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LCpl Ashley Roberts
to remember
Marine Sgt William Michael Adair (Mike).
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Casualty Info
Home Town Bellevue, WA
Last Address Bellevue, WA
Casualty Date Jan 06, 1970
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Quang Nam (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Willamette National Cemetery (VA) - Portland, Oregon
Wall/Plot Coordinates 14W 006/Plot: Section K, Site 3906
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
Comments/Citation:
Service number 2112272/540503101
Tour start date 08/19/1969
Vietnam War/Winter-Spring 1970 Campaign
From Month/Year
November / 1969
To Month/Year
April / 1970
Description This campaign was from 1 November 1969 to 30 April 1970. An increase in enemy-initiated attacks, at the highest level since 4-5 September signaled the start of the first phase of the Communist winter campaign. This was highlighted by intensified harassment incidents, and attacks throughout the Republic of Vietnam. In November-December these were heaviest in Corps Tactical Zones III and IV (around Saigon), primarily directed against Vietnamese military installations in order to disrupt the pacification program. The most significant enemy activity occurred in November with heavy attacks upon By Prang and Duc Lap in CTZ II (Central Vietnam).
By February 1970 the focus of enemy activity began to shift to CTZ I and II. Attacks increased steadily, reaching a peak in April 1970. Hostile forces staged their heaviest attacks in the Central Highlands near Civilian Irregular Defense Group camps at Dak Seang, Dak Pek, and Ben Het in I CTZ. The enemy also conducted numerous attacks by fire and several sapper attacks against U.S. fire support bases. This high level of enemy activity began in I CTZ in April and continued through May.
During the period 1 November 1969 through 30 April 1970 U.S. and allied forces concentrated on aggressive operations to find and destroy enemy main and local forces, the penetration of base camps and installations and the seizure of enemy supplies and materiel. These operations sought to deny the enemy the initiative and to inflict heavy losses in men and materiel. Further progress was made in Vietnamization through improving the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces. As a result of these advances three brigades of the 1st U.S. Infantry Division and several major U.S.M.C. units were withdrawn from Vietnam during this period.
The enemy made several efforts to take the offensive at Dak Seang, which was attacked on 1 April 1970 and remained under siege throughout the month, and at Quang Duc in the By Prong-Duc Lap area which ended on 28 December. Only Vietnamese forces were engaged in both of these operations, the Quang Duc campaign involving some 12,000 ARVN troops. South Vietnamese forces again took the offensive on 14 April in a bold 3-day operation in the Angel's Wing area along the Cambodian border. The Vietnamese Army completed this mission in an aggressive professional manner without U.S. support-further evidence of their growing proficiency.