THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. Your Silver Star award attests to your courage and devotion to your fellow marines. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever….

Hill 881 North was one of several hill masses north of the Khe Sanh Combat Base (KSCB) in northwest Quang Tri Province. To prevent North Vietnamese Army observation of KSCB and the possible use as of the peaks as firebases, the hills surrounding Khe Sanh Valley had to be continuously occupied and defended by Marine elements. On January 18, 1968, a Marine reconnaissance team operating on Hill 881 North made contact with the enemy, suffering two casualties and immobilizing the team. The 3rd Platoon of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, moved out from a patrol base nearby and rescued the team without incident. The reconnaissance Marines, however, lost a radio and a manual encryption device during the firefight. Company I received orders to search for the missing radio and codes. At dawn on January 19th, the 1st Platoon departed Hill 881 South for the scene of the ambush. At 12:00 PM, while moving along a finger which led northeast up to the crest of Hill 881 North, the platoon engaged a North Vietnamese unit in defensive bunkers. The platoon commander and the platoon had patrolled the hill before and noticed that the trail had been altered, which alerted them to possible danger. They called for mortar fire and artillery as they moved through the thick vegetation, attempting to maneuver against the North Vietnamese. When three Marines fell with wounds, rifleman PFC Leonard E. Newton stood erect in the high kunai grass and fired his M60 machine gun from the shoulder, providing covering fire for others who attempted to rescue them. Even after the wounded Marines were carried to safety, Newton continued to stand, engaging North Vietnamese positions until he was killed in action. The Marines broke contact and returned to Hill 881 South with total casualties of one killed and three wounded. Eight North Vietnamese were confirmed dead. The platoon did not find the missing radio nor the code sheet. Newton was posthumously awarded the Silver Star medal. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Defining Year, 1968” by Shulimson, Blasiol, Smith, and Dawson]

Dear PFC Leonard Newton, Thank you for your service as a Rifleman. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. It’s a New Year, but not necessarily better. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

You died before I was born. Grandma and Mom would tell me stories of you they truly missed you. Hopefully, your all together enjoying and loving each other. God, how I miss them.

Your niece, Sheila

Leonard L. Newton

Silver Star
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Private First Class
Battalion: 3d Battalion
Division: 3d Marine Division (Rein.), FMF
GENERAL ORDERS:

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Leonard L. Newton (MCSN: 2387353), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Machine Gunner with Company I, Third battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 19 January 1968, Private First Class Newton's platoon engaged a North Vietnamese Army unit which was occupying positions on top of a hill. In the ensuing fire fight, the Marines sustained several casualties and were temporarily pinned down. Unhesitatingly moving to a forward position, Private First Class Newton commenced to direct fire against the enemy. Unable to adjust his fire because of the high grass, he repeatedly stood up and fired his weapon from the shoulder. Suppressing the fire from at least three enemy automatic weapons, he enabled his platoon to recover the wounded and maneuver to more advantageous positions. Disregarding his own safety, he continued to stand in the tall grass and provide covering fire for his companions until he was killed by the hostile fire. By his indomitable courage, aggressive fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty, Private First Class Newton upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.