PFC.
RONNY SMITH
Casualty was on May 10, 1969
In QUANG NAM, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS
Panel 25W - Line 43
Pfc.
Ronny Smith served with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, Mike
Company. He was Killed In Action on May 10, 1969. His name stands
proudly on the Mike 3/5 Wall of Honor. Semper Fidelis, Brother
Marine. We will never forget.
May
10, 1969
Pfc.
Ronny Smith and Pfc. Herbert Murphy died while on road security along
Liberty Road just outside of An Hoa. They were members of the first
platoon who were assigned to daylight observation positions along
the road that led from the An Hoa combat base and Da Nang. Unfortunately
Smith and Murphy who had the same assignment the day before returned
back to the same exact position the next day. This was a bad practice
as the enemy use to observe the positions the marines used and at
the end of the day when the positions would be abandoned, the enemy
often would booby trap the positions in hopes the marines would return
to the same position instead of a new one which would require digging
a new fighting hole. Smith and Murphy went to the same position and
were killed instantaneously by the blast of the booby trap. I personally
helped retrieve the bodies and while doing so discovered several other
trip wires attached to boobtraps. The enemy had most certainly been
observing the actions of the marines along Liberty Road...Semper Fi,
Paul O'Connel
(See
also Pfc. Herbert
Murphy Memorial page)
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Never Forgotten
Ronny Smith (some people called him Smitty) from Mississippi was a
very good friend in high school. I was told that he was killed somewhere
at Liberty Bridge when he and another Mike 3/5 Marine hit a booby
trap in their foxhole May 10, 1969. Last time I talked to him was
up by 5th Marines hooches and the so-called little p.x. there. He
promised to write and we’d keep in touch but he never got to
write. He and I played sports together, hunted, and double dated sisters
so I thought a lot of him. I didn’t know he was KIA until I
got home so I didn’t know any details. My mother knew but couldn’t
bring herself to tell me till I got home. Ronny Smith was a good friend
and good Marine. Served well, and I am proud to have been your friend.
You'll not be forgotten.~Hal Creel, First Force Recon Co.
68-69
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We
remember and honor Ronny
I am the niece
of Ronny Smith and post this message for my aunts and uncles who will
always remember him as a loving brother who made the ultimate sacrifice
for all of us. As a family, we remember and honor Ronny, he has never
been forgotten. Freedom isn't free - we salute all the soldiers and
families who have paid the price. God Bless America! ~Rhonda
Quenzer
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