Đông Hà

Dong Ha was the northernmost city in South Vietnam. Camp Spillman, or Dong Ha Combat Base was located there, only 6 miles south of the DMZ near a major intersection of highways and rail lines. It was a highly sought, strategic location. 

Given its close proximity to the North, it was a frequent target of their rockets and artillery. Such was the case on October 30, 1968, when some 40 artillery shells rained down on the 3rd Marines stationed there. This is pure speculation on my part, but the NVA must have had some intelligence about where and when to strike on this particular evening. From the declassified command chronology monthly report, the attack claimed 5 casualties in a 1,5 hour time period, the lowest in rank being sergeants.

Sergeant John J Sapienza, and Gunnery Sergeants, James A Vance and Franklin B Gamlin all received wounds from shrapnel. All three survived these wounds. 

Killed in the attack were Master Gunnery Sergeant John Vernon Berg and Sergeant Major Harlan Lee Graham. Also killed, from another Marine unit, was Cpl Richard Eugene Turner.

Berg had served the Marines for 28 years. He was on Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima during World War 2, he fought in Korea, and he was on his third tour in Vietnam. He was a highly respected Marine and had served with distinction and valor. As you can tell by his ribbon rack, he was a Marine's Marine! You will not be forgotten by those who fought along beside you or by those left behind. There is no shortage of very fond remembrances of Berg. His loss affected the lives of many.

Berg 

Graham

There is not much information about Graham and Turner other than a few remembrances, all of which paint them as loved, honorable and missed. There is no doubt that they served their country well. All three of these men who lost their lives that afternoon 48 years ago will be remembered and loved dearly by those they left behind. Let us not forget what they did, how they fought and what they sacrificed for freedom. 

We also want to honor those that survived the attack that day. You are no less highly thought of. You have lived with what happened and had to endure it over and over again. Nothing can replace the friends and leaders you lost. Nothing can replace the time that you've spent mourning and dealing with everything you saw while serving. Nothing I can say could ever come close to making things better for you, but we want you to know, as much as we can, we thank you.