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Casualty Info
Home Town Baltimore, MD
Casualty Date Feb 27, 1969
Cause MIA-Finding of Death
Reason Artillery, Rocket, Mortar
Location Quang Nam (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Mountain View Memorial Park - Lakewood, Washington
While operating near Cua-Viet, Vietnam 28 February 1968, LCU 1500 took a direct hit on the port side of the conn, killing the radioman instantly and injuring eight others. Almost one year later to the day tragedy struck again.
While loading ammunition at Bridge Ramp, Da Nang, Vietnam , 27 February 1969, an enemy rocket hit the nearly loaded craft and killed thirteen ACU-1 sailors- including BMC Donald J. Fisher.
Seven sailors on the barge YFU-78 and three sailors working on the ramp also died in the attack for a total of 23 sailors killed in action. The craft was severely damaged and had to be stricken from the Navy list.
Comments/Citation:
After the tragedy, ACU-1 held a memorial on 14 March 1969, for the sailors who lost their lives. Every year since 1969, Assault Craft Unit one has held a memorial service to honor and remember the 14 LCU 1500 sailors killed in action. Former shipmates, friends and relatives have attended each year in tribute.
CREW of LCU-1500 KILLED IN ACTION in VIETNAM
28 February 1968
RMSN K. L. Cook
27 February 1969 BMC Donald J. Fisher
EN1 Bert E. Burton
EM1 Cecil F. Bush
CS2 Marvin D. Avery
RM2 David W. Hawryshko
QM3 Earnest J. Buckelew
GMG3 Ronald J. Gebbie
BM3 Donald M. Horton
BM3 Ronald P. Yuhas
FN Joseph F. Burinda
SN Bruno W. Demata
SN Craig E. Swagler
FN Charles A. Tavares
Operation Game Warden
From Month/Year
December / 1965
To Month/Year
January / 1972
Description Operation Game Warden, Task force 116, was an operation to deny Viet Cong access to the resources in the Mekong Delta which was conceived of in December 1965. U.S. naval forces, backed by Marine artillery on the ground, launching a rapid surprise attack on the dozens of small Viet Cong ports which were scattered around the Delta. Unprepared in the face of intense U.S. firepower, which included U.S. F-4 Phantoms dropping special illumination bombs which blinded the Viet Cong deck gunners, leaving to them being unable to accurately return fire on the attacking U.S. craft, the Viet Cong were incapable of mounting a stiff resistance. Much the Viet Cong fleet and its operators were destroyed.
