3/3 RVN Ass’n  Vol  1  Issue 5    01/01/2006

I don't know the exact whereabouts of these two Guns but, I distinctively recall, the CO ordering trees cut down and an LZ constructed so that these two could be sling loaded off the top of that mountain and, a day or two later, I recall both being attached to Chinook slings and flown out. Where they went? Who knows? One of the real interesting things about these guns, they were American made, both had General Electric stamped into the breaches with a 1932 date and, a city in US I can't remember where they were manufactured. I vividly recall going down inside the bunkers that they were used to fire on Camp Carroll. Gooks really had it together.

What a hell of a trip up that Mountain. Two days, two tries. Finally got there and the gooks were scurrying down the south side of the mountain. After we found the Guns one of the FO's had spotted the gooks going down the mountain south and east. CO had FO call Carroll for support fire unto their fleeing positions.

About this time everyone had a position or was in process of digging in. Jerry Meehan and I had dug about knee deep when we heard rounds coming in from Camp Carroll. Was that a miss shot or what? Six to eight rounds 105mm burst over our heads. Jesus what a foul up. CO was screaming cease-fire and everyone was scrambling for cover. Jerry Meehan fell in our hole flat on his belly and I was on top of him.

Rounds were so close you could feel the blast and heat. After a few minutes we knew the old man had stopped that shit so we started to come out of our holes and hiding places. To this day I have no idea if there were any major casualties but I caught a piece of shrapnel through my lower flack jacket about the size of a dime. Jerry noticed the blood and got a Corpsman over. Can't remember his name. I pulled Jerry’s dressing off and said, "Shit, only a flesh wound."        Sterilized it, put some salve on it and a clean dressing and said, we'll check it out for a few days. Next time I saw him was when we humped back to Carroll and the Army guys had Hot Chow for us. Got a new dressing and an ok from the Doc. Damn! Only time in all that shit I ever got touched. Wish I knew the Doc. I'd like to thank him for keeping me in the field. I was short and had a lot of newbies to attend and train. Least of which was William (Bill) Prom.  Baby faced kid, who would have ever thought?

      

Semper Fi

Danny Medders

LCpl Billy Prom was KIA 2/9/69 in Operation Taylor Common while serving with India Company Weapons as 0331 and received the MOH for his valor.  

Ron Coker and Robert O’Malley were also awarded the MOH.   Seventeen of our men received the Navy Cross for their gallantry.  A sharp military salute is in order.

PROM, WILLIAM R.

Rank and organization: Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps,

    Company I, 3d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division (Rein), FMF.

Place and date: Near An Hoa, Republic of Vietnam. 9 February 1969.

Entered service at: Pittsburgh, Pa. Born: 17 November 1948, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machinegun squad leader with Company 1, in action against the enemy. While returning from a reconnaissance operation during Operation TAYLOR COMMON, 2 platoons of Company 1 came under an intense automatic weapons fire and grenade attack from a well-concealed North Vietnamese Army force in fortified positions. The leading element of the platoon was isolated and several marines were wounded. L/Cpl. Prom immediately assumed control of 1 of his machineguns and began to deliver return fire. Disregarding his safety he advanced to a position from which he could more effectively deliver covering fire while first aid was administered to the wounded men. Realizing that the enemy would have to be destroyed before the injured marines could be evacuated, L/Cpl. Prom again moved forward and delivered a heavy volume of fire with such accuracy that he was instrumental in routing the enemy, thus permitting his men to regroup and resume their march. Shortly thereafter, the platoon again came under heavy fire in which 1 man was critically wounded. Reacting instantly, L/Cpl. Prom moved forward to protect his injured comrade. Unable to continue his fire because of his severe wounds, he continued to advance to within a few yards to the enemy positions. There, standing in full view of the enemy, he accurately directed the fire of his support elements until he was mortally wounded. Inspired by his heroic actions, the marines launched an assault that destroyed the enemy. L/Cpl. Prom's indomitable courage, inspiring initiative and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.