14 December 1966 LCpl. Walter E. Herrmann III, Pfc. Keith O. Elledge, Cpl. Robert Copeland, Pfc. Charles E. Watkins, Pfc. Randall A. Vanatta, Pfc. Roland P. Guerrette, Pfc. Leamon R. Ladd, LCpl. Richard J. Hastreiter, HN Walter H. Jones II, and Pfc. Kenny R. Suzuki served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, Mike Company. They were Killed In Action during Operation CORTEZ. Their names stand proudly on the Mike 3/5 Wall of Honor. Semper Fi, Brother Marines. We will never forget.   Hill 69 Roger Nicholson  1st platoon, Mike 3/5 Dec. 14th, 3/5 was on  Hill 69 north of Chu Lai. "Mike" had security for two other hills that were a few clicks out. They formed kind of a triangle, platoons would rotate to man the other two hills. The platoon in the rear would run patrols and ambushes around the other two hills. The night of the 14th, I think, one of the hills got hit by a large number of VC. My platoon was in the rear, so we got ready to go out and help, but got the word to stand down. All we could do was watch the fire fight, and the flashes from the grenades going off. The fight lasted for quite a while, then a few Marines who survived and made it back to the area told us what happened. The hill was not fortified enough yet and the VC knew it. The VC just swarmed up the hill and overran it very quickly, the PF's (popular forces) that were on the hill with the Marines did nothing to help fend off the VC. According to the survivors they just hid in their bunkers, oh yeah, none of them got hurt. Lucky, you think? We found out a few days later that the VC had an ambush waiting at the bottom of the hill to get any help that might show up. We also got word that the VC had been practicing  their tactics on another hill prior to the attack. They had it together that night. It was a terrible thing to have to watch and listen to and not be able to help. That was just one of thousands of battles that went unnoticed except for those who were there.  CPL. ROBERT COPELAND Born on Jan. 12, 1945 From BERKELEY, MISSOURI Casualty was on Dec. 14, 1966 in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY ARTILLERY, ROCKET, or MORTAR Panel 13E - - Line 43 PFC. KEITH O'NEIL ELLEDGE Born on Nov. 10, 1947 From ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA Casualty was on Dec. 14, 1966 in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE Panel 13E - - Line 44 PFC. ROLAND PHILIPPE GUERETTE Born on Mar. 23, 1947 From LEWISTON, MAINE Casualty was on Dec. 14, 1966 in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE Panel 13E - - Line 43 LCPL. RICHARD JAMES HASTREITER Born on May 22, 1947 From ROME CITY, INDIANA Casualty was on Dec. 14, 1966 in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY ARTILLERY, ROCKET, or MORTAR Panel 13E - - Line 44 LCPL. WALTER EDWIN HERRMANN III Born on Jan. 25, 1947 From BUENA PARK, CALIFORNIA Casualty was on Dec. 14, 1966 in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE Panel 13E - - Line 44 HN WALTER HOLT JONES II Born on Sept. 12, 1947 From ORLANDO, FLORIDA Casualty was on Dec. 14, 1966 in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY ARTILLERY, ROCKET, or MORTAR Panel 13E - - Line 44 PFC. LEAMON RAY LADD Born on Aug. 20, 1945 From CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Casualty was on Dec. 14, 1966 in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY ARTILLERY, ROCKET, or MORTAR Panel 13E - - Line 45 PFC. KENNY RYOSUKE SUZUKI Born on Aug. 19, 1943 From SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA Casualty was on Dec 14, 1966 in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY OTHER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE Panel 13E - - Line 45 PFC. RANDALL ALLEN VANATTA Born on Dec. 2, 1946 From THURMAN, IOWA Casualty was on Dec. 14, 1966 in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY ARTILLERY, ROCKET, or MORTAR Panel 13E - - Line 46 PFC. CHARLES EMANUEL WATKINS Born on Apr. 16, 1948 From MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Casualty was on Dec. 14, 1966 in QUANG TIN, SOUTH VIETNAM HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY ARTILLERY, ROCKET, or MORTAR Panel 13E - - Line 46 ****************************