3rdBn, 1stMarDiv 1966

[LadyLeatherneck]

Name: John Eugene Bodenschatz, Jr.
Rank/Branch: E2/US Marines
Unit: 1st Platoon, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Division
Date of Birth: 29 May 1946
Home City of Record: Los Angeles CA
Date of Loss: 28 August 1966
Country of Loss: South Vietnam

SYNOPSIS: PFC Robert L. Babula, PFC Robert C. Borton Jr., PFC John E.
Bodenschatz Jr., and PFC Dennis R. Carter were members of 1st Platoon,
Company K, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. On 28 August 1966, the four were
assigned as a fire team ambush with instructions to establish an ambush site
approximately 500 meters to the south of their platoon patrol base. This
specific location is in Hoa Hai village within grid square BT 0667.

The fire team departed at 3:00 a.m. on August 28, and were given
instructions for use of the pyrotechnics they were carrying as signaling
devices. They were further instructed to relocate in the same general area
or return to their platoon patrol base in the event their ambush site was
compromised, and finally to return no later than 9:00 a.m. that morning.

When the fire team failed to return as scheduled, an immediate search of the
area was conducted by Company K with negative results. During the period of
August 29-31, the Battalion made a dovetailed search of the entire area
covering all possible routes of egress in the event the team members had
been captured.

www.geocities.com/xwmnmarine/pow

[vance]

A lot of pain LadyLeathernec ! During Prairie there were two young Marines that disappeared from the end of a column that as far as I know were never recovered.


Semper Fi

Vance