M116 HUSKY HIT MINE 9 KM W-NW OF THANG BINH 19691008
UTM grid reference is BT085462

Claude Ellard Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Ellard Sr., was killed when the jeep in which he was riding hit a land mine near Quang Nam. He reportedly had been in Vietnam only three weeks and was with the Headquarters Service Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment.

Mr. and Mrs. Claude E. Ellard Wednesday accepted the Navy Commendation Medal posthumously awarded their son, Marine Pfc. Claude E. Ellard Jr. Maj. C.W. Gibson Jr., inspector-instructor of the 13th Force Reconnaissance Co., U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Training Center here, presented the decoration for the Marine's meritorious service as ammunitions man with the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam. He was killed in action Oct. 8, 1969. In a previous ceremony the parents received other awards including the Purple Heart and Vietnam service medals.

Ellard, Claude Ernest, Jr., PFC