A Marine, Lt. Col. William Groom Leftwich Jr., participated in 27 major operations in Vietnam and was killed in Vietnam in 1970 while returning from a mission.
Son of William Groom Leftwich, Sr. & Mattie Howard Scrape.
A partial list of his medals include: The Navy Cross, the Silver Star (posthumous), the Legion Of Merit with Combat "V" and two gold stars, The Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with one gold star, the Purple Heart with two gold stars, and various personal awards from the republic of Vietnam. A Spruance-class destroyer, the USS Leftwich, was named after Lt. Col. William G. Leftwich, Jr
I did not go as far as suggesting "Billy" as his nickname although that is what his classmates actually always call him.
He was John Warner's Marine aide when the senator and former governor was Secretary of the Navy. He roomed with Ross Perot except when he was brigade commander second(winter) set and subcommander third (spring) and final set. Those two midshipman officers room together in a room with its own telephone. The spring set commander, future CNO Carl Trost, was Warner's Navy aide at the time that Billy was the Marine aide. The class all knew that Carl would be CNO and Billy Commandant of Marines, but Billy got himself killed instead.
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: [email protected]
Date: November 12, 2018 at 2:06:05 PM CST
To: [email protected]
Subject: Suggested edit for William Leftwich
Find A Grave
Suggested Edit
Find A Grave contributor, BarryC has made the following suggested edits.
William Leftwich (27419833)
Suggested edit: For Bio:
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Colonel William Groom Leftwich, Jr. (MCSN: 0-61154), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as the Senior Task Force Advisor to Task Force ALFA, Vietnamese Marine Brigade, in the vicinity of Hoai An Village, Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 9 March 1965. Major Leftwich played a major part in all phases of the successful relief of the village of Hoai An, which was under heavy enemy attack by two Viet Cong battalions. Prior to the actual operation, he worked out a plan with the 22d Division Air Liaison Officer for supporting aircraft to deliver their ordnance in extra-close proximity to the front lines, and then to continue simulated attacks while the Vietnamese Marines assaulted the enemy positions. He participated in the planning of the approach march which, by using last-minute intelligence, avoided a massive ambush planned by the Viet Cong. As lead elements of the Task Force contacted the Viet Cong from an unexpected direction, he sensed the ideal opportunity to use the prearranged air support plan, and taking the radio, he moved under heavy fire to the forward-most elements of the Task Force. By his own personal example of shooting point-blank and shouting, he led the attack which overran the immediate Viet Cong positions and carried the assault to within forty meters of the crest of a hill overlooking Hoai An. Despite injuries by enemy machine-gun bullets in the back, cheek, and nose, he went to the aid of a mortally wounded comrade, and although bleeding profusely, he refused assistance and delayed his own evacuation until he could call for additional air strikes and brief the Task Force Commander of the situation. Through his heroic conduct and fearless devotion to duty in the face of personal risk, Major Leftwich upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Contributor: BarryC (47806468)
Son of William Groom Leftwich, Sr. & Mattie Howard Scrape.
A partial list of his medals include: The Navy Cross, the Silver Star (posthumous), the Legion Of Merit with Combat "V" and two gold stars, The Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with one gold star, the Purple Heart with two gold stars, and various personal awards from the republic of Vietnam. A Spruance-class destroyer, the USS Leftwich, was named after Lt. Col. William G. Leftwich, Jr
I did not go as far as suggesting "Billy" as his nickname although that is what his classmates actually always call him.
He was John Warner's Marine aide when the senator and former governor was Secretary of the Navy. He roomed with Ross Perot except when he was brigade commander second(winter) set and subcommander third (spring) and final set. Those two midshipman officers room together in a room with its own telephone. The spring set commander, future CNO Carl Trost, was Warner's Navy aide at the time that Billy was the Marine aide. The class all knew that Carl would be CNO and Billy Commandant of Marines, but Billy got himself killed instead.
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: [email protected]
Date: November 12, 2018 at 2:06:05 PM CST
To: [email protected]
Subject: Suggested edit for William Leftwich
Find A Grave
Suggested Edit
Find A Grave contributor, BarryC has made the following suggested edits.
William Leftwich (27419833)
Suggested edit: For Bio:
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Colonel William Groom Leftwich, Jr. (MCSN: 0-61154), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as the Senior Task Force Advisor to Task Force ALFA, Vietnamese Marine Brigade, in the vicinity of Hoai An Village, Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 9 March 1965. Major Leftwich played a major part in all phases of the successful relief of the village of Hoai An, which was under heavy enemy attack by two Viet Cong battalions. Prior to the actual operation, he worked out a plan with the 22d Division Air Liaison Officer for supporting aircraft to deliver their ordnance in extra-close proximity to the front lines, and then to continue simulated attacks while the Vietnamese Marines assaulted the enemy positions. He participated in the planning of the approach march which, by using last-minute intelligence, avoided a massive ambush planned by the Viet Cong. As lead elements of the Task Force contacted the Viet Cong from an unexpected direction, he sensed the ideal opportunity to use the prearranged air support plan, and taking the radio, he moved under heavy fire to the forward-most elements of the Task Force. By his own personal example of shooting point-blank and shouting, he led the attack which overran the immediate Viet Cong positions and carried the assault to within forty meters of the crest of a hill overlooking Hoai An. Despite injuries by enemy machine-gun bullets in the back, cheek, and nose, he went to the aid of a mortally wounded comrade, and although bleeding profusely, he refused assistance and delayed his own evacuation until he could call for additional air strikes and brief the Task Force Commander of the situation. Through his heroic conduct and fearless devotion to duty in the face of personal risk, Major Leftwich upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Contributor: BarryC (47806468)
A Marine, Lt. Col. William Groom Leftwich Jr., participated in 27 major operations in Vietnam and was killed in Vietnam in 1970 while returning from a mission.
