MICHAEL O GATWOOD
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HONORED ON PANEL 7E, LINE 89 OF THE WALL

MICHAEL OWEN GATWOOD

WALL NAME

MICHAEL O GATWOOD

PANEL / LINE

7E/89

DATE OF BIRTH

10/16/1944

CASUALTY PROVINCE

THUA THIEN

DATE OF CASUALTY

05/20/1966

HOME OF RECORD

TOLEDO

COUNTY OF RECORD

Lucas County

STATE

OH

BRANCH OF SERVICE

MARINE CORPS

RANK

PFC

Book a time
Contact Details

REMEMBRANCES

LEFT FOR MICHAEL OWEN GATWOOD
POSTED ON 9.30.2022
POSTED BY: ANON

78

Never forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine
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POSTED ON 9.22.2022
POSTED BY: John Fabris

honoring you...

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. We should be forever thankful for the sacrifices of you and so many others to ensure the freedoms we so often take for granted.
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POSTED ON 4.30.2022

Final Mission of PFC Michael O. Gatwood

During May 1966, a 4th Marine Division Task Force conducted search and destroy operations in Thua Thien Province, RVN. Unseasonable rains inundated the area and reduced trafficability of the tracked vehicles. On May 20th, two separate night defensive positions five miles south of Phong Dien occupied by a section of 3rd Tank Battalion tracked vehicles and infantrymen supported by members of the 3rd Engineer Battalion came under a North Vietnamese Army (NVA) mortar attack beginning approximately 4:40 AM. The barrage lasted about twenty minutes with no casualties. The NVA followed the mortar attack at 5:10 AM on a nearby platoon position with an infantry assault from the south by an estimated company supported by mortars, recoilless rifles, and numerous RPG-2 rocket-propelled grenades. Intense return fire was delivered by the section of tanks, infantry platoon, and artillery, directed on the NVA’s assault position and their avenues of escape. A number of NVA infiltrated the position but were expelled by small arms fire and close combat. Repulsed, the enemy broke contact in a skirmish line, firing to cover retrieval of their wounded and dead. The Marines killed eleven enemy with a possible thirty more dead. An estimated thirty other NVA were wounded. The tank section sustained seven hits from RPG-2 rockets where the warheads penetrated the tank armor, but each vehicle was able to continue in action. Friendly casualties for the tank section were one killed, PFC Richard L. Wildman, and four wounded. One of the wounded, LCPL James H. Furr, died the following day. The infantry platoon and attached engineers sustained four killed and seven wounded. The dead included infantrymen (from C/1/4) PFC Michael O. Gatwood and CPL Philip J. Serna; and combat engineers (from B Co, 3rd Eng Bn, 3rd Mar) LCPL Daniel Knarian and LCPL Lawrence S. Robbins. The enemy casualty estimate was based on a large volume of blood, gore, and numerous drag marks through the bushes. An assortment of enemy equipment was captured including personal gear and medical supplies. After the battle ended at 6:00 AM, and the Task Force was reinforced by A/1/4 Marines and Force Logistic Support Units. Due to heavy rain, tanks encountered extreme difficulty in moving. All tracked vehicles were eventually freed and defensive positions were occupied in the same area. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Command Chronology (3d Tank Bn), May 1966” at ttu.edu]
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POSTED ON 10.14.2021
POSTED BY: ANON

Never Forgotten

Semper Fi, Marine
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POSTED ON 10.11.2020
POSTED BY: ANON

Never forgotten

On the remembrance of your 76th birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine.
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