19 November 67/ Operation Foster/ I Co/3/7 Marines

[CW2 RE Chappell]

I am looking for anyone that can provide information about the combat action that resulted in the death of LCPL Robert (Gimpy) Wilson, USMC. The fight took place on 19NOV67 as part of Operation Foster during which Wilson's unit was pinned down by intense enemy fire and resulted in Wilson's squad leader being pinned down in an exposed position. Wilson, the squad RTO, exposed himself to enemy fire in order to join his squad leader and in doing so was shot and killed.

Bobby and I grew up together and I am trying to develop as much information as I can prior to making an extended trip to Vietnam. I served two combat tours as a US Army helicopter pilot and will be in Vietnam during December of this year with a fellow pilot who is a Vietnamese aviator who flew one of the UH-1's to the US carriers offshore. He is going to act as a guide and interpreter for me and if possible I would like to visit the site of where this action occurred.

I believe Wilson was assigned to 2nd Platoon, I Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Regiment, US Marines. He entered the Marines from Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Possibly killed at the same time are the following Marines:

Sgt Joel Stephen Williamson
LCPL Anthony Vigil
SSGT Arthur Jackson Sanders
HM3 Charles Edward Robertson
CPL Mark Carson Peterson
PFC Cleveland Keal , Jr.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

email....captrechappell@hotmail.com

[helen25]

At that time my dad was in Operation FOSTER FROM NOV 18-DEC.
He was MortarBtry,1stBn,11thMar 1st marineDiv(rein),FMFbo u know any thing about the time he was there?
email or reply here to me
l&r
Helen

[Sparrowhawk]

CW2 RE Chappell

<b>I remember that day very well.

</b>

Helen, if your Dad was there during that time his's artillery battery was on Hill 65, providing cover for us for most of the day as we tried to get the dead and wounded out.

Feel free to PM or call me, I have send the both of you, my cell phone no. by PM


Cook

<hr>


From my diary of that day

From the Diary:
<font color="RED">November 19, 1967
"Hell broke loose, 1st platoon lost 7 WIA's, 2nd Platoon 8 WIA's and 2 KIA's."
Time:08:00 hours”</font>

<hr>

Before the fire fight was over, we had substained 4 KIA's and 14 WIA's.

19 November 1967 Group Entry
HC3 Doc Robertson, Charles Edward KIA
Wilson, Robert B. Lcpl KIA
Williamson, Joel S. Sgt. KIA
Peterson, Mark C. Cpl. KIA

19 November 1967 Group Entry
Faithful, Boyd L. Jr. 2ndLt WIA
Nelson, Jon Q. LCpl WIA
Tully, Robert E. SSgt WIA

19 November 1967 Group Entry
Boyd, Jonathan H. Cpl WIA
Cole, Thomas J. LCpl WIA
Duran, Felix L. Pfc WIA
Isaacs, Lawance M. Sgt WIA
Keenan, Ralph P. Cpl WIA
Keeton, Ward S. Jr. LCpl WIA
Lucero, Lionel G. LCpl WIA
McCullough, Lee H. LCpl WIA

Patrick, Ronald Cpl
Saunders, Charles R. Jr. WIA
White, Robert Jr. Cpl WIA

http://vietnamdiary.bizland.com/KIAs.chtml

http://vietnamdiary.bizland.com/KIAWIA.chtml

[Sparrowhawk]

http://vietnamdiary.bizland.com/nov19.gif

Scene where battle occurred. The battle to the right involving three Marine companies occurred on the 25th, several days afterwards.

I will try to find some notes from that day, and the grid cordinance.

Cook

[Sparrowhawk]

Its a small world, after all.

[Randy Wilson]

This is Randy Wilson. I was Robert ( Bobby ) Wilson's
brother and this is a little more than ironic because I found a letter recently addressed to my parents back in 1969
from a Marine named Ronel or Ravel Carter or something
like that and in an effort to track him down began
corresponding with a Tom Smith the administrator for
alumni of the Marines. He mentioned Bobby had been
killed in Operation Foster which I had not known for all
these years in part because my parents didn't want me
to know what went on exactly...I was only 14 at the time
of my brothers death and am so proud to read exactly how
he died I cannot begin to thank you enough.


I would also
like to try to track down Ravel or Ronel to thank him for his kind words to my parents. It says in his letter they
were in the 3rd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment....it doesn't
mention what Platoon and like I say... my parents tried
to protect us from knowing much about it. My mother
would not let me view his open casket saying she wanted
me to remember him as I knew him.


He also mentions Chu Lai and Am Hoa in his letter as well.


I cannot believe I found this after only knowing about Operation Foster then clicking on it to find your comments....truly remarkable! I am going to contact you
at your e-mail directly to be sure you get this.

I would love to talk with you sometime but
doubt I could be much help about the battle. Maybe I should go over there with you ( To Viet Nam ) I have wanted to find out more about him as I've gotten older
and appreciate what all you guys did over there for our
country. Please feel free to contact me and I will send an
e-mail directly to you in just a minute.

In Gratitude!
Randy Wilson

PS...I didn't know he was given the nickname "Gimpy" where did that come from?

[gibbslarry]

Hi Randy, I was also with India Co during Operation Foster. I recall most of what occurred that day (Nov 19th) If you would like to find out more about what happened please contact me anytime.

[keeton843]

Looking for info on my brother E-5/E-6 Albert Lee Keeton

Chuck Keeton