Jesse was the son of Alvino Henry Pena and Jane Marie Pena of Davenport IA. He enlisted in the US Navy June 10, 1968 in Des Moines IA. He arrived in Vietnam on October 4, 1969 where he was assigned to H&S Company, and attached to Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st MARDIV (Rein) FMF.
On February 12, about five miles from Fire Base Ross, Company B's 2d Platoon was moving in a column toward the east along a trail close to the south bank of the Ly Ly river when the NVA caught the platoon in an arranged ambush. The Marines came under fire from an enemy light machine gun to their front, then automatic weapons fire from the right, coming out into a small paddy they met deadly accurate small arms fire which quickly killed two of them and wounded another. Other members of the platoon, including a staff sergeant and two Navy corpsmen, ran into the paddy to aid the first group and were themselves cut down.
The rest of the Marines took cover at the edge of the trail and tried to bring rifle, M60 machine gun, and M70 grenade launcher fire to bear on the attackers. The NVA in their fighting holes fired only when a Marine tried to move out into the paddy or otherwise broke cover, making it difficult for either platoon to find targets. Reinforcements and supporting arms broke the deadlock.
Company C was dispatched as a reaction force to support their fellow comrades. Arriving in the area, the men pressed on the attack crossing the river and manoeuvring along the north bank against a tenacious enemy foe employing automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades. The fighting continued most of the day, when the enemy finally withdrew.
At days end the exhausted Marines counted their casualties, thirteen men had been killed in the action, among them PFC Brown died as a result of an enemy gunshot wound, and thirteen men had also been wounded requiring medical evacuation.
HN Pena was one of the casualties, he was killed in action as a result of enemy small arms fire, and muliple fragmentation wounds from rocket propelled grenades.
* Posthumously promoted to HM3, Pena was also presented the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" which was subsequently upgraded to a Silver Star Medal " For conspicuous gallantry and inrtrepidity in action on 12 February 1970 ......"
Company B Casualties:
Samuel Nurrell Burton
Charles Paul Duessent
Charles Thomas Genitti
John Bill Higginbotham
Paul Elden Jones
Jerry Eugene Lineberry
Jesse Joseph Pena
Harold Richard Schuler
On February 12, about five miles from Fire Base Ross, Company B's 2d Platoon was moving in a column toward the east along a trail close to the south bank of the Ly Ly river when the NVA caught the platoon in an arranged ambush. The Marines came under fire from an enemy light machine gun to their front, then automatic weapons fire from the right, coming out into a small paddy they met deadly accurate small arms fire which quickly killed two of them and wounded another. Other members of the platoon, including a staff sergeant and two Navy corpsmen, ran into the paddy to aid the first group and were themselves cut down.
The rest of the Marines took cover at the edge of the trail and tried to bring rifle, M60 machine gun, and M70 grenade launcher fire to bear on the attackers. The NVA in their fighting holes fired only when a Marine tried to move out into the paddy or otherwise broke cover, making it difficult for either platoon to find targets. Reinforcements and supporting arms broke the deadlock.
Company C was dispatched as a reaction force to support their fellow comrades. Arriving in the area, the men pressed on the attack crossing the river and manoeuvring along the north bank against a tenacious enemy foe employing automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades. The fighting continued most of the day, when the enemy finally withdrew.
At days end the exhausted Marines counted their casualties, thirteen men had been killed in the action, among them PFC Brown died as a result of an enemy gunshot wound, and thirteen men had also been wounded requiring medical evacuation.
HN Pena was one of the casualties, he was killed in action as a result of enemy small arms fire, and muliple fragmentation wounds from rocket propelled grenades.
* Posthumously promoted to HM3, Pena was also presented the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" which was subsequently upgraded to a Silver Star Medal " For conspicuous gallantry and inrtrepidity in action on 12 February 1970 ......"
Company B Casualties:
Samuel Nurrell Burton
Charles Paul Duessent
Charles Thomas Genitti
John Bill Higginbotham
Paul Elden Jones
Jerry Eugene Lineberry
Jesse Joseph Pena
Harold Richard Schuler
Jesse was the son of Alvino Henry Pena and Jane Marie Pena of Davenport IA. He enlisted in the US Navy June 10, 1968 in Des Moines IA. He arrived in Vietnam on October 4, 1969 where he was assigned to H&S Company, and attached to Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st MARDIV (Rein) FMF.
