Valentine Ridge, Named on Valentine's Day of '68
Posted: Wednesday, February 08, 2006
by David Tanguay
Valentine Ridge
Arriving in Vietnam in December of 1967, in time to replace troops going home for the Christmas holiday. We landed in Danang, South Vietnam, it was in Danang we separated and then sent to different locations all over South Vietnam. I got on board a C-130 cargo plane, which brought me further north by the DMZ. (Demilitarized zone) to a base called the "rock pile." There I was assigned to my outfit, Kilo co.3/9 (3rd .bn. 9th. Marine regiment)
My mos (military occupational specialty) was 0341(mortars) which is a part of the infantry. After becoming acquainted with fellow marines who would become like brothers to me. It didnt take very long before I lost my title of a boot, (meaning fresh out of boot camp) to an old salt. (Meaning an experienced marine) We went out on patrols, and helicopters would drop us off on different locations, all over northern South Vietnam. However, my first firefight, (the first time making contact with the enemy) occurred on Valentines Day.
A friend of mine I served with, "Ray Fella" one of our corpsmen that day went back to Vietnam in (2003) and took this picture part way up the east ridge. "I never knew Vietnam could look so beautiful"
On Valentines Day of 1968, we were out on patrol, when unexpectedly all hell broke lose. As I was coming down from a hill, shrapnel hit a fellow marine who was following me, I saw him fall on his face, I thought at that moment he was dead.
In the Marine Corps you never leave a man behind, I began to go down the hill, until a few more marines, came my way. We all went to his side and found he was only wounded. They put him on my back, and we proceeded to find our way out of the bush.
We called the ridge Valentine ridge," from that day on. Many good men lost their lives on Valentine ridge on this fatal day. I believe all branches of the military have had similar moments during their tour of duty, whether in war or peacetime. To be united and working together for a common cause, this is when the word UNITED" in America, brings out its true meaning.
Therefore, if "Valentines Day" is a day for remembrance of a loved one, then I believe the Marine Corps motto semper fidelis" meaning always faithful, I can relate to this particular day. When our co. engaged in battle suffered many casualties. Those who lost their lives on this day paid the ultimate price for what we Americans hold so dear to us. Reserved In the hearts of their family, friends, and history itself, are the precious memories of the lives they lived, which keep them alive in infinity.
On Valentines Day of 1968, we were out on patrol, when unexpectedly all hell broke lose. As I was coming down from a hill, shrapnel hit a fellow marine who was following me, I saw him fall on his face, I thought at that moment he was dead.
In the Marine Corps you never leave a man behind, I began to go down the hill, until a few more marines, came my way. We all went to his side and found he was only wounded. They put him on my back, and we proceeded to find our way out of the bush.
We called the ridge Valentine ridge," from that day on. Many good men lost their lives on Valentine ridge on this fatal day. I believe all branches of the military have had similar moments during their tour of duty, whether in war or peacetime. To be united and working together for a common cause, this is when the word UNITED" in America, brings out its true meaning.
Therefore, if "Valentines Day" is a day for remembrance of a loved one, then I believe the Marine Corps motto semper fidelis" meaning always faithful, I can relate to this particular day. When our co. engaged in battle suffered many casualties. Those who lost their lives on this day paid the ultimate price for what we Americans hold so dear to us. Reserved In the hearts of their family, friends, and history itself, are the precious memories of the lives they lived, which keep them alive in infinity.
I am inserting two links to the memorial pages of "Barry Rigsby" who was killed on that day and also "Charles Walsh" who was wounded on Valentine ridge but died a month later of friendly fire.
Barry Rigsby and Charles Walsh
davesplace@windstream.net
Barry Rigsby and Charles Walsh
davesplace@windstream.net
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Top-level comments on this article: (7 total)My Uncle died on that hill on that day, he was only 9 years older than I was, and I miss him to this day more than I can ever express. His name was Barry Lane Rigsby. My name (and my Dad's) is Bill Rigsby, and I live in Ohio. We still have family in Madison Ind. where Barry lived, and we still visit there often, as well as to Ky to visit Barry's grave where he lies beside my grandparents. I share e-mail with my wife, so I'll list our address below.Please log in to respond to this comment.Bill, I'm very sorry for your lost. The name doesn't ring a bell, however I was only in country 2 monthes when this happen. I couln't find your email address, but I put mine in the article. So if you click onto it, I would like to hear from you. I have alot to ask you......DavePlease log in to respond to this comment.Bill,I believe that your uncle and my father died in the same battle on the same day. I live in Indiana. Have you ever learned much about the battle on VR? I would love to talk with you and will include my e-mail when I log in so that you can e-mail me if you would like. Thank youPlease log in to respond to this comment.
