Michael John Thirkettle
Petty Officer Third Class
H&S CO, 1ST BN, 1ST MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
United States Navy
Whittier, California
December 30, 1946 to November 26, 1967
MICHAEL J THIRKETTLE is on the Wall at Panel 30E, Line 95

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Combat Action Ribbon
 
Michael J Thirkettle
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26 Feb 2007

When I was wounded at Con Thien, Micheal was the first one to come to my aid. He was very good at his job and I felt comfortable with him. Once I was stable, I asked him to go attend the other person and help the Corpsman as he was worse hit than myself. That is the last time I saw him alive. When I came back from the hospital to Con Thien the first thing I heard was that we lost Doc. I was so saddened by the news that I wish I could of been there to help him. I think of him often and cherish those thoughts.

From a friend,
William Gayler
295 Edgehill Drive, Fruit Heights, Utah 84037
gaylerwilliam769@msn.com


 

A Note from The Virtual Wall

The 1/1 Marines Command Chronology for November 1967 contains the following entry:
"26 NOV - Company A, while on patrol to the northeast of Con Thien, engaged a reinforced NVA platoon. Company A received 20-30 rounds of 60mm mortar and 40-50 rounds of 82mm mortar along with automatic weapons and small arms fire. Company D was sent to cover the extraction of Company A. Friendly casualties were 7 KIA, 15 WIA (MEDEVAC), and 13 WIANE. NVA casualties were 6 KIA (C) and 19 KIA (P)."
The seven men killed in the action were
  • Cpl John B. Allen, Philadelphia, PA
  • Cpl Richard P. Houston, Eastlake, OH
  • Cpl Garry L. Ihrig, Parkville, MO
  • Cpl James L. Melvin, East Boxford, MA (Silver Star)
  • HM3 Michael J. Thirkettle, Whittier, CA (Silver Star) (H&S with Alpha 1/1)
  • Pfc Paul M. Dumin, Southington, CT
  • Pfc Charles P. Lirot, Bloomington, IN

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"You guys are the Marine's doctors -
There's none better in the business than a Navy Corpsman ..."
-- Lieutenant General "Chesty" Puller --

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