Clifford George LaBombard

Private First Class
G CO, 2ND BN, 7TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV
United States Marine Corps
14 February 1950 - 15 April 1969
Albany, New York
Panel 27W Line 089

1ST MARDIV

7TH MARINES
Purple Heart, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for Clifford George LaBombard

11 Aug 2005

I remember Clifford because he lived next door to me. He was a great, fun-loving guy. He was excited to go into the Marines at the time, he felt it was his duty. So many young men in North Albany signed up.

Clifford was an only son. I still don't understand how they could do that. I believe at this time, both his parents have passed away. He does have a surviving sister (Rosie) as far as I know. We moved away from North Albany after my own brother was killed in 1967.

From a friend,
Bobbi Lynne Slingerland Hoover
P. O. Box 111, Speculator, NY 12164
hoovers3@klink.net



20 Nov 2005

More Than A Name On A Wall
(author unknown)

I saw her from a distance
As she walked up to the Wall
in her hand she held some flowers
as her tears began to fall
and she took out pen and paper
as to trace her memories
and she looked up to heaven
and the words she said were these...

She said Lord, my boy was special,
and he meant so much to me
and Oh I'd love to see him
just one more time you see
All I have are the memories
and the moments to recall
So Lord could you tell him,
He's more than a name on a Wall..

She said he really missed the family
and being home on Christmas day
and he died for God and Country
in a place so far away.
I remember just a little boy
playing war since he was three
But Lord this time I know,
He's not coming home to me

And she said Lord my boy was special,
and he meant so much to me
and Oh I'd love to see him
But I know it just can't be
So I thank you for my memories
and the moments to recall
But Lord could you tell him,
He's more than a name on a Wall..

Lord, could you tell him,
He's more than a name on a Wall..

From a friend,
Bobbi Lynne Hoover
hoovers3@klink.net

20 Oct 2006

Cliff and I attended Albany High at the same time. We were very close friends. I used to make an extra sandwich for him and bring some chocolate chip cookies (he loved them!) ... we sat with one another many times during lunch period. I moved away and left Albany High in my Junior year. I remember the day I told him I was leaving and he asked me if I really had to go to which I replied yes. My last day at school, he walked me to the front doors of Albany High and as I descended down those concrete stairs, I turned and told him I would back someday. He nodded but I remember how very sad his expression was.

When I was 19, I called a former high school friend and asked her if she knew where Cliffy was. I wanted so to get in touch with him. She told me he had been killed in Viet Nam and I remember I cried for a very long time afterwards. And to this day, I still think of him. I hope that someday I may visit where Cliffy was laid to rest (St Johns in the Wilderness). I miss him to this very day. I owe him, at the very least, a rose.

From a friend,
Amy Cooke
hagenra@nep.net

A Note from The Virtual Wall

In early April, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, were involved in Operation OKLAHOMA HILLS, a search-and destroy operation aimed at the 31st NVA Regiment in the hills west of Danang. On 11 Apr, Echo Company found the 31st NVA's main base camp, an installation consisting of more than 300 assorted fortifications and buildings as well as large quantities of munitions and equipment. Golf Company, operating to Echo's west, found a smaller, but still large, enemy complex. Rather than stand and fight, the 31st NVA Regiment chose to abandon their base camps - but used blocking forces and rear-guard actions to protect movement of the main body of their troops further into the hills.

One of these actions, on 15 Apr 1969, cost Golf Company, 2/7 Marines, three men killed in action:

  • HM3 Walter J. Junger, Tulsa, OK;
  • LCpl Wayne R. Quarles, Camden, NJ; and
  • Pfc Clifford G. LaBombard, Albany, NY.



Mrs. Hoover's brother, SP4 Gerald H. Slingerland, was one of four men who died in the crash of UH-1C hull number 66-00514 on 26 Oct 1967.




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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 11 Aug 2005
Last updated 08/10/2009