rweston

On March 27th Ralph, with a passnger (a Lt. Col. from one of the 155SP batallions) went out along the mountains south of dong Ha. He went single ship (as no one else liked flying aero-scout missions, and I had left for the Griffins by then), and in a triple canopy was working an NVA bunker complex, as a arty spotter with the Lt. Col. calling the fire mission. I am sure that Ralph not only volunteered for the mission, but probably ensured the Lt. Col. that they could handle it as a 'single-ship mission.' What happen next is from what Ralph was able to tell us - after he was shot down: Ralph said that he had been working the bunker line for about 20 minutes when a 51 opened up on them as they were pulling out of a BDA pass. He said that they never had a chance to evade the fire. Ralph said this over his survival radio as he laid hung up in a tree while we tried to get him out. the 58 had crashed into the heavy triple canopy and was a total loss. The LTC was killed by 51 fire (this according to ralph) and probably never knew what happened. The NVA were using Ralph for bait - and though they didn't kill him right away, they prevented any sort of rescue attempt for over three hours. Because there was no area where we could get a Huey down near his location, we couldn't get any of the 2/17 CAV Blues to the site until the next day. By then, Ralph was dead. The NVA used him as bait for hours until night fall. I not only listened to this operation, I talked to Ralph while flying over him. He was the only pilot the unit lost during the War. He was young, and very brave, and I am sure if he could have flown for a regular CAV type unit - he would have been an excellent scout pilot. But he needed to finish at least 9 months 'In country' before our CO [COL (P) Roscoe Cartwright] would let anyone extend. As a side note one of the 2/17 CAV pilots asked what he was doing out there single ship flying scouts! and his reply was "Sneaky does it all of the time." this statement is something that I live with all of the time - maybe I was just too agressive and after I left he carried that aggressiveness - though without a wing man. "Sneaky" White - 1993 ...more

PFC Galiana was a machine-gunner with I Co., 3/1 Marines. He was killed in action the day after he turned 20 years old. In April 1967 Fox Company, 2nd Bn, 1st Marines manned an outpost on a hill at Nui Loc Son in the Que Son Valley, running daily (and nightly) patrols to deny the valley below to the enemy. On 21 Apr 1967, most of the company set out on a daylight patrol that took them into the village of Binh Son. As the Marines approached across the rice paddies they were ambushed by a dug-in VC Main Force battalion that enjoyed a clear line of fire across level land with little cover ... Fox 2/1 had run into a hornet's nest. Fourteen Marines were killed and 18 others wounded early in the fight, which continued until other elements of the 1st Marines and the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, arrived and flanked the VC from their fortifications. By the time Fox 2/1 was relieved they had lost 29 men. India and Mike Companies, 3/1, lost 14 more, including Pfc Galiana. He was awarded the Silver Star posthumously. The citation reads: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Rudolph S. Galiana (2297083), Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Gunner in the machine-gun section, Second Platoon, Company I, Third Battalion, First Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), during operations in the Republic of Vietnam. On 21 April 1967, two companies of the Third Battalion, First Marines were helilifted into the Que Son Valley in the vicinity of Nui Loc Son to reinforce an infantry company that was heavily engaged by a numerically superior enemy force estimated to be of battalion size. The enemy was well-entrenched and delivered highly effective small-arms and mortar fire against the relieving companies. In the ensuing battle, Private First Class Galiana's machine-gun team was positioned to gain fire superiority over the enemy positions that held his platoon's advance to a standstill. Immediately after engaging the enemy his machine-gun team was caught in a cross fire and heavily engaged for the next several minutes. During this time the ammunition supply for the gun became critically low. With complete disregard for his own personal safety, Private First Class Galiana stood up in the middle of the cross fire that had already killed or wounded several members of his team and ran from man to man collecting ammunition from the dead and wounded. After he had collected all the ammunition, he ran back to the gun position and passed it to the gunner. As he did so, he was fatally wounded by enemy machine-gun fire. His outstanding courage, daring initiative and valiant fighting spirit were an inspiration to all who observed him, and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. The engagement initiated Operation UNION, a massive effort to clear the VC from the Que Son area - but an effort which had to be repeated throughout the war. ...more

Corporal Watington was killed in action on 8 May 1967 during a battalion-sized NVA attack on the Marine base at Con Thien. He was awarded the Silver Star posthumously: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Ralph H. Watington, Jr. (2104550), Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company D, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam on May 8, 1967. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger, Corporal Watington upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. ...more

The TET offensive at Danang began with a rocket attack on the air base itself as well as attacks on outlying military positions. The 1st MP Bn was responsible for ground defense of the Danang and Marble Mountain air bases as well as establishing two quick reaction platoons made up of headquarters personnel. "1968: The Definitive Year" contains the following regarding an early morning attack at Hoa Vang Village, just south of Danang, where the I Corps headquarters compound was located: "[The Commanding Officer of 1st MP Bn] agreed that they would deploy one of the battalion's two reserve provisional Quick Reaction platoons composed of headquarters personnel. This platoon under First Lieutenant John E. Manning departed the airbase about 0415 and arrived in the blocking positions about 0515. ... "In the attack on the I Corps headquarters and in the defense of Hoa Vang village the allies sustained losses of nine dead and several wounded. Among the casualties were two Marines killed, including Lieutenant Manning, and six wounded from the 1st MP Battalion." The 1st MP Bn Command Chronology contains the following entry for 30 January 1968: "f. H&S Co. reaction platoons assisted by elements from Maintenance Bn while moving into blocking positions south of I Corps Headquarters made heavy contact with VC/NVA Units and the resulting fire fight lasted approximately 2-1/2 hours. 1st MP Bn casualties 2 KIA and 6 WlA, enemy casualties not officially known as bodies were taken to I Corps Headquarters by RVN Units operating in the same area; tentative results 30 VC/NVA KIA's, 24 VC/NVA POW's and several weapons and items of equipment seized." The two Marines from H&S Company, 1st MP Bn, were 1stLt Manning and Pfc Colben B. Stokes. ...more

