Roll Call Tribute

From www.virtualwall.org

Thomas Henry Ralph, Jr
Captain

PERSONAL DATA
Home of Record: Clifton, Texas
Date of birth: Wednesday, 10/23/1940

MILITARY DATA
Service: Marine Corps (Reserve)
Grade at loss: O3
Rank: Captain
ID No: 085402
MOS: 0302 Infantry Officer
LenSvc: Between 8 and 9 years
Unit: INDIA CO, 3RD BN, 27TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV

CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: Tuesday, 02/20/1968
Cas Date: Friday, 05/17/1968
Age at Loss: 27
Remains: Body recovered
Location: Quang Nam, South Vietnam
Type: Hostile, died outright
Reason: Gun or small arms fire - Ground casualty

ON THE WALL Panel 62E Line 010
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Thomas Henry Ralph, Jr
Captain
INDIA CO, 3RD BN, 27TH MARINES, 1ST MARDIV
United States Marine Corps
23 October 1940 - 17 May 1968
Clifton, Texas
Panel 62E Line 010

29 May 2006
REMEMBERED
by a classmate at Texas A&M University,
Harry Brand
Houston, Texas
lea0100@houston.rr.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall
On 16 May 1968 India Company, 3/27 Marines, was placed under operational control of 3rd Bn, 7th Marines and inserted into the vicinity of Le Nam hamlet on Go Noi Island as part of Operation ALLEN BROOK. The remainder of 3/27 was to arrive on the 17th.

Early on the 17th India 3/27 was heavily engaged with an NVA battalion and began taking serious casualties. Meanwhile, the arrival of 3/27's other rifle companies was delayed due to a lack of airlift assets; the first elements of Kilo 3/27 were not airborne until about 1300 and the lift was not completed
until 1730. Even so, the arrival of the first elements relieved some pressure on India 3/27, and a move to contact by Kilo, Lima, and Mike companies allowed a link-up with India by 1930.

Overall, 29 Marines and sailors were killed in action on Goi Noi Island on 17 May, 21 of them from India 3/27:

Capt Thomas H. Ralph, Clifton, TX, Commanding Officer, India 3/27
1stLt Lanny D. Cummins, Oroville, CA
2ndLt Marcus G. Fiebelkorn, Pagosa Springs, CO
Sgt Jack B. Gorton, Culver City, CA
Sgt Nate F. Lee, Hazleton, PA
Cpl Richard Turner, Washington, DC
Cpl Jack L. White, Tacoma, WA
LCpl John A. Gibson, Chicago, IL
LCpl Allen R. Green, Hanley Hills, MO
LCpl Bernard M. Himes, Anita, PA
LCpl David L. Schettl, Manitowoc, WI
LCpl Larry J. West, Morenci, AZ
Pfc Robert L. Bauer, Port Huron, MI
Pfc Lyle P. Bills, Council Bluffs, IA
Pfc Robert C. Burke, Monticello, IL (Medal of Honor)
Pfc Albert W. Hawkins, Columbus, OH
Pfc Philip D. Miller, Grand Junction, CO
Pfc Sylvester G. Tyler, Washington, DC
Pvt Thomas H. Crook, Kansas City, MO
Pvt Bennie R. Jones, Jackson, TN
Pvt Victor J. Schweig, Chicago, IL