Randall James SchwendyPrivate First ClassA CO, 1ST BN, 7TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV United States Marine Corps 18 May 1949 - 06 February 1968 Copenhagen, New York Panel 37E Line 068 |
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The database page for Randall James Schwendy
REMEMBERED.
Five men of Alpha Company, 1/7th Marines, died in a firefight on February 6th, 1968. The others were |
It's not even necessary for me to close my eyes to be able to picture Randy in my mind. I see him sitting next to me in our shared math class ... he, a nice-looking young man; me, a kid. We struggled to comprehend the assignments, and we smiled at each other when we were successful. (That didn't happen often enough!) His pencil, which the teacher pulled from his fingers to smack him over the head, broke. I knew it didn't hurt, physically; Randy was a tough ol' farm boy. But his pride was damaged that day, though his eyes said it was okay. It wasn't. The following year I sat in that classroom without him, knowing he was on his way to Vietnam. I asked his sister about him on occasion ... and then suddenly she and his other siblings were not in school. And the local news said he'd died. We experienced a horrible snowstorm during the time of his calling hours and funeral. I thought it only right that nature mourn with me, crying tears of ice from a frozen soul. I think of Randy often. I search out his name on The Wall whenever it travels north. And this aging woman cries a little for the nice-looking young man.
Jo-Ann |
A Note from The Virtual WallBy 06 Feb 1968 the Tet Offensive was in full swing, with heavy fighting throughout South Vietnam. In Quang Nam Province, the 1/7 Marines were deployed against NVA/VC forces attacking the Danang/Marble Mountain complex.The Communist forces began the second phase of their Da Nang offensive on the night of 05/06 Feb . 1/7's involvement began at 2000 05 Feb, when Charlie 1/7 engaged an NVA force south of the Tuy Loan River. Fighting continued throughout the 1/7 area of responsibility, and 24 hours later had resulted in the deaths of 16 men from 1/7 Marines:
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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 1 Apr 2001
Last updated 08/10/2009