Richard Aaron Skinner

The database page for Richard Aaron Skinner

04 Apr 2008 This is my brother, I was 14 when he was killed. I look at things much differently now than I did as a teenager. Life moves on and we have to move on with it.... Marilyn Skinner Dayton Victoria, Va. msdayton@embarqmail.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall At about 1100 on 10 August 1966, during OPERATION COLORADO, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, made contact with elements of two NVA battalions near the village of Cam Khe about 8 kilometers west of Tam Ky. The initial contact developed into a full-fledged battle fought in a driving rainstorm which did not clear until about 1730. Although VMO-6 provided armed Huey support, and both shore-based artillery and naval gunfire supported the Marines, fixed-wing aircraft were unable to operate in the area until the rainstorm broke. The 1/5 Marines suffered 16 men killed in action with another 65 wounded (one of whom died the following day) but killed more than 100 NVA troops before the battle ended. The Marines and sailors who died in the fight were A Company: Sgt Ernest B. Amador, San Antonio, TX Sgt John D. Smith, Camden, NJ (DoW 08/11/1966) HM3 Walter P. Jackson, Danville, IL Pfc Lawrence J. Kindred, Overland, MO Pvt Richard A. Skinner, Greenbelt, MD B Company: HM3 James T. Elrod, Moultrie, GA (Silver Star) LCpl Richard W. Williamson, Fife, VA Pfc Kenneth E. Tasker, Deer Park, MD Pfc Everette A. Thompson, Grand Rapids, MI C Company: Cpl Douglas B. Haddix, Springfield, OH LCpl Robert D. Higbee, Drexel Hill, PA LCpl Gregory M. Howard, Greenway, VA HN Lawrence T. Steiner, Houston, TX Pfc David L. Faught, Grand Rapids, MI Pfc Melvin Rolle, Miami, FL Pfc Paul E. Sudsbury, Corinna, ME H&S Company: LCpl Richard P. Donathan, Grand Junction, CO In addition, one aircrewman from HMM-361 was killed in the fighting: SSgt Robert T. Walsh of La Crosse, WI (Silver Star).

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 04 Apr 2008
Last updated 08/10/2009