Page 88 - Images: We were...We are

Edward Cunningham - NOTES FROM THE VIRTUAL WALL

On 13 Sep 1968 the four rifle companies of 2/26 Marines were helilifted to LZ
Margo in the Cam Lo River valley about 12 miles west of Cam Lo itself. 2/26's
"mission was to find, fix, and destroy all enemy units and installations in the Area
of Operations." The Marines initiated aggressive sweeps all around LZ Margo,
eliciting violent action from the North Vietnamese regulars who occupied the area.
During the period 16-19 September, LZ Margo endured extraordinary mortar
attacks, as well as occasional artillery fire from NVA positions within the
Demilitarized Zone; these fires resulted in the deaths of 28 Marines over the four
days. The 2/26 Command Chronology for September 1968 contains the following
entry:

"16 Sep - At 161520H BLT 2/26 CP received a total of 158 82mm mortar rounds at
XD 901611. Mortars were firing from [four different areas]. Returned fire initially
with machine guns and small arms, then used 81mm [mortars] and artillery. The
attack resulted in 21 USMC KIA, 135 USMC WIA, and 6 USMC NBC."

Eight men from Echo 2/26 are known to have died from the mortar attack on 16
Sep:

x LCpl Gary R. Daffin, Baltimore, MD
x LCpl Harry E. Rivers, Philadelphia, PA
x LCpl Joseph E. Roble, Latrobe, PA (Bronze Star "V")
x LCpl Clifton Spiller, Dayton, OH (DoW 09/28/1968)
x Pfc Edward Cunningham, New York, NY
x Pfc John M. Donohue, Gregory, MI
x Pfc James C. Durham, Lincoln Park, MI

Pfc Delon Hunter, Los Angeles, CA

30 Jun 2007

Dear Eddie, it's been 39 years since you gallantly gave your life so others would not
have to face the horrors of war. I have thought of you every day during those
years. You have never been forgotten! Semper Fi!!

From a friend,
Robert Catalano

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