Gary the son of Gerald Leighton and Mary M. Leighton of Washington PA enlisted in the US Marine Corps on September 5, 1968 in Pittsburg PA. He arrived in Vietnam on February 21, 1969 and was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st MARDIV (Rein) FMF.
In the early morning hours of May 28 and 29, during Operation OKLAHMA HILLS, north of the hamlet of Lam Phung (1) in the Dai Loc District of Quang Nam Province a Marine squad in an ambush position were detected and attacked by a superior force of NVA soldiers. The NVA force utilized automatic weapons, B-40 RPG's (Rocket Propelled) and hand grenades in an attempted to overwhelm the men. Holding their ground the Marines fought back until a reaction force arrived to assist and engaged the enemy causing them to withdraw from the battle.
Three Marines died in the battle, one of them, PFC Leighton was killed in the action as a result of multiple fragmentation wounds from the enemy RPG fire, one died of his wounds later, and twenty four were wounded and evacuated.
* PFC Leighton was presented with the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" "For meritorious service ....from 21 February to 29 May 1969...."
Casualties:
Matthew John Braule
Iran Courtland Brown - Died of Wounds
Gary Willard Leighton
Emerson Martin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFC Leighton was included in the June 27, 1969 LIFE magazine cover article, entitled "The Faces of the American Dead-One Week's Toll." PFC Leighton is also included on The Washington County Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, Pennsylvania, which was dedicated November 11, 1999.
PFC E2 MOS 0311: Rifleman. KIA, Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, III MAF (III Marine Amphibious Corps), U.S. Marine Corps. Awards include the Purple Heart and Navy Commendation Medals.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 23W, Line 015.
In the early morning hours of May 28 and 29, during Operation OKLAHMA HILLS, north of the hamlet of Lam Phung (1) in the Dai Loc District of Quang Nam Province a Marine squad in an ambush position were detected and attacked by a superior force of NVA soldiers. The NVA force utilized automatic weapons, B-40 RPG's (Rocket Propelled) and hand grenades in an attempted to overwhelm the men. Holding their ground the Marines fought back until a reaction force arrived to assist and engaged the enemy causing them to withdraw from the battle.
Three Marines died in the battle, one of them, PFC Leighton was killed in the action as a result of multiple fragmentation wounds from the enemy RPG fire, one died of his wounds later, and twenty four were wounded and evacuated.
* PFC Leighton was presented with the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" "For meritorious service ....from 21 February to 29 May 1969...."
Casualties:
Matthew John Braule
Iran Courtland Brown - Died of Wounds
Gary Willard Leighton
Emerson Martin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFC Leighton was included in the June 27, 1969 LIFE magazine cover article, entitled "The Faces of the American Dead-One Week's Toll." PFC Leighton is also included on The Washington County Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, Pennsylvania, which was dedicated November 11, 1999.
PFC E2 MOS 0311: Rifleman. KIA, Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, III MAF (III Marine Amphibious Corps), U.S. Marine Corps. Awards include the Purple Heart and Navy Commendation Medals.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 23W, Line 015.
Gary the son of Gerald Leighton and Mary M. Leighton of Washington PA enlisted in the US Marine Corps on September 5, 1968 in Pittsburg PA. He arrived in Vietnam on February 21, 1969 and was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st MARDIV (Rein) FMF.
In the early morning hours of May 28 and 29, during Operation OKLAHMA HILLS, north of the hamlet of Lam Phung (1) in the Dai Loc District of Quang Nam Province a Marine squad in an ambush position were detected and attacked by a superior force of NVA soldiers. The NVA force utilized automatic weapons, B-40 RPG's (Rocket Propelled) and hand grenades in an attempted to overwhelm the men. Holding their ground the Marines fought back until a reaction force arrived to assist and engaged the enemy causing them to withdraw from the battle.
Three Marines died in the battle, one of them, PFC Leighton was killed in the action as a result of multiple fragmentation wounds from the enemy RPG fire, one died of his wounds later, and twenty four were wounded and evacuated.
* PFC Leighton was presented with the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" "For meritorious service ....from 21 February to 29 May 1969...."
Casualties:
Matthew John Braule
Iran Courtland Brown - Died of Wounds
Gary Willard Leighton
Emerson Martin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFC Leighton was included in the June 27, 1969 LIFE magazine cover article, entitled "The Faces of the American Dead-One Week's Toll." PFC Leighton is also included on The Washington County Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, Pennsylvania, which was dedicated November 11, 1999.
PFC E2 MOS 0311: Rifleman. KIA, Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, III MAF (III Marine Amphibious Corps), U.S. Marine Corps. Awards include the Purple Heart and Navy Commendation Medals.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 23W, Line 015.
In the early morning hours of May 28 and 29, during Operation OKLAHMA HILLS, north of the hamlet of Lam Phung (1) in the Dai Loc District of Quang Nam Province a Marine squad in an ambush position were detected and attacked by a superior force of NVA soldiers. The NVA force utilized automatic weapons, B-40 RPG's (Rocket Propelled) and hand grenades in an attempted to overwhelm the men. Holding their ground the Marines fought back until a reaction force arrived to assist and engaged the enemy causing them to withdraw from the battle.
Three Marines died in the battle, one of them, PFC Leighton was killed in the action as a result of multiple fragmentation wounds from the enemy RPG fire, one died of his wounds later, and twenty four were wounded and evacuated.
* PFC Leighton was presented with the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" "For meritorious service ....from 21 February to 29 May 1969...."
Casualties:
Matthew John Braule
Iran Courtland Brown - Died of Wounds
Gary Willard Leighton
Emerson Martin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFC Leighton was included in the June 27, 1969 LIFE magazine cover article, entitled "The Faces of the American Dead-One Week's Toll." PFC Leighton is also included on The Washington County Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, Pennsylvania, which was dedicated November 11, 1999.
PFC E2 MOS 0311: Rifleman. KIA, Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, III MAF (III Marine Amphibious Corps), U.S. Marine Corps. Awards include the Purple Heart and Navy Commendation Medals.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: Panel 23W, Line 015.
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