Charles McMahon and Darwin Judge: Difference between revisions
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{{redirect|Charles McMahon|the Australian musician|Charlie McMahon}} |
{{redirect|Charles McMahon|the Australian musician|Charlie McMahon}} |
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[[File:DarwinJudge.jpg|thumb|right|LCpl Darwin L. Judge]][[File:CharlesMcMahon.jpg|thumb|left|Cpl Charles McMahon]] |
[[File:DarwinJudge.jpg|thumb|right|LCpl Darwin L. Judge]][[File:CharlesMcMahon.jpg|thumb|left|Cpl Charles McMahon]] |
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==Overview== |
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'''Charles McMahon''' (May 10, 1953 - April 29, 1975) and '''Darwin Lee Judge''' (February 16, 1956 - April 29, 1975) were the last two U.S. servicemen killed in Vietnam during the [[Vietnam War]]. |
'''Charles McMahon''' (May 10, 1953 - April 29, 1975) and '''Darwin Lee Judge''' (February 16, 1956 - April 29, 1975) were the last two U.S. servicemen killed in Vietnam during the [[Vietnam War]]. |
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Corporal Charles McMahon was from [[Woburn, Massachusetts|Woburn]], [[Massachusetts]]. Lance Corporal Darwin Judge was an [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout]] and was from [[Marshalltown, Iowa|Marshalltown]], [[Iowa]]. Judge was 19 years old at the time of his death. McMahon was one month short of his 22 birthday. |
Corporal Charles McMahon was from [[Woburn, Massachusetts|Woburn]], [[Massachusetts]]. Lance Corporal Darwin Judge was an [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout]] and was from [[Marshalltown, Iowa|Marshalltown]], [[Iowa]]. Judge was 19 years old at the time of his death. McMahon was one month short of his 22 birthday. |
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==Deaths== |
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Both men were members of the [[Marine Corps Security Guard|Marine Security Guard]] Battalion at the [[US Embassy, Saigon]] |
Both men were members of the [[Marine Corps Security Guard|Marine Security Guard]] Battalion at the [[US Embassy, Saigon]] and were providing security for the [[Military Assistance Command, Vietnam|DAO Compound]], adjacent to [[Tan Son Nhat International Airport|Tân Sơn Nhứt Airport]], [[Saigon]]. Both died in a [[PAVN|North Vietnamese]] rocket attack on [[Tan Son Nhat International Airport|Tân Sơn Nhứt Airport]] on the morning of April 29, 1975. <ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/04/26/national/main188943.shtml]</ref>. The [[Fall of Saigon|American evacuation of Saigon]] was complete by the next day, April 30, 1975. |
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In accordance with procedures for deceased Americans in Vietnam, their bodies were transferred to the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, nearby Tan Son Nhut. In telephone calls to the hospital on the afternoon of 29 April the few remaining staff advised that the bodies had been evacuated; in fact the bodies were left behind. Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, through diplomatic channels, secured the return of the bodies the following year<ref>{{cite book |last=Dunham |first=George R |title=U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Bitter End, 1973-1975 (Marine Corps Vietnam Operational Historical Series) |publisher=Marine Corps Association |year=1990 |isbn=978-0160264559|p. 201}}</ref>. |
In accordance with procedures for deceased Americans in Vietnam, their bodies were transferred to the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, nearby Tan Son Nhut. In telephone calls to the hospital on the afternoon of 29 April the few remaining staff advised that the bodies had been evacuated; in fact the bodies were left behind. Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, through diplomatic channels, secured the return of the bodies the following year<ref>{{cite book |last=Dunham |first=George R |title=U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Bitter End, 1973-1975 (Marine Corps Vietnam Operational Historical Series) |publisher=Marine Corps Association |year=1990 |isbn=978-0160264559|p. 201}}</ref>. |
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Judge never received the [[Purple Heart]] he deserved and was not given Marine burial honors until 25 years later <ref>[http://www.scopesys.com/cgi-bin/bio2.cgi?bio=J052]</ref>. |
Judge never received the [[Purple Heart]] he deserved and was not given Marine burial honors until 25 years later <ref>[http://www.scopesys.com/cgi-bin/bio2.cgi?bio=J052]</ref>. |
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==First and last American casualties in Vietnam== |
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The first U.S. casualty in Vietnam was [[Flying Tiger]] [[John T. Donovan]] who was killed on May 12, 1942, but American involvement in Vietnam was not considered official at that time and as such his name does not appear on the [[Vietnam Veterans Memorial]] <ref>[http://www.touchthewall.org/facts.html#1v]</ref>. |
The first U.S. casualty in Vietnam was [[Flying Tiger]] [[John T. Donovan]] who was killed on May 12, 1942, but American involvement in Vietnam was not considered official at that time and as such his name does not appear on the [[Vietnam Veterans Memorial]] <ref>[http://www.touchthewall.org/facts.html#1v]</ref>. |
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The first two official casualties were U.S. Army Major [[Dale R. Buis]] and Master Sergeant [[Chester Charles Ovnand]] who were killed some 16 years before McMahon and Judge on July 18, 1959. |
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While McMahon and Judge were the last American ground casualties in Vietnam, they are not the last casualties of the [[Vietnam War]] recorded on the [[Vietnam Veterans Memorial]], that sad honour belongs to the 18 Americans killed in the [[Mayaguez Incident]]. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 10:07, 15 January 2010
Übersicht
Charles McMahon (May 10, 1953 - April 29, 1975) and Darwin Lee Judge (February 16, 1956 - April 29, 1975) were the last two U.S. servicemen killed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
Corporal Charles McMahon was from Woburn, Massachusetts. Lance Corporal Darwin Judge was an Eagle Scout and was from Marshalltown, Iowa. Judge was 19 years old at the time of his death. McMahon was one month short of his 22 birthday.
Deaths
Both men were members of the Marine Security Guard Battalion at the US Embassy, Saigon and were providing security for the DAO Compound, adjacent to Tân Sơn Nhứt Airport, Saigon. Both died in a North Vietnamese rocket attack on Tân Sơn Nhứt Airport on the morning of April 29, 1975. [1]. The American evacuation of Saigon was complete by the next day, April 30, 1975.
In accordance with procedures for deceased Americans in Vietnam, their bodies were transferred to the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, nearby Tan Son Nhut. In telephone calls to the hospital on the afternoon of 29 April the few remaining staff advised that the bodies had been evacuated; in fact the bodies were left behind. Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, through diplomatic channels, secured the return of the bodies the following year[2].
Judge never received the Purple Heart he deserved and was not given Marine burial honors until 25 years later [3].
First and last American casualties in Vietnam
The first U.S. casualty in Vietnam was Flying Tiger John T. Donovan who was killed on May 12, 1942, but American involvement in Vietnam was not considered official at that time and as such his name does not appear on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial [4].
The first two official casualties were U.S. Army Major Dale R. Buis and Master Sergeant Chester Charles Ovnand who were killed some 16 years before McMahon and Judge on July 18, 1959.
While McMahon and Judge were the last American ground casualties in Vietnam, they are not the last casualties of the Vietnam War recorded on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, that sad honour belongs to the 18 Americans killed in the Mayaguez Incident.
See also
References
External links
- Fall of Saigon Marine Association
- Marine Embassy Guard Association
- http://www.lighthousedistrict.org/Tsm/tsm65.htm
- http://members.tripod.com/~kclocke/judge.html
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