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1 May 1967

Sgt. John Bailey, LCpl. Earl Dillworth, Jr., and Cpl. Roger Gaughan served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, M Company. They were wounded on Operation UNION, and were killed when the medevac helicopter they were on crashed into the sea on 1 May 1967. Their names stand proudly alongside the Marines they served with on the Mike 3/5 Wall of Honor. Cpl. Roger Gaughan and Sgt. John Bailey were classified Missing In Action, bodies not recovered.

May 1, 1967
Kevin Kelly, 3rd platoon, Mike 3/5

About 10-10:30 a.m. on May 1, 1967, I was shot while on Operation UNION. I was carrying a radio for Lt. Johnson of the 3rd Platoon.  Around 11 a.m. I was picked up with some other Marines and medevaced to a field hospital where they removed the bullet and tended to me and others.  

Just after dark, two helicopters came to take us to the hospital ship, the USS Sanctuary. The helicopter I was on was equipped to hold stretchers, and was loaded with all Marines on stretchers. The other helicopter took Marines on stretchers, and also those who could walk. 

A short while after we took off, I saw tracers going up and our window gunners firing down. I also saw the muzzle flashes from the gunner on the other chopper, so I know they also received fire. This lasted only a short time. We continued out over the ocean to the Sanctuary. The helicopter I was on landed on the Sanctuary first. While we were being unloaded, the other helicopter circled. Before the helicopter I was on took off, the other one crashed into the sea. 

A few days later, some of those from that helicopter were recovered from the ocean by sailors from the Sanctuary. I always thought that the details of that tragedy had been passed on to relatives. I did not know it was listed as mechanical failure till I saw it on this Memorial page. I believe that it was due to enemy fire. Kevin Kelly

(See also Operation UNION)

Mike 3/5, 3rd Platoon 
Dennis Tylinski, Roger Gaughan (center), Bob G.
(picture courtesy of Dennis Tylinski)

"Roger was one of my team leaders earlf in my tour. Thought of often"~Dennis Tylinski

CPL. ROGER CONRAD GAUGHAN
Born on June 24, 1946
From BELCHERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS
Casualty was on May 1, 1967
in OFFSHORE, MILITARY REGION 1, SOUTH VIETNAM
AIR LOSS, CRASH AT SEA
Panel 19E--Line 8
Body was not recovered
Memorial page

LCPL. EARL DILLWORTH, JR.
Born on June 7, 1945
From SHEFFIELD, ALABAMA
Casualty was on May 1, 1967
in OFFSHORE, MILITARY REGION 1, SOUTH VIETNAM
AIR LOSS, CRASH AT SEA
Body was recovered
Panel 19E - - Line 4

   SGT. JOHN HOWARD BAILEY
Born on July 5, 1947
From DOCENA, ALABAMA
Casualty was on May 1, 1967
in OFFSHORE, MILITARY REGION 1, SOUTH VIETNAM
AIR LOSS, CRASH AT SEA
Body was not recovered
Panel 19E - - Line 3

Pfc. Hilario Guajardo, LCpl. Joseph Lipton, LCpl. Carl Smith, and Pfc. Duwayne Soulier were also killed in the same helicopter crash. Pfc. Hilario Guajardo, LCpl. Carl Smith and Pfc. Duwayne Soulier were classified Missing In Action, bodies not recovered.

Semper fi, Brother Marines. We will never forget.

Also Killed in the 1 May 1967 Helicopter Crash

PFC. HILARIO H GUAJARDO
Born on Dec. 1, 1947
From SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
Casualty was on May 1, 1967
in OFFSHORE, MILITARY REGION 1, SOUTH VIETNAM
AIR LOSS, CRASH AT SEA
Body was not recovered
Panel 19E - - Line 5

LCPL. JOSEPH PRICE LIPTON
Born on Feb. 3, 1949
From FLORAL PARK, NEW YORK
Length of service 1 year.
Casualty was on May 01, 1967
in OFFSHORE, MILITARY REGION 1, SOUTH VIETNAM
AIR LOSS, CRASH AT SEA
Body was recovered
Panel 19E - - Line 6

My brother Joseph Lipton (Lance Corporal) U.S.M.C.

My brother was in a Canine Corps that was out of San Francisco, Calif. He was a wonderful guy. At the time of his death, he was engaged to wonderful girl named Joan. Joseph joined the Marines at 17. He had become ill after 2 weeks in VietNam, and he was hospitalized. I heard he was being evacuated. We were then told he was missing for about 2 weeks, and then they told us they found him. He was loved by many friends and family. We were never informed of what actually happened.~Betty Lipton DiGiacomo

LCPL. CARL ARTHUR SMITH
Born on Apr. 5, 1946
From ATTICA, NEW YORK
Casualty was on May 1, 1967
in OFFSHORE, MILITARY REGION 1, SOUTH VIETNAM
AIR LOSS, CRASH AT SEA
Body was not recovered
Panel 19E - - Line 7

PFC. DUWAYNE SOULIER
Born on Dec. 31, 1946
From MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
Casualty was on May 1, 1967
in OFFSHORE, MILITARY REGION 1, SOUTH VIETNAM
AIR LOSS, CRASH AT SEA
Body was not recovered
Panel 19E - - Line 8

Rest Easy Marines