24 Nov 2007 My Big Brother, My Hero There is never a day goes by that I don't think of you. I wonder where you would be now if God had let you stay. You left us when you were so young. The void is always there. The short time you were with us You filled our lives with joy. I know it's true that the good die young Or else you would still be here. I would welcome communication from anyone who knew Jerry or served with him in Vietnam. From his sister, Darlene Clemson Proctor darleneproctor2005@yahoo.com hill64.blogspot.com is devoted to the battle for the Alpha 1 outpost.

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall In February 1968 the 1st Bn, 9th Marines was responsible for defending a portion of the west side of the Khe Sanh Combat Base. To accomplish this mission the battalion established a series of strong points on suitable terrain. Alpha Company's Outpost 1 was located on a hill about 3 kilometers due west of the Khe Sanh air field. At 0415 08 February the Alpha 1 outpost came under heavy mortar and ground attack. Although the defenders managed to avoid being overrun, the perimeter was breached and the North Vietnamese occupied a part of the position. A relief column arrived at about 0825 but heavy fighting continued until 1100, when the position was fully retaken. The NVA left over 150 bodies on the battlefield, but Alpha 1/9 had 27 men killed and 54 wounded in the action: 2ndLt Terence R. Roach, Birmingham, MI (Bronze Star "V") SSgt Bernard B. McKinney, Helen, WV (Bronze Star "V") Cpl Jerry C. Burkhead, Lee Mont, VA Cpl Anthony W. Handley, Hot Springs, AR, H&S w/ A/1/9 Cpl Thomas C. Lewer, Bemidji, MN Cpl Roy D. McDaniel, Kansas City, MO Cpl Manuel P. Torres, Piru, CA Cpl Henry York, North Babylon, NY HN Michael B. Barrett, Los Angeles, CA, H&S w/ A/1/9 LCpl William L. Glasper, Baton Rouge, LA LCpl James P. Rizzo, Bratenahl, OH (Bronze Star "V") LCpl Ronald C. Rountree, Sherman Oaks, CA LCpl James F. Scott, Mobile, AL LCpl Arvid B. Skuza, Ada, MN LCpl Jeffrey M. Walsh, Bethel Park, PA Pfc Gerald R. Clemson, Geneva, OH Pfc William K. Colegate, Red Bud, IL Pfc Thomas R. Craig, Atlanta, GA Pfc Kenneth C. Fordham, Macon, GA Pfc Leonard Jackson, Chicago, IL Pfc Robert N. Morden, Greensboro, NC Pfc Patrick M. Murphy, Merrill, MI Pfc Ronald L. Pembleton, Nicholasville, KY Pfc John C. Pondoff, East St Louis, IL Pfc Tommy L. Stewart, Washington, DC Pvt Guy D. Dickie, Pittsburgh, PA Pvt Allen McKinley, Gary, IN

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