Willard was born in Donauworth, in the region of Schwaben, Bavaria where the Danube (Donau) and Wormitz Rivers meet. He was an orphan adopted by Charles M. Friese and Mary A. Friese of Wahington Iowa. Upon completion of High School, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps on July 22 1965 in Des Moines IA. In Vietnam he was assigned to and served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3d MARDIV (Rein) FMF.
During the month of March the Battalion was located in Thua Tien Province and on March 20 launched a three day operation code named OREGON in the Phong Dien District. Elements of H&S Company with supporting units, Companies A, B, and E from the 2d Battalion, 1st Marines would be heli-lifted to the line of departure with Company A landing unopposed immediately setting up defensive positions with Company B following. Moving forward to their objectives the Marines soon came under heavy enemy small arms and supporting mortar fire which developed into a day long battle. Company E joined into the same afternoon, artillery, naval gunfire and air strikes were brought to bear on the enemy positions which continued during the night and into the next day. Eight Marines were killed in the action and many were wounded, one of the casualties was PFC Willard Friese, wounded and evacuated to the Third Medical Battalion he died the next day from the fragmentation he had sustained.
During the month of March the Battalion was located in Thua Tien Province and on March 20 launched a three day operation code named OREGON in the Phong Dien District. Elements of H&S Company with supporting units, Companies A, B, and E from the 2d Battalion, 1st Marines would be heli-lifted to the line of departure with Company A landing unopposed immediately setting up defensive positions with Company B following. Moving forward to their objectives the Marines soon came under heavy enemy small arms and supporting mortar fire which developed into a day long battle. Company E joined into the same afternoon, artillery, naval gunfire and air strikes were brought to bear on the enemy positions which continued during the night and into the next day. Eight Marines were killed in the action and many were wounded, one of the casualties was PFC Willard Friese, wounded and evacuated to the Third Medical Battalion he died the next day from the fragmentation he had sustained.
Willard was born in Donauworth, in the region of Schwaben, Bavaria where the Danube (Donau) and Wormitz Rivers meet. He was an orphan adopted by Charles M. Friese and Mary A. Friese of Wahington Iowa. Upon completion of High School, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps on July 22 1965 in Des Moines IA. In Vietnam he was assigned to and served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3d MARDIV (Rein) FMF.
During the month of March the Battalion was located in Thua Tien Province and on March 20 launched a three day operation code named OREGON in the Phong Dien District. Elements of H&S Company with supporting units, Companies A, B, and E from the 2d Battalion, 1st Marines would be heli-lifted to the line of departure with Company A landing unopposed immediately setting up defensive positions with Company B following. Moving forward to their objectives the Marines soon came under heavy enemy small arms and supporting mortar fire which developed into a day long battle. Company E joined into the same afternoon, artillery, naval gunfire and air strikes were brought to bear on the enemy positions which continued during the night and into the next day. Eight Marines were killed in the action and many were wounded, one of the casualties was PFC Willard Friese, wounded and evacuated to the Third Medical Battalion he died the next day from the fragmentation he had sustained.
During the month of March the Battalion was located in Thua Tien Province and on March 20 launched a three day operation code named OREGON in the Phong Dien District. Elements of H&S Company with supporting units, Companies A, B, and E from the 2d Battalion, 1st Marines would be heli-lifted to the line of departure with Company A landing unopposed immediately setting up defensive positions with Company B following. Moving forward to their objectives the Marines soon came under heavy enemy small arms and supporting mortar fire which developed into a day long battle. Company E joined into the same afternoon, artillery, naval gunfire and air strikes were brought to bear on the enemy positions which continued during the night and into the next day. Eight Marines were killed in the action and many were wounded, one of the casualties was PFC Willard Friese, wounded and evacuated to the Third Medical Battalion he died the next day from the fragmentation he had sustained.
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