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 The song "Battle of Hill48" is used here by permission of the artist, Sgt. Walter Hammond ("Kilo Co.) , music produced by MagicShack Demos of Nashville, Tn.
 
It was September 1967. The 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines would fight two major engagements early in that month, suffering almost 350 casualties — four out of 10 Marines killed or wounded in a battle against a reinforced regiment of battle hardened, NVA regulars. The NVA's 812th Regiment was estimated to have fielded 3000 soldiers against 3/26's under strength battalion, outnumbering them by more than 3 to 1. The first shots were fired on September 7th and the Marines, who were trained to run towards the sound of gunfire, would stay engaged in a life and death struggle with the enemy for the next 4 days until finally on the 10th, a severely battered enemy was forced to withdraw. There was no significant air support for the embattled Marines until the final day. No reinforcements were ever sent...
 
During the entire month of September, 3/26 suffered a total of 55 killed, 434 wounded in what was to be the deadliest month in the Battalion's history. These actions took place just south of the DMZ in an area that became known as 'Leatherneck Square,' a quadrangle just below the Ben Hai River, which marked the boundary between North and South Vietnam. (see the 3/26 Command Chronologies for a detailed, day-by-day account of our entire Vietnam tour of duty.)
 
The 26th Marine Regiment was one of the most highly decorated units to serve in the Vietnam conflict.. Awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award, Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Award, and other special citations while fighting in some of the fiercest battles under extremely difficult conditions. You (or one of your relatives) were a part of that experience and deserve to have your stories told.
 
Help preserve that history by adding your photos and experiences to our archives. If you're like most of us, you came home to a world that only wanted to forget about the war, and now after 40 years, all you have left are a few old, grainy photos and fading memories. Someday your grandchildren will be asking, "What did grand-dad do in the war?" The purpose of this website is to help answer their questions.
 
send comments to webmaster, Bill Ward  (heathkit@bellsouth.net
 
 

 

  
New! The 3/26 Project
To see a brief description, click here.
To go directly to the website click here     www.326marinesinVietNam.com
 
 
 
Why you should
"Photo Share"
 
Many veterans or the families of veterans who served in 3/26 have no photos to record their Vietnam service. Over time, pictures became lost or none were ever taken.
 
By sharing your photos on this site, not only are we able to highlight your service to our country, but theirs as well. To the families who have lost a loved one, or to those of us who survived but have no pictures,  finding one now, after all these years makes it a priceless possession.