This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Gary Hardesty
to remember
Marine PFC Eldridge Char Aigeldinger.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Havertown
Last Address Havertown, PA
Casualty Date Aug 27, 1966
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Multiple Fragmentation Wounds
Location Quang Nam (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Valley Forge Memorial Gardens - King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
Description USS Boxer (LPH-4) was acting as flagship for Amphibious Squadron 10 when she answered an urgent call on 25 April from the United States Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She steamed to the revolt-torn country to assist in the evacuating of U.S. and other nationals. On Tuesday, 27 April, 294 persons were brought aboard Boxer and were then transferred to USS Raleigh (LPD-1) on Wednesday morning. As the situation worsened, later that same day 705 additional persons were brought aboard. During the entire week Boxer evacuated more than 1,000 men, women and children from the island, administering medical aid, hospital facilities and food, and providing sleeping spaces.
More than 500 Marines from the Sixth Expeditionary Unit and Marine Helicopter Squadron 264, embarked in Boxer, were deployed to insure the safety of the evacuees. Men were berthed in the troop berthing areas, and the women and children in the officers' staterooms. After three days aboard Boxer they were transferred to adjoining ships, USS Ruchamkin (APD-89), Raleigh [LPD-1], and Wood County (LST-1178) for transit to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
