Adair, William Michael, Sgt

NIGHT ATTACK FSB ROSS, 2 KM WEST OF QUE SON 19700106
UTM grid reference is BT025343

William the son of Lyle D. Adair and Margaret J. Adair of Salem OR in the US Marine Corps Reserve entered active duty at Camp Pendleton CA on July 18, 1969 and assigned TAD for 18 months for duty in Vietnam. Sgt Adair arrived in country on August 19, 1969 and was assigned to H&S Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st MARDIV (Rein) FMF.

At 01:30H undercover of darkness and a monsoon rain which cut the visibility the VC announced their attack on Fire Support Base Ross with a 200 round mortar barrage and sappers opened fire with RPG's and small arms around the entire perimeter. Explosions thundered throughout the compound and hot molten metal whistled in the damp air. The first shells caught many of the Marines asleep in their quarters, but with explosions all around them they immediately scrambled for their assigned fighting hole or any defensive position in close proximity. Infiltrators had breeched the wire and were inside the perimeter causing havoc with satchel charges and grenades. The defenders rallied quickly and after cleaning out their living areas from the enemy onslaught they deployed around the perimeter to block any further attack. 

One of the many Marine casualties that didn't survive the night was Sgt Adair who was killed as a result of multiple fragmentation wounds.

Casualties: H&S Company

William Michael Adair
Russel Earl Gilbrech
Julian Robles Rodriguez
Frank Mark Walker

Casualties: Company A

Kenneth William Boward
Richard Fredrick Brant Jr.
William Leslie Campbell Jr. Died of Wounds
John James Hargreaves
Mickey Lee Hawkins
Beryl Gene Peters
Dean Allyn Wilderspin

Casualties: Company C

Joseph Alfred Lozano

Service number 2112272/540503101
Tour start date 08/19/1969