24 Jun 2008 My name is Michael W. Botello and I am a Marine. I enlisted in the Corps in 1968 when I was 17 and volunteered for Vietam as soon as I turned 18 the following August. I served with H&S 3/5 out of An Hoa moving supplies to field ops and transporting casualties out. I was searching the wall for LtCol Victor Ohanesian's name and could not find it listed. LtCol Ohanesian was the Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division. He was fatally wounded by mortar fire on February 28, 1967 during a rescue mission of a Recon Team north of Camp Carroll. LtCol Ohanesian died on March 1, 1967 from his wounds. The details about this incident are listed in a well written book by Edward F. Murphy entitled "The Hill Fights - The First Battle of Khe Sanh" pages 103 to 106. LtCol Ohanesian is also mentioned in two other parts of the book. LtCol Ohanesian was an outstanding Marine officer and was a wonderful husband and father. I was fortunate and honored to know Mrs. Ohanesian and their children when I returned from Vietnam and discovered that my little sister's best friend was their daughter, Vicky. Nothing can ever prepare a young Marine for entering into the presence of a natural sense of honor and greatness; royalty, but that's what it was like when I met Mrs. Ohanesian. She was and remains to me Marine Corps Royalty, in the same way Virginia Puller is Marine Corps Royalty. LtCol Ohanesian was taken from us far too soon in my opinion since his family and our nation were in need of his wisdom and guidance. However, it evidently was not to be since God called him home to command the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines of Heaven's Dream. Semper Fidelis, LtCol Ohanesian Michael W. Botello Corporal USMC marinervn6971@yahoo.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall A bitterly fought battle at the end of February 1967, which took place about 5 kilometers northwest of Cam Lo, cost the lives of 28 Marines and sailors: A Co, 3rd Tank Bn: Sgt La Voughn H. Folkers, Racine, WI Pfc William P. Fahey, Scranton, PA F Co, 2nd Bn, 3rd Marines: Cpl Ronald G. Grumling, Glenolden, PA Cpl Stephen L. Miles, Bon Aqua, TN LCpl Victor J. Homsley, Judsonia, AR Pfc James Anderson, Compton, CA (Medal of Honor) G Co, 2nd Bn, 3rd Marines: Capt Carl E. Bockewitz, Bourbon, MO, Commanding Officer, Golf 2/3 Cpl Curtis E. Crawford, Dunkirk, NY (Silver Star) LCpl James S. Goss, Mocksville, NC LCpl James L. Ross, Hickory, NC (Bronze Star "V") LCpl Douglas G. Street, Whitefish, MT Pfc Richard A. Dewane, Buffalo, NY Pfc Michael J. Glynn, Lake City, MN H&S Co, 2nd Bn, 3rd Marines: LtCol Victor Ohanesian, New York, NY, Commanding Officer 2/3 (WIA 02/28, DoW 03/01/1967) (Silver Star) SgtMaj Wayne N. Hayes, Oceanside, CA HM3 John C. Agee, Lindsey, OH I Co, 3rd Bn, 3rd Marines: Cpl Donald W. Bollman, Norridge, IL Pfc De Wayne R. Black, Toledo, OH Pfc Reginald F. Carter, Washington, DC Pfc Gary A. Hendrickson, Ottawa, KS L Co, 3rd Bn, 4th Marines: 1stLt Douglas E. Nichols, San Pedro, CA LCpl Jose Holguin, El Paso, TX LCpl Larry E. Ross, Navato, CA Pfc Donald G. Detmer, Fort Lauderdale, FL Pfc Patrick M. McKenney, McComb, MS Pfc Charles S. Norris, Veradale, WA Pfc Jimmie C. Ross, Woodville, MS M Co, 3rd Bn, 4th Marines: LCpl James T. Byrd, Wadesboro, NC Six months later the fight claimed another Marine: Cpl William Bell, Golf 2/3 from Philadelphia, PA, died from his wounds on 16 Sep 1967.

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