Armando Garza Leal, Jr
Petty Officer Third Class
H&S CO, 3RD BN, 5TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
United States Navy
San Antonio, Texas
September 20, 1946 to September 04, 1967
ARMANDO G LEAL Jr is on the Wall at Panel 25E, Line 103

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Armando G Leal
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Operation Swift. The mission, involving forces of the 1st Marine Division, was carried out to rescue two Marine companies which had been previously ambushed by the North Vietnamese Army. Launched on September 4, the ensuing battles killed 127 Americans and an estimated 600 North Vietnamese. Despite their withdrawal after having suffered much higher losses, the NVA had accomplished their objective of inflicting remarkable American casualties.

The operation, intended to be the fourth and the last of the 1967 operations in the Que Son Valley, began unofficially the morning of September 4 when Delta Company, 1st Battalion 5th Marines (1/5) was attacked before dawn by a superior PAVN force while setup in a night-time defensive perimeter next to the village of Dong Son.

The local Battalion Commander, Lt.Colonel Peter Hilgartener, sent 1/5's Bravo Company to Delta's relief, which was all he had at the time. With Bravo and Delta companies heavily engaged, Mike and Kilo companies from the adjacent 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines (3/5) were sent to relieve them. Ambushed and aggressively attacked, these two companies were also pinned down in separate enclaves by the early afternoon, fighting and holding off subsequent attacks over 8 hours of combat.

Marine artillery fire and Marine jet fighter-bombers prevented the Marine infantry companies from being overrun. a fresh Marine company launched a dawn counterattack September 5. This pressed the Peoples Army of Vietnam (PAVN) into breaking contact. With all engaged companies now relieved Colonel Stanley Davis, commanding the 5th Marines, ordered 1/5 and 3/5 to pursue the withdrawing PAVN. This officially began Operation Swift.

In the early afternoon of September 6 two battalions of the NLF 1st Regiment attacked Bravo company, the lead company of the 1st Battalion. Bravo 1/5 was isolated and nearly overrun but held.

The nearby 3rd Battalion was also heavily engaged a few hours later. India Company, dispatched to attack a hill held by the enemy, was isolated and nearly overrun by the NLF 1st Regiment's previously uncommitted 3rd Battalion. Kilo Company fought through the NLF and relieved India but the two companies were then found to have too many casualties to move. Two determined night assaults by the NLF were repulsed, and Mike Company eventually fought through against weakening opposition as the NLF withdrew.

It was during this fighting on the 7th of September that PFC William Franklin Miller was mortally wounded with gunshot wounds to the head and left thigh. As the enemy withdrew, the Marine battalions continued to press them in a series of bitter engagements. By September 15, the PAVN 2nd Division and NLF 1st Regiment had largely given up contesting the southern half of the Que Son Valley.

PFC William Franklin Miller (Frankie) was the only Mike Company Marine killed on the 7th. PFC Talmadge W Carnell was another Marine killed from Mike Company on September 12, 1967. The other 16 men serving in Mike company during Operation Swift were all killed in the fighting on the 4th of September 1967. The casualties were:

LCPL Jack Albert Berry, Lubbock, TX
PFC Talmadge Wayne Carnell, Moro, IL
LCPL Steven Thomas Cornell, New York, NY
PFC David Francois Fisher, Alta Loma, CA
LCPL Thomas William Fisher, Allentown, PA (Navy Cross)
PFC Tony Eiddie Gabaldon, Reedley, CA
LCPL Andrew Mix Giordano, Smithtown, NY (Silver Star)
LCPL Richard Guerrero, Jr, Corpus Christi, TX
PFC Raymond George Hengels, Downers Grove, IL
HM3 Armando G. Leal, San Antonio, TX (Navy Cross)
PFC Charles Frederick Martin, Littleton, CO
PFC James Calvin Mc Kenzie, Yorba Linda, CA
PFC William Franklin Miller, Jerseyville, IL
PFC Gene Al Mortensen, Salt Lake City, UT
SGT Lawrence David Peters, Binghamton, NY (Medal of Honor)
LCPL Albert Willard Santos, Fall River, MA
PFC Steven James Wright, Norco, CA
CPL William Russell Young, Jr., Barnesville, OH

-- The Virtual Wall


 
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27 May 2002

To my friend who was always there for me.
You may be Gone, but You are not Forgotten.

JohnJohn Sabala
jfsabala@netscape.net

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Armando Garza Leal, Jr
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class
United States Navy

For extraordinary heroism on 4 September 1967 while serving as corpsman with the Second Platoon, Company "M", Third Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), FMF, in connection with operations against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Vietnam.

During Operation SWIFT, the Second Platoon was providing security for the Battalion Command Group when the platoon came under heavy enemy fire. Petty Officer (then Hospitalman) Leal ran through the fire-swept area, and began administering first aid to several casualties who were directly exposed to grazing fire. Although constantly exposed to heavy fire, and painfully wounded himself, he rendered aid for two hours to wounded Marines who were located between friendly and enemy lines. He refused to be evacuated in order that he might continue his mission of mercy. While treating his comrades and moving them to protected areas, Petty Officer Leal was severely wounded for a second time and, despite being immobilized, calmly continued to aid his wounded comrades. A Marine tried to drag him to a covered position, but was shot in the hand and, at that time, Petty Officer Leal received a third wound. Petty Officer Leal pushed the Marine and told him to take cover from the assaulting enemy whom they both could see. Suddenly a North Vietnamese soldier fired a machine gun from close range, mortally wounding Petty Officer Leal.

Through his swift actions and professional skill in aiding and protecting the wounded, he significantly eased the suffering and undoubtedly saved the lives of several of his comrades. His exceptional courage and unfaltering dedication to duty in the face of great personal risk were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Father Vincent Capodonno
whose bravery merited the Medal of Honor
died while trying to reach Petty Officer Leal.

Petty Officer Armando G. Leal
is remembered by the men of the
3/5 Marines


 

A Note from The Virtual Wall

The 04 Sep engagement described in Petty Officer Leal's Citation occurred at Chau Lam (1), 5 kilometers east of Que Son, during Operation SWIFT. Seventeen Marines and sailors are known to have died in the engagement:
  • H&S Co, 3rd Bn, 5th Marines
    • LT Vincent R. Capodanno, Honolulu, HI (Medal of Honor)
    • HM3 Armando G. Leal, San Antonio, TX (Navy Cross)
    • HN James C. O'Reilly, Brighton, MA

  • M Co, 3rd Bn, 5th Marines
    • Sgt Lawrence D. Peters, Binghamton, NY (Medal of Honor)
    • LCpl Jack A. Berry, Lubbock, TX
    • LCpl Steven T. Cornell, New York, NY
    • LCpl Thomas W. Fisher, Allentown, PA (Navy Cross)
    • LCpl Andrew M. Giordano, Smithtown, NY (Silver Star)
    • LCpl Richard Guerrero, Corpus Christi, TX
    • LCpl Albert W. Santos, Fall River, MA
    • Pfc Dennis F. Fisher, Alta Loma, CA
    • Pfc Tony E. Gabaldon, Reedley, CA
    • Pfc Raymond G. Hengels, Downers Grove, IL
    • Pfc Charles F. Martin, Littleton, CO
    • Pfc James C. McKenzie, Yorba Linda, CA
    • Pfc Gene A. Mortensen, Salt Lake City, UT
    • Pfc Steven J. Wright, Norco, CA
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There's none better in the business
than a Navy Corpsman ..."
-- Lieutenant General "Chesty" Puller --

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