PFC US MARINE CORPS
VIETNAM
Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps
On 16 June 1966, Private First Class Leo Buddy Buckholdt was serving with Marine Observation Squadron Two (VMO-2), Marine Aircraft Group 16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.
The battle on 16 June 1966 on Hill 488 (Nui Vu) involved a full battalion of North Vietnamese Army regulars assaulting 18 men of the 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Recon Battalion, led by Staff Sergeant Jimmie Earl Howard. The Recon Marines had established an observation post atop Nui Vu in order to identify and prosecute by remote fire VC/NVA forces operating in the mountains west of Chu Lai.
The operation was sufficiently effective to get the NVA commander's attention and sufficiently dangerous for him to commit a fresh battalion to eradicate the Marines. He failed.
The NVA assault on Hill 488 began in late afternoon and continued through the night. The beleagued Marines were assisted by Marine and Air Force helicopter and fixed wing air support, but it was sheer courage and determination that permitted the Marines to hold until morning. Charlie 1/5 Marines were airlifted onto the reverse slope of Hill 488 and relieved the Recon Marines.
On that day, PFC Buckholdt, a door gunner on a UH-1 helicopter, was killed in action from wounds sustained from small arms fire while airborne in a hot zone. His body was recovered.
Of the 18 men in the Recon Platoon, 6 died and 12 were wounded. Two men of Charlie 1/5 Marines and one each from VMO-2 (PFC Buckholdt) and VMO-6 (Marine UH-1 squadrons) died. One Medal of Honor (Staff Sergeant Howard), 4 Navy Crosses, and 13 Silver Stars were awarded.
Badge and Medals
Marine Combat Aircrew Badge
Purple Heart
Air Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Honors
The name Leo B. Buckholdt is located on Panel 08E Line 051 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
VIETNAM
Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps
On 16 June 1966, Private First Class Leo Buddy Buckholdt was serving with Marine Observation Squadron Two (VMO-2), Marine Aircraft Group 16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.
The battle on 16 June 1966 on Hill 488 (Nui Vu) involved a full battalion of North Vietnamese Army regulars assaulting 18 men of the 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Recon Battalion, led by Staff Sergeant Jimmie Earl Howard. The Recon Marines had established an observation post atop Nui Vu in order to identify and prosecute by remote fire VC/NVA forces operating in the mountains west of Chu Lai.
The operation was sufficiently effective to get the NVA commander's attention and sufficiently dangerous for him to commit a fresh battalion to eradicate the Marines. He failed.
The NVA assault on Hill 488 began in late afternoon and continued through the night. The beleagued Marines were assisted by Marine and Air Force helicopter and fixed wing air support, but it was sheer courage and determination that permitted the Marines to hold until morning. Charlie 1/5 Marines were airlifted onto the reverse slope of Hill 488 and relieved the Recon Marines.
On that day, PFC Buckholdt, a door gunner on a UH-1 helicopter, was killed in action from wounds sustained from small arms fire while airborne in a hot zone. His body was recovered.
Of the 18 men in the Recon Platoon, 6 died and 12 were wounded. Two men of Charlie 1/5 Marines and one each from VMO-2 (PFC Buckholdt) and VMO-6 (Marine UH-1 squadrons) died. One Medal of Honor (Staff Sergeant Howard), 4 Navy Crosses, and 13 Silver Stars were awarded.
Badge and Medals
Marine Combat Aircrew Badge
Purple Heart
Air Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Honors
The name Leo B. Buckholdt is located on Panel 08E Line 051 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
PFC US MARINE CORPS
VIETNAM
Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps
On 16 June 1966, Private First Class Leo Buddy Buckholdt was serving with Marine Observation Squadron Two (VMO-2), Marine Aircraft Group 16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.
The battle on 16 June 1966 on Hill 488 (Nui Vu) involved a full battalion of North Vietnamese Army regulars assaulting 18 men of the 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Recon Battalion, led by Staff Sergeant Jimmie Earl Howard. The Recon Marines had established an observation post atop Nui Vu in order to identify and prosecute by remote fire VC/NVA forces operating in the mountains west of Chu Lai.
The operation was sufficiently effective to get the NVA commander's attention and sufficiently dangerous for him to commit a fresh battalion to eradicate the Marines. He failed.
The NVA assault on Hill 488 began in late afternoon and continued through the night. The beleagued Marines were assisted by Marine and Air Force helicopter and fixed wing air support, but it was sheer courage and determination that permitted the Marines to hold until morning. Charlie 1/5 Marines were airlifted onto the reverse slope of Hill 488 and relieved the Recon Marines.
On that day, PFC Buckholdt, a door gunner on a UH-1 helicopter, was killed in action from wounds sustained from small arms fire while airborne in a hot zone. His body was recovered.
Of the 18 men in the Recon Platoon, 6 died and 12 were wounded. Two men of Charlie 1/5 Marines and one each from VMO-2 (PFC Buckholdt) and VMO-6 (Marine UH-1 squadrons) died. One Medal of Honor (Staff Sergeant Howard), 4 Navy Crosses, and 13 Silver Stars were awarded.
Badge and Medals
Marine Combat Aircrew Badge
Purple Heart
Air Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Honors
The name Leo B. Buckholdt is located on Panel 08E Line 051 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
VIETNAM
Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps
On 16 June 1966, Private First Class Leo Buddy Buckholdt was serving with Marine Observation Squadron Two (VMO-2), Marine Aircraft Group 16, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.
The battle on 16 June 1966 on Hill 488 (Nui Vu) involved a full battalion of North Vietnamese Army regulars assaulting 18 men of the 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Recon Battalion, led by Staff Sergeant Jimmie Earl Howard. The Recon Marines had established an observation post atop Nui Vu in order to identify and prosecute by remote fire VC/NVA forces operating in the mountains west of Chu Lai.
The operation was sufficiently effective to get the NVA commander's attention and sufficiently dangerous for him to commit a fresh battalion to eradicate the Marines. He failed.
The NVA assault on Hill 488 began in late afternoon and continued through the night. The beleagued Marines were assisted by Marine and Air Force helicopter and fixed wing air support, but it was sheer courage and determination that permitted the Marines to hold until morning. Charlie 1/5 Marines were airlifted onto the reverse slope of Hill 488 and relieved the Recon Marines.
On that day, PFC Buckholdt, a door gunner on a UH-1 helicopter, was killed in action from wounds sustained from small arms fire while airborne in a hot zone. His body was recovered.
Of the 18 men in the Recon Platoon, 6 died and 12 were wounded. Two men of Charlie 1/5 Marines and one each from VMO-2 (PFC Buckholdt) and VMO-6 (Marine UH-1 squadrons) died. One Medal of Honor (Staff Sergeant Howard), 4 Navy Crosses, and 13 Silver Stars were awarded.
Badge and Medals
Marine Combat Aircrew Badge
Purple Heart
Air Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Honors
The name Leo B. Buckholdt is located on Panel 08E Line 051 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
