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If anyone knows of an Echo Marine that was KIA from 1965 to 1969
please email Antonio Gonzales with what all you know.
CHESTY SAY'S
"There are only two kinds of people who
understand Marines: Marines and the enemy.
Everyone else has a second-hand opinion."
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Ronald on right,
recovering from Malaria
Ronald during training
Pfc Ronald Robert Ozimek #0784057
4 October 1949-10 August 1969
0351 Assaultman
Survivors:
John Prost, father
Josephine, mother
Joseph, brother
Connie, sister
Michael, brother
32 Bryan Avenue
Depew, NY
The parents of Ronald and Joseph separated when they were still young, and were given to their Godmother (Josephine Prost) to raise as her own children. They were all foster children, but John and Josephine Prost raised Ronald, Joseph, Connie, and Michael as their own children.
Ronald graduated in 1968 from Depew High School. He joined the Marines after he graduated from high school. He arrived in Vietnam on 15 March 1969.
Pfc Ronald Robert Ozimek was assigned to 1st Platoon of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, when he was killed 10 August 1969, at Mutters Ridge, Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam.
"We lived on a farm, we worked and played together. There were so many happy memories. Ronald was the first one I told that he was going to be an uncle. He was so happy."
"That was the last time he was home on leave. I remember my Dad saying to him just before he left to go to Vietnam, while having supper, that it would be his last dinner together with us. Ronnie and everyone cried. We never knew that it really was the last one."
"My other brother (Ronald Ozimek's brother) was Joseph. We were all foster children. Josephine was Godmother to me and Ronnie. In those days, if the parents couldn't to care of you, then the Godparents did."
"My parents died very young, and Ronnie's mother didn't want them after her divorce. We listed Prost's (John and Josephine) as our parents, because they raised us and we always thought of them as our parents. No grandparents were alive at the time."
"The painful memories I have is when the military sent back the care package I sent to him, and it was all crushed. Even the canned fruit. Also when they sent back his wallet. This was the first time I saw my Dad (John Prost) cry. It was all caked with mud. So my brother must have been lying in the mud for quite awhile."
"Ronald's brother Joseph left home when Ronald came home in a casket. We never heard from him again. Was so sad that I sent him a package, and it came back all crushed. His wallet was sent back all full of mud, very heartbreaking."
From his sister, Connie.
Pfc Ronald R Ozimek was buried at,
St Augustine Cemetery
25 Cemetery Road
Depew, NY
Pfc William Lenord Druschel #2457370
17 September 1949-13 October 1968
0351 Assaultman
Survivors:
Vera Druschel, mother William Druschel, father (deceased)
Debi, sister
Ricky, brother
Mimi, sister
909 Richards St
Joliet, IL
William joined the Marines during 1968, and arrived in Vietnam 17 September 1968 on his birthday. Pfc Druschel was assigned to the First Platoon of Echo Company, and served less than a month, before he was killed in action during an ambush.
Pfc William L Druschel died from small arms fire, in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam.
Two other Marines from the First Platoon of Echo Company 2/3 were killed during the ambush. They were Cpl John D Belles and Pfc Frederick R Horridge. All the bodies were recovered.
William L Druschel was a member of the Joliet Central High School Class of 1967.
"Billy loved playing baseball. He started playing when he very young, and went from little league to pony league, and he always made all star."
" Ernie Banks was his favorite player, and he (Ernie Banks) actually attended Billy's funeral. I am still and always will love and be very proud for everything he ever did in his short, but perfect life."
Pictures and note courtesy of Debbie, sister.
Pfc William L Druschel is buried at,
Mt Olivet Cemetery
1320 East Cass St
Will County
Joliet, IL
Pfc John Climath Rice #227745
2 January 1947-3 may 1967
0311 Rifleman
Survivors:
Mr & Mrs Albert Rice, parents
Barbara, Daniel, Jacinta, James, Joseph, Sharon, Steven, Theresa.
Richard with the Navy, stationed at San Fransico, CA.
Martha Botos, sister, husband with the Navy, stationed in Japan.
Angel Wales, husband with the Navy, stationed in AL.
Lucy Wagner and husband of Renton, WA.
Mary Kimbred and husband of Los Angeles, CA
Mrs Anne Rice, grandmother of Seattle.
Mrs Estella Perkey, grandmother of Seattle.
John C Rice was born and raised in Seattle, WA. He was one of 14 childern born in the Rice Family that lived at 608 SW 118th St. He had 5 brothers and 8 sisters.
John had been a Life Scout, a member of the Order Of The Arrow and held the Ad Atare Del Award, a Catholic Scouting honor. He had been a Junior Assistant Scout Master of Troop 351.
John graduated with the Evergreen High School Class of 1966. He enlisted in the Marines in September. His plans were to serve as a Scout Master after returning from his service with the Marines.
