Operation Hickory (May 18-28, 1967) was a search and destroy operation conducted by the 3rd Marine Division in the area around Con Thien known as “Leatherneck Square” in Quang Tri Province, RVN. Operation Hickory was notable as the first authorized incursion into the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). By the time Hickory concluded, the Marines had suffered 142 killed and 896 wounded, and claimed 362 North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regulars killed. All participating forces then joined Operation Prairie IV with continued sweeps of Leatherneck Square and the area southwest of Con Thien. On May 28th, the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines made heavy contact with the NVA in bunkers on Hill 174, approximately four miles from Con Thien. Two Companies, M and L, attacked the enemy fortifications late in the afternoon. While moving up the north finger of Hill 117, Company L received a heavy volume of small arms, automatic weapons, 57mm recoilless rifle, and 82mm mortar fire. The Marines fought back with small arms, automatic weapons, M79, and M72 LAW light anti-tank weapon, and 3.5-inch rocket fire. Two Company L personnel were killed in the fighting; another two died an hour later when their overnight position was hit by nine rounds of 120mm rocket fire. The lost Marines included PFC Walter L. Babbitt Jr., SGT Donald L. Crane, PFC Ted L. Edwards, and PFC Michael D. Withrow. Twenty-five others were wounded. Six NVA were confirmed dead and one 57mm recoilless rifle was destroyed. Artillery was placed on the Hill 117 throughout the night, and the next day Companies M and I attacked. They suffered five killed and thirty-three wounded without driving the NVA from the crest of the hill. The lost M-3/4 Marines included PFC Dennis R. Glenn, LCPL Frank E. Hardy, CPL Willard S. Prescott, and PFC Armand R. Thouvenell; also killed was Navy corpsman HM3 Charles H. Crawford. Crawford was posthumously presented the Navy Cross for heroism. Companies M and I attacked unsuccessfully again on May 30th, suffering one killed from I-3/4, LCPL Noel J. Feliciano, with 45 wounded. The NVA abandoned the hill during the night of May 30th-31th. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “U.S. Marines in Vietnam: Fighting the North Vietnamese 1967” by Telfer, Rogers, and Fleming]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. Your Navy Cross and Silver Star citations attest to your courage and devotion to your fellow marines. As long as you are remembered you will always be with us…..

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Semper Fi, Doc...you did it right

On the remembrance of your 80th birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

"Greater love hath no man, than that man lay down his life for a friend."

Semper Fi, Doc.

Charles Hugh Crawford

DATE OF BIRTH: December 11, 1940

HOME OF RECORD:
Batavia, Ohio

Navy Cross
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Navy
Battalion: 3d Battalion
Division: 3d Marine Division (Rein.) FMF
GENERAL ORDERS:
Authority: Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Hospitalman Third Class Charles Hugh Crawford (NSN: 6874759), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism on 29 May 1967 while serving as a Corpsman with Company M, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, during Operation PRAIRIE IV against elements of the North Vietnamese Army in Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam. While attacking the heavily fortified enemy bunker complex on Hill 174, the lead elements of Company M were pinned down by a heavy volume of automatic-weapons fire delivered from well-prepared enemy positions, and sustained numerous Marine casualties in the initial stage of the battle. Despite the concentrated fire which made it virtually impossible to reach the wounded who were trapped only a few feet from the main enemy bunker, Petty Officer Crawford immediately ran through the deadly hail of enemy fire to reach his injured comrades. After administering first aid to the most seriously wounded Marine, and while moving the casualty to a relatively safe area, Petty Officer Crawford himself was fatally wounded. Through his fearless courage and uncommon concern for his comrades, he inspired the other Marines, and undoubtedly saved the life of the wounded Marine he treated. Petty Officer Crawford's daring actions and unswerving devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.