Recon Marines

POW/MIA

LCpl MARTIN WILLIAM PRATHER

POW/MIA

part 4

I'm just a simple old warrior who served in the uniform of this country's military in War who loves to discuss all aspects of life. It is my firm conviction that if one understands what caused the war, how the war was conducted, and the Reconstruction Years that followed, one will know what this country is about.

They came this way but once. Yet, they touched our lives in many ways while they were here. We shall remain eternally grateful for their friendship and for the influence each bestowed upon us.

Remember you are not forgotten while I am still on patrol.

Marines

Part 3 of 4

On September 5, 1967, members of a reconnaissance patrol from Company D, the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division were awaiting extraction from a helicopter pick-up zone in the vicinity of (GC) YD 316 355, southwest of Thon Thuong Ngyen Village, Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. While waiting, the men came under heavy enemy fire that hit and killed one of the patrol members. The active enemy presence in the area prevented the immediate removal of the man's body. The next day friendly forces attempted to recover the remains, but the heavy concentration of enemy forces made it too costly to return. The area was subsequently bombed with napalm and explosive ordnance.

Lance Corporal Martin William Prather entered the U.S. Marine Corps from Kentucky and was a member of Company D, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. He was the patrol member killed during this reconnaissance patrol, and his remains were not recovered. Today, Lance Corporal Prather is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed along with all his fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Saint Michael Cemetery

Louisville, Kentucky

Cpl GARY LEE REHN

Recon

MIA/POW

Fort Snelling National Cemetery

Cpl Rehn #2259893
MOS:2531 Field Radio Operator.

When Gary arrived in Vietnam 10 February
1967 he was assigned to the 2nd Platoon of
Delta Company,3rd Recon Battalion,3rd
Marine Division.
Gary was with his recon unit on a patrol when
the recon unit was ambushed by hostile forces
6 kilometers south of Nam Hoa.
While being chased by hostile forces using
automatic weapons fire Gary died as a result
of gunshot wounds to the body.His body was
not recovered due to intense rifle fire and
presence of large hostile forces in the
immediate area.
Survived by his parents;Otto Charles &
Charlotte W Rehn of Rural Route #3,Grand
Rapids,MN.

As of 13 July 2017 Cpl Rehn is listed as Killed
In Action,Body Not Recovered.

LCpl JONATHAN PETER KMETYK

Lance Corporal Jonathan Peter Kmetyk entered the U.S. Marine Corps from New York and served in Company C, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division. On November 14, 1967, he was on a long range reconnaissance patrol when his unit was attacked by the enemy and he was killed in action. The other members of the patrol were forced to withdraw and carried LCpl Kmetyk's body with them. The following day, while moving towards a helicopter landing zone for evacuation, the unit was attacked again and were forced to leave LCpl Kmetyk's body near (GC) ZC 164 642. Attempts to return to the area and recover his remains were unsuccessful. Today, Lance Corporal Kmetyk is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed along with all his fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

LCpl DAVID ESEQUIEL PADILLA

Lance Corporal Peter Kmetyk was assigned to C Company of the 1st Recon Battalion, 1st Marine Division in Vietnam. On November 14, 1967, he and his unit were conducting a long-range reconnaissance patrol 25 miles southwest of Da Nang. The patrol was operating in very rugged terrain characterized by thick growth of thirty-foot high trees and six to seven foot underbrush. The patrol was 10 miles from the nearest friendly force and the only way to get into or out of the area was by helicopter.At about 1030 hours on November 14, the patrol was taken under fire by a Viet Cong force. Peter was hit by enemy small arms fire and he was instantly killed. Attempts were made to get a helicopter to evacuate his body, but monsoon season weather was such that the helicopter could not make the evacuation. The patrol members carried Peter for over a mile through the jungle to a pre-planned extraction point. At approximately 1130 a.m. on November 15, while the patrol was still proceeding to the the landing zone, the rear of the patrol was hit by automatic weapons fire, and the Marines carrying Peter had to put him down and seek cover.

Repeated efforts were made to recover Peter's body, but each time the effort was repulsed. One member of the patrol was wounded in the last attempt. An additional search was made from November 20-24, but with negative results.

Peter Kmetyk is listed with honor among the missing because his remains were not recovered for burial in the country he served or his homeland.

From the
POW Network

Santa Fe National Cemetery

LCpl Padilla #2126814
MOS: 0311 Rifleman.

David enlisted in the Marines 29 October 1965, at an Amarillo Recruiting Office.
David arrived in Vietnam 16 May 1968 and was assigned to the 3rd Platoon of Echo Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine
Division. He was in country a short time when he was sent on a seven-day reconnaissance patrol into the Khe Sanh area. David died as a result of multiple wounds to the entire body while on recon patrol from hostile mortar fire and his remains were not recovered. Four other Marines were killed in the same attack near Tiger Mountain (Hill 505) and 8 kilometers northeast of the Khe Sanh Airfield.
Survived by his parents, Esequiel and Jennie A Padilla of 1308 Cooley Drive, Borger, Texas and his 2 sisters, Mary J Anderson of 4608 Travis St,
Amarillo, Texas and Mary I Newman of 1017 Bowman Drive, Borger, Texas.

Honolulu Memorial
Also known as Courts of the Missing

Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA

Honolulu Memorial

LCpl JOSEPH ARNOLD HILL

Lance Corporal Joseph Arnold Hill entered the U.S. Marine Corps from Illinois and was a member of Company B of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division.  On May 28, 1968, LCpl Hill was part of an eight-man foot patrol inserted by helicopter into a hostile area near the Song Buong River, Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam. While his team traversed a narrow ledge near the top of a cliff, they came under heavy fire from an enemy force. During this action, LCpl Hill was hit and killed by enemy fire in the vicinity of grid coordinates YC 988 430. The tactical situation precluded recovery of his remains. Today, Lance Corporal Hill is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. His name is also inscribed along with all his fallen comrades on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

Honolulu Memorial

Honolulu Memorial