12 Jul 2008 Sgt. Burton was my squad leader. He was a fine Marine and a good man. I am sure he would have been a great father to the son he never saw. He died fighting. From a friend, John Hagler jnha@comline.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall Operation ORANGE was a search-and-destroy operation on the north and south banks of the Vu Gia River at Thuong Duc in preparation for the establishment of an Army Special Forces emplacement at Ha Tan just outside Thuong Duc village. Thirteen men died in the 02 April assault on Ngoc Kinh (2), a tiny hamlet on the south bank of the Vu Gia River, with 5 other Marines killed by mines and boobytraps during the operation. The 13 men killed at Ngoc Kinh (2) were A Co, 3rd Eng Bn LCpl Donald E. Young, Baltimore, MD (attached B/1/3) B Co, 1st Bn, 3rd Marines SSgt Thurman W. Owen, Wichita Falls, TX Sgt Donald R. Burton, Coatesville, PA Cpl Dale L. Courchane, Wenatchee, WA Cpl Julian C. Cuellar, San Antonio, TX LCpl Paul A. Haines, Canton, OH LCpl Alexander Menzies, Walworth, NY (Silver Star) LCpl Daniel J. Piotrowski, Jackson, MI (Silver Star) LCpl David G. Russell, Salem, OR LCpl Ralph M. Williams, Chicago, IL Pfc Richard H. Wright, Halstead, KS Pfc Weldon D. Moss, Ethete, WY Pfc Feliberto Villa, Ingleside, TX Lance Corporal Claude G. Lebas received the Navy Cross for his actions during the battle; the Citation for his award gives a sense of the circumstances: "heavy automatic-weapons and mortar fire ... [the] enemy fire was so intense that his covering force was driven back ..."

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