THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from Douglas Kirk is moving and reflects his admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever….

CPL David Allen Johnston was a 1967 Graduate of Pickerington High School. He was survived by his parents, 1 brother, and 1 sister.

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine

Operation Taylor Common was a search and destroy operation conducted by Task Force Yankee, a formation of the 1st Marine Division supported by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), southwest of Hoi An from December 6, 1968 to March 8, 1969. The operational plan was to eliminate Base Area 112, a Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese Army (NVA) base area located in the mountains of Quang Nam Province southwest of Da Nang near the area known to the Marines as "Arizona Territory." The base was believed to support the NVA 21st Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 68B Rocket Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 141st Regiment, and enemy command and support units. After securing the An Hoa Basin together with the ARVN 1st Ranger Group, the Task Force would construct a series of fire support bases to support operations west into the Base Area and destroy the Base Area. By mid-February, Base Area 112 had been largely neutralized, and the participating units were needed in the Demilitarized Area (DMZ), so the operation was progressively scaled back, with the 3/3 Marines and the 3rd Marines command group being withdrawn on the 16th and redeployed to Dong Ha Combat Base, followed the next day by 1/3 Marines. After midnight on February 23rd, NVA mortars hit An Hoa Combat Base, triggering explosions in the ammunition dumps, followed by a sapper attack which was repulsed with gunship and artillery fire. At the same time, firebases Maxwell and Tomahawk, established during Taylor Common, were hit by mortar and sapper attacks. Due to the withdrawal of participating units from the operation, it was decided to withdraw the Marines from the firebases. On March 3rd, a patrol from Company M, 3/5 Marines was ambushed near Firebase Maxwell. Three Marines were killed (LCPL Ronald F. Christianson, LCPL Joseph L. Freeman Jr., CPL David A. Johnston) and two of the bodies were left behind as the company withdrew. The next day, the Marines recovered one of the bodies, and the following day attempted to recover the other, but were ambushed again, and two Marines were killed (LCPL Dennis G. Merryman and SGT Leslie D. Thompson). Again, due to the tactical situation on the ground, their bodies also could not be recovered. On March 6th, the Marines tried to recover the bodies but were forced back by NVA fire. The bodies were later recovered by a reconnaissance team. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “U.S. Marines in Vietnam: High Mobility and Standdown, 1969” by Charles R. Smith]

Dave and I were best friends in Highschool. I went in the Marines June 21 1967 following graduation. Dave and I wrote while in Vietnam.
I was gravely wounded June 21 1968 and hospitalized until early June 1969.
I was with F 2/5 and Dave was with M 3/5.
His parents requested me to be his Funeral escourt.
Burying Dave was the hardest thing I ever did.
I'll always remember you Dave.

Just stopping by to remember you and Leslie Thompson, the Marine to the left in the picture.

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Semper Fi, Marine