Criteria The Navy Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that distinguishes itself by outstanding heroism in action against an enemy (but not suff... The Navy Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that distinguishes itself by outstanding heroism in action against an enemy (but not sufficiently to justify the award of the Presidential Unit Citation). It may also be awarded to a unit that distinguishes itself by extremely meritorious service not involving combat (but in support of military operations), which renders that unit outstanding when compared to other units performing similar service. MoreHide
Description
1st ANGLICO - Vietnam, 18 February 1968-31 July 1969 uncertain of year actually awarded
Criteria The Combat Action Ribbon is a personal decoration awarded to members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard (when operating under the control of the Navy) in the grade of captain (or colonel in th... The Combat Action Ribbon is a personal decoration awarded to members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard (when operating under the control of the Navy) in the grade of captain (or colonel in the Marine Corps) and below who have actively participated in ground or surface combat. (World War II and Korea War service rate one ribbon for each period only) MoreHide
Description
Retroactively 1st real combat, besides booby traps, mines and snipers - 1968 Authorized by Congress - 1999
Criteria The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service... The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service during the current War on Terrorism. In addition, all members of the National Guard and Reserve who were part of the Selected Reserve in good standing between August 2, 1990, to November 30, 1995, are eligible for the National Defense Service Medal. In the case of Navy personnel, Midshipment attending the Naval Academy during the qualifying periods are eligible for this award, and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Midshipmen ae only eligible if they participated in a summer cruise that was in an area which qualified for a campaign medal. MoreHide
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Comments
(Tet Counteroffensive, 30JAN to 01 APR 1968) (Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase IV, 02 APR to 30 JUN 1968) (Vietnamese Counteroffensive Phase V, 01 JUL to 1 NOV 1968)
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Criteria This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who: 1. Served for 6 months in South Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; or 2. Served outside the geographical l... This medal is awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who: 1. Served for 6 months in South Vietnam during the period 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; or 2. Served outside the geographical limits of South Vietnam and contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces for an aggregate of six months. Only members of the Armed Forces of the United States who meet the criteria established for the AFEM (Vietnam) or Vietnam Service Medal during the period of service required are considered to have contributed direct combat support to the RVN Armed Forces; or 3. Did not complete the length of service required in item (1) or (2) above, but who, during wartime, were: a. Wounded by the enemy (in a military action); b. Captured by the enemy during action or in the line of duty, but later rescued or released; or c. Killed in action or in the line of duty; or 4. Were assigned in Vietnam on 28 Jan 73, and who served a minimum of 60 calendar days in Vietnam during the period 29 Jan 73 to 28 Mar 73. MoreHide
Description This campaign was from 30 January to 1 April 1968. On 29 January 1968 the Allies began the Tet-lunar new year expecting the usual 36-hour peaceful holiday truce. Because of the threat of a large-scaleThis campaign was from 30 January to 1 April 1968. On 29 January 1968 the Allies began the Tet-lunar new year expecting the usual 36-hour peaceful holiday truce. Because of the threat of a large-scale attack and communist buildup around Khe Sanh, the cease fire order was issued in all areas over which the Allies were responsible with the exception of the I CTZ, south of the Demilitarized Zone.
Determined enemy assaults began in the northern and Central provinces before daylight on 30 January and in Saigon and the Mekong Delta regions that night. Some 84,000 VC and North Vietnamese attacked or fired upon 36 of 44 provincial capitals, 5 of 6 autonomous cities, 64 of 242 district capitals and 50 hamlets. In addition, the enemy raided a number of military installations including almost every airfield. The actual fighting lasted three days; however Saigon and Hue were under more intense and sustained attack.
The attack in Saigon began with a sapper assault against the U.S. Embassy. Other assaults were directed against the Presidential Palace, the compound of the Vietnamese Joint General Staff, and nearby Ton San Nhut air base.
At Hue, eight enemy battalions infiltrated the city and fought the three U.S. Marine Corps, three U.S. Army and eleven South Vietnamese battalions defending it. The fight to expel the enemy lasted a month. American and South Vietnamese units lost over 500 killed, while VC and North Vietnamese battle deaths may have been somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000.
Heavy fighting also occurred in two remote regions: around the Special Forces camp at Dak To in the central highlands and around the U.S. Marines Corps base at Khe Sanh. In both areas, the allies defeated attempts to dislodge them. Finally, with the arrival of more U.S. Army troops under the new XXIV Corps headquarters to reinforce the marines in the northern province, Khe Sanh was abandoned.
Tet proved a major military defeat for the communists. It had failed to spawn either an uprising or appreciable support among the South Vietnamese. On the other hand, the U.S. public became discouraged and support for the war was seriously eroded. U.S. strength in South Vietnam totaled more than 500,000 by early 1968. In addition, there were 61,000 other allied troops and 600,000 South Vietnamese.
The Tet Offensive also dealt a visibly severe setback to the pacification program, as a result of the intense fighting needed to root out VC elements that clung to fortified positions inside the towns. For example, in the densely populated delta there had been approximately 14,000 refugees in January; after Tet some 170,000 were homeless. The requirement to assist these persons seriously inhibited national recovery efforts.... More
People You Remember Ray Shawn KIA 04 JUL 68 Jim Chally Williams Dave Doran Doug McLaughlin Dan 'Shorty' Dierker Cpt Yoon Lee SoRay Shawn KIA 04 JUL 68 Jim Chally Williams Dave Doran Doug McLaughlin Dan 'Shorty' Dierker Cpt Yoon Lee So Ho Park Young Goon that bad-ass black belt kid whose Ha Sa was always beating the crap out of - good machine gunner KIA in March ambush 'Boxy', Korean Corpsman with a big smile, blown in half by a land mine 10' behind me... More
Description This campaign was from 2 April to 30 June 1968. During this period friendly forces conducted a number of battalion-size attritional operations against the enemy.
