On 04 Oct 1969 personnel from A Company, 70th Engineer Battalion, were assisting with the demolition of a US position near Buon Ea Thi on National Highway QL-21, approximately 18 kilometers west-northwest of the Duc My air field.
Destruction of the above-ground structures was accomplished without difficulty, but the well-built bunkers presented a different problem: the interior supports had to be removed before a bunker could be collapsed.
This process worked well for the first three bunkers, but six men working inside a bunker were trapped when the bunker collapsed without warning. One man was dead when dug out, two died shortly afterwards, and three were medevaced with serious injuries. The dead were
SP4 George C. Davenport, Thomasville, NC (FindAGrave # 17597317)
PFC Wayne R. Elkins, Wells, ME
PFC William F. McLaughlin, Roslindale, MA (FindAGrave # 104736354)
The three injured were SP4 David J. Holland, PFC William H. Bell, Jr, and PFC Ben E. Gordon.
Awards:
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Honors
Wayne R Elkins is located on Panel W17 Line 36 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
Destruction of the above-ground structures was accomplished without difficulty, but the well-built bunkers presented a different problem: the interior supports had to be removed before a bunker could be collapsed.
This process worked well for the first three bunkers, but six men working inside a bunker were trapped when the bunker collapsed without warning. One man was dead when dug out, two died shortly afterwards, and three were medevaced with serious injuries. The dead were
SP4 George C. Davenport, Thomasville, NC (FindAGrave # 17597317)
PFC Wayne R. Elkins, Wells, ME
PFC William F. McLaughlin, Roslindale, MA (FindAGrave # 104736354)
The three injured were SP4 David J. Holland, PFC William H. Bell, Jr, and PFC Ben E. Gordon.
Awards:
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Honors
Wayne R Elkins is located on Panel W17 Line 36 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
On 04 Oct 1969 personnel from A Company, 70th Engineer Battalion, were assisting with the demolition of a US position near Buon Ea Thi on National Highway QL-21, approximately 18 kilometers west-northwest of the Duc My air field.
Destruction of the above-ground structures was accomplished without difficulty, but the well-built bunkers presented a different problem: the interior supports had to be removed before a bunker could be collapsed.
This process worked well for the first three bunkers, but six men working inside a bunker were trapped when the bunker collapsed without warning. One man was dead when dug out, two died shortly afterwards, and three were medevaced with serious injuries. The dead were
SP4 George C. Davenport, Thomasville, NC (FindAGrave # 17597317)
PFC Wayne R. Elkins, Wells, ME
PFC William F. McLaughlin, Roslindale, MA (FindAGrave # 104736354)
The three injured were SP4 David J. Holland, PFC William H. Bell, Jr, and PFC Ben E. Gordon.
Awards:
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Honors
Wayne R Elkins is located on Panel W17 Line 36 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
Destruction of the above-ground structures was accomplished without difficulty, but the well-built bunkers presented a different problem: the interior supports had to be removed before a bunker could be collapsed.
This process worked well for the first three bunkers, but six men working inside a bunker were trapped when the bunker collapsed without warning. One man was dead when dug out, two died shortly afterwards, and three were medevaced with serious injuries. The dead were
SP4 George C. Davenport, Thomasville, NC (FindAGrave # 17597317)
PFC Wayne R. Elkins, Wells, ME
PFC William F. McLaughlin, Roslindale, MA (FindAGrave # 104736354)
The three injured were SP4 David J. Holland, PFC William H. Bell, Jr, and PFC Ben E. Gordon.
Awards:
Bronze Star Medal (Merit)
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Honors
Wayne R Elkins is located on Panel W17 Line 36 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
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