| Birth: | May 26, 1948
Los Angeles County
California, USA | | Death: | May 16, 1968, Vietnam | 
Bruce went to Canoga Park High School, where he first walked right up to me and introduced himself, when we were both 16. There was nothing shy about Bruce! He was only 3 months older than me, but he thought like he was 3 years older.
Bruce was older than me, but he graduated in '67. I had been in the class of '66. He never let the fact that I was in the class ahead of his get in his way. He always saw the big picture. "40 years from now", he said "when you're counting our grandkids, it won't make any difference". And he did prove to be a better man than the older ones I had been seeing before.
In '67, after his graduation, Bruce went with his friends and joined the Marines, because, "if we were going, we wanted to go with the best".
Bruce was killed while a PFC in Golf Company, 2nd BN, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division; on Thursday, May 16, 1968, just 10 days before his 20th birthday.
He died at the hamlet of Phu Dong, Quang Nam Province, during part of a search-and-clear operation. Three companies of Marines were sent into the Regimental Headquarters of a well dug-in, heavily-fortified enemy. I have researched, written letters, requested files, submitted forms, spoken with survivors from another platoon, and tried to put it all together and understand what really happened. The things I really needed to know, the things they never mention, the things I had to find somebody who saw, to ask, are answered now. It took many years to find the only man who knew. And it has been worth all the searching to finally have the answers.
Bruce's friends were closeby when it happened. It was important to me to know he wasn't alone. He was killed by members of the 308th NVA Division, 36th Regiment, and it is felt that those responsible then also lost their lives. I needed to know who killed him, and I needed some assurance that whoever killed him did not escape that place alive. It's very difficult not to have that kind of information.
Bruce believed the people of South Vietnam wanted to have their freedom. The communists were committing brutal crimes against the South Vietnamese, especially those who converted to Christianity. Bruce was willing to go and do his part to free the South Vietnamese, and he was very proud to be a Marine. He never thought he could be seriously wounded or killed, until he was there and saw what was going on. I was told by a survivor that in the end they fought and died for each other, trying to protect each other. The Marines did not fall back, but took the hamlet of Phu Dong. And they kept going, with Operation Allen Brook, taking one heavily fortified, dug-in village after another.
Five years later, Congress gave it all back to the communists, abandoning the people of South Vietnam. After the loss of so many good men and the ruined lives of the women they loved, the government betrayed the South Vietnamese, betrayed Bruce and all the men and women who sacrificed for freedom there, betrayed everyone and gave it to the communists, who murdered everyone the U.S. had guaranteed to protect.
Bruce Teague and his friends, US Marines, were the best men this country had. They were willing to go anywhere and do anything, because their country asked.
There is still no replacing Bruce. All I can do now is see that he is not forgotten.
Family links:
Parents:
Bruce J. Teague (1924 - 1999)
| | | Burial:
Los Angeles National Cemetery
Los Angeles
Los Angeles County
California, USA
Plot: 273, Grave 18/Row X |
Created by: L.A.Robbins
Record added: Mar 04, 2000
Find A Grave Memorial# 3758009 |
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-Anonymous
Added: Aug. 10, 2009 |
They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.At the going down of the sun and in the morning,We will remember them. Lawrence Binyon
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L.A.Robbins
Added: Sep. 6, 2008 |
Never forgotten. This Memorial Day and every Memorial Day.
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Patricia Foht
Added: May. 20, 2008 |
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