Born to be Marine
By: Cpl. Dan LuBell
DONG HA--The Marines moved like a well-oiled
machine as they forged their way through dense hedgerows on a search and sweep mission.
North Vietnamese soldiers (NVA) were hiding somewhere in the village complex which spread in front of them.
The platoon commander was everywhere directing his squad leader's movements. It was important that the squads reminded linked together. To be separated in this hedgerow maze meant trouble. The Marines, not knowing which direction it was safe to fire, would give the NVA a big edge.
Automatic rifle fire blasted out from houses across the rice paddy to the front. With the sound of the first shot,
Second Lieutenant Edward McCourt went into high gear. He quickly got his men into position to attack.
As the "I" Company, Third Regiment platoon prepared to assault the enemy position, one of the men was hit and fell across a rice paddy dike in line with enemy fire.
McCourt ran forward to pull the wounded rifleman off the dike but was too far away to reach him.
The platoon radioman left his position to go to the wounded man's aid.
The North Vietnamese gunner sent another stream of bullets out--the radioman was wounded.
By this time the Lieutenant had reached them, and with the help of another Marine pulled them off the dike. They carried them back to medical aid.
Within seconds, McCourt returned to direct his men in the attack.
The Marines rushed forward pouring out a terrific volume of fire which drove the NVA into the dense jungle.
When the village sweep was over, the 3rd Division platoon had accounted for three enemy killed; and five packs, two automatic weapons and three semi-automatic rifles captured.
Securing the village was just part of McCourt's second war. At the age of 15 he was large enough to fool a Marine recruiter. By the time the Corps found out his true age, McCourt was a rifleman in Korea.
He was discharged immediately. As soon as he reached 17 he enlisted again.
This marks his second tour in Vietnam. During the first he was a staff sergeant. As soon as he was commissioned, he voluntarily returned for a second tour.
