Chronology of Events

1965

24 June - Lima Company Commander - Capt. R. A. Clarke

24 June - 25 June - BLT 3/7 embarked USN shipping in San Diego, Lima Company boarded the APA 208 USS TALADEGA.

26 June - 30 June - Enroute to the Republic of Vietnam.

01 July - Company "I" , "K" and "M" landed in Qui Nhon, Binh Dinh Province RVN, while Company "L" transferred to the LPH-4 USS Iwo Jima as the BLT reserve.

05 July - Company "L" landed by helicopter in relief of Company "I".

08 July- Replaced by BLT 2/7 ashore, BLT 3/7 reembarked aboard USN shipping and remained at sea off Qui Nhon RVN as a reserve force for BLT 2/7.

20 July - The 3d Battalion was underway for Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, participating in various exercises.

17 - 18 August - BLT 3/7 was enroute to the Chu Lai area of RVN.

18 - 24 August - Participated in Operation STARLITE

18 August At 1450H - Company "L" began landing by helicopter, operational control was assumed by the 3d Battalion, 3d Marines. By 1900H Company "L" engaged the enemy suffering it's first casualties of the Vietnam War. 2dLt Shambaugh, LCpl Firth, LCpl Long, and Pvt Wilson were killed in action and fourteen men were wounded.

24 August - Reembarked aboard USN shipping and were underway for Subic Bay, Phillippine Islands.

31 August - 01 Sept - Arrived off the coast of Chu Lai, began offload and were reassigned to their parent organizations within the 3d Marine Division (Rein) FMF.

07 Sept - 10 September - Participated in Operation PIRANHA

02 Oct - 04 October - Participated in Operation QUICK DRAW.

26 Oct - 27 October - Participated in Operation HERCULES.

03 - 05 November - Participated in Operation BLACK FERRET.

22 - 24 November - Participated in the Relief Operation of the Trach Tru Village Complex in Duc Pho, Mo Duc District, Quang Ngai, Province.

28 - 20 November - Company Commander, 1stLt D. M. McEwen

1966

01 January - Company Commander, Capt J.E. Seeburger

10 Jan - 17 January - Participated in Operation MALLARD.

15 January For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, HM3 Bienvenido Ceniza Dona while serving as a Corpsman with the Third Platoon, Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines during Operation MALLARD was awarded the SILVER STAR MEDAL.

17 January For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, SSgt Charles L. Herringer while serving as a Platoon Commander with the 2d Platoon, Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines during Operation MALLARD was awarded the SILVER STAR MEDAL.

27 February - Company Commander, 1stLt E.W. Human Jr.

09 March - Three men are killed when a USAF unexploded BLU/3B bomb is detonated near OP 39 on Nui Ba Ne manned by the Marines.

20 Mar - 26 March - Participated in Operation TEXAS During the operation, ten men were killed in action including HM3 Dona who had been awarded the SILVER STAR for his actions in January 1966.

21 March For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, LCpl Earl L. Inks, Pfc Bernard K. Jarboe, 1stLt Anthony P. Tokarz, and LCpl William G. Wade (posthumous) while serving with, the 3dBattalion, 7th Marines during Operation TEXAS were awarded the SILVER STAR MEDAL.

22 March For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, Cpl David R. Baker while serving with, Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines during Operation TEXAS was awarded the SILVER STAR MEDAL.

30 March - With the arrival of HQ to Chu Lai, the 1st Marine Division assumed command of the 7th Marine regiment that had been under the command of the 3d Marine Divison.

18 April - Company Commander, Capt M. J. Quinn

21 Apr - 23 April - Participated in Operation HOT SPRINGS.

20 May- 22 May - Participated in Operation MORGAN.

04 June - Company Commander, 1stLt H.B. Wilbur

30 June For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, Sgt Ralph M. Zwicker III while serving with, Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines was awarded the SILVER STAR MEDAL.

01 July - Company Commander, 1stLt L. J. Celmer

13 Jul - 15 July - Participated in a Search & Destroy Operation.

01 September - Company Commander, 1stLt T. Boyd

01 October - Company Commander, Capt T. Boyd

12 Oct- 31 October - Participated in Operation PRAIRIE OPCON of the 3d Marine Division (Rein) FMF, in Quang Tri Province.

17 October For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, Pvt John B. Spencer and Cpl Curtis C. Williamson while serving with, Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines were awarded the SILVER STAR MEDAL.

01 Nov - 15 November - Responsible of the DONG HA - CUA VIET COMPLEX

16 November - Departed for DA NANG in Quang Nam Province.

1967

11 January - Four Marines are killed in action when their OP on Hill 22 is overrun in Hieu Duc District, Quang Nam Province.

26 January - Company Commander, Capt J.A. Henry

27 January - Lima Company was Heli-Lifted to NUI DANG in Duc Pho, Mo Duc District, Quang Ngai Province.

27 January - 07April - Participated in Operation DESOTO.

20 February - Company Commander, Capt L. J. Celmer

21 February For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, Pfc William J. Rickman while serving with, Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, was awarded the SILVER STAR MEDAL.

18 March - Company Commander, Capt L. J. Celmer killed in action.

19 March - Company Commander, 1stLt J.M. Platt Jr.

01April - Company Commander, Capt J.M. Platt Jr.

09 Apr - 11 April The 3d Battalion displaces from Duc Pho to Dai Loc District, Quang Nam Province.

21 Apr - 26 April - Participated in Operation GRAND

16 - 18 May - Participated in Operation WEBSTER

14 June - 19 June - Participated in Operation ARIZONA.

18 June For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, Capt Joseph M. Platt Jr. while serving as Commanding Officer of, Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, was awarded the SILVER STAR MEDAL.

