1865 Days in Viet Nam

1965

August 1965 - 24 June 1966 - Company Commander - 1stLt. Ben R. Goodwyn

08 August - Okinawa. Embarkation completed and BLT 1/7 enroute to RVN.

Saturday, 14 August - Commenced a covered landing at the CHU LAI enclave RVN.

15 August - Command Posts Established.

1st Battalion CP - BT 563032

Company A CP - BT 577033

Company B CP - BT 562025

Company D CP - BT 551027

Company C - Furnished the ship's platoon and beach working parties.

16 August - Company C - OPCON 4th Marines as a Reserve Company.

17 August - Company C - Detached from the 4th Marines.

20 - 24 August - Participated in Operation STARLITE.

06 - 10 September - Participated in Operation PIRANHA.

Wednesday, 8 September - LCpl Carl E. Jenkins was awarded the Silver Star Medal for his actions in the vicinity of An Hai (1) when the Marines came under intense enemy fire he pursued them into a cave killing one with his rifle and five more with hand grenades.

October 1965 - March 1966 - Participated in Operation TACITURN.

04 October - Charley Co. landed by LVT's and commenced operations on the TRUNG PHAN (NAM TRAM) Peninsula.

Company C established a permanent CP (Base Camp) - BS 624991

27 October - Participated in Operation NEPTUNE.

03 - 05 November - The 1st Platoon Participated in Operation BLACK FERRET.

Thursday, 25 November - Charley Co.'s LCpl Lester KEY is shot and dies of his wounds. He is the first Marine in the Company to die in combat.

04 - 06 December - Participated in a Search and Clear Operation of TUYET DIEM Hamlet. For his actions on Sunday, 05 December , 1stLt. Charles D. Jones was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

1966

Monday, 28 March - Participated in Operation INDIANA.

Charley Co. suffered it's greatest loss of personnel since arriving in Vietnam. 11 * Marines were killed and 43 wounded during a day long battle which carried into the night. The Marines prevailed, and defeated the enemy forces inflicting numerous casualties.

For their actions during the operation Charley Co. Corpsman Robert R. Ingram is awarded The Medal of Honor, and Cpl. E. Wayne Fowler and Pvt. Alvin S. La Pointe are awarded the Navy Cross Medal. Silver Star Medals were also awarded to 1stLt. Benjamin R. Goodwyn, Sgt. James A. Reeves, SSgt Herbert Underhill (Artillery Forward Observer attached to Charley Co.) , and 1stLt. Jerry D. Voyles.

* Note: LCpl Francis E. EDDY was a radio operator with the Artillery Forward Observer from "G" Btry, 3d Bn, 11th Marines attached to Charley Company also KIA included in the (11) KIA listed above.

09 - 14 May - Participated in Operation MONTGOMERY.

24 - 28 May - The Battalion displaced, and realigned all the Company's in Operation MOBILE.

10 June - One squad from Charley Co. were picked to join local PF's at BINH NGHIA village. Designated CAC Lima - 1 by HQ their CP became an adobe villa on the outskirts of the hamlet of BEN YEN NOI.

22 June - Out on a night patrol the Marines of CAC Lima -1 found themselves in the midst of the enemy, a sudden exchange of small arms fire resulted in Pfc Larry Lee PAGE being KIA. The Marines to honor their fallen comrade named their CP FORT PAGE.

24 June - 31 July - Company Commander - Capt. W.P. Aleksic

01 August - 25 November - Company Commander - Capt. David L. Walker

08 - 16 September - Participated in Operation FRESNO.

15 September - A large enemy force attack's CAC Lima - 1 comprised of Marines from Charley Co and PF's, the enemy attack is repulsed but not before 4 Marines are killed and several wounded. For his actions SSgt Joseph Harry Sullivan was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal.

17 - 27 September - Participated in Operation GOLDEN FLEECE 7-1.

25 November - 29 November - Company Commander - 1stLt. P.D. Dolwick

29 November - 31 December - Company Commander - Capt. F. Carley

1967

01 January - 13 February - Company Commander - Capt. David L. Walker

30 January - 01 February - Participated in Operation TRINITY.

14 February - 08 July - Company Commander - Capt. H. W. Austin

Wednesday 01, March - During a patrol near Phu Long hamlet the Marines came under enemy fire and the patrol leader was KIA. Cpl. Robert Newton Pinkerton who was attached as a Artillery Forward Observer quickly rallied the men preventing further casualties. For his actions he was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

01 - 07 April - Participated in Operation BOONE.

10 - 13 April - The Regiment displaced in Operation OREGON, from CHU LAI and DUC PHO to the DA NANG TAOR.

14 April -1st Battalion Command Post Established - AT 934664 Hill 41.

Company C CP - AT 903717

May -1st Battalion Command Post displaced to - AT 966612 Hill 55.

Company C CP - displaced to AT 925626 Phu Loc (6)

Tuesday, 27 June -Conducting a night search and clear operation an anti-personnel mine was tripped, several Marines were wounded and immediately came under fire. Seriously wounded LCpl. Christoper M. LeBaugh courageously directed and deployed his men against the enemy force until relief arrived. For his actions LeBaugh was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

09 July - 15 March 1968 - Company Commander - Capt. K. Ripplemeyer

20 - 27 July - Participated in Operation PECOS.

July -1st Battalion Command Post displaced to - AT 924690 Hill 10.

