List Of Battalions' Major Battles During Vietnam
May 1965
The 1st Battalion 4th Marines came in-country, Republic of South Viet Nam, during May 1965, they were deployed at the forward Marine Base of Chu Lai, but did not participate in any significant action until June 1965. They were mostly deployed by the 4th Marines Regiment to 'observe and settle in' on the advantage points overlooking the Combat Base and its surroundings.
There was nothing written for the battalion for the month of May, listing its actions. Even though there was very little action or 'combat engagements' the battalion suffered five casualties for the month of May 1965.
1 KIA and 4 WIA
| Bowman, Brickie, Jr | PVT | 16 Feb 47 | 23 May 65 | 18 | Accident Homicide | Quang Tin | Single |
|
Ragsdell, Robert E |
Cpl | 3371 | 9 May 65 |
|
Gaughn, Ronald L |
L/Cpl | 0311 | 10 May 65 |
|
Marmon, Terry K |
PFC | 0100 | 19 May 65 |
|
Rivera, Rafael |
L/Cpl | 0311 | 25 May 65 |
Summary for the month of June 1965
1. Company D patrol received 2 rounds sniper fire, 22 June. 1 WIA.
2. Company A ambush site 20 June. Two round sniper fire. 1 WIA (USMC).
3. Area from which Company D patrol on 22 June received 4 rounds sniper fire. Resulting in search by squad in helo and squad on foot.
4. Two platoon sweep by Company D on village, 22 June.
5. Company A two day patrol on Ky Xuan Island, 25 and 26 June.
6. Company A ambush on 252300H June.
7. Company C patrol on 24 June. Received small arms and mortar fire from 7A.
8. 1 Marine WIA (Accidental Discharge), 23 June. 1 Killed (Accidental Discharge), 25 June.
Due to the poor record keeping of the battalion for the month of June 1965, only a few of the casualties listed above show as ever being recorded. None of the WIA's appear in the records as ever happening. There were several KIA's doing the month but only one is listed here as happening on 25 June 1965;
| Jenkins, Charles Arthur | L/Cpl | 30 Aug 44 | 25 Jun 65 | 21 | Accidental Self-Destruction | Quang Tin | Single |
These are casualties not mentioned in the above Summary of June 1965
| Crabtree, James Otis | Cpl | 12 Mar 45 | 7 Jun 65 | 20 | Misadventure | Quang Tin | Single |
| Gamble, Harry Paul | PFC | 22 Jan 42 | 7 Jun 65 | 23 | Misadventure | Quang Tin | Single |
| Van Gundy, Nelson Earl | Cpl | 12 Feb 44 | 9 Jun 65 | 21 | Gun, Small Arms/Died | Quang Tin | Single |
The months of July - December 1965 became very active as there were several muti-company and battalion sized operations begun.