03 Oct 2006 Raymond was the oldest of 14 siblings. He was born in Midland, Texas, attended Midland schools, and last attended Midland High School. He joined the Marine Corps from Midland and had been in Vietnam 5 weeks when he was killed. He was killed in Operation Auburn which centered on Go Noi Island. He is remembered by the Permian Basin Vietnam Veterans' Memorial located in Midland, Texas. May his sacrifice not be forgotten. 11 Nov 2006 Raymond is buried at the Fairview Cemetery in Midland, Texas. He was a 1965 graduate of Midland High School. From a PBVVM representative, Billy M. Brown 4015 Melody Lane, Odessa, Texas 79762 bmbrown@grandecom.net

 

02 Dec 2006 REMEMBERED by his brother, Ron Niedecken welovejesus@myfam.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall Operation Auburn, conducted 28 Dec 67 through 03 Jan 68 on Go Noi Island, Quang Nam Province, was primarily a 5th Marines operation, but E Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, was attached to 3/5 Marines to provide an extra rifle company. Go Noi Island was infested with North Vietnamese regulars and Viet Cong main and local forces, and very heavy fighting resulted immediately after the Marines were airlifted into Landing Zone HAWK beginning at 0835. India 3/5 moved out in one direction and had only sporadic contacts. Echo 2/3 moved toward a separate objective and immediately engaged NVA and VC elements in fortified positions. India 3/5 reversed course to support Echo 2/3, and at 1530 a third rifle company, Mike 3/5, was inserted into LZ HAWK in reinforcement. By late afternoon Echo 2/3 and Mike 3/5 had consolidated and were establishing night positions, with India 3/5 in a separate position several hundred meters away. Although both positions were subjected to enemy probes during the night of 28/29 December there were no organized attacks on either position. The fighting around LZ HAWK on 28 December resulted in 18 known deaths among the Marines. NVA/VC losses were not known, but one aerial artillery observer counted 32 NVA/VC bodies in front of the Echo 2/3 afternoon position. The known American dead were 1st Scout Dog Plt, H&S Co, 1st MP Bn: Cpl William G. Fraser, Manchester, NH E Co, 2nd Bn, 3rd Marines: SSgt Salome Hernandez, Anthony, NM Cpl Robert L. Boyer, Long Beach, CA (Silver Star) Cpl Richard L. Carlson, Montclair, NJ Cpl James B. Cox, Washington, WV LCpl Patrick E. Anglim, Long Beach, CA LCpl Carl E. Chamberlain, Nashville, TN LCpl Frank Florio, Edgemere, NY (H&S Co w/ Echo 2/3) Pfc Byron A. Gaines, Jacksonville, FL (Silver Star) Pfc Thomas B. Holdbrooks, Mc Kinney, TX Pfc Arturo M. Lara, Los Angeles, CA Pfc Ronald J. Streckert, Chilton, WI Pfc Ernesto Tarango, Los Angeles, CA Pfc Herbert O. Zinnel, Dakota City, IA I Co, 3rd Bn, 5th Marines: 2ndLt John G. Corr, Wilton, CT Pfc B L. Murphy, Smithville, TN Pfc Charles D. Townsend, Fort Worth, TX M Co, 3rd Bn, 5th Marines: Pfc Raymond A. Niedecken, Midland, TX

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