7 thoughts on “2018 Battalion Reunion, Park City, Utah – Update, February 4, 2018”

1. Looking for anyone that knew my brother Bill Hackett
   he was on point Oct. 26 1967 in the ambush on hill 674
   He was is the 1st squad, 1st platoon.

   We we told he saved some guys up until he was hit.
   We are looking for any of his buddies or picture of him, since we don’t have any.

   We are going to try, to go to the-union

   Bill’s brothers Dean Hackett & Chuck Bransford

   Reply

   1. Dear Dean and Chuck:

      I can now tell you a little more of your brother’s bravery after reading his Silver Star citation. It was October 27th in a tight draw between Hill 300 on the north and Hill 674 on the southwest. We were above and descending down toward your brother on Hill 300 when that intense ambush erupted on the leading element of B. The high volume fire on your brother was extremely intense coming from a large number of well logged bunkers over the tightly confined draw between Hill 300 and Hill 674. Your brother was accompanied on point by a Chieu Hoi (captured North Vietnamese soldier who converted to one of our scouts). This former NVA spotted the bunkers only after he and your brother were well within a horseshoe ambush. Without saying a word to your brother he ran passed him back down the trail leaving Bill at the very center, shortly following, of an eruption of intense fire. Your brother stayed and fought, leaving only to evacuate wounded after which he returned into that withering fire to assist brother Marines including his Company Commander Bob Ross. Ross was shot through the chest but survived s far as I know.

      As you suspected – your brother is the hero of Company B. Was your father a Marine Aviator?

      Semper Fi,

      George Cummings

      Reply

2. Dear Dean & Chuck:

   I can’t be a great deal of help as I didn’t know your brother by name and can not presently say who he was by earlier association through a recalled event.

   If your notification is accurate and the date is local time and your brother was on point he died about 10 am local at the end of a hard, steep 1200 foot climb. We had just entered the clouds and he died instantly being hit at close range by a 14.5 mm antiaircraft gun. The mountain is at the crest of a steep coastal plain ridge line and is called Nur Bai Cay. It is the initial ridge behind the villages of Co bi and Than tan.

   If your date is Conus time he was either in Company B or Company C. If it is C we only suffered one KIA and I was with him as he died. If he was in B there were many WIA and KIA and although I evacuated the casualties recovered on the first day I did not know them by name.

   I can only assure you that all who fell those days were too young but they shared a great comradeship with protective instinct for each other and bravely quashed their fears to grit down pain and risk in a Marine’s love for one another.

   I share your loss even after all the years passing.

   Best Wishes

   George Cummings

   Reply

3. George

   Thank you so much for the information on my brother. It helps like you would not believe.

   My mom was married twice.
   Billy as we called him was the 3rd child of 9
   Billy had come home on leave and told me
   That he would be coming home soon.to stay.

   I have an older brother Dean Hackett whom was in Vietnam at the same time as Billy

   We don’t have many pictures of Billy growing up or his time in the Marines.

   I and my older would like to go to your reunion and meet and talk with any of the Marines that knew Billy, We would also like
   To obtain copies of any pictures with Billy in them. If you could help us we would really
   appreciate it. Will the company commander be there at the reunion?

   Reply

4. Chuck:

   Unfortunately I did not maintain contact with the battalion following my return. I see the son of our battalion commander on TV occasionally but otherwise lost all connection. I only visited the web site to notify all of Gary Hutteball’s crossing over on June 22nd.

   If I can find it, I do have a photo of our three Chieu Hoi two weeks prior to this ambush. I had been alone with them when ambushed earlier and they were in back of me. I considered that they might shoot me in the back as I was heavily engaged to our front. To my great relief they joined me and we broke the ambush. I don’t know which one was with your brother on point.

   Reply

5. I sent web master 2 photos that may be your brother and a couple more that probably are not. If you provide me your email I will send these direct. Perhaps someone will view them and recall more.

   FlightDepartment@comcast.net

   Reply

6. Thank you so much.
   My e-mail is bransford1980@gmail.com
   If anyone wants to send pictures, if they think it might be Billy
   .
   Thanks
   Bill Hackett’s brothers

   Dean Hackett &
   Chuck Bransford
   Cell 1-847-712-8869

   Reply

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