06 Oct 2007 Our high school yearbook was dedicated to our friend David. The dedication page included this excerpt from his citation for the Bronze Star Medal: "... while conducting a patrol near the Khe Sahn Combat Base, the Marines came under intense mortar and automatic weapons fire from a numerically superior, well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army force and sustained numerous casualties. Ordered to attack, Private First Class Anderson and several companions boldly advanced, routing the enemy soldiers and seizing the emplacement. While consolidating to continue the assault, he alertly observed several wounded Marines lying in an area dangerously exposed to hostile fire. Reacting instantly, he unhesitatingly left his covered position to aid the injured men. Fearlessly maneuvering across fifteen meters of fire-swept terrain, he reached the side of a casualty and skillfully administered first aid. Ignoring the enemy rounds impacting near him, he continued to treat the injured man, and while assisting him from the hazardous area, Private Anderson was mortally wounded. His heroic actions and sincere concern for the welfare of his comrades inspired all who observed him ... He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country." We, the senior class of 1969, dedicate our annual to the memory of PFC David B. Anderson, who was killed March 30, 1968 while on patrol duty near Khe Sahn. He is more than a page or picture in the Legend of Valhalla: we knew him. From a classmate, George Applegate gappleg8@fmctc.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall An action by Bravo 1/26 on 30 March 1968 was reflected only by a brief comment in the Battalion's Operations Journal: "30 MAR 1968 SUMMARY: Co B conducted a search and destroy mission. During this patrol Co B received mortar and small arms fire causing 71 WIA's, nine KIA's, and two MIA's." but there was more to it than that. Quoting from the 1/26 Command Chronology for March 1968, "Intelligence sources revealed that Company B met and defeated in detail the main elements of a NVA Battalion, inflicted 115 NVA KIA and destroyed numerous amounts of ammunition, weapons, and equipment. The operation resulted in ten friendly KIA, two MIA, and 100 WIA, 49 of which were evacuated. ... The aggressive fighting spirit of Company B combined with supporting arms fire enabled the company to engage and defeat in detail a numerically superior enemy force entrenched in mutually supporting fortified positions, in the first planned offensive attack of a known enemy position in the battle for KHE SANH Combat Base." The bodies of the two "missing in action" Marines were subsequently recovered. The twelve men who died in the engagement were 1stLt Marion H. Norman, Houston, TX (A Btry, 1st Bn, 13th Marines) Sgt Donald A. Warren, San Diego, CA Cpl David A. Aldrich, Gibsonburg, OH Cpl Albert R. Sanford, Russellville, KY (H&S Co with B/1/26) LCpl Wayne P. Moore, Plymouth, MA LCpl Author C. Smith, Glen Allen, AL Pfc David B. Anderson, Avoca, IA (Bronze Star "V") Pfc Ted D. Britt, Decatur, GA (Silver Star) Pfc Jimmie L. Jones, Cordova, AL Pfc Donald R. Rash, Pocahontas, VA (Navy Cross) Pfc Jose Ruiz, New York, NY Pfc Kenneth R. Totten, Brewster, NY 1stLt Norman was the Artillery Forward Observer; he was killed by a mortar shell which also seriously wounded the Bravo Company Commander, Captain K. W. Pipes, and all members of the company command group. The two men reported as missing in action were LCpl Author Smith and Pfc Ted Britt; their bodies were subsequently recovered.

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