Veteran’s Day Program

Dennis Lee introduced his brother, Mike Lee, who is a policeman in Monrovia.  Mike then started the story of their brother, John Lee, who died in Vietnam in action on June 19, 1967.  This action was the first time that the Army and Navy joined forces in fighting the Viet Cong.

John arrived in Vietnam in January of that year.  He was a medic.  In those times, there was no regard to how much a medic had to carry and there was no space saving devices.  Plus a medic carried a M16 rifle as well.  John wanted a .45 pistol.  On his birthday his friends friends presented him with his .45.

There was a small village nearby called Ap Bac (little village).  Apparently, there are a lot of small villages with this name throughout Vietnam.

Their company, along with two other companies, were instructed to go up the river and take out the enemy.  The path along the river was almost impossible as it was so muddy.  At about noon, John’s unit were in the rice paddy.  John’s Lt. saw activity in the tree line, and asked for heavy arms and helicopter fire into the tree line.  The request was denied.

Half way through the rice paddy they were ambushed with 50 caliber machine guns.  In five minutes 75% of his company either injured or killed.

Forty Years Later

Mike said that as a result of extensive internet searches, he found several former soldiers who either served with John or trained with him.  He also came to know a former soldier who was in another company that was attacked on that day and that he was organizing a trip back to that battle site to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the battle.

In June, 2007, Mike, his late wife Peggy, Dennis and Carolyn joined about 15 other former soldiers or family members to visit Ap Bac.  The Ceremony that they held included reading the names of those who died on that day, and burying a time capsule which contained pictures of fallen soldiers, dog tags and other memorabilia.  The ceremony was witnessed by dozen of villagers, some of whom were former Viet Cong soldiers.

One of the villagers reported that they knew the Army Unit was coming that day, in June 1967, and they were waiting for them.

There is a Monument at that spot where this dedication was held in 2007.  It reads:  “This is the site where many Americans were killed, June 5 to July 20, 1967”

Dennis ended the Lee story by saying that “we must Respect and Honor those that gave the ultimate sacrifice”

(Phyllis Corliss)