Company C CP - displaced to AT 919690 Hill 10

27 August - 05 September - Participated in Operation YAZOO.

Thursday, 21 December - During a confrontation with an enemy soldier in the villiage of Khuong My, Pfc. Robert L. Walls shouted a warning to his fellow Mairnes to take cover, as the enemy threw a grenade which killed him. He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star Medal.

1968

Tuesday, 30 - Wednesday 31 January - A Charley Co. patrol was ambushed in the vicinity of PHUOC NINH by enemy forces. A reaction platoon from the Company CP was sent to engage the enemy and relieve the embattled Marines. When contact was finally broken 15 men were KIA including 4 USN Corpsmen.

For his actions Sgt Ronald McNalley was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

14 February - 17 February - Participated in Operation PURSUIT.

Thursday, 15 February - Conducting a search and destroy operation west of the Hill 270 - Hill 310 complex during Operation Pursuit the Marines came in contact with an NVA force. For his actions, 1stLt. Dana F. Mac Cormack was awarded a Silver Star Medal and LCpl. Russell W. Naugle received a Posthumous award of the Silver Star Medal.

Saturday, 17 February - THE GREAT "8" PATROL A volunteer squad of Marines left in the early morning hours to recover the body of a Charley Company Marine who was killed on 15 February on Hill 270. The Marines returned from the NVA infested mountain without sustaining any casualties with the body their fallen comrade.

13 March - 26 March - Participated in Operation WORTH.

16 March 19 June - Company Commander - Capt. B. J. Cauley

18 May - 12 June - Participated in Operation MAMELUKE THRUST.

Sunday, 19 May - Attacking a Hill mass just north west of Hill 52 Charley Company came under fire by a well concealed and dug in enemy force. The heavy small arms and mortar fire infliced casualty's of 9 Marines KIA.

05 July - Company C CP - displaced to AT 905718 Hill 22

20 June - 27 August - Company Commander - 1stLt. P. F. Skoog

28 August - 05 December - Company Commander - Capt. A. H. Moore

December - 1st Bn Command Post displaces and is assigned new TAOR. The CP moves from Hill 10 to Hill 37 AT 917583.

Company C CP - AT 917583

06 December - 16 January 1970 - Company Commander - 1stLt. Mickey G. Coe

Sunday, 08 December - Conducting a search and destroy operation in the vicinity of Da Hoa An (2) village the Marines came under fire from elements of the NVA. Responding with an assualt on the enemy position and assisting his wounded comrades Pfc. Roosevelt Tolbert Jr. was awarded the Silver Star Medal for his actions on that day.

Tuesday, 17 December - Attached to Charley Company Cpl. Jerry R. Wigg, a Dog Handler from the 3d MP Battalion was seriously wounded. He refused evacuation until the entire section was cleared of mines, for his actions he was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

1969

17 January - 30 June - Company Commander - Capt J. M. A. Romero

22 January - 21 February - Company C - OPCON to 1st Battalion, 5th Marines.

30 March - 29 May - Participated in Operation OAKLAHOMA HILLS.

01 - 07 March - 09 - 15 March - 1st Platoon OPCON to 7th Marine Regimental HQ.

01 June - 08 December - Company Commander - 1stLt. Raymond A. Hord

01 - 02 July - Participated in Operation FORSYTHE GROVE.

Tuesday, 12 August - For their actions during an attack on a fortified Village 1stLt. Raymond A. Hord, 2dLt. Charles G. Kines, Sgt. William T. Lowery, and LCpl. Marvin C. Wallace were awarded the Silver Star Medal.

21 August - The Battalion moved to Hill 63 AKA LZ BALDY.

Sunday, 02 NovemberDespite being wounded twice when his squad came under intense hostile fire near Hill 63, Pfc. Noah R. Linkous herioc actions enabled the Marines to assault the enemy position and attain victory. Pfc Linkous was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

08 December - The Battalion established its Command Post at FSB Ross.

09 December - 20 April 1970 - Company Commander - 1stLt. J.D. Deare

1970

01 January - The Battalion was deployed in the western area QUE SON - HIEP DUC TAOR.

12 February - As a reaction force moving to assist BRAVO Company that was ambushed near the SONG LY LY by elements of the NVA the Marines of Charley Company suffered 4 KIA. The Navy Cross Medal was Posthumously awarded to Pfc Michael Angelo SIROSA for his heroic actions.

March - The Battalion moved to Hill 63 AKA LZ BALDY.

20 April - Participated in a multi-company operation on Phu Trang Island.

21 April - 27 July - Company Commander - Capt. T. D. Stouffer

16 - 26 July - Participated in Operation PICKENS FOREST.

28 July - 13 September - Company Commander - 1stLt. J.A. Hagan

Sunday, 23 August - Cpl Clarence Bernard COLEMAN while moving to an ambush site is shot by a Marine in a Defensive LP who mistook the movement in front of his position of that being a hostile enemy. COLEMAN was quickly evacuated but dies of his wounds, he is Charley Company's last Marine to die in Viet Nam.

07 - 09 September - The Battalion began STANDOWN and relocated to the 9th Engr cantonment in Da Nang.

13 September - 22 September - Company Commander - 1stLt. R.E. Jackson

Tuesday, 22 September - All personnel not transferred to remaining units in RVN boarded the AKA-115 USS MOBILE and departed Vietnam for Camp Pendleton, CA.

Note:

All data compiled from Official USMC sources, Command Chronology's, S-2, S-3 Journal entries, Combat After Action Reports, HQMC Awards Branch records.

Victor Vilionis Researcher/Historian