Pfc John C Rice was assigned to 2nd Platoon of Echo Company 2/3. Pfc Rice died of fatal wounds from small arms fire during the Battle of Hill 881, Quang Tri Province, S Vietnam.
He had been in Vietnam less then 2 months when he was killed in action. His body was recovered. He wasn't married.
Funeral services were held at the White Center Funeral Home.
John Belles bottom row, 3rd from
right, kneeling and without a cap.
Photo taken morning after the fight
on FoxTrot Ridge at LZ Hawk.
John's name on the "Wall".
Cpl John David Belles #2359843
8 August 1948-13 October 1968
0351 Assualtman
Survivors:
Boyd H Belles, father
Cynthia, mother
Betty, sister
Billy, brother
Bonnie, sister
Brad, brother
Donna, sister
Doug, brother
Elsie, sister
James, brother
Janet, sister
Kate, sister
Kim, sister
Kristie, sister
Mary, sister
Richard, brother
Sonja, sister
John David Belles was one of sixteen children born to Boyd and Cynthia Belles, of 1502 North Western, Chicago, IL. He had 5 brothers and 10 sisters.
Cpl Belles arrived in Vietnam on 11 December 1967, and was assigned to Echo 2/3. He had been in Vietnam for 10 months. He was seriously wounded when the point man walked into an NVA ambush. He died from his wounds.
Cpl Belles was killed in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. He wasn't married.
Two other Marines from Echo 2/3 were killed during the ambush. They were Pfc William Druschel and Pfc Frederick Horridge. All the bodies were recovered.
Survivors:
Wilbur Arthur Sater, father
Audrey Irene, mother
Douglas A, brother
Bradley N, brother
Randy K, brother
Brian L, brother
Dawn A, sister
1966 Adams Avenue
Mrs Doric Sater, grandmother of Bradenton, FL
Mr & Mrs Ernest G Kupfer, grandparents of Venice, FL
Reginald was born in Toledo, Ohio, and moved with his family to the Eau Gallie area during 1959. As a student at Eau Gallie High School he played football, and was a member of the Key Club, and Junior Exchange Club. He was a member of the Emanuel United Methodist Church of Eau Gallie, and past president of the Methodist Youth Fellowship.
Reginald Mark Sater was engaged to Miss Diana Rhan of nearby Melbourne. He graduated with the Eau Gallie High School class of 1968. After graduating from high school he enlisted in the Marines September 1968. His father was a Navy veteran of World War II and Korea.
Pfc Reginald M Sater arrived in Vietnam 13 June 1969, and was assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.
He was killed by mortar fire when 3rd Platoon of Echo Company and the Mortar Platoon was attacked by a company of NVA, at Mutters Ridge, Quang Tri Province, S Vietnam. Pfc Reginald had been assigned as the Artillery Forward Observer for Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines.
Pfc Reginald had been in Vietnam less then two months when he died. He was the 67th serviceman from Brevard County to died in Vietnam.
Funeral services were held at the Emanuel United Methodist Church of Eau Gallie. Grave site military services provided by the United States Marine Corp.
Pfc Reginald M Sater was buried 19 August 1969 at,
Fountainhead Memorial Park
7303 Babcock St
Brevard County
Palm Bay, FL
Pfc Reginald Mark Sater #2639056
22 June 1950-10 August 1969
0846 Artillery Forward Observer
Survivors:
Mrs Louis M Malin, wife
c/o Peggy Twidwell
8971 South Swan Circle
Brentwood, MO
Washington-The Department of Defense has listed 64 American servicemen killed in action in Vietnam. Among those listed as killed in action: were Marine Corporal Louis N Malin.
Great Bend Daily Tribune, October 3, 1967
Cpl Malin died as a result of a gun shot wound to the chest during a firefight, Quang Tri Province, Vietnam.
His platoon was on route to reinforce the Marine base at Con Thien, when they had an encounter with enemy troops. His platoon commander 2nd Lt Patrick Gallagher, and two other Marines were killed during the firefight. All the bodies were recovered.
Cpl Louis N Malin was buried at,
Masonic Cemetery
Fir St
Wayne County
Piedmont, MO
Cpl Louis Nathaniel Malin #2149411
20 January 1945-27 September 1967
0311 Rifleman
Pfc James Gilbert Hilliard #2269019
6 September 1948-10 August 1969
0341 Mortarman
Survivors:
Helen E Hilliard, mother
2705 99th Avenue
Tampa, FL
Francis M Hilliard, father
Mary H Hilliard, step-mother
RJ Hilliard, brother
The Defense Department has reported two Florida servicemen, both members of the Marine Corps were killed in Vietnam. Lance Corporal Dale S Wilkinson, son of Mr & Mrs Maurice S Wilkinson, 4020 NE 30th Avenue, Lighthouse Point, and Pfc James G Hilliard, son of Mrs Helen E Hilliard, 2705 99th Avenue, Tampa, were both killed in action. The Associated Press
James G Hilliard graduated with the class of 1966, before enlisting in the United States Marine Corp.
