03 Oct 2005 Pfc Lutz joined us in Nam around April or May 1966. He had been with the platoon just a little while. He was assigned to LCpl Roger's fire team. On June 22, 1966, both were pulling perimeter watch in their foxhole. I was in another foxhole close to them. All of a sudden that night, we heard a loud blast. We did not know what was happening. I thought that the enemy had lobbed a grenade or satchel charge toward our perimeter and it landed in their foxhole. Lutz had not been in country that long. May he Rest In Peace. Semper Fi, Bro. Arturo Garza sgteseusmc@yahoo.com

 

17 Oct 2005 The photo and following article are taken from The Philadelphia Daily News, special supplement entitled 'SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTY,' October 26, 1987. Lutz always wanted to be a Marine, and enlisted two months after graduating from Edward Bok Vocational High School in June 1965. The private first class was sent to Viet Nam in April 1966 and assigned to Company L of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. Lutz died in Da Nang, Quang Nam Province, on June 22, 1966. He was 20 years old. Survivors included his parents, a brother and four stepbrothers. The following article is taken in part from The Philadelphia Inquirer of June 25, 1966: 3 Area Soldiers Die in Vietnam Marine Pfc. William Lutz, of Southwark Plaza, at 4th St., and Washington Ave., wrote a step-brother earlier this week that his outfit - "what's left of us" - was moving up the Da Nang River. He died on the Da Nang of fragmentation wounds received in a battle with the Vietcong, according to a telegram received on Friday by his mother, Mrs. Helen Lutz. She said he son "always wanted to be a Marine" and joined the Corps last August 16, shortly after his graduation from the Bok Vocational School, 8th and Mifflin Streets. Besides his parents he is survived by a brother, Thomas, and four stepbrothers, Joseph, Francis, John and James Bruzek. SEMPER FIDELIS, MARINE! The other two soldiers mentioned in the article were Army PFC's Ruebin L. Clark Jr., of Philadelphia and Larry F. Herrin of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. From a native Philadelphian and Marine, Jim McIlhenney christianamacks@comcast.net From The Virtual Wall: PFC Ruebin Clark was one of nine men from HQ Company, 1/327th Infantry, who died in a fight near Dak To on 08 June 1966. PFC Larry Herrin was one of 31 soldiers from the 2nd Bn, 327th Infantry, who died in a much larger battle at Trung Luong 20-22 June 1966.

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The two Marines from Lima 3/1 killed on 22 June 1966 were LCpl Gary H. Rogers, Tampa, FL and Pfc William Lutz,Philadelphia, PA.

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