Gary Eugene Watson

The database page for Gary Eugene Watson

23 Sep 2004 Gary was born in Jackson County, Oklahoma. His family moved to Midland, Texas in the mid 50's and Gary attended Midland schools. He was a 1962 graduate of Midland Lee High School. He attended Odessa College and worked after high school. He was drafted in the fall of 1966. He completed basic training at Fort Bliss and AIT at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He started his tour in Vietnam on July 25, 1967. He was killed by an explosive device on April 3, 1968, his eighth month in country. Gary was buried with full military honors at the Resthaven Cemetery in Midland, Texas. He is remembered by his family, his community and by the Permian Basin Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in Midland, Texas. May his sacrifice never be forgotten. 19 Jun 2006 Gary is buried in the Fairview Cemetery in Midland, Texas. He is buried next to two other Vietnam casualties, Cecil McKinney and Raul Segovia. From a PBVVM representative, Billy M. Brown 4015 Melody Lane, Odessa, Texas 79762 bmbrown@grandecom.net

A Note from The Virtual Wall On 01 Apr 1968 D Company 2/35 Infantry was airlifted into an area near Hill 1062, northwest of the fire base at Polei Kleng, where enemy contact had previously been made. D/2/35 received mortar and sporadic small arms fire and was withdrawn to allow air and artillery strikes. On 03 Apr 1968 Companies C and D 2/35 were inserted with the intention of clearing the Hill 1062 ridgeline. However, D Company "got to the same location and walked directly into a NVA ambush. I was in 2nd platoon, the point platoon that day, and within minutes after the first shot, we had 4 KIA and several WIA. Lost immediately were Gary Watson, Ted Sandidge, Leslie Lantos and Joe Quirion (all riflemen, not sure of their ranks). These were the first four men in the 1st squad. The first 3 men in the 2nd squad were wounded at the same time, these were Packer (? first name), Gerald Kelly and myself." - Romain Voeller, D/2/35th Inf C Company also ran into trouble after they were inserted into a landing zone just northeast of Hill 1062: "We moved along the ridge about 400 meters and started up 1062 as they approached the top the 1st Plt was ambushed by NVA who were well dug in and heavily bunkered, and by the end of the day we had 4 KIA and several WIA. We lost SSG David Carl Thomas, SGT Philip Lorne Konigsfeld, SP4 Edward Day, and SP4 William Joseph Frey." - Ben Youmans, C/2/35th Inf Once again the troops were withdrawn to allow further air and artillery strikes. When they returned on 05 April, they again encountered stiff resistance along the top of the ridge and once again withdrew to allow air and artillery room to work. The next assault on the morning of 06 April was unopposed - the NVA had abandoned the hill top, which had contained a regimental hospital complex. The men who were killed in action on 03 April were C Company: SSG David C. Thomas, Muncie, IN SGT Philip L. Konigsfeld, Tucson, AZ SP4 Edward Day, Flint, MI SP4 William J. Frey, Monroeville, PA D Company: CPL Joseph G. Quirion, Skowhegan, ME SP4 Leslie J. Lantos, Ten Sleep, WY SP4 Theodore W. Sandidge, Pawnee, IL SP4 Gary E. Watson, Midland, TX They are remembered by their brothers in the 35th Infantry Photo courtesy of the 35th Infantry Assn

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 23 Sep 2004
Last updated 08/10/2009