THE WALL OF FACES

When I was a DI at MCRD San Diego and the MC Electronic Schools (C & E Bn) were there I ran into the Comm Chief of 2/26. He was riding with Tom and Mike when they hit the land mine. He was wounded and survived. Tom and Mike didn’t. Two good Marines made their ultimate sacrifice while doing their jobs. We talk and think about them regularly. I have had the good fortune to talk to both of their families and had dinner with one of Tom’s younger brothers while in DC.
Semper Fi Brothers

Tom was one of my men at 3rd Bn 5th Marines. When we transplaced to Vietnam we became 1st Bn 3rd Marines. In August of 1966 Tom was sent TAD to 3rd Bn 3rd Marines to help with Bn rotation. 2nd 26th Marines was replacing 3/3 of which I was now the Radio Chief. I was glad to see Tom, I knew he could handle the job. On 9/3/66 we received a message while aboard ship that Tom and Mike Kessel had been killed. He was a 1/3/3 Marine to all of us who served with him.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Dear Lcpl Thomas Grinnell,
Thank you for your service as a Field Radio Operator. It has been too long, and it's about time for us all to acknowledge the sacrifices of those like you who answered our nation's call. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness. Rest in peace with the angels.

LCPL Charles T. Day, LCPL Thomas D. Grinnell III, LCPL Michael H. Kessel, and PFC Douglas E. Rauschenberg served with Headquarters & Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. On September 3, 1966, they were traveling south of Tuy Loan Bridge in Quang Nam Province, RVN, in a M422 Mighty Mite, a lightweight 4x4 tactical truck, when they hit a hostile mine. The four Marines were killed by the blast. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]