My Loc 2 - Happy Valley - 7 June 1968

Operation MAMELUKE THRUST
from 68/05/18 to 68/10/23

5th MARINES was a US Marine Corps unit
7th MARINES was a US Marine Corps unit
26th MARINES was a US Marine Corps unit
Primary service involved, US Marine Corps
Operation MAMELUKE THRUST
Quang Nam Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Happy Valley
Description:
This was a 1st Marine Division operation in central Quang Nam Province
with the 2/5th, 3/5th, and 2/7th Marines against the 308th NVA Division
as a companion to ALLEN BROOK.

Casualties: US 175 KIA, 1,161 WIA; NVA 2,728 KIA


Quang Nam Province

Quang Nam is located in the middle of Central Vietnam and is surrounded by Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Ngai, and Kon Tum provinces. The Truong Son Mountains, Laos, and the East Sea also border the province.

Quang Nam has various of mountains and hills (covers 72% its surface) with many high mountains such as Lum Heo Mountain of 2,045m, Tion Mountain of 2,032m, Gole – Lang Mountain of 1,855m... Main rivers run from Truong Son Range to East Sea as Vu Gia, Thu Bon, Tam Ky rivers.

June 7-16, 1968
The battalion is OpCon to the 7th Marines and conducts operations south and west of Hill 55 in conjunction with Operation Mameluke Thrust. The objectives of this operation was to preempt another enemy offensive against Da Nang. The Mameluke Thrust AO extended south to the An Hoa area.

June 7, 1968 Friday

On 07 June 1968 the 1st Bn, 26th Marines were conducting a sweep along the Bon Song River. Alpha 1/26 was providing a screening force along the river while Delta 1/26 was moving through the hills along the river. Charlie 1/26 was in echelon behind Delta, with the Command Group and H&S Company bringing up the rear.

As Delta 1/26 crested a ridgeline they took fire from a trenchline. The company established a base of fire, flanked the trenchline, and forced the NVA to withdraw - but they didn't withdraw far; a second set of fortifications lay only 50 yards behind the first. Charlie 1/26 sent help and Delta buckled down to assaulting the second trench line - and once again forced the NVA from their lines.

This action, though costly, was only a prelude. The NVA troops engaged by Delta 1/26 were a covering force for the NVA main body, which withdrew into the Alpha 1/26 position - and were engaged by the Alpha 1/26 Marines in a bloody fight. By the time the NVA escaped through the gap between Alpha's flank and the oncoming Delta Marines, 20 Marines and 2 sailors were dead:

1st Bn, 26th Marines (Company unknown):
LCpl Michael W. Travis, Sweetser, IN

A Company:
2ndLt Paul M. McGrath, Rye, NY
SSgt Donald M. Cuff, Wilmington, DE
Sgt Thomas R. Cores, Del Rio, TX
Cpl George A. Essary, Chattanooga, TN
Cpl Jerome D. Kupperschmidt, Sandwich, IL
Cpl Gregory A. Shelley, Palisades Park, NJ
LCpl Edward L. Bradford, Westville, OK
LCpl Kevin M. Coyne, Silver Spring, MD
Pfc Michael P. Becker, Omaha, NE
Pfc Jerry N. Christman, Williams, AZ
Pfc Carl M. Middlebrooks, Baltimore, MD
Pfc Alton L. Staples, Cincinnati, OH
Pfc Ernest L. Wesley, Stockbridge, GA

C Company:
Cpl David E. Dixon, Miami, FL

D Company:
2ndLt Samuel J. Hannah, Reily, OH (Silver Star)
Cpl Normand C. Deschaine, Lewiston, ME
Cpl Johnnie B. Espy, Montclair, NJ
LCpl David O. Auen, Blairsville, PA
LCpl John A. Scarpinato, La Puente, CA

H&S Company:
HM3 Ramon Leyba, Albuquerque, NM (H&S Co, w/ Alpha 1/26)
HN Ronald E. Rockefeller, Tivoli, NY

The 1/26 Marines meets an NVA battalion at My Loc (2), three miles northeast of An Hoa. Alpha Company was on the right, Delta Company on the left, and Charlie Company in the middle, about 200 yards back. The hot weather continued and was exhausting at 100 degrees and 90% humidity. During fighting on 7 June, both Alpha and Delta Companies are hit hard.

The Delta Company advance had the 2nd Platoon on the left flank, 3rd Platoon advancing up a small ridge line and 1st Platoon was sweeping a village on the right. The company command post was behind 3rd platoon.

About 10 AM that morning the NVA opened up on the 3rd Platoon's lead squad which had gotten inside the enemy's camouflaged positions. The enemy opened up with automatic weapons at close range from a trench line. Elements of 3rd Platoon counter attacked the enemy killing all five NVA in the trench. Delta Company sustained casualties including two Marines KIA.

The following Marines were killed during this fight:

2nd Lt. Samuel Hannah, 6/7/68 -- Killed by gunshot wound near My Loc 2

LCpl. David Auen, 6/7/68 -- Killed by gunshot wound near My Loc 2

The fighting became widespread. Alpha Company was to the right and ahead of Delta and they took fire when they entered a tree line and became heavily engaged. All of Delta Company platoons came under fire. 2nd Platoon assaulted through the tree line and relieved the pressure on third platoon.

The Company regrouped while casualties were medevaced. Charlie Company had moved up to support Delta sent one platoons by helicopter over to help Alpha Company in its actions. Charlie Company was ordered to secure around the LZ.

About noon as Delta Company got ready to move out again, snipers opened up from the direction away from the tree line. The company held its position and a fire mission was called. Then, the NVA opened up on the company with heavy automatic weapons fire from positions in the tree line. Third Platoon was hit hard again and the attack resulted in many Marine casualties.

Delta Company with attached units engaged the NVA and the enemy was forced to pull back as sustained artillery and air strikes were called in. That evening the 1st Platoon was pulled up on the ridge with 2nd and 3rd Platoons.

The following Marines were killed during this fight:

Cpl. Normand Deschaine, 6/7/68 - Died of wounds suffered during fighting near My Loc

Cpl. Johnnie Espy, 6/7/68 - Killed by gunshot wound near My Loc

LCpl. John Scarpinato, 6/7/68 - Killed by gunshot wound near My Loc

HN Ronald Rockefeller, 6/7/68 - Killed by gunshot wound near My Loc

Elements of Alpha and Charlie Companies were attached to Delta Company during this fight. The following Marines were killed:

Pfc. Alton Staples III, 6/7/68 - A/1/26 Marine

Cpl. David Dixon, 6/7/58 - C/1/26 Marine

2nd Lt. Samuel Hannah was awarded the Silver Star (Posthumously) for his actions and valor on June 7, 1968.

Sgt. Clark Henson (KIA-6/16/68) was awarded the Silver Star (Posthumously) for his actions and valor on June 7, 1968.

The My Loc (2) fight was costly with many Delta and Alpha Company casualties reported. Delta Company casualties were 8 KIA and 22 WIA. Alpha Company had 14 KIA and 18 WIA.

Enemy casualties were heavy and his objective of gaining close approach to Da Nang was once again denied.