Son of William Groom Leftwich, Sr. & Mattie Howard Scrape.
A partial list of his medals include: The Navy Cross, the Silver Star (posthumous), the Legion Of Merit with Combat "V" and two gold stars, The Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with one gold star, the Purple Heart with two gold stars, and various personal awards from the republic of Vietnam. A Spruance-class destroyer, the USS Leftwich, was named after Lt. Col. William G. Leftwich, Jr
I did not go as far as suggesting "Billy" as his nickname although that is what his classmates actually always call him.
He was John Warner's Marine aide when the senator and former governor was Secretary of the Navy. He roomed with Ross Perot except when he was brigade commander second(winter) set and subcommander third (spring) and final set. Those two midshipman officers room together in a room with its own telephone. The spring set commander, future CNO Carl Trost, was Warner's Navy aide at the time that Billy was the Marine aide. The class all knew that Carl would be CNO and Billy Commandant of Marines, but Billy got himself killed instead.
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: [email protected]
Date: November 12, 2018 at 2:06:05 PM CST
To: [email protected]
Subject: Suggested edit for William Leftwich
Find A Grave
Suggested Edit
Find A Grave contributor, BarryC has made the following suggested edits.
William Leftwich (27419833)
Suggested edit: For Bio:
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Colonel William Groom Leftwich, Jr. (MCSN: 0-61154), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as the Senior Task Force Advisor to Task Force ALFA, Vietnamese Marine Brigade, in the vicinity of Hoai An Village, Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 9 March 1965. Major Leftwich played a major part in all phases of the successful relief of the village of Hoai An, which was under heavy enemy attack by two Viet Cong battalions. Prior to the actual operation, he worked out a plan with the 22d Division Air Liaison Officer for supporting aircraft to deliver their ordnance in extra-close proximity to the front lines, and then to continue simulated attacks while the Vietnamese Marines assaulted the enemy positions. He participated in the planning of the approach march which, by using last-minute intelligence, avoided a massive ambush planned by the Viet Cong. As lead elements of the Task Force contacted the Viet Cong from an unexpected direction, he sensed the ideal opportunity to use the prearranged air support plan, and taking the radio, he moved under heavy fire to the forward-most elements of the Task Force. By his own personal example of shooting point-blank and shouting, he led the attack which overran the immediate Viet Cong positions and carried the assault to within forty meters of the crest of a hill overlooking Hoai An. Despite injuries by enemy machine-gun bullets in the back, cheek, and nose, he went to the aid of a mortally wounded comrade, and although bleeding profusely, he refused assistance and delayed his own evacuation until he could call for additional air strikes and brief the Task Force Commander of the situation. Through his heroic conduct and fearless devotion to duty in the face of personal risk, Major Leftwich upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Contributor: BarryC (47806468)
Son of William Groom Leftwich, Sr. & Mattie Howard Scrape.
A partial list of his medals include: The Navy Cross, the Silver Star (posthumous), the Legion Of Merit with Combat "V" and two gold stars, The Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with one gold star, the Purple Heart with two gold stars, and various personal awards from the republic of Vietnam. A Spruance-class destroyer, the USS Leftwich, was named after Lt. Col. William G. Leftwich, Jr
I did not go as far as suggesting "Billy" as his nickname although that is what his classmates actually always call him.
He was John Warner's Marine aide when the senator and former governor was Secretary of the Navy. He roomed with Ross Perot except when he was brigade commander second(winter) set and subcommander third (spring) and final set. Those two midshipman officers room together in a room with its own telephone. The spring set commander, future CNO Carl Trost, was Warner's Navy aide at the time that Billy was the Marine aide. The class all knew that Carl would be CNO and Billy Commandant of Marines, but Billy got himself killed instead.
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: [email protected]
Date: November 12, 2018 at 2:06:05 PM CST
To: [email protected]
Subject: Suggested edit for William Leftwich
Find A Grave
Suggested Edit
Find A Grave contributor, BarryC has made the following suggested edits.
William Leftwich (27419833)
Suggested edit: For Bio:
Navy Cross Citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Colonel William Groom Leftwich, Jr. (MCSN: 0-61154), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as the Senior Task Force Advisor to Task Force ALFA, Vietnamese Marine Brigade, in the vicinity of Hoai An Village, Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 9 March 1965. Major Leftwich played a major part in all phases of the successful relief of the village of Hoai An, which was under heavy enemy attack by two Viet Cong battalions. Prior to the actual operation, he worked out a plan with the 22d Division Air Liaison Officer for supporting aircraft to deliver their ordnance in extra-close proximity to the front lines, and then to continue simulated attacks while the Vietnamese Marines assaulted the enemy positions. He participated in the planning of the approach march which, by using last-minute intelligence, avoided a massive ambush planned by the Viet Cong. As lead elements of the Task Force contacted the Viet Cong from an unexpected direction, he sensed the ideal opportunity to use the prearranged air support plan, and taking the radio, he moved under heavy fire to the forward-most elements of the Task Force. By his own personal example of shooting point-blank and shouting, he led the attack which overran the immediate Viet Cong positions and carried the assault to within forty meters of the crest of a hill overlooking Hoai An. Despite injuries by enemy machine-gun bullets in the back, cheek, and nose, he went to the aid of a mortally wounded comrade, and although bleeding profusely, he refused assistance and delayed his own evacuation until he could call for additional air strikes and brief the Task Force Commander of the situation. Through his heroic conduct and fearless devotion to duty in the face of personal risk, Major Leftwich upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Contributor: BarryC (47806468)
Inscription
Tenness Lt COL US Marine Corps Korea Vietnam, NC-PH & 2 GS
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