrapnel before he rolled into a hole with 4 other Marines.⁣⁣
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Unaware to the 5 Marines, that the rest of the company had pulled back after the NVA artillery barrage subsided. They had been cut off from the rest of the company, completely surrounded by NVA. ⁣⁣
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Still wounded, LCpl Cousins continued to direct artillery around his position as dozens of NVA had began a charge towards the rest of the company. He was calling in fire so close to himself that they had been covered in a layer of dirt and burning shrapnel. ⁣He even called in Artillery on his own position.⁣
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As the battle continued, an NVA soldier had jumped into the fox hole, where cousins was wounded a second time by a stab wound as the NVA had fixed bayonets. Cousins had killed the NVA soldier in hand to hand combat. He continued to call in artillery for hours before he eventually had succumbed to his wounds as did the other 4 Marines.⁣ He was only 19 years old. ⁣
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When they found him in the morning he still had the radio handset in his hands. Because of Cousins actions he had prevented Fox Co from being overrun. ⁣⁣
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Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir Your Navy Cross citation attests to your courage and devotion to your fellow marines. May you rest in eternal peace.

We were so young, SEMPER FI VN68/69. From boot camp PLT 3332. RIP.

Lance Corporal Merritt Thomas Cousins, Served with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force.

At our June 2019 Bravo Battery, 12th Marines (Vietnam 1965-1969) Reunion in Nashville TN. our members voted to purchase 12 engraved Memorial Bricks to honor our units KIA's... I purchased your brick on 6/28/2019 and it is scheduled to be placed at the USMC Museums WALK OF HONOR in Quanico Va in December 2019.. It is our way to honor your memory and your ultimate sacrifice... SEMPER FI Marine