Birth: Oct. 3, 1947
Bridgeport
Fairfield County
Connecticut, USA Death: Jul. 28, 1968
Quang Nam, Vietnam
Richard the son of Charles A. Urban and Elsie A. Urban of Stratford CT enlisted in the US Marine Corps on April 4 1967 in Los Angeles CA. He arrived in Vietnam on April 20 1968 where he was assigned for duty with Battery I, 3d Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st MARDIV (Rein) FMF.

During July, the 11th Marines artillery units were in direct support of the 7th Marines with Battery I, located on Hill 65 in support of the 3d Battalion operating mainly in the Dai Loc District of Quang Nam Province.

On July 28, Company K, of the 7th Marines got heavily engaged with a large NVA force in an area of Dien Ban District known to Marines as "DODGE CITY". A large number of casualties were taken by the Marines who found themselves with little cover in open rice paddies; reaction forces from Company L and M were dispatched to assist the beleaguered Marines who were unable to move in any direction and had little cover. Marines assaulted the enemy fortifications, enabling others in attempting to retrieve their fallen comrades, artillery, fixed wing and air strike missions were called in on the enemy positions helping to relieve some of the pressure on the men under fire. By late afternoon Company K was able to link up with the men from Company L and M, moving with their casualties to a secured LZ (Landing Zone) to evacuate their dead and wounded.

The day proved to be a costly one for the Marines, Company K lost seventeen men who were killed in action, including their US Navy Corpsman, many more were wounded and evacuated. Company M had one Marine killed and five wounded, also, one of the casualties was LCpl Urban, killed by hostile rife fire, who was the radio operator for the FO (Forward Observer) from Battery I, 11th Marines and had been attached to one of the infantry units during the battle.

Burial:
Saint John the Baptist Greek Catholic Cemetery
Stratford
Fairfield County
Connecticut, USA
GPS (lat/lon): 41.22906, -73.1512

Richard Edward Urban