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This site is a tribute to the United States Marines, Navy Corpsman, and South Vietnamese Popular Forces in Combined Action Platoon 1-3-9 who through extraordinary aggressive fighting on the ground and an expertly coordinated air and artillery effort defeated two companies of the 6th Battalion, 21st North Vietnamese Army Regiment reinforced with a company of Viet Cong on September 13, 1969.
Members of CAP 1-3-9 who fought in the battle from start to finish were Sgt. Michael Murphy, HM2 Dewey Ray Burns, Jr., L/Cpl. Rick Sherrill, L/Cpl. Mel Avant, PFC Reggie Childs, PFC James Samuel Parker, PFC Bill Hines, PFC Gary Holmes, PFC Steve Hicks, PFC Jim McKnight, PFC David Lummis, PFC Jerry Meyers, Nguyen But (Popular Forces interpreter) and other members of the Popular Forces unit. HM2 Dewey Ray Burns Jr. and L/Cpl. Rick Sherrill, and eight PFs died during the battle.
Members of the two reactionary forces that arrived in the morning were 1Lt. James J. Mulhearn, Jr. (Combined Action Company 1-3 Commanding Officer), and Sgt. Robert Wray (CACO 1-3’s Supply Sergeant) on the first Huey and Lt. Col. Hennegan (1st Combined Action Group Commanding Officer), and Major Padgett (1st CAG S-3) on the second.
“For it is Thou who dost bless the righteous man O Lord, Thou dost surround him with favor as with a shield.” The Bible, Psalms 5:12.
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God bless and Semper Fidelis!
Rick LeBlanc