PFC Joseph George Taraszkiewicz, Detroit, MI on www.VirtualWall.org The Virtual Wall® Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

"Information below provided in Honor of the 1593 US Marines and USN Navy Corpsmen who served with the 7th Marine Regiment in Vietnam and paid the ultimate sacrifice for God, Corps, and Country with their lives."

-- Victor Vilionis, 7th Marines

Joseph, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Taraszkiewicz of Detroit MI, enlisted in the US Marine Corps on August 1, 1968 in Detroit MI. He arrived in Vietnam on February 3 1969, and was assigned to Company G, 2d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st MARDIV (Rein), Fleet Marine Force (FMF).

During a daily road sweep for mines, the security patrol and engineer team came into contact with a large NVA force which engaged the unit with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), automatic weapons, and rifle fire near the Phuoc Hung village complex in Hieu Duc District. The Marines took cover returning fire, radioed for assistance, and requested close air and artillery support to combat the superior enemy force.

One of the Company's platoons that was nearby sent a reaction force of two squads to reinforce and assist the embattled Marines. The fire fight developed into a day long battle until the NVA withdrew into the surrounding high ground and pursuit became impossible. Six Marines were killed during the fire fight; ten were wounded requiring medical evacuation, PFC Taraszkiewicz was killed in action as a result of hostile rifle fire.