Pfc James Hilliard was assigned to a Mortar Platoon with H&S Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines when he arrived in Vietnam on 8 June 1969. His Mortar Platoon was attached to 3rd Platoon of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, during Operation Idaho.
Pfc Hilliard had been in Vietnam for two months and two days when he was killed by incoming artillery, or mortar fire on 10 August 1969, at Mutters Ridge. His body was recovered. He wasn't married.
He is buried at, Sunset Memory Gardens
Memorial #44905600
Hillsborough County
Tampa, FL
Remembered by Antonio
Marines on this page remembered
by Antonio Gonzales
Pfc William Ronald Dickey #2734894
19 June 1949-10 August 1969
0341 Mortarman
Survivors:
Harry N Hobson, stepfather
Helen Dickey Hobson, mother
4 sisters, names unknown
6396 Seneca Terrance
Mentor, Ohio
William Ralph Dickey, father (Florida)
Minnie Moore Dickey, step-mother
Dickey, half-brother
Luella Stiles, grandmother (Penn Run,PA)
William was born in Indiana County, PA. Later moved to Ohio with his family. He lived in the Mentor-on-the-Lake area. He left Mentor High School during his sophomore year.
Pfc William Ronald Dickey was assigned to a Mortar Platoon in H&S Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines when he arrived in Vietnam 3 April 1969.
He was killed by artillery, or mortar fire during Operation Idaho Canyon 10 August 1969, at Mutters Ridge, Quang Tri Province. His Mortar Platoon was attached to 3rd Platoon of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines. His body was recovered. He wasn't married.
Pfc Dickey had been in Vietnam for four months and seven days. He was the 13th servicemen from Mentor, Ohio, killed in Vietnam. He was buried with full military rites at,
Mentor Municipal Cemetery
Section 11A, Row 7, Grave #8
Memorial #22424940
Lake County
Mentor, OH
Lance Corporal Lawrence Kent Dowd #0164080
14 June 1950-11 August 1969
0311 Rifleman
Survivors:
William C Dowd, father
Marjorie Betty, mother
Ann C, sister
John W, brother
William C, brother
Patrick M, brother
115 Bedford St
Bridgewater, MA
Lawrence K Dowd was a member of Platoon 2020 during his basic training at MCRD, Parris Island.
L/Cpl Dowd arrived in Vietnam on 19 February 1969, and was assigned to 1st Platoon of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines
During the early morning hours on 10 August 1969, 1st Platoon of Echo Company was attacked by an NVA Company of the 304th NVA Division, who later conducted an assault on 3rd Platoon of Echo Company and the H&S Mortar Platoon, at Mutters Ridge.
L/Cpl Dowd was wounded several times while rescuing his fellow Marines during the NVA assault on the perimeter of 1st Platoon on 10 August 1969.
He died from his wounds on 11 August 1969. The Silver Star was awarded to Lance Corporal Lawrence Kent Dowd for saving the lives of two Marines.
Before her death the mother of L/Cpl Dowd had made a request to honor her son.
In Lieu Of Flowers, Betty requested that you sent a Christmas care package to any soldier serving his, or her country overseas.
L/Cpl Lawrence K Dowd was buried with full military rites at,
St Thomas Cemetery
Bridgewater, MA
Chap 142. Approved 10 May 1979.
The Interchange on United States Highway Route 495, on Routes 24 and 25 in the towns of Bridgewater and Raynham shall be designated and known as the Lance Corporal Lawrence Kent Dowd Interchange, in memory of Lawrence K Dowd.
Pfc Michael William Holzman #2296255
14 December 1948-01 March 1968
0311 Rifleman
Survivors:
Lynne Holzman, mother
Annyce, sister
Marrissa, sister
8510 Columbus Avenue
Sepulveda, CA
Berney Holzman, father (WW ll Army veteran)
Los Angeles, CA
Michael W Holzman was born in Los Angeles County, CA. At one time he lived in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles where he attended John Burroughs Jr High School. He joined the Marines June 1966, after leaving classes at James Monroe High School.
His basic training was at MCRD, San Diego, CA, with advanced combat training at Quantico, VA, and at Camp Pendleton.
Pfc Holzman was sent to Vietnam 28 December 1967. He was assigned to First Platoon of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines on 2 January 1968.
Pfc Holzman died of his wounds when he stepped on an enemy mine during Operation Auburn. He died at Landing Zone Hawk, Go Noi Island, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. He was 19 years old and not married.
Burial services were held at Malinow and Silverman Funeral Home, 850 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.
Pfc Michael William Holzman was bury at,
Hillside Memorial Park
Memorial # 44077255
6001 Centinela Avenue
Culver City,
John Belles
