Criteria The Purple Heart may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the Armed Forces, has been wounded, kill... The Purple Heart may be awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the Armed Forces, has been wounded, killed, or who has died or may die of wounds received in armed combat or as a result of an act of international terrorism. The criteria were announced in a War Department circular dated February 22, 1932, and authorized award to soldiers, upon their request, who had been awarded the Meritorious Service Citation Certificate, Army Wound Ribbon, or were authorized to wear Wound Chevrons subsequent to April 5, 1917 MoreHide
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
Criteria The Presidential Unit Citation may be awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or aft... The Presidential Unit Citation may be awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and cobelligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or after December 7, 1941. MoreHide
Criteria The Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal is awarded on a selective basis to enlisted members in the Regular Marine Corps or Marine Corps Reserve to recognize good behavior and faithful service in the U.S. ... The Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal is awarded on a selective basis to enlisted members in the Regular Marine Corps or Marine Corps Reserve to recognize good behavior and faithful service in the U.S. Marine Corps while on active duty for a specified period of time. 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
Criteria The Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Colors) was authorized to be worn by units individually cited for service in military operations in support of the government of Sout... The Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Colors) was authorized to be worn by units individually cited for service in military operations in support of the government of South Vietnam. The actions cited are for the same services that would have resulted in the award of a Valorous Unit Citation by the Army or a Navy Unit Citation. MoreHide
Criteria
The unit citation of the Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal was awarded certain units by the Vietnamese government for meritorious service during the period 1 March 1961 to 28 March 1974.
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 On 27 January, Company L 3/7 Marines and Battery I 12th Marines were deployed by helicopter to Núiàng. The following morning Companies I and M 3/7 Marines were landed by helicopter north of Núiàng andOn 27 January, Company L 3/7 Marines and Battery I 12th Marines were deployed by helicopter to Núiàng. The following morning Companies I and M 3/7 Marines were landed by helicopter north of Núiàng and moved west and east to secure the adjacent villages of Vinh Binh (1) and Truong Sanh (14.818°N 108.975°E).
On occupying Truong Sanh villagers informed the Marines that a large Vietcong force had abandoned the village and moved north to Tan Tu (2)(14.823°N 108.973°E). As Company M advanced on Tan Tu (2) they were hit first by sniper fire and the automatic weapons fire from entrenched Vietcong in the village, the Marines withdrew, called in artillery and airstrikes and attacked again, but were again driven back by heavy fire and so withdrew to a night defensive position. On the morning of 29 January Companies I and M assaulted Tan Tu (2), despite suffering casualties from long-range sniper fire the village was barely defended and the Marines secured it by 13:30.
On 30 January after preparatory artillery fire, Company I moved east towards the village of Hai Mon (14.823°N 108.978°E) where they were met with intense small arms fire, airstrikes were called in followed by helicopter gunships. One of the UH-1E gunships was hit and had to make an emergency landing. The Vietcong defenses were well-constructed and the Marines soon found themselves caught in a crossfire in the paddyfields west of the village. At 16:55 Company I was ordered to withdraw to the west and Company M was sent in to help them disengage under the cover of artillery and airstrikes, due to the intense fire the withdrawal and evacuation of casualties wasn't completed until 22:00.
On 31 January a massive artillery bombardment was directed against Hai Mon. That night the 3/7 command post was hit by Vietcong mortar fire then attacked by an estimated 20 Vietcong. The attack was defeated with 2 Vietcong killed and 14 Marines wounded.
On 5 February the Marines launched a fresh assault against Hai Mon. Reconnaissance had indicated that the Vietcong defenses faced west and so it was decided that Companies L and M would be deployed by helicopter east of the village. As artillery hit Hai Mon helicopters from HMM-262 deployed the Marines who were quickly able to overcome the defenses with supporting fire. A Vietcong force was observed escaping north by sampan across the Song Tra Cau and airstrikes were directed against them. On searching Hai Mon the Marines found a network of well-constructed tunnels and bunkers and engineers used over 3600 lbs of explosives to destroy them.
Operation Desoto continued throughout February with the Marines searching numerous villages meeting minimal opposition but suffering steady attrition due to mines and sniper fire.
On 16 February 1st Battalion 4th Marines launched Operation Deckhouse VI at Sa Huỳnh 18 km southeast of Núiàng, after securing the area and establishing a supply base 1/4 Marines were to move north to support 3/7 Marines and conduct search and destroy operations in the ức Ph/Mức Districts. 1/4 Marines uncovered numerous Vietcong stores and bunkers and suffered 6 killed and 61 wounded while the Vietcong lost 201 killed before arriving at positions near Nui Dau (14.754°N 109.00°E) on 25 February. Deckhouse VI continued until 3 March.
Operation Desoto continued into March with numerous small skirmishes with the Vietcong. On the early morning of 24 March the Vietong hit the 3/7 Marines base with mortar and recoilless rifle fire killing 3 Marines and igniting a 70,000-gallon fuel storage dump. On 27 March the Vietcong fired 18 recoilless rifle rounds at the USS Ozbourn (DD-846) 1 km from the mouth of the Song Tra Cau causing no damage to the ship. Also on 27 March Company K 3/7 Marines conducted a search operation near Nui Dau and Vietcong were observed to be escaping the area and hiding in a nearby swamp; helicopter gunships attacked the swamp killing 23 Vietcong while another 49 were captured.
On 5 April a patrol from Company G 3/7 Marines triggered a mine near their night defensive position southeast of Nui Dau. A medical evacuation of the two wounded Marines was requested and a UH-1E gunship #151852 from VMO-6 arrived to pick up the wounded; the helicopter was instructed to hover over the landing zone in case there were any more mines, but as it did so a command-detonated mine made from a 250 lb bomb was detonated destroying the helicopter and a further mine was detonated as Marines rushed to assist, killing all 4 helicopter crew and 8 Marines and Navy corpsmen.
Aftermath
Operation Desoto concluded on 7 April, the Marines had suffered 76 dead and 573 wounded and the Vietcong 383 killed.... More
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
GOODWIN TURNER, I was with him in Platoon 342, USMCRD San Diego, 1963. I remember him as a fun loving guy. Great memories. RIP brother.