Walter Joseph Marm, Jr. is a Medal of Honor recipient for ‘gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty’ in the Battle of la Drang on November 14, 1965 during the Vietnam War. Read about him and see his photos below.
I have written about other Medal of Honor recipients and participants in the Battle of la Drang. That battle was the first major battle between the U.S. Army and the VietCong and was the battle that was featured in the movie ‘We Were Soldiers Once … And Young’. You can read about some of the other Soldiers that were in that battle: Ed W. Freeman, Bruce P. Crandall and Rick Rescorla who distinguished himself in the Battle of la Drang and died in the World Trade Center Terrorist Attacks of 9/11/2001.
Tonight I ran across this article on Walter Marm and wanted to draw your attention to him as we have others here at Blue Star Chronicles.
Walter Joseph Marm, Jr. was born in Washington, Pennsylvania on November 20, 1941. He joined the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant and subsequently was sent to Vietnam as part of the Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). He was awarded the Medal of Honor on December 19, 1966 for his actions during the Battle of la Drang on November 14, 1965.
A Marine veteran of Vietnam has been been threatened by his condo Home Owners Association, saying his car will be towed, at his expense, if decals on his auto are not removed. The Marine vet threatened is Frank Larison, and his car decal controversy is stirring up other homeowners. See photos and view a video below.
Marine Vet Car Decal
Mr. Larison has lived in his condo complex for about eight years. He received a letter from his HOA telling him to remove the offending decals and characterizing them as “advertising.” Mr. Larison says they are not advertising, they are patriotic, and besides that, “you can’t buy freedom.” In addition to the threat of towing his car, this vet is threatened with a monetary fine “if” he crosses the HOA in the future.
We’ve all heard John McCain talk about Mike Christian who was held as a POW in the Hanoi Hilton with John McCain and others. Here is some biographical information about him, a transcript of his story, some photos and a video.
Mike Christian
John McCain has often told the story of one of his fellow prisoners during the years he spent in the Hanoi Hilton. Mike Christian was a Vietnam War POW with John McCain and the two shared quarters for some time. The story is about Christian’s love of country and of his fellow prisoners of war. He had sewn a flag into the inside of his clothing and the POWs pledged allegiance to the homemade flag every morning. Eventually the Vietcong discovered the flag, they destroyed it and beat Christian. Following the horrific beating, Christian was returned to the cell. After some nursing aid from McCain and other prisoners, Christian sat up and started fashioning another flag into his clothing.
I won’t repeat the entire story here. You can read it and listen to McCain tell the story below.
Listening to John McCain tell the story has gotten a lot of people curious to learn more about Mike Christian, including me. I found a statement from him that I found particularly poignant in today’s environment.
My pilot was Lt. Lewis Irving (Irv) Williams. We were shot down 24 April 1967 at Kep Airfield about 30 miles northeast of Hanoi.
I frequently found myself in the wrong place at the wrong time. I got to know the Vietnamese and their methods quite well during five major and various minor pain sessions. Their attempts at propaganda and indoctrination taught me, as it did so many, just how strongly I support the ideals and policies of my country and our system of government. I learned a great deal about myself and my fellow man. I saw Americans function under conditions of great stress and report with pride their tremendous courage and resourcefulness . Perhaps the two strongest lessons I learned are: One, look around and find those who love you. Be aware of their love and react to it while you still can. Two, the International Communist Revolution is a deadly serious business and we MUST become aware of it. We need not panic, but we absolutely must deal with communism from a position of strength. Peace at any price politics will destroy us.
Mike Christian Biography
Michael Durhen Christian was born on October 7, 1940 and died in September 1983. He was 43-years-old. He was from Huntsville, Alabama. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William D. Christian of Huntsville. He had a sister, Pat and a brother Larry.
He attended Butler High School in Huntsville. He went to the University of Alabama and then transfered to Purdue University and got his degree in 1964. He enlisted in the Navy on January 28, 1958 and entered the Naval Enlisted Scientific Education Program (NESEP) which is a commission program. He spent a year and a half in the surface Navy in the USS Dahlgren DLG-12, received B/N Wings in 1966, A-6A B/N in VA-85 aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63).