12 July - 15 July - Participated in Operation GEM

27 August - Company Commander, Capt M.L. Marshall

02 November - Company Commander, Capt W.O. Baldwin

13 Nov - 30 November - Participated in Operation FOSTER.

26 November - Four Marines and a USN Corpsman are killed in action. Pfc Leslie D. Day while serving with, Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, received a posthumous award of the SILVER STAR Medal for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action.

15 Dec - 23 December - Participated in Operation CITRUS

1968

31 January - During the Tet Offensive, while engaging a large enemy force in fortified postitions in the Dong Phu Village Complex, five Marines were killed in action.

04 February - Company Commander, 1stLt B.J. Friebolin

04 Feb - 06 February - Participated in Operation NUTCRACKER.

07 February - For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, 2dLt George J. Bolduc and LCpl Rodney J. Padilla while serving with, Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, were awarded the SILVER STAR MEDAL.

01 March - Company Commander, Capt C.A . Shaver

06 Mar - 10 March - Participated in Operation ROCK.

10 Apr - 14 April - Participated in Operation JASPER SQUARE

10 April - Four Marines are killed in action engaging the enemy. LCpl Robert J. Kline while serving with, Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, received a posthumous award of the SILVER STAR Medal for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action.

24 June - 11 July - Participated in Operation MAMELUKE THRUST.

02 July For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, LCpl Richard J. Bartolotti while serving with, Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, was awarded the SILVER STAR MEDAL.

11 July - 26 July - Lima Company assigned to the Liberty Bridge Combat Base.

12 July - Company Commander, 1stLt J.L. Brummel

12 August - For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines LCpl Kenneth L. Worley received a posthumous award of the MEDAL OF HONOR.

14 August - Company Commander, Capt G.J. Obendorfer

29 August - Company "M" and Company "L" were tasked with setting up a blocking force in support of Operation SUSSEX BAY in the DODGE CITY area were Lima Company encountered a large NVA force. Six Marines and one USN Corpsman were killed in action.

29 August - For extraordinary heroism while serving as a corpsman with Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines HN Richard L. Powell received a posthumous award of the NAVY CROSS.

29 August For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, Cpl Marvin W. Clements while serving with, Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, was awarded the SILVER STAR MEDAL.

06 September - Seventeen year old Pfc Patrick Sinclair while attempting to save LCpl Jeffrey Novell was awarded a posthumous Navy & Marine Corps Medal for his valient efforts to save the life of another Marine. Both men drowned.

14 September - Company "M" and Company "L" were tasked with setting up a blocking force in advance of a planned operation in the DODGE CITY area. During their movement Lima Company encountered an entrenched NVA force and four Marines and are killed in action.

14 September For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, LCpl David Lopez while serving with, Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, was awarded the SILVER STAR MEDAL.

09 Oct - 19 October - Two platoons of Lima Company participated in Operation MAUI PEAK OPCON to the 3d Battalion, 5th Marines.

24 November - Company Commander, 2dLt B.L. Weber

01 December - The 3d Battalion began relocation to the 1st Battalions old TAOR with the CP located on Hill 10.

02 December - Lima Company moved to Hill 10.

1969

27 January - Company Commander, Capt J.K. Hall

23 Feb - 24 Februray - Lima Company encouters a large NVA force during the Tet Offensive in the vicinity of An Tan Ridge. Fourteen Marines are killed in action during the ensuing battles including the Company Commander, Capt James K. Hall.

25 February - Company Commander, 1stLt C.L. Jardine

13 March - Company Commander, Capt J.K. Rider

31 March - 29 May - Participated in Operation OKLAHOMA HILLS.

30 June - 02 July - Participated in Operation FORSYTHE GROVE under OPCON of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines

30 June - The 3d Battalion began relocation to the 1st Battalions TAOR with the CP located on Hill 37 AKA LZ Baldy.

15 August - Company Commander, 1stLt J.F. Bender

18 August - The 3d Battalion began relocation to with the CP located on Hill 63.

26 Aug - 29 August - The 3d Battalion responded to enemy contacts with 2d Battalion, 7th Marines in the Hiep Duc Valley. A Search and Clear operation was conducted in the Que Son Mountains and Hiep Duc Valley.

11 September - Company Commander, Capt J.K. Van Ripper

04 October - The 3d Battalion began relocation to Que Son District with the CP located on FSB Ross.

09 December - The 3d Battalion began relocation to with the CP located on Hill 63.

1970

04 January For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, LCpl Roy L. Hammonds while serving with, Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, received a posthumous award of the SILVER STAR Medal.

14 January - Company Commander, 1stLt J.B. Topley

25 January - Company Commander, 1stLt P.P. Egoscue

26 January - Company Commander, 1stLt S.L. Richmond

23 March For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action, Pfc William E. Taylor while serving with, Company L, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, received a posthumous award of the SILVER STAR Medal.

07 April - Company Commander, Capt H.B. Wilbur

26 Apr - 29 April - Lima Company conducted a security mission in cooperation with Divison G-2 in the sensor fields in ANTENNA VALLEY.

03 May - 05 May - Lima Company under OPCON of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines

05 July - The 3d Battalion relocated to Que Son District with the CP located on FSB Ross.

13 Aug - 15 August - Company "I" and "L" were assigned OPCON to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines.

27 August - Company Commander, Capt R.L. Sroggin

20 September - 3d Battalion, 7th Marines was assigned OPCON of the 5th Marines.

21 Sep - 21 September - Lima Companys' last casualty while incountry, a Marine opens fire and kills Sgt Benjamin Doman as a patrol is moving towards their ambush position.

10 October - Company Commander, 1stLt K.W. Pollard

12 October - The Battalion completed standdown all personnel not transferred to remaining units in RVN boarded the LPD - 10 USS JUNEAU 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