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3rd Marine Division

The 3rd Marine Division played a significant role in the Vietnam War, contributing to various operations and engagements.  The division also participated in operations such as Operation Prairie, Operation Hastings, and their 1965 landings near Chu Lai in Operation Starlight (Starlite).

Throughout the conflict, the 3rd Marine Division faced challenges like guerrilla warfare, dense jungle terrain, and unconventional tactics employed by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces. The division's efforts were crucial in the broader context of the U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.

 

3rd Marine Division members of the 2nd Battalion 9th Marine Regiment in combat patrol during Operation Kentucky II, Vietnam War. In Color.


Patrol by the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam, In Color


Marines of the 3rd MARDIV man their artillery. 1967. In Color.


3rd Marine Division Vietnam Missing in Action

There are 49 soldiers of the 3rd Marine Division Vietnam still listed as missing in action.

  Staff Sergeant Edward E. Beck 26th Marines 08/09/1969
  Private First Class Steven H. Bennefeld 9th Marines 07/29/1967
  Staff Sergeant Gregory R. Benton 9th Marines 05/23/1969
  Lance Corporal James A. Benton 3rd Marines 04/27/1967
  Staff Sergeant Michael J. Burke 4th Marines 10/19/1966
  Sergeant Reinaldo A. Castro 3rd Marines 04/27/1967
  Private First Class Charles D. Chomel 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion 06/11/1967
  Lieutenant Colonel Donald G. Cook Headquarters Battalion 12/31/1964
  Lance Corporal Blenn C. Dyer 3rd Marines 04/27/1967
  Major James T. Egan 9th Marines 01/21/1966
  Staff Sergeant Cleveland Evans 3rd Medium Tank Battalion 03/13/1968
  Lance Corporal John J. Foley 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion 06/11/1967
  Lance Corporal Gary L. Hall 9th Marines 05/15/1975
  Corporal Joseph N. Hargrove 9th Marines 05/15/1975
  Lance Corporal Michael W. Havranek 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion 06/11/1967
  Gunnery Sergeant Di R. Ibanez 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion 06/05/1967
  Staff Sergeant James W. Jackson 4th Marines 09/21/1969
  Lance Corporal Richard H. Johnson 9th Marines 07/29/1967
  Private First Class Douglas O. Keefe 9th Marines 05/20/1967
  Lance Corporal John D. Killen 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion 06/30/1967
  Lance Corporal James W. Kooi 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion 06/11/1967
  Staff Sergeant Leonard J. Lewandowski 4th Marines 10/19/1966
  Lance Corporal Ashton N. Loney 9th Marines 05/15/1975
  Lance Corporal Ronald L. Longanecker 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion 07/08/1966
  Private First Class Danny G. Marshall 9th Marines 05/15/1975
  Lance Corporal Thruman J. McManus 12th Marines 06/05/1968

  Private First Class Randy N. McPhee 3rd Marines 04/30/1967
  Staff Sergeant Richard E. Mishuk 4th Marines 10/19/1966
  Lance Corporal David Nipper 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion 11/21/1964
  Private First Class Samuel W. Osborne 3rd Marines 04/27/1967
  Lance Corporal David E. Padilla 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion 05/18/1968
  Lance Corporal Michael J. Pastva 4th Marines 12/06/1967
  Lance Corporal Ronald K. Pennington 3rd Marines 04/27/1967
  Private First Class Anthony J. Pepper 26th Marines 04/06/1968
  Lance Corporal Martin W. Prather 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion 09/05/1967
  Lance Corporal William R. Prewitt Headquarters Battalion 08/01/1967
  Corporal Gary L. Rehn 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion 11/09/1967
  Private First Class Edward F. Rogers 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 9th Marine Amphibious 03/12/1968
  Corporal Glyn L. Runnels 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion 06/30/1967
  Lance Corporal Edward J. Rykoskey 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion 08/18/1966
  Staff Sergeant Orval H. Skarman 3rd Marines 01/15/1968
  Second Lieutenant John G. Spindler 3rd Marines 04/21/1968
  Staff Sergeant Bruce W. Staehli 9th Marines 04/30/1968
  Private Robert J. Todd 3rd Marines 05/09/1967
  Corporal James M. Trimble 26th Marines 04/06/1968
  Private Monek Weitz 12th Marines 05/25/1969
  Lance Corporal Calvin W. Wilkins 3rd Marines 02/08/1969
  Private First Class Leroy C. Williams 3rd Marines 05/25/1969
  Staff Sergeant Wayne V. Wilson 9th Marines 07/02/1967

3rd Marine Division Vietnam Recovered Missing in Action

There are 33 soldiers of the 3rd Marine Division Vietnam that have been identified and recovered.