He was a A6A pilot and a member of Attack Squadron 85, USS Kitty Hawk and his rank was 02/US Navy. Lieutenant Commander Christian was shot down over North Vietnam on April 24, 1967 and became a prisoner of war. He was moved around to different locations in North Vietnam until he was placed in the Hanoi Hilton for the duration of his imprisonment. He was released on March 4, 1973 after 6 years of imprisonment. He was one of 591 Americans released from Vietnamese prisoner of war camps in 1973.
He had been awarded two Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars, four Air Medals, the Legion of Merit, and the Navy Commendation Medal.
Christian was married to Charlotte Strong Christian of Virginia Beach, Virginia. They had three children, Deborah Kaye, Sandra Dawn and Pamela Joan. Christian died in a fire at his home in Virginia Beach. He attempted to get out of the house, but bars on the windows prevented him for being able to escape the fire.
You can read more about Lieutenant Commander Christian’s imprisonment here.
Lawrence Joel received the Silver Star and the Medal of Honor for heroism during an intense battle known as Operation Hump in Vietnam on November 8, 1965. Read about his actions below, the battle, his biography and see photos and a video.
Lawrence Joel
Sergeant First Class Lawrence Joel was awarded the Medal of Honor on March 9, 1967. He was presented with the medal by President Lyndon Johnson at the White House for his service in the Vietnam War.
Joel served honorably in the Korean and Vietnam War. However, on November 8, 1965, he was serving as a medic and became involved in Operation HUMP, a violent, desperate battle under the triple canopies of the Vietnamese jungle that took the lives of 48 American men and 414 Viet Cong. The citation of his actions is included below.
He is being remembered and honored for his service to the country 43 years ago today.
Lawrence Joel Medal of Honor Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp6c. Joel demonstrated indomitable courage, determination, and professional skill when a numerically superior and well-concealed Viet Cong element launched a vicious attack which wounded or killed nearly every man in the lead squad of the company. After treating the men wounded by the initial burst of gunfire, he bravely moved forward to assist others who were wounded while proceeding to their objective. While moving from man to man, he was struck in the right leg by machine gun fire. Although painfully wounded his desire to aid his fellow soldiers transcended all personal feeling. He bandaged his own wound and self-administered morphine to deaden the pain enabling him to continue his dangerous undertaking. Through this period of time, he constantly shouted words of encouragement to all around him. Then, completely ignoring the warnings of others, and his pain, he continued his search for wounded, exposing himself to hostile fire; and, as bullets dug up the dirt around him, he held plasma bottles high while kneeling completely engrossed in his life saving mission. Then, after being struck a second time and with a bullet lodged in his thigh, he dragged himself over the battlefield and succeeded in treating 13 more men before his medical supplies ran out. Displaying resourcefulness, he saved the life of one man by placing a plastic bag over a severe chest wound to congeal the blood. As 1 of the platoons pursued the Viet Cong, an insurgent force in concealed positions opened fire on the platoon and wounded many more soldiers. With a new stock of medical supplies, Sp6c. Joel again shouted words of encouragement as he crawled through an intense hail of gunfire to the wounded men. After the 24 hour battle subsided and the Viet Cong dead numbered 410, snipers continued to harass the company. Throughout the long battle, Sp6c. Joel never lost sight of his mission as a medical aidman and continued to comfort and treat the wounded until his own evacuation was ordered. His meticulous attention to duty saved a large number of lives and his unselfish, daring example under most adverse conditions was an inspiration to all. Sp6c. Joel’s profound concern for his fellow soldiers, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.
Lawrence Joel Biography
Lawrence Joel was born on February 22, 1928 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He attended Atkins High School there. He was in the Merchant Marines for one year. When he was 18 years old, in 1946, Joel went to New York City and enlisted in the United States Army. He became a career military man.
Joel served as a medic in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. During the Vietnam War, he served as a specialist five with the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade. This unit became famous because of a song that was written about a fierce battle they were involved in, The 8th of November. It was during that battle that Joel distinguished himself in battle, earning the Silver Star and Medal of Honor. He became the first living black man to receive the Medal of Honor since the Spanish-American War in 1898.
The Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina is named in his honor. There is a Joel Auditorium at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Army clinics at Ft. McPherson, Georgia and Ft. Bragg, North Carolina are all named in honor of Joel.
Joel died on February 4, 1984 from complications of diabetes. He was 55-years-old. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, section 46, lot 15-1.
Lawrence Joel – Photos
8th of November 1965 – Video Lawrence Joel participated in Operation Hump
Australian folk music group does this musical tribute to Australian Soldiers who fought in Vietnam. I’ve included the music video and lyrics below.
Redgum
Redgum is described as a folk and political group. I’m not sure what a ‘political’ music group does, except obvious write and perform songs of a political nature. Many groups turn their songs into political and/or social statements. Music is, after all, poetry put to music.
I did run across this song that I thought was particularly poignant by the group. It was their first break through song. The Australian group formed in 1975. I Was Only 19 was released in 1983, performed by Hugh McDonald and John Schumann of Redgum.
Footnote has taken the initiative to digitize all 58,256 names inscribed into the Vietnam War Memorial. It has also correlated them with military personnel records from the National Archives and made this information searchable from within an interactive Flash application.
On March 15, 1973, John McCain was released from a North Vietnamese prison camp the Americans called the Hanoi Hilton. He was held for 5 1/2 years as a prisoner of war and released 35 years ago today.
In the early morning hours of Friday, November 5, 1965 the 173D Airborne Brigade began conducting Operation HUMP. They entered War Zone “D” in the Republic of Vietnam. The operation lasted from November 5 – 9 1965.
On the 8th of November 1965, beneath the thick triple canopies of the jungle, the Battle for Hill 65 began. Twelve-hundred Vietcong overran a unit of 30 Americans. As is the nature of courage other units went to their aid, towards the sound of the fire fight, and the fight was on. Forty-eight Americans lost their lives on that hill that day.
8th of November 1965 – Video
8th of November Live – Video
Niles Harris -Don Imus Interview – Video
Greater Love hath no man than to lay down his life for his brother.
8th of November
Lyrics by: Big & Rich
Said goodbye to his mamma
As he left South Dakota
To fight for the Red, White, and Blue.
He was nineteen and green with a new M-16
Just doing what he had to do.
He was dropped in the jungle
Where the choppers would rumble
With the smell of napalm in the air.
And the sergeant said, “Look up ahead”
Like a dark, evil cloud
1,200 came down
on him and 29 more.
They fought for their lives
But most of them died
In the 173rd Airborne.
(Chorus)
On the 8th of November,
The angels were crying
As they carried his brothers away.
With the fire raining down
And the Hell all around
There were few men left standing that day.
Saw the eagle fly,
Through a clear, blue sky
1965, the 8th of November.
Now he’s fifty-eight
And his ponytail’s grey
But the battle still plays in his head.
He limps when he walks,
But he’s strong when he talks
About the shrapnel they left in his leg.
He puts on a grey suit
Over his Airborne tattoo
And He ties it on one time a year
And remembers the fallen,
As he orders a tall one
And swallows it down with his tears.
(Chorus)
On the 8th of November,
The angels were crying
As they carried his brothers away.
With the fire raining down
And the Hell all around
There were few men left standing that day.
Saw the eagle fly,
Through a clear, blue sky
1965, the 8th of November.
Saw the eagle fly,
Through a clear, blue sky
1965.
(Chorus)
On the 8th of November,
The angels were crying
As they carried his brothers away.
With the fire raining down
And the Hell all around
There were few men left standing that day.
(Chorus)
On the 8th of November,
The angels were crying
As they carried his brothers away.
With the fire raining down
And the Hell all around,
There were few men left standing that day.
Saw the eagle fly,
Through a clear, blue sky
1965, the 8th of November.
The 8th of November
The 8th of November
He said goodbye to his mamma
As he left South Dakota
To fight for the Red, White, and Blue.
He was nineteen and green with a new M-16
Just doing what he had to do.
I don’t know that I’ve ever dealt with the feelings I have about my own generation. I do know people in my age range, that are currently holding their breath, as am I, until this current *war* is over. We don’t want to see our Military ever go through what this ungrateful nation put them through during and after Viet Nam. Even the flower power, anti-war crowd from then, does not want this to happen.
