Donald Peter JohnsonLance Corporal1ST PLT, C CO, 1ST BN, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV United States Marine Corps 04 May 1947 - 13 March 1967 Gilman, Wisconsin Panel 16E Line 073 |
|
|
The database page for Donald Peter Johnson
I was within four feet of Don on that day, walking down a 12 foot wide path with a hill on the right, an 8' high hedge row and rice paddy on the left. There were about eight Marines including a 2nd LT. I don't know where we were headed, but all was quiet and it was misting rain and very hot at about mid morning. Don was probably the third one back and I was right behind him in line. All of a sudden AK-47's opened up and were hitting all around us. I remember all the rounds ripping through the hedge row and hitting the hill behind us. Our M-60 gunner was hit first and Don went to help him or to grab the 60. He passed me a few feet away and was hit in the chest. I tried to help DJ but he was gone almost immediately. We called for a chopper but it was too late. Four Marines were hit. I was just eighteen then, Don was 18 or 19. Don was my fireteam leader and my friend. We shared a foxhole and meals and stories from home together. We didn't know each other very long but I'll never forget him. His life and death has affected me in that I know life is so precious. I make a point never to complain about how little or how much I have because life is fragile.
May the world remember you always, Lance Corporal Don Johnson
Baby-son (LCPL Bob Voyles)
A memorial initiated by a friend and fellow Marine, |
22 August 2002
Bob,
God Bless you!
High school graduation and Marine photos |
A Note from The Virtual WallBetween 13 and 18 March 1967 the 1st Bn, 5th Marines, conducted a sweep in the Ly Tin and Tam Ky Districts of Quang Tin Province, about 40 miles south-southeast of Danang. The sweep was in response to information received from Vietnamese villagers indicating the 14th and 706th VC Local Force Companies were operating in the area.Charlie 1/5 moved into its initial position on the 12th and Operation TIPPECANOE kicked off on the 13th. Charlie 1/5 began patrol activity that morning while at 0930 Bravo and Delta 1/5 began road march movements from the 1/5 base camp to their initial sweep positions. Charlie 1/5's first contact was at 0810 when a squad patrol was taken under fire at BT325115. One Marine was killed and five wounded in the exchange. Charlie 1/5 continued moving southeast with little contact until 1440, when a firefight broke out at coordinates BT329110, resulting in one Marine killed and four wounded. Bravo 1/5 had several contacts during the day which resulted in 2 wounded Marines. Delta 1/5's move was unremarkable until 1755 when they engaged a VC outpost; one Marine was killed in the exchange of fires. The day's engagements were not one-sided; eight to ten VC were killed and two captured while physical evidence indicated a number of other VC were wounded. The three Marines from 1/5 killed in action on 13 March were
The description of events is taken from the 1/5 |
The point-of-contact for this memorial is his brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Monica Johnson rmjohnson@centurytel.net 23 May 2001 |
Top of Page
www.VirtualWall.org Back to |
With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Last updated 11/13/2010