  Second Lieutenant Heinz Ahlmeyer 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Missing: 05/10/1967, Recovered: 5/27/2003
  Private First Class Daniel A. Benedett 9th Marines Missing: 05/15/1975, Recovered: 8/25/1991
  Private First Class Lynn Blessing 9th Marines Missing: 05/15/1975, Recovered: 12/6/1995
  Private First Class Walter Boyd 9th Marines Missing: 05/15/1975, Recovered: 12/6/1995
  Sergeant Frederick J. Burns 3rd Marines Missing: 01/02/1969, Recovered: 10/4/1994
  Lance Corporal Joseph F. Cook 9th Marines Missing: 05/10/1968, Recovered: 9/8/1999
  Lance Corporal Gregory S. Copenhaver 9th Marines Missing: 05/15/1975, Recovered: 12/6/1995
  Lance Corporal Andres Garcia 9th Marines Missing: 05/15/1975, Recovered: 12/6/1995
  Sergeant Edwin R. Grissett 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Missing: 01/22/1966, Recovered: 1/23/1989
  Captain John R. Hagan Headquarters Battalion Missing: 05/06/1969, Recovered: 3/29/1996
  Lance Corporal Ralph L. Harper 4th Marines Missing: 06/06/1968, Recovered: 10/19/2006
  Staff Sergeant Samuel E. Hewitt 9th Marines Missing: 03/23/1966, Recovered: 6/24/2010
  Private First Class James J. Jacques 9th Marines Missing: 05/15/1975, Recovered: 12/6/1995
  Hospital Corpsman Third Class Michael B. Judd 3rd Marines Missing: 06/30/1967, Recovered: 6/25/2012
  Lance Corporal Kurt E. LaPlant 4th Marines Missing: 06/06/1968, Recovered: 10/19/2006
  Hospital Corpsman Ronald J. Manning 9th Marines Missing: 05/15/1975, Recovered: 12/6/1995
  Second Lieutenant Donald J. Matocha 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Missing: 04/05/1968, Recovered: 4/20/2004
  Private First Class James R. Maxwell 9th Marines Missing: 05/15/1975, Recovered: 12/6/1995

  Hospital Corpsman James P. McGrath 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Missing: 08/03/1967, Recovered: 6/8/1994
  Hospital Corpsman Third Class Malcolm T. Miller 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Missing: 05/10/1967, Recovered: 5/27/2003
  Corporal Jim E. Moshier 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Missing: 06/11/1967, Recovered: 8/15/2005
  Lance Corporal John B. Nahan 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Missing: 08/03/1967, Recovered: 6/8/1994
  Lance Corporal Luis F. Palacios 4th Marines Missing: 06/06/1968, Recovered: 10/19/2006
  Lance Corporal Kenneth L. Plumadore 4th Marines Missing: 09/21/1967, Recovered: 6/20/1996
  Lieutenant Colonel Charles J. Ramsay Headquarters Battalion Missing: 01/21/1968, Recovered: 1/1/1998
  Private First Class Richard W. Rivenburgh 9th Marines Missing: 05/15/1975, Recovered: 12/6/1995
  Private First Class Jose R. Sanchez 4th Marines Missing: 06/06/1968, Recovered: 10/19/2006
  Private First Class Antonio R. Sandoval 9th Marines Missing: 05/15/1975, Recovered: 12/6/1995
  Lance Corporal Samuel A. Sharp 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Missing: 05/10/1967, Recovered: 5/27/2003
  Private First Class Kelton R. Turner 9th Marines Missing: 05/15/1975, Recovered: 12/6/1995
  Sergeant James N. Tycz 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Missing: 05/10/1967, Recovered: 5/27/2003
  Private First Class James E. Widener 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Missing: 06/11/1967, Recovered: 8/5/2005
  Lance Corporal Jack Wolpe 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Missing: 08/03/1967, Recovered: 6/8/1994


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