15 Oct 2006 Mike, I didn't know you that well. Back in 1967 you were a friend of my friend Mike Booker. I saw you a few times and I remember when you left for the Marines. When you came home ... a hero ... I went to pay my respects and to tell you good-bye. You have always been with me in my heart. This weekend, the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall visited our city of Tallahassee. Not only did I get to see your name and touch it, it was my privilege to participate with the continuous reading of the names. I brought you beautiful yellow roses, I hope you liked them. Mike, thank you for paying the ultimate price for your fellow man and country. There are many who could care less, but I do care. Not only for you, but also the 58,000 others who paid the same price. I am very proud to have known you and you will continue to be in my heart and your family in my prayers. Becky Dunlap Eccard Tallahassee, Florida bjebutterfly@hotmail.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall On 04 November 1968 a squad patrol from Mike Company 3/7 Marines got in trouble near Hill 55 in eastern Quang Nam Province. The squad was reinforced but little headway could be be made before munitions shortages forced the Marines to withdraw at about 2300. Two Mike 3/7 Marines were killed in the encounter: Pfc Elton G. Anderson of Lovell, Wyoming, and Pfc David B. Henderson of Italy, Texas. On the 5th 3/7 brought in Kilo Company and prepared for a sweep on 06 November. Mike 3/7 set out at 0500 and by 0730 was heavily engaged. The Kilo 3/7 reaction force was sent out and by 1400 Alpha 1/7 was put into the fight, the first of three rifle companies from the 1/7 Marines. The Marines formed a "U"-shaped cordon around the north, west, and south sides of the NVA fortifications, and an ARVN battalion was to close off the eastern side - but was unable to link up with the Marines before darkness brought the fighting to a halt. Although the cordon was closed and the area swept on the 7th, the NVA were gone - they had escaped through the gaps between the Marines and the ARVN battalion. The NVA had taken most of their dead and wounded with them, but they had been forced to abandon considerable quantities of equipment and supplies. Eight Marines and one Navy Corpsman were killed in the fighting on 06 Nov: H&S Co, 1st Bn, 7th Marines HN George A. Marks, Brockport, NY M Co, 3rd Bn, 7th Marines 2ndLt Duncan B. Sleigh, Marblehead, MA (Navy Cross) SSgt Raymond G. Skaggs, New Boston, OH Cpl Gerald C. Mullin, Mount Clemens, MI Cpl Gerald R. Peterson, Quincy, MA LCpl William G. Camp, Fresno, CA LCpl Rafael Soler, New York, NY Pfc Edward D. Henry, North Clarendon, VT Pfc James M. Timmons, Groveport, OH (Navy Cross) 2ndLt Duncan B. Sleigh received a posthumous Navy Cross for doing exactly what Pfc Timmons did: protect a wounded Marine with his own body.

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