My Dad the Runner

This book is written to honor those men who so gallantly foughtduring the 77 day siege of Khe Sanh that started in January1968. Where 5000 Marines and 1000 South Vietnamese ArmyRegulars stood fast and held their ground at President Johnsonsrequest. We give special tribute to the men from Bravo company1st platoon 1/26 Marines who assaulted the trench in front ofour perimeter and nobody came back alive. Our lieutenant (FO)forward observer and his radio operator didnt make it out alive either. I also wantto give special tribute to the 42 Marines whos C - 123 that was shot down comingback to Khe Sanh and crashed on the side of a nearby hill. We had 3 men comingback to A Btry 1/13 on that plane. Two were coming back from previous wounds andone was coming back from R&R. their names were Larry Kennedy, George Elliott IIIand the third I could no longer remember his name. To my younger brothers who isalso a Vietnam Marine Veteran Gilbert Ramirez. To the Marines from A Btry 1/13who stood fast and hand artillery duels with a very aggressive enemy. They say thatthere was thirty to forty thousand North Vietnamese all around us. How can I forgetmy neighbor Tony Zavala who grew up with me and we ended up on Hill 10 togetherafter we were ordered to abandon Khe Sanh. I believe everyone who fought during thesiege of Khe Sanh should get a Bronze Star because they were all heros; could somecongressperson make that happen; during an upcoming Veterans day ceremony.