THE WALL OF FACES

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrances from those who knew you are touching and reflect their admiration and respect for you. As long as you are remembered you will remain in our hearts forever.

Operation Mameluke Thrust (May 19 - October 23, 1968) was a U.S. Marine Corps operation southwest of Da Nang in Quang Nam Province, RVN. The 1st Marine Division was ordered to conduct spoiling attacks into the valleys west of Da Nang and around Thuong Duc Special Forces (SF) Camp. The loss of nearby Kham Duc SF Camp a week earlier raised concerns that the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) would next seek to overrun Thuong Duc. As part of the operation, the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines were tasked with keeping National Route QL-5 open to An Hoa, and QL-14 open to Thuong Duc. On July 27th, Company K, 3/7, began a sweep into the southwestern “Dodge City” area, a region known to be the staging area and command post for NVA and Viet Cong troops planning attacks on U.S. bases at Da Nang located 10 miles south. At 2:00 PM the following day, 2nd Platoon, K/3/7, was moving through an open rice field at Giao Nghi, five kilometers (3.0 miles) east of the Dai Loc-Ai Nghia Bridge, when they began receiving heavy machine gun and automatic weapons fire from an estimated reinforced NVA company concealed in bunkers in a tree line. The rest of K Company moved to assist and became pinned down with 2nd Platoon in the open rice paddy with little cover. The Marines returned fire with unit weapons and called artillery and air strikes on the enemy positions. L/3/7 and a platoon from M/3/7 were dispatched to assist the beleaguered Marines who were unable to move in any direction. With the supporting arms, the Marines assaulted the enemy fortifications, enabling others to retrieve their fallen comrades. Eighteen Marines and one Navy corpsman were killed in the fighting and another 40 were wounded requiring evacuation. The lost personnel included 2LT William S. Smoyer, SSGT David L. Brooks, HM3 Wayne M. Caron (posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor), CPL Edward J. Downs (posthumously awarded the Silver Star), CPL Philip L. Gosselin, CPL Daniel E. Lloyd, CPL Anthony C. Pino, CPL John R. Serrano (posthumously awarded the Silver Star), LCPL George S. Johnson, LCPL Douglas M. Kelly, LCPL Robert C. Lee, LCPL James C. Markel Jr., LCPL Carl R. Miller, LCPL Raphael J. Rendon, LCPL Richard E. Urban, PFC John M. Lancaster, PFC Jorge Martinez (posthumously awarded the Silver Star), PVT John E. Rice, and PVT John J. Till. Enemy losses were put at five NVA dead. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Command Chronology [3d Bn 7th Marines” at ttu.edu]

His life was sacrificed because I came down with Malaria and was medevac'd back to Da Nang hospital. Lance Corporal Urban came out to the field and replaced me as a forward observer radio operator. I am sorry for your loss. The whole company was wiped out.

Dear Lcpl Richard Urban, Thank you for your service as a Field Radio Operator. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. 9/11's anniversary is soon. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it still needs your strength, courage, guidance and faithfulness, especially now. Rest in peace with the angels.

Richard grew up in Stratford, CT at the corner of Hollister and Soundview Ave’s, diagonally across from my grandparents. I lived on Burritt Ave, the next street over from him, and I graduated Stratford HS in ’62 with his older sister. We all “came up” with the same blue-collar roots in that neighborhood. Having met his mom on several occasions, I have always felt sorrow for her and the unimaginable agony I know she suffered upon receiving word of this hero’s sacrifice. For many years later, all the curtains remained drawn in her home.
During a recent visit to DC, I wanted to see all the memorials with my son for each of our wars, but wanted to end at the Vietnam Memorial. Upon finding Richard’s name, I starred at it for a long time, thinking of him and his family.
From another neighborhood kid who volunteered at the same time you stepped up Richard, thank you Lance Corporal Urban for your ultimate sacrifice.