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Ronald Howard Brown
Captain
H&S BTRY, 1ST BN, 11TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF United States Marine Corps Sun Valley, California January 06, 1937 to February 07, 1968 RONALD H BROWN is on the Wall at Panel 37E, Line 79 |
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Ronny was 14 years older than I and not around much when we visited his mom and dad's house. I remember him as bigger than life though, a football player for the Marine Corps team. When he was around, he was always willing to throw a ball so a little cousin could catch it, or not. Or walk in the park just across the street and push my little sister and me on the swings. He was married though I never met his wife; no children. I got the news of his death when I was in high school, it rocked the whole family. We all adored him, a college graduate and a career soldier, a rarity in those days. Then off to fight for us. The park is still there as are his mother and father. I walked in that park last year. It made me sad, even after thirty-two years. Ronny, we still miss you.
Skip Dunn |
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I was on a convoy near Hue City on 7 Feb 68. We were headed to the 11th Marines Artillery Battery southwest of Hue. On the return to Phu Bai we were overrun by an NVA regiment. None of the vehicles made it back. A Captain Ron Brown was in charge of this convoy. He was killed in the initial attack. I was one of the few survivors of this convoy. I was wounded and medevaced to Yokosuka, Japan, and then to the States. I did not know Captain Brown personally, but I will remember 7 Feb 68 forever. I wake up thinking about that day and go to bed each night thinking of the events of that day.
Joe Tiscia, Cpl, 2/5 Marines ... 7 Feb 1968 |
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My name is Ron Taylor. I was HQ 1/11 FDC. I did not know Captain Brown because he was with Bravo Battery but I spoke with him at the FDC bunker the day before the convoy left. The convoy was overrun and the vehicles were left out there for a month. I have photos of the vehicles, including the captain's jeep, when they brought them in. We fired artillery in support of the men of that convoy. We were told that a total of 45 men were killed on that convoy. Only 3 from 1/11 though. Captain Brown's driver was also killed.
Ron Taylor |
A Note from The Virtual WallThe following description of the events of 07 Feb are taken from the Command Chronologies of the 1st Bn, 11th Marines, the 11th Marine Regiment, and the 5th Marine Regiment:On 29 January B Battery, 1/11, had been relocated to a position west of Nam Ho on the west side of the Huong River, south of Hue City. The battery was resupplied by motor convoys originating at Phu Bai. At 1400 07 Feb an 18-vehicle resupply convoy departed B Battery's position at YD744131 to return to Phu Bai. At YD746166, about a mile and a half north of the B Battery position, one of the vehicles hit a mine and a second either struck a mine or was hit by a 57mm recoilless rifle round. At this point, three vehicles were ahead of the stricken trucks when the entire convoy was taken under heavy attack by enemy fires from the high ground on either side of the roadway. Two ONTOS 106mm gun tracks were in the lead, and convoy commander Captain Ronald H. Brown, the 1/11 Logistics Officer, was riding one of them. According to the 1st Tank Bn Chronology,"On 7 February, Ontos A-11 and A-13 [1st Plt, Alpha 1st AT] supporting a convoy received heavy small arms, automatic weapons, mortar, and recoilless rife fire. Grenades and satchel charges were thrown at the vehicles. A-13 received one grenade and one round of recoilless rifle fire resulting in one USMC KIA and one USMC WIA (med-evac). A-13 had returned 106mm before being hit. A-11 received one direct hit of recoilless rifle fire causing two USMC WIA (medevac). A-11 returned machine gun fire before receiving two more hits from a recoilless rifle resulting in one USMC KIA."The 1st Tanks description refers only to the ONTOS crewmen; Captain Brown also was killed at this time. According to the 5th Marines report, all officers, senior NCOs, and medical Corpsmen with the convoy were killed or wounded in the opening minutes of the attack. The surviving Marines formed a defensive perimeter, returned fire with personal weapons, and called for assistance. Army helicopter gunships arrived overhead by 1500, but a low overcast both limited their effectiveness and increased their vulnerability; two were shot down, although without known fatalities. At the same time, two ground reaction forces were formed - Bravo Battery sent out a force consisting of a platoon from Charlie 1/1, two Army "Dusters", and men from the battery itself, while HQ 5th Marines sent a reaction force consisting of a company minus supported by two Army quad-50s. The cost to both American and enemy forces is unclear. The 5th Marines Chronology says 15 Marines were killed and 26 wounded, while the 1/11 Marines Chronology puts the count higher - 20 Marines and soldiers killed and 39 wounded. The enemy is known to have lost at least 25 dead, perhaps more. The following Americans are either known or believed to have been killed as a result of the ambush:
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