THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. While all deaths in Vietnam are tragic that you died just five days before your 23rd birthday is especially so. May you rest in eternal peace.

Never forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine

I'll never forget the nite you got your hands tattoo. Especially the next day when they started to swell due to a infection. Your were a damn good marine. I miss ya!!!!

On the remembrance of your 78th birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine

Lance Corporal William John Hrinko was the son of John J. Hrinko and Anna Hrinko of Worthington, OH. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on February 29, 1964 in Cincinnati, OH. LCpl Hrinko was a Marine Rifleman, age 22, born March 9, 1943, from Worthington, OH. LCpl Hrinko arrived in Vietnam with Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), III MAF, FMFPac. On March 4, Operation UTAH was launched under the command of Task Force Delta in the Son Thinh District of Quang Ngai Province where the Marines would encounter elements of the 21st NVA Regiment. On D-day 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines conducted a helicopter assault near the Chau Ngai complex of villages and was heavily engaged with a regiment of NVA regulars near Hill 50 and Hill 35. Elements of F Company and H Company were overrun but were able to recover and consolidate to a night position near Chau Ngai 4. By the end of D-Day, 2/7 counted 94 enemy KIA and estimated 63 WIA. Friendly losses were 44 KIA and 84 WIA. An additional 20+ persons received minor wounds and were not evacuated. The next day, 5 March, the battle moved to the North and 2/7 cleaned up the battlefields from the day before, recovering the dead, and clearing out caves and bunkers.On March 4, 1966, LCpl Hrinko was killed in action dying outright from enemy small arms fire. LCpl Hrinko is interred at Union Cemetery - Columbus, Ohio and is honored on the Vietnam Memorial on Panel 05E, Line 104.