24 Dec 2004 The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the SILVER STAR MEDAL posthumously to LANCE CORPORAL DAVID W. CUTSHALL United States Marine Corps for service as set forth in the following CITATION: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Machine Gun Team Leader with Company M, Third Battalion, Third Marines, Third Marine Division. On 6 March 1968, during a company-size operation near Con Thien, Lance Corporal Cutshall's platoon came under intense enemy automatic weapons, mortar and artillery fire from a well entrenched battalion of North Vietnamese Army Regulars. Observing enemy movement through the brush, he marked the area with machine gun tracer rounds which enabled an anti-tank assault team to destroy an enemy bunker with rocket fire. Throughout the five-hour fire fight, he maintained a critical position and directed highly effective machine gun fire upon the enemy. Ordered to withdraw to a more advantageous position, he provided covering fire for his companions as they moved to join their platoon. While preparing to throw a hand grenade, Lance Corporal Cutshall was severely wounded by enemy grenade fragments which caused him to drop his grenade. Without regard for his own safety, he immediately fell upon the activated grenade to shield his companions. Although he was killed when it exploded, he undoubtedly saved the lives of his three companions. By his extraordinary courage, bold initiative and selfless devotion to duty, Lance Corporal Cutshall upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. From someone who remembers. one who remembers. E-mail address is not available.

 

29 Mar 2006 His MOS was 0331 machine gunner. I'm going to try and contact you, my brother. August 16, 2006 between 7:00 and 9:30 PM at the Sheraton Boston. I am so sorry. I miss you and love you. I'm here and you are still with me every day. From a friend, Curtis Morgan 16 Wollaston Avenue, Arlington, Massachusetts 02476 candkmorgan@comcast.net

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The area around Con Thien, located just south of the Demilitarized Zone, was a hotbed of North Vietnamese Army activity from the earliest days of US involvement in the ground war. Three NVA divisions were located in or immediately north of the DMZ, and quite commonly would cross into South Vietnam proper. When they did, the NVA were supported by their own heavy artillery firing from within or just north of the DMZ, a degree of firepower not available to the NVA or VC units operating further south. While large US and SVN army forces were deployed in Quang Tri Province at various times during the war, the Marines were there continuously from 1965 until US withdrawal - and carried the primary burden of fighting the NVA regulars. On 06 March 1968, while the siege at Khe Sanh was being fought only a few miles to the west, Mike Company, 3/3 Marines, was conducting a company-size recon patrol near Con Thien when they engaged part of the NVA's 362B Division. Fourteen men from Mike 3/3 were killed in the heavy fighting which followed: Sgt Glen T. Hobbs, Portsmouth, OH Sgt William T. Rogers, Montgomery, AL Cpl Ronald L. Ellis, Evansville, IN Cpl Richard J. Hall, Hays, NC Cpl Charles T. Lee, Oxon Hill, MD LCpl Laurence R. Ashmore, Houston, TX LCpl Freddie Brookins, Philadelphia, PA LCpl David W. Cutshall, Rapid City, SD (Silver Star) LCpl Michael J. Ferrara, Massapequa, NY LCpl Robert A. Leeman, Fullerton, CA LCpl Howard E. Randolph, Richmond, VA Pfc Ronald S. Dobbs, Detroit, MI Pfc Billy H. Henderson, Moultrie, GA Pfc Fred C. McHugh, Hadley, MI

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