CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — If Ho Chi Minh
could see them now.1st Battalion, 9th Marines,
reactivated Wednesday in a ceremony that drew former
battalion members from all over the country.“We are so
very well aware of the legacy you provided us,” Lt. Col.
Bradley Vickers, the battalion commander, told a crowd
of former 1/9 Marines.One of the most combat-decorated
battalions in the Corps, 1/9 got its macabre nickname
during a speech former Vietnamese Prime Minister Ho Chi
Minh made in 1966. Minh called the Marines the “walking
dead,” speaking of them as already deceased, just not
buried.The battalion sustained the longest combat tour
in Marine Corps history — 47 months and seven days. “The
Walking Dead” also had the highest casualty rate in
Corps history.The battalion was deactivated in September
1994. It was supposed to reactivate in October 2005, but
the move was delayed because of significant shortfalls
in personnel and equipment.Still, members of the
battalion deployed to Iraq, the Horn of Africa and
Afghanistan and took the lead in testing the Modular
Tactical Vest and other gear while awaiting the unit’s
formal reactivation.Under a grayish sky with the
rippling New River Inlet as the backdrop, former 1/9
Marines proudly watched as the battalion’s current 935
leathernecks stood in formation during the ceremony.“It
was something like I never felt before,” said William
Manning, a retired staff sergeant who served in Vietnam
from 1967 to 1968. “I’m proud to be a part of the 1/9
legacy. I would go to Iraq right now if they would let
me go.”
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC by THE
LOVINSPOONFUL
Sergeant Walter K.
Singleton -- KIA
Alpha Company -- 24
March 1967
The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
SINGLETON, WALTER K.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine
Corps, Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division. Place and Date: Gio Linh District, Quang Tri Province,
Republic of Vietnam, 24 March 1967. Entered service at:
Memphis, Tenn. Born: 7 December 1944, Memphis, Tenn.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Singleton's company was conducting
combat operations when the lead platoon received intense small arms,
automatic weapons, rocket, and mortar fire from a well entrenched enemy
force. As the company fought its way forward, the extremely heavy enemy
fire caused numerous friendly casualties. Sensing the need for early
treatment of the wounded, Sgt. Singleton quickly moved from his
relatively safe position in the rear of the foremost point of the
advance and made numerous trips through the enemy killing zone to move
the injured men out of the danger area. Noting that a large part of the
enemy fire was coming from a hedgerow, he seized a machinegun and
assaulted the key enemy location, delivering devastating fire as he
advanced. He forced his way through the hedgerow directly into the enemy
strong point. Although he was mortally wounded, his fearless attack
killed eight of the enemy and drove the remainder from the hedgerow.
Sgt. Singleton's bold actions completely disorganized the enemy defense
and saved the lives of many of his comrades. His daring initiative
selfless devotion to duty and indomitable fighting spirit reflected
great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps, and his performance
upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the
Medal of Honor
to
FOX, WESLEY L.
Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine
Corps, Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division.
Place and date: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 22
February 1969. Entered service at: Leesburg, Va.
Born: 30 September 1931, Herndon, Va.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty while serving as commanding officer of
Company A, in action against the enemy in the northern A Shau Valley.
Capt. (then 1st Lt.) Fox's company came under intense fire from a large
well concealed enemy force. Capt. Fox maneuvered to a position from
which he could assess the situation and confer with his platoon leaders.
As they departed to execute the plan he had devised, the enemy attacked
and Capt. Fox was wounded along with all of the other members of the
command group, except the executive officer. Capt. Fox continued to
direct the activity of his company. Advancing through heavy enemy fire,
he personally neutralized one enemy position and calmly ordered an assault
against the hostile emplacements. He then moved through the hazardous
area coordinating aircraft support with the activities of his men. When
his executive officer was mortally wounded, Capt. Fox reorganized the
company and directed the fire of his men as they hurled grenades against
the enemy and drove the hostile forces into retreat. Wounded again in
the final assault, Capt. Fox refused medical attention, established a
defensive posture, and supervised the preparation of casualties for
medical evacuation. His indomitable courage, inspiring initiative, and
unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger
inspired his marines to such aggressive action that they overcame all
enemy resistance and destroyed a large bunker complex. Capt. Fox's
heroic actions reflect great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps,
and uphold the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
The 1st Battalion 9th Marines (1/9) is
an infantry
battalion of the
United States Marine Corps. Formed during
World War II it served until the mid-1990s when it
was deactivated to make room for one of three light
armor reconnaissance battalions. In late 2005, the
battalion was once again activated and attached to the
6th Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune. Although the first
full company has deployed, 1/9 is not expected to be
ready for deployment as a battalion until late 2007.
During the
Vietnam War, 1/9 sustained the highest casualty rate
in Marine Corps history.
Current
Units
The battalion is comprised of three
infantry companies and one weapons company:
Alpha Company
Bravo Company
Charlie Company
Weapons Company
Headquarters & Service Company
Vietnam
War
The battalion endured the longest
sustained combat and suffered the highest
killed in action (KIA)" rate in Marine Corps
history, especially during the
Battle of July Two. The battalion was engaged in
combat for 47 months and 7 days, from
June 15,
1965 to
October 19,
1966 and
December 11,
1966 to
July 14,
1969. 1/9 sustained casualties during its entire
Vietnam service. Based on a typical battalion strength
of 800 Marines and Navy hospital
corpsmen, 93.63% (747) were Killed In Action (KIA)
and 0.25% (2) were Missing In Action (MIA).
The
1980s & 1990s
Deactivated on September 9, 1994
and redesignated
2nd Battalion 1st Marines. The battalion remained
inactive from 1994 through 2004.