Operations PEGASUS-Lam Son 207 relievThis campaign was from 2 April to 30 June 1968. During this period friendly forces conducted a number of battalion-size attritional operations against the enemy.
Operations PEGASUS-Lam Son 207 relieved the Khe Sanh Combat Base on 5 April and thereby opened Route 9 for the first time since August 1967. This operation not only severely restricted the North Vietnamese Army's use of western Quang Tri Province but also inflicted casualties on the remnants of two North Vietnamese divisions withdrawing from the area. This success was followed by a singular allied spoiling operation in the A Shau Valley, Operation DELAWARE-Lam Son. These two operations prevented the enemy from further attacking I Corps Tactical Zone population centers and forced him to shift his pressure to the III Corps Tactical Zone.
During the period 5-12 May 1968 the Viet Cong launched an offensive with Saigon as the primary objective. Friendly forces defended the city with great determination. Consequently Saigon was never in danger of being overrun. Small Viet Cong units that did manage to get into the outskirts were fragmented and driven out with great loss of enemy life. By the end of June 1968 friendly forces had decisively blunted the enemy's attacks, inflicted very heavy casualties, and hindered his ability to attack urban areas throughout the Republic of Vietnam. The enemy was forced to withdraw to his sanctuaries.
The strength of the U.S. Army in Vietnam reach a peak of nearly 360,000 men during this period.... More
People You Remember
LCpl Ray Shawn Cpl Jim Chally Cpt Yoon Choon-woong
Description 1 Jul to 31 Jul, 1st MAW Helo's; Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 (HMLA-167) and 1st Armored Amphibian Company, 11th Marines, supported 2nd ROK Brigade conduct search and clear operations i1 Jul to 31 Jul, 1st MAW Helo's; Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 (HMLA-167) and 1st Armored Amphibian Company, 11th Marines, supported 2nd ROK Brigade conduct search and clear operations in Southeatern Quang Nam Province... More
People You Remember Cpt Yoon Choon-woong Cpl Jim Chally Cpl Charles Williams Col Doug McLoughlin Cpl Dan Dierker Cpl Dave DorCpt Yoon Choon-woong Cpl Jim Chally Cpl Charles Williams Col Doug McLoughlin Cpl Dan Dierker Cpl Dave Doran LCpl Stan (Dusty) Allen... More
Memories Approximately at the beginning of this Operational period, on July 4th, Ray Shawn was killed. He waApproximately at the beginning of this Operational period, on July 4th, Ray Shawn was killed. He was walking point. We weren't supposed to do that (2533) but he volunteered on that day. He was a great Marine.... More
Description This campaign was from 1 July to 1 November 1968. During this period a country-wide effort was begun to restore government control of territory lost to the enemy since the Tet offensive. The enemy attThis campaign was from 1 July to 1 November 1968. During this period a country-wide effort was begun to restore government control of territory lost to the enemy since the Tet offensive. The enemy attempted another such offensive on 17-18 August but his efforts were comparatively feeble and were quickly overwhelmed by Allied forces.
In the fall of 1968 the South Vietnamese government, with major U.S. support, launched an accelerated pacification campaign. All friendly forces were coordinated and brought to bear on the enemy in every tactical area of operation. In these intensified operations, friendly units first secured a target area, then Vietnamese government units, regional forces/popular forces, police and civil authorities screened the inhabitants, seeking members of the Viet Cong infrastructure. This technique was so successful against the political apparatus that it became the basis for subsequent friendly operations. Government influence expanded into areas of the countryside previously dominated by the Viet Cong to such an extent that two years later at least some measure of government control was evident in all but a few remote regions.... More
People You Remember
LCpl Ray Shawn, KIA 04 JUL 1968 Cpl Jim Chally Cpt Yoon Choon-woong
Best Friends
USMC: Ray Shawn, Jim Chally, Dave Doran, Dan Dierker, Charles Williams ROKMC: Cpt Yoon Choon-woong, Park Yeong Joon
Best Moment
NOTE: EVERYONE knows me as "Vance", my middle name, thus Richard V. Hall:
Worst Moment
Either late Feb when 10th Co. suffered 13 KIA and lots of WIA one day, or 04JUL68 when Ray Shawn was killed.
Chain of Command
I rarely saw any U.S. Marine above E-4; no idea about the ever-changing rear guard; on a day-to-day basis, we were free agents, but ANGLICO served both the interests of the Korean Marines who kept us alive and the U.S. Marine pilots who brought food, ammo, and firepower to the Koreans
Other Memories
Most likeable guys - Jim Chally, Dave Doran, Doug "Mac" McLoughlin, Dan "Shorty" Dierker, Mike Sweeney, Stan "Dusty" Allen.
Supply Sgt wouldn't issue new jungle boots after the second pair rotted away. Glad I didn't waste him. Risked my neck to get back to Brigade to ask those MF's why they wouldn't send boots to the field. Glad to get back to the field away from all that.
Best Moment
Selected to attend Amphib Recon School in Coronado. That was tremendous opportunity with great challenge and also enjoyable. Sgt H. P. "Horsepower" Wiggins led PT
Other Memories
SSgt H.P. (Horsepower) Wiggins leading PT soon after revelry at 0400. He's the chin-up champ of the world, pulling up to nearly his waist on each chin-up.
Best Friends
Salvadore Trujillo - had a great time visiting his family up in Riverside. Double dated with Sal and his girl, and her best friend. Got the evil eye in a rough bar in Riverside, until they saw who this Anglo was with. Little Sal had some respect.
Best Moment
Graduated top in class, so I had first choice of next duty/training (5th Recon)
the crew at the NCO club
getting thrown out of the NCO club twice in one night