THE WALL OF FACES

Although we never met personally, I want to thank you Richard Winerfred Duncan, for your courageous and valiant service, faithful contribution, and your most holy sacrifice given to this great country of ours!

Your Spirit is alive--and strong, therefore Marine, you shall never be forgotten, nor has your death been in vain!

Again, thank you Corporal Duncan, for a job well done!

REST IN ETERNAL PEACE MY MARINE FRIEND

CORPORAL


RICHARD WINERFRED DUNCAN


served as a


MACHINE GUN SQUAD LEADER


with


COMPANY ' M '

THIRD BATTALION

FIFTH MARINES

FIRST MARINE DIVISION ( REINFORCED )



and was a posthumous recipient of the



NAVY CROSS


PURPLE HEART





~~~ SEMPER FIDELIS ~~~





YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE



** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **



CITATION


FOR AWARD OF THE


NAVY CROSS


TO


CORPORAL RICHARD WINERFRED DUNCAN



For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Machine Gun Squad

Leader with Company M, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First

Marine Division (Reinforced), in the Republic of Vietnam on the

afternoon of 8 November 1967. During Operation ESSEX, Corporal

Duncan's company was attempting to seize a small but heavily

fortified village in Quang Nam Province when it suddenly came

under intense mortar and automatic weapons fire which killed the

acting platoon commander and seven other Marines, and temporarily

pinned down the lead platoon in a rice paddy. Quickly assessing

the situation, Corporal Duncan displayed unusual courage, leadership

and composure under fire, as he manoeuvered his machine gun team

across the open area to a position behind a dike. He directed a

heavy volume of fire against the North Vietnamese Army force,

suppressing its fire sufficiently to enable the Marines lying in

the open field to move to relatively safe positions. As he was

moving his team back to rejoin the platoon, he was painfully

wounded. When a defensive perimeter was established and his

squad was assigned to provide cover for the left flank, he ignored

his own injury as he deployed his men and moved along the

perimeter to insure their firing positions provided maximum

security for their sector against hostile attacks. As darkness

fell, the enemy force launched an assault but was repulsed by the

extremely heavy volume of fire from Corporal Duncan's team. The

enemy then commenced a grenade attack to destroy the Marines' firing

positions. Observing one of his men completely exposed to the

incoming grenades, Corporal Duncan, completely disregarding his

own safety and the intense pain of his wound, moved to aid his

fellow Marine. When a grenade landed nearby, he fearlessly used

his own body to shield the man. He repeatedly exposed himself to

the enemy's fire, as he moved into the open to deliver covering

fire while the squad reached more secure positions. After all

members of his team had reached safety, Corporal Duncan was

mortally wounded as he advanced to join his men at the new position.

His bravery and daring actions throughout the engagement inspired

his men to steadfastly maintain their position and repulse the

fanatical enemy assault. By his courageous fighting spirit, bold

initiative and unswerving devotion to duty at great personal risk,

he upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps

and the United States Naval Service.

He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Picture courtesy of Velda Solomon, friend and classmate.

Cpl. Richard Duncan's Navy Cross Citation

"For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Machine Gun Squad Leader with Company M, Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), in the Republic of Vietnam on the afternoon of 8 November 1967. During Operation Essex, Corporal Duncan's company was attempting to seize a small but heavily fortified village in Quang Nam Province when it suddenly came under intense mortar and automatic weapons fire which killed the acting platoon commander and seven other Marines, and temporarily pinned down the lead platoon in a rice paddy.

Quickly assessing the situation, Corporal Duncan displayed unusual courage, leadership and composure under fire, as he maneuvered his machine gun team across the open area to a position behind a dike. He directed a heavy volume of fire against the North Vietnamese Army force, suppressing its fire sufficiently to enable the Marines lying in the open field to move to relatively safe positions. As he was moving his team back to rejoin the platoon, he was painfully wounded.

When a defensive perimeter was established and his squad was assigned to provide cover for the left flank, he ignored his own injury as he deployed his men and moved along the perimeter to insure their firing positions provided maximum security for their sector against hostile attacks.

As darkness fell, the enemy force launched an assault but was repulsed by the extremely heavy volume of fire from Corporal Duncan's team. The enemy then commenced a grenade attack to destroy the Marines' firing positions.

Observing one of his men completely exposed to the incoming grenades, Corporal Duncan, completely disregarding his own safety and intense pain of his wound, moved to aid his fellow Marine. When a grenade landed nearby, he fearlessly used his own body to shield the man.

He repeatedly exposed himself to the enemy's fire, as he moved into the open to deliver covering fire while the squad reached more secure positions. After all members of his team had reached safety, Corporal Duncan was mortally wounded as he advanced to join his men at the new position. His bravery and daring actions throughout the engagement inspired his men to steadfastly maintain their position and repulse the fanatical enemy assault.

By his courageous fighting spirit, bold initiative and unswerving devotion to duty at great personal risk, he upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."

Cpl. Duncan served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, Mike Co. He was killed in a terrible battle during Operation Essex that almost wiped out the whole company. Cpl. Duncan'a name stands proud on the Mike 3/5 Wall of Honor alongsie the Marines he fought and died with. Semper fi, Brother, we will never forget.