On February 12, about five miles from Fire Base Ross, Company B's 2d Platoon was moving in a column toward the east along a trail close to the south bank of the Ly Ly river when the NVA caught the platoon in an arranged ambush. The Marines came under fire from an enemy light machine gun to their front, then automatic weapons fire from the right, coming out into a small paddy they met deadly accurate small arms fire which quickly killed two of them and wounded another. Other members of the platoon, including a staff sergeant and two Navy corpsmen, ran into the paddy to aid the first group and were themselves cut down.
The rest of the Marines took cover at the edge of the trail and tried to bring rifle, M60 machine gun, and M70 grenade launcher fire to bear on the attackers. The NVA in their fighting holes fired only when a Marine tried to move out into the paddy or otherwise broke cover, making it difficult for either platoon to find targets. Reinforcements and supporting arms broke the deadlock.
Company C was dispatched as a reaction force to support their fellow comrades. Arriving in the area, the men pressed on the attack crossing the river and manoeuvring along the north bank against a tenacious enemy foe employing automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades. The fighting continued most of the day, when the enemy finally withdrew.
At days end the exhausted Marines counted their casualties, thirteen men had been killed in the action, among them PFC Brown died as a result of an enemy gunshot wound, and thirteen men had also been wounded requiring medical evacuation.
HN Pena was one of the casualties, he was killed in action as a result of enemy small arms fire, and muliple fragmentation wounds from rocket propelled grenades.
* Posthumously promoted to HM3, Pena was also presented the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" which was subsequently upgraded to a Silver Star Medal " For conspicuous gallantry and inrtrepidity in action on 12 February 1970 ......"
Company B Casualties:
Samuel Nurrell Burton
Charles Paul Duessent
Charles Thomas Genitti
John Bill Higginbotham
Paul Elden Jones
Jerry Eugene Lineberry
Jesse Joseph Pena
Harold Richard Schuler
On February 12, about five miles from Fire Base Ross, Company B's 2d Platoon was moving in a column toward the east along a trail close to the south bank of the Ly Ly river when the NVA caught the platoon in an arranged ambush. The Marines came under fire from an enemy light machine gun to their front, then automatic weapons fire from the right, coming out into a small paddy they met deadly accurate small arms fire which quickly killed two of them and wounded another. Other members of the platoon, including a staff sergeant and two Navy corpsmen, ran into the paddy to aid the first group and were themselves cut down.
The rest of the Marines took cover at the edge of the trail and tried to bring rifle, M60 machine gun, and M70 grenade launcher fire to bear on the attackers. The NVA in their fighting holes fired only when a Marine tried to move out into the paddy or otherwise broke cover, making it difficult for either platoon to find targets. Reinforcements and supporting arms broke the deadlock.
Company C was dispatched as a reaction force to support their fellow comrades. Arriving in the area, the men pressed on the attack crossing the river and manoeuvring along the north bank against a tenacious enemy foe employing automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades. The fighting continued most of the day, when the enemy finally withdrew.
At days end the exhausted Marines counted their casualties, thirteen men had been killed in the action, among them PFC Brown died as a result of an enemy gunshot wound, and thirteen men had also been wounded requiring medical evacuation.
HN Pena was one of the casualties, he was killed in action as a result of enemy small arms fire, and muliple fragmentation wounds from rocket propelled grenades.
* Posthumously promoted to HM3, Pena was also presented the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" which was subsequently upgraded to a Silver Star Medal " For conspicuous gallantry and inrtrepidity in action on 12 February 1970 ......"
Company B Casualties:
Samuel Nurrell Burton
Charles Paul Duessent
Charles Thomas Genitti
John Bill Higginbotham
Paul Elden Jones
Jerry Eugene Lineberry
Jesse Joseph Pena
Harold Richard Schuler
Inscription
Jesse Joseph Pena
Iowa
HM3
US Navy
Vietnam
January 9, 1949
February 12, 1970
Purple Heart
Family Members
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