Martin L Gillespie, Jr

The database page for Martin L Gillespie, Jr

16 Mar 2002 Marty, Gone, but never forgotten! HN Jim Putnam, a fellow 1/4 hospital corpsman, Fleet Marines, jclayjim@excite.com

12 Nov 2002 You will never be forgotten, In my memory always. Barbara 'Venedam' Pumyea East Boston, Beachmont, Woburn, Massachusetts momelefant@aol.com

20 Jul 2003 Mart'y We Remember, We Honor, We are Grateful God Bless you and the family you left behind! "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." Jn. 15:13 Semper Fi! Bob Digan First Cousin and Brother Marine bdigan@aol.com

30 May 2006 Thinking of you with love. Your sister, Mary Lou Mary Schweitzer P. O. Box 17, West Peterborough, N H 03468 E-Mail will be forwarded by the Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

"You guys are the Marine's doctors - There's none better in the business than a Navy Corpsman ..." -- Lieutenant General "Chesty" Puller -- The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the NAVY CROSS posthumously to MARTIN L. GILLESPIE JR. Hospitalman 2nd Class United States Navy for service as set forth in the following CITATION: For extraordinary heroism as a platoon corpsman, 2nd Platoon, Company D, First Battalion, Fourth Marines during Operation TEXAS in the Republic of Vietnam against communist insurgent guerrilla forces on 21 March 1966. While engaged in a search and destroy mission, the 2nd Platoon came under a devastating volume of accurate small arms, semi-automatic weapons, and heavy caliber machine gun fire from concealed, fortified enemy positions about 75 meters to their front. Observing a Marine wounded as he attempted to knock out the enemy emplacements with a rocket launcher, Petty Officer Gillespie fearlessly dashed across 30 meters of exposed ground, completely disregarding the intense volume of fire. Upon reaching the critically wounded Marine, he quickly began administering life saving aid with calm professionalism. Although the surrounding area was raked continually with increasingly accurate enemy fire, Petty Officer Gillespie continued to work, remaining in the exposed position for several minutes until he had stopped the bleeding, and then, as he began to move the wounded Marine to cover, he was mortally struck by enemy fire. As a result of his expert professional skill and his selfless daring actions, the life of a Marine was spared. Petty Officer Gillespie gallantly gave his life for his country. A Note from The Virtual Wall The 1st Battalion, 4th Marines lost eight men on 21 March 1966: HM2 Martin L. Gillespie, East Boston, MA (Navy Cross), H&S w/ Delta 1/4 LCpl David G. Callis, Redwood City, CA, Bravo 1/4 LCpl Ronnie E. Connacher, Houston, TX, Bravo 1/4 Pfc John H. Franklin, Hughson, CA, H&S 1/4 Pfc Willard J. Friese, Washington, IA, Alpha 1/4 Pfc Roger L. Henderson, Portland, OR, Delta 1/4 Pfc James R. Pace, Memphis, TN, H&S 1/4 Pfc Terry L. Quinn, Huntington Beach, CA, Delta 1/4 Visit John Dennison's Medics on the Wall memorial which honors the Army Medics and Navy Corpsmen who died in Vietnam.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is his sister, Mary Schweitzer P. O. Box 17, West Peterborough, N H 03468 E-Mail may be forwarded via the Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 16 Mar 2002
Last updated 06/09/2006