Joe Smith
"Tunnel Rat"
Joe Smith, Mike 3/5 Arrived incountry on March 17, 1968. Spent approx. 5 days in DaNang doing that sandbag thing, and burning the Shi— from there went to Mike 3/5. Operations I was on include HOUSTON, HOUSTON II, ALLEN BROOK., MAMELUKE THRUST and many NO NAMES. I always walked tail end Charlie, and was a tunnel rat. My MOS was 0311-0331.Received my first Purple Heart on June 19, and my 2nd on June 20. Was sent to First Med. for about ten days in Da Nang, received my third Heart on Aug. 2, 1968. Was sent to an Army Hospital, I think it was the 169 Army in Japan. From there, went to a place called Iwakuni, Japan. It's a Marine Corps Air Station. Was put with an M. P. detachment there till I came back to the World. Was stationed at Quantico till my discharge in March of '71. Semper Fi~ Joe
Joe in Japan
Purple Heart w/2 Gold Stars, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation, Marine Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense,Viet Nam Service Ribbon w/silver star device, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/palm device, Vietnamese Campaign medal w/device.
*****************************************************
KIA June 20, 1968 on Operation MAMELUKE THRUST
Terry Parsons was Joe's friend and fellow Mike 3/5 Marine. He is dearly missed, still.
Terry Parson's obituary
(Click to enlarge)Terry Lee Parsons Memorial Page
***************************************
Background by Redeye
Thanks to Dave Engler for the PH w/2Gold Stars ribbon
