11 Mar 2008 Tom as Right Guide in boot camp. I first met Tom at the Army base in Boston along with six other young kids waiting to take the long train ride down to Parris Island. We became friends and were assigned to the same boot camp platoon 304 in January 1968. We went through boot camp and ITR training together. Tom then went on to his AIT (Advanced Infantry Training) for his MOS of machine gunner and I went on to Motor Transport school. I was sent to Vietnam in August 1968 and got a letter from a friend that Tom was killed in action in November 1968. After the war, I looked up Tom on the Vietnam Wall. I believe God has a plan for us all and spared Tom the nightmare of Vietnam that some still live with today. I think of him often and visit his grave whenever I can. Semper Fi, friend, you are not forgotten. L/Cpl Ed Kirby 3rd 155mm Gun Btry ed-kirby@comcast.net

 

Notes from The Virtual Wall Pfc Thomas E. Bush was assigned to Golf Company, 2nd Bn, 7th Marines. In November 1968 the 2/7 Marines provided the infantry component of Battalion Landing Team 2/7, an afloat element of the 7th Fleet - but as usual the BLT was generally occupied ashore in South Vietnam. Between 10-17 November BLT 2/7 participated in Operation DARING ENDEAVOR in the Army's 23rd Infantry Division operating area, re-embarking on 18 November. Two days later, on 20 November, BLT 2/7 engaged in Operation MEADE RIVER in an area about 15 kilometers south-southwest of Danang. MEADE RIVER was directed against a North Vietnamese Army battalion and supporting VC forces known to be in the area. Golf 2/7 was heavily engaged on the afternoon of 20 November and was forced to pull back from its position, bringing out all its wounded but leaving the bodies of 6 Marines on the field. The company established a night defensive position just southeast of Cam Van village, and on the 21st moved into a blocking position while other Marine elements flanked the NVA positions. At 11 a.m. Golf 2/7 received a single round of rocket-propelled grenade fire, which killed Pfc Bush and wounded a second Marine.

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