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Tommy Burgdorf (Birddog), FC2
to remember
McNelis, Patrick Robert, HM2.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Mc Keesport
Last Address Mc Keesport
Casualty Date May 16, 1969
Cause KIA-Died of Wounds
Reason Gun, Small Arms Fire
Location Quang Nam (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Description Mar 1 – May 29; 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines and 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines and ARVN 51st Regiment clear and search operation in the Happy Valley, Quảng Nam Province.
It's objecive was to clear out NVA units from their base camps and infiltration routes in the hills and valleys of Quang Nam Province, southwest of Da Nang, particularly Happy Valley and Charlie Ridge. In the course of the operation, the Marines encountered and cleared the base camps of the 31st and 141st NVA regiments.
Though these NVA units largely avoided major confrontation with the Marines and ARVN during the operation, the Marinea inflicted 589 casualties on them. Forty-four Marines were killed during the operation and 439 suffered injuries requiring medical evacuation. 456 non-combat injuries were also reported.