Posted: 1/8/2006 4:18:55 PM EDT
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Remembering Heros time. John Burke. One of Carlos Hathcocks spotters. He was assigned as a sniper squad leader in the first battalion 26th Marines in Khe Sanh in 1967 after Carlos rotated home the first time. At the outset of a sapper attack several of his men were wounded and Burke dragged them all into a bunker. As soon as they were all safe, he picked up an M-16 and began slowly picking off sappers as they showed themselves. Another grenade blast wounded him in the hip but wounded another Marine about 30 feet away, as he was carrying the Marine he heard another incoming RPG and threw the unconscience marine down and covered him with his own body, he sustained severe shrapenel wounds this time but dragged the other marine to cover. He was wounded by a third grenade while pulling another marine to safetly after this. He was literally bleeding from every limb, his face, chest, stomach and back. He hung a bunch of grenades on his belt grabbed an M-16 and charged the wire. He was firing with his left hand and throwing grenades with his right. His actions broke the attack and the VC retreated. A year later he was posthumosly awarded the navy cross by direction of President Johnson for his actions that night. 
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Wow... God bless our service men and women. Semper Fi. |
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