11 Dec 2004 REMEMBERED by a friend Bob Shepherd Lake, Michigan recctr01@hotmail.com

 

29 Dec 2004 I went to Military Police School (Fort Gordon, Georgia) with Owen Mebust in Winter, 1966-67. 95% of our company got orders for Vietnam, but a small percentage got orders for Korea, including Owen. I ended up with the 716th MP Battalion in Saigon in April, 1967. In September, 1967, Owen shows up out of nowhere in our company. I said, "I thought you went to Korea?". He replied, "I did, up on the DMZ. I decided as long as I was going to get shot at, I might as well transfer to a place where they get combat pay." That statement, with all its irony and sadness, still haunts me. On top of that - on the fatal night of Jan 31, 1968, Owen was on the shift that followed mine at 2AM. Like Owen, my patrol mission took me all over Saigon, in harm's way. Fortunately for me and unfortunately for Owen, the VC waited until about 3:30AM to start the TET Offensive in Saigon. I was back safely in my room while Owen and Sergeant Johnie Thomas were fatally ambushed at the Embassy. From a friend and former comrade in arms (Military Police Corps), Jim Burroughs 11713 Montague Avenue, Bakersfield Ca 93312 jburoz11@yahoo.com

 

21 Nov 2005 I came to see you the morning of November 11, 2005. I was in D.C. for the Marine Corps and my Dad asked me to look you guys up for him. My Dad was there the day you died. He has never forgotten you guys, one day I'll bring him to see you also. From the son of someone you seved with, George H. Fleming II E-mail address is not available.

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The Tet Offensive began on 31 Jan 1968. In Saigon, some 4,000 Viet Cong troops attacked a number of US and RVN installations, including the American Embassy where four MPs from the 527th MP Company were killed: SGT Johnie B. Thomas, Detroit, MI SP4 Charles L. Daniel, Nelson, VA SP4 Owen E. Mebust, Manhattan Beach, CA (Bronze Star "V") CPL William M. Sebast, Albany, NY The 716th MP Bn history on the Fort Campbell web site contains the following information: "The most famous action during the TET offensive occurred at the U.S. Embassy where SPC Charles Daniel and PFC William Sebast of the 527th Military Police Company were augmenting the Marine security detail. At 0247 hours, Viet Cong sappers blew a hole in the embassy compoundï¿ 1/2 s perimeter wall and attacked through the breach. SPC Daniel and PFC Sebast radioed for help and engaged the attacking Viet Cong. They were able to kill the first two attacking sappers before being shot down. Two MPs who responded to the calls for help, SGT Jonnie Thomas and SPC Owen Mebust, were ambushed and killed as they approached the embassy compound." Corporal James C. Marshall, a Marine from E Company, Marine Security Guard Battalion, also was killed in action while defending the Embassy.

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