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Buttell, Cockrill, Clark, Kellogg, Bohart |
Tribute to United States Marine Corps.
OF EASY COMPANY, SECOND BATTALION
SEVENTH MARINES
Members of the First Marine Division Association:
My Mother was a Marine, My Father was a Marine. I am a Marine and I am a comrade of your Vice President, Neal Mishik, with whom I served in the 14th Signal Company, Brooklyn, New York, at the outbreak of the Korean War.
When I arrived in Korea in January, 1951, I was one nervous Second Lieutenant. The men of the First Platoon of Easy Two Seven had already been in combat and I wondered how they would receive their new platoon leader. I needn't have. They welcomed me, took pains to make me comfortable among them, and proved their worth in combat.
Easy Company, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines suffered nearly 200 casualties between February and June of 1951 in some of the toughest fighting since the Chosin Reservoir.
I am here today to recognize service to Corps and Country of six of these brave men on behalf of our late Company Commander, Merlin T. Matthews. Among them, they possess 12 Purple Hearts.
Let me read to you the words of the certificate I am presenting to them today:
"In recognition of the sacrifices of these men who fought, bled and survived.
May we always remember our comrades of Easy Company, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, who also fought, bled and gave their lives for Corps and Country.
Now, will the men of Easy Company, please come forward:
Boyce Clark, Richard Bohart, Norman Kellogg, Gene Cockrill, J.D. Hargrove, Dick Landers, Bobby Ogden.
Semper Fi.
Lou Buttell,
Ist Lt, Platoon Leader of 1st Platoon
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Buttell, Cockrill, Clark, Kellogg, Bohart |