David: I was a Corpsman with 1st plt Kilo 3/9 from Dec67 to Aug68. I too was on Valentines Ridge and now serve as the Archive Officer for the battalion. Our yearly reunion is in Orlando next week. Would like to hear from you about VR. I went to the top of VR in 2003 to read the names of the 11 Marines and 1 Corpsman that died that day or DOW as in the case of Capt. WardPlease log in to respond to this comment.Ray, would it be possible for you to leave me your email address? I have many questions I'd like to ask you. thank youPlease log in to respond to this comment.
David: I tried to put it on but they would not allow me to. My email address is BattalionArchive at aol put it all together. I have separated so it will not tell me again to remove it. What is your email address? I will be at the reunion tomorrow so may not be on the internet.Please log in to respond to this comment.Ray, I just put my email address at the end of my article. get back to me when you get a chancePlease log in to respond to this comment.
David. I was one of the marines that spent the night on Valentine Ridge. There was only a handful of us as we had been separated from the rest of the company, including our platoon commander. I still remember the sounds of the company growing fainter as they moved away from us. And I remember the spider traps that the NVA were hiding in, the darkness lit up by the flares dropped by Puff that helped us find our way off of the ridge and the terribly wounded marines that we brought down. And I remember going back to retrieve the bodies of our brothers.......bringing back body parts in bags...... It is a night that I will always remember, especially on Valentine's Day.Please log in to respond to this comment.John, I am so thankful that you survived that battle on Valentine's Ridge. My father's body was one that was brought down that day. I would love to talk with you. I will log in with my e-mail and would love for you to contact me that way. Thank you.Please log in to respond to this comment.
My father, HM2 Larry Jo Goss was killed on Valentine's Ridge, 2/14/68. I attended the Kilo Company's Reunion in Orlando, Florida this year and met some of the men who served with my dad. These men were amazing! They treated my daughter and I like we were family and told me their memories of that day so that I could know more about my father and the way in which he died. I came home committed to write down all that I heard so that my 5 children could learn more about the life and death of their grandfather. I want my dad's legacy to be recorded so that no one will forget who he was and what he died for. I am still looking for anyone who remembers him from Vietnam. He arrived on 12-24-67. I was only 5 months old at the time but my life has been so positively impacted by the man he was. I have leared that there were many heroes that day. This year will be the 40th anniversary of the battle on Valentines Ridge. I would love to hear from anyone who has any memories of my dad or of that battle. Thank you. Lori Goss-Reaves - I cannot leave my e-mail address so please respond on this web site. It is my goal to create a web site for my dad. I hope to have that done by 2/14/07.Please log in to respond to this comment.Hello Lori, I also arrived in Nam in Dec. of '67. Your father's name sounds familliar however I can't say I remember him, I was only in country two monthes when Valentine ridge occured. But I put an email at the end of my article you can contact Ray Felle. He knows alot more about Valentine ridge than I do. He was at the renuion in Tampa. Sorry I couln't have been any more help to you.Please log in to respond to this comment.
David, I have corresponded with Ray for the past 8-10 years. He has been most helpful and has helped many soldiers and family members of soldiers connect and heal. I thought you may have remembered my dad because he also came into Vietnam in 12-67. If will check back on your page in the future to see if anyone who visits remembers my dad. Thank you, LoriPlease log in to respond to this comment.
David, I was wondering if you remember my dad, Edward J. Conklin. He was with Kilo 3/9 and was there on Valentines Ridge. Or anyone else that may have memories of my father. My dad suffered a massive heart attack and died in 1996. I remember him being very down and quiet on Valentines Day and my mom would always say that it was a bad day for him. He lost a couple of good friends during that battle. I would love to hear from anyone that may have known my father. Thanks Ed ConklinPlease log in to respond to this comment.I'm sorry to hear about your father Ed. And I am also sorry to say I can't recall the name.Please log in to respond to this comment.
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