12 Jan 2007 Gerald C. Kinny was killed in action at Hue City on the first day of the Tet Offensive, 1-31-68. He was a machine gunner with Golf Company 2nd Battalion 5th Marines. There is an account of his death in the book "Fire In The Streets - The Battle for Hue City, Tet 1968" by Eric Hammel. Gerald was only 19 years old - and only in Vietnam from November of 1967 until his death in January of 1968. He was the "big brother" to 5 brothers and 3 sisters. In his letters to his mother, he always mentioned his siblings, and while in Vietnam he wrote home about the little Vietnamese children he encountered. After all these years, he is still remembered and missed by his brothers and sisters (his parents have also passed away in the last few years). From his sister, Cindy K. Humphrey cindy181@centurytel.net Gerald and his Machine Gun Team - Gerald is 3rd from the left. The photo may have been taken at Liberty Bridge. This photo was given to me by Joe Rowe, also a Marine of Golf 2/5. It is a photo of Gerald and Joe with their squad. Gerald is front row, 2nd from left, with his machine gun is in front of him. I have been fortunate enough to meet Joe and other Golf 2/5 Marines - Joe gave me this picture last year at the annual Hue City Memorial held at Mayport Naval Base alongside the USS HUE CITY.

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The 1968 Tet Offensive began in Thua Thien Province with multiple attacks on military and civilian targets in a number of coastal areas. The imperial capital city - Hue - was of particular interest to the VC and major VC forces were targeted against it. Early on 31 January Golf Company, 2/5 Marines was placed under control of the 1st Bn, 1st Marines, which then dispatched Alpha 1/1, Golf 2/5, and a 1/1 command element from Phu Bai to Hue. The relief force was in Hue and in heavy contact with the enemy by late afternoon. The force lost nine Marines and sailors in the initial contact: 1st Bn, 1st Marines: Major Walter M. Murphy, New York, NY, H&S Co (Silver Star) HM3 Robert Kemelmacher, New York, NY, Alpha Co HN Michael T. Fitzgerald, Dubuque, IA, Alpha Co Pfc Martin Marquez, Los Angeles, CA, Alpha Co 2nd Bn, 5th Marines: Cpl Herbert L. Gregory, Tampa, FL, Echo Company LCpl Jerry D. Barksdale, Berryton, KS, Fox Company Pfc Paul C. Carter, Barnstable, MA, Hotel Company Pfc Gerald C. Kinny, Dubuque, IA, Golf Company Pfc Francis J. Mayer, West Long Beach, NJ, Hotel Company Members of Golf 2/5 report that two others - Cpl Glenn A. Lucas of Jackson Heights, NY, and Hospitalman Donald A. Kirkham of Brookfield, Wisconsin - were killed in the 31 January fighting, but it should be noted their casualty records indicate they were killed in action the following day. While Pfc Kinny's Home of Record is Toledo, he was from Dubuque - as was Hospitalman Michael T. Fitzgerald. Pfc Mayer's name appears in the Wall photo above, as does Pfc Martin Marquez's first name. LTJG Robert W. Moinester, whose name is below Pfc Mayer's, also died in the fighting in Hue City.

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