SILVER STAR CITATION: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Colben Benjamin Stokes (2101657), Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Headquarters and Service Company, First Military Police Battalion, Force Logistic Command, THIRD Marine Amphibious Force, in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 30 January 1968, during a combat operation in the DaNang Tactical Area of Responsibility, Private First Class Stokes' platoon was moving into a blocking position near Ap Bon (1). Suddenly, the Marines came under a heavy volume of small arms fire and grenades from a numerically superior enemy force and, in the ensuing engagement, several Marines were wounded. With complete disregard for his own safety, Private First Class Stokes exposed himself to the hostile fire in order to assist his injured comrades. Ignoring the intense enemy fire, he fearlessly maneuvered across the fire-swept terrain to a wounded corpsman and skillfully rendered medical treatment. Despite the heavy volume of enemy fire directed at him, he unhesitatingly crawled toward an injured Marine officer. Before reaching the casualty, however, Private First Class Stokes was mortally wounded. His resolute determination and sincere concern for the welfare of his comrades were an inspiration to all who served with him and contributed significantly to the accomplishment of his unit's mission. By his courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty, Private First Class Stokes upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. ...more

Cpl. Scanlon was a member of 3d Force Recon, 3d Marine Divison and was killed in action while on a long-recon patrol by falling on a grenade in order to save his fellow Marines. SILVER STAR CITATION: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Michael J. Scanlon (2136902), Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Rifleman with Detachment, Third Force Reconnaissance Battalion, THIRD Marine Division, during operations against the enemy in Vietnam. On the night of 17 January 1967, Corporal Scanlon, as a member of a seven-man reconnaissance patrol, was flown by helicopter deep into enemy-controlled territory, with the mission of locating enemy infiltration routes. Throughout the night, the Marines heard sounds of enemy activity. At dawn on 18 January, the patrol moved to an observation point where a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army patrol of approximately forty men was sighted moving toward their position. Assigned the responsibility of providing security for the patrol's flank, Corporal Scanlon quickly moved to his defensive position where he was observed by the approaching enemy. Demonstrating exceptional presence of mind, he warned his companions and immediately opened fire at the lead man of the North Vietnamese unit. His continued to bring effective fire to bear on the advancing enemy although wounded twice as the North Vietnamese moved to within fifteen meters of his position. Exhibiting exemplary courage and aggressive fighting spirit despite his painful wounds and the intense enemy fire directed at him, Corporal Scanlon maintained his position and halted the enemy's attempts to dislodge the patrol's flank security. When an enemy hand grenade landed within the patrol's defensive perimeter Corporal Scanlon, with complete disregard for his own safety, valiantly attempted to recover the grenade but was mortally wounded. By his extraordinary courage, bold initiative, and selfless devotion to duty, Corporal Scanlon undoubtedly saved the lives of several Marines, inspired all those who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. ...more

SILVER STAR CITATION: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Carl Nicholas Mapes Horner (US-56712312), Corporal [then Private First Class], U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company E, 3d Battalion, 187th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division on 7 September 1968. Corporal Horner was serving as lead rifleman with a reconnaissance platoon on a heliborne operation near Trung Lap, Republic of Vietnam. Landing in an area of open rice paddies, the reconnaissance platoon immediately came under small arms fire from what was later estimated to be a battalion sized force of North Vietnamese Army Regulars hidden in a nearby woodline. Using fire and maneuver tactics, the platoon began moving across two hundred meters of open rice paddies toward a small mound about seventy-five meters from, and running parallel to, the woodline. With complete disregard for his own safety, Private First Class Horner repeatedly left positions of cover behind rice paddy dikes and crossed open terrain as he led the first squad. When the platoon reached the mound, Private First Class Horner fearlessly stood up and led the platoon in an aggressive assault on the woodline. Seven concealed enemy machine guns suddenly initiated fire. Surprised by this barrage of small arms, automatic weapons, and rocket propelled grenade fire, the platoon was forced to make maximum use of the limited available cover in the rice paddies. To draw the enemy's attention and fire to himself, Private First Class Horner repeatedly stood up and fired quick bursts at the enemy with his M-16 rifle. As a result, several of his comrades were able to pull back to more secure positions. Private First Class Horner then noticed a wounded comrade lying in an unprotected position near an enemy machine gun. He immediately charged into the open in an assault on the position. Although he was mortally wounded in the attempt, others were able to take advantage of the diversion to move the wounded man to safety. Private First Class Horner's personal bravery and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division, General Orders No. 2383 (March 17, 1969) Home Town: San Bernardino, California ...more

SILVER STAR CITATION: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Stephen D. McGee (2231850), Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company M, Third Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), in connection with operations in the Republic of Vietnam. Late on the afternoon of 9 May 1968, Corporal McGee was a member of a patrol which fired on and wounded a North Vietnamese soldier near the Company M defensive position in Quang Tri Province. When the enemy soldier fled into the dense foliage, a fire team commenced searching the area and immediately came under intense hostile fire, which wounded one of the Marines. Observing that several other men were wounded in an attempt to reach the injured man who lay exposed to enemy fire, Corporal McGee completely disregarded his own safety and fearlessly ran to assist the casualty to a position of relative security. Seriously wounded and knocked to the ground by hostile fire, he ignored his own painful injury and continued to advance toward his fallen comrade until he was mortally wounded by enemy fire. By his courage, bold initiative, and selfless devotion to duty at the risk of his own life, Corporal McGee upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. ...more

Final resting place is Hollywood Memorial Park, Union, NJ.