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Casualty Info
Home Town De Kalb
Last Address De Kalb
Casualty Date Apr 23, 1968
Cause KIA-Died of Wounds
Reason Artillery, Rocket, Mortar
Location Quang Tri (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Liberty Hill Cemetery - Bowie, Texas
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase V Campaign (68)
From Month/Year
July / 1968
To Month/Year
November / 1968
Description This campaign was from 1 July to 1 November 1968. During this period a country-wide effort was begun to restore government control of territory lost to the enemy since the Tet offensive. The enemy attempted another such offensive on 17-18 August but his efforts were comparatively feeble and were quickly overwhelmed by Allied forces.
In the fall of 1968 the South Vietnamese government, with major U.S. support, launched an accelerated pacification campaign. All friendly forces were coordinated and brought to bear on the enemy in every tactical area of operation. In these intensified operations, friendly units first secured a target area, then Vietnamese government units, regional forces/popular forces, police and civil authorities screened the inhabitants, seeking members of the Viet Cong infrastructure. This technique was so successful against the political apparatus that it became the basis for subsequent friendly operations. Government influence expanded into areas of the countryside previously dominated by the Viet Cong to such an extent that two years later at least some measure of government control was evident in all but a few remote regions.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
July / 1968
To Month/Year
November / 1968
Last Updated: Dec 22, 2023
Personal Memories
Memories I was the last person to speak to Ball the night he died. He was coming across the catwalk and I was on fire watch. He looked up and ask me if he was ready to go. He was being sent home in two days as his time in the Navy was up. I told him he was ready to go and then we came under attack. He died dogging down the hatch he walked through after he left me.
Russell H. Waddell, YNC USN (Ret) USS GENESEE 1967 - 1969 401 2nd Avenue SW, Greta Falls, MT
