Editor's note: The following includes the official battlefield account of the death of my father-in-law Marine SSGT Joe Gillespie. This narrative is drawn from official government records and family archives.
Posted by Roy Ortega
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Staff Sergeant Joe
Gillespie was a 14-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps
who was killed in action during the Vietnam War on September 11, 1967,
at the age of 37. Born on April 1, 1930, in McCamey, Texas, he listed San
Antonio as his official home of record.
Military
Service and Assignment
- Unit: He served with Sub-Unit 4,
Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, Third Marine Amphibious Force
(III MAF).
- Role: His military specialty was
Infantry Unit Leader.
- The Combined Action Program: His specific assignment, Sub-Unit 4, was the administrative
designation for the Marines' Combined Action Program (CAP). This program
integrated a squad of Marines and a Navy Corpsman directly into local
South Vietnamese villages to live, fight, and build security alongside the
local Popular Force militiamen.
Circumstances of Death
 |
| Battlefield report |
On the early morning
of September 11, 1967, at approximately 3:00 AM, hostile forces launched a
heavy attack on the CAP Alpha-6 compound located in Ga Xe Lua village. The
village sat along Highway QL-1, roughly halfway between Hue and Phu Bai in the
Thua Thien province of South Vietnam. SSgt Gillespie suffered fatal multiple
fragmentation wounds during the hostile action.
Medals
and Remembrance
SSgt Gillespie was
highly decorated for his service, earning the following notable awards:
- Purple Heart
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Navy Presidential Unit Citation
- Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal (with 2 bronze service stars)
- Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
He is laid to rest
at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas.
His name is permanently inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall
in Washington, D.C., at Panel 26E, Line 55. He is also honored locally
at the Permian Basin Vietnam Veterans' Memorial located at the Midland
International Airport in Texas.
Inquiries may be submitted to Roy Ortega at royortega1953@gmail.com
From the Gillespie Family archives:
 |
| Joe Gillespie and his wife Bernice Young Gillespie |
