17 Nov 2004 It's been a long time since high school and a long time since we lost Charlie. He was just a friend of mine in the school band. He played trumpet and I played the bass. I reflect on his death in Viet Nam and the sacrifice he made for all of us. I think of him and his fellow servicemen on this Veterans' Day and remain ever thankful to them, but no less sad at their absence. In high school, Charlie was a chubby guy. Never in my thoughts did I think of him as being in the military. He and I would be at the back of the band during a concert, sometimes trying to stifle a laugh and still play our instruments. One time, the whole back row of the band leaned back and promptly fell off the top of the bleacher. Couldn't stifle that noise. We laughed so hard our sides ached. Oh, Charlie ... wish you were still here to laugh. You and all your buddies. An old band buddie, Mary E. Class of 1965, Dundalk, MD

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall In April 1968, after the seige of the Khe Sanh Combat Base had been broken, the Commanding General, 3rd MAF, wanted to abandon the base but was over-ruled by General Westmoreland. Given that large NVA forces remained in the area aggressive patrolling of the surrounding area was necessary in order to protect the Khe Sanh forces. On the morning of 16 April, the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, was holding a defensive perimeter on Hill 869 near Khe Sanh. At 0700 a two platoons from Alpha 1/9 set out on a patrol to the southwest of Hill 689. While moving up a ridgeline, the patrol engaged an NVA force dug in atop the ridge, an engagement which developed into a full-fledged battle that continued through the night of 16/17 April. While the Marines did eject the NVA from the ridge, they endured heavy losses - 41 Marines and sailors killed and 32 wounded. Petty Officer Boynton, a Corpsman assigned to H&S Company but in the field with Alpha 1/9, was one of three Corpsmen killed in the battle. "You guys are the Marine's doctors - There's none better in the business than a Navy Corpsman ..." -- Lieutenant General "Chesty" Puller -- Visit John Dennison's Medics on the Wall memorial which honors the Army Medics and Navy Corpsmen who died in Vietnam.

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