THE WALL OF FACES

thank you for your service for this country. You are a powerful soul. May you rest in paradise.

During May 1967, the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division was engaged in two major operations in Quang Tri Province, RVN, Operations Hickory and Prairie IV. During the first part of the month, the battalion provided security for Dong Ha Combat Base. It was later tasked with the same mission at the Con Thien Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) Camp. By maintaining the battalion at Con Thien, patrols consisting of two companies could be sent out into the area to the north and east of the base. The operations were characterized by light enemy contact; however, a significant enemy engagement occurred on May 28th when 1st Platoon, Company D received automatic weapons fire from an estimated North Vietnamese Army (NVA) company while conducting search and destroy operations four kilometers (2.4 miles) northeast of Con Thien. The platoon assaulted the forward positions of the NVA unit, obtaining six enemy kills and ten probable kills. The company command group and 3rd Platoon moved up to assist extracting the 1st Platoon which had become pinned down during the fighting. Second Platoon, securing a nearby landing zone, redeployed to rejoin the rest of D Company in withdrawing casualties. While enroute, it was taken under fire by twenty NVA. The platoon returned fire resulting in four NVA kills and eleven probable kills. Company C, 1/9 moved into position to assist Company D which by then had broken contact because of impending darkness and to evacuate casualties. Heavy artillery fire and air strikes were placed on the enemy positions. These fires were extremely effective, and during one napalm attack, screams from the NVA casualties could be heard 200 yards away. A two-company perimeter was established, the casualties evacuated, and an emergency resupply was received. The two companies then moved to a new location where they set up a night defensive position. No further contact with the enemy was made. Five Marines were killed during the hostilities and eighteen wounded. The lost personnel included PFC Lloyd M. Adkins Jr., PFC John W. Avelleyra, SGT Richard Brown, LCPL Robert E. Monahon, and CPL George M. Walkinshaw. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and “Command Chronology (1st Bn 9th Marines), May 1967” at ttu.edu]

May those who served never be forgotten. Rest in peace SGT. Brown, I salute your brave soul. My heart goes out to you and your family. Semper Fidelis!

You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. May you rest in eternal peace.