Jerry Lewien Remembers Ops Before and After LZ Margo
by Lance Corporal Jerry Lewien
Golf Company, BLT 2/26
"I had carried a radio on my share of patrols and LPs. Nothing prepared me for what was to come."
​
...
​
"I called in the medevac and when it arrived the gun ships were circling above wanting to know where the last enemy contact was.
​
"Well, since we were in the DMZ I said, "All around!"
​
LCpl Jerry Lewien
Golf Company, BLT 2/26
My First Nine Months
​
I joined the Marine Corps right out of high school in 1967. Upon completion of training in December, I was sent to Vietnam where I was assigned to Golf Company, 2/26. My unit moved to Khe Sanh in January 1968 where I spent my 19th birthday, January 22.
After Khe Sanh we moved around a lot, and I don’t know where as I was a low life private, PFC and lance corporal.
LCpl Jerry Lewien after he started carrying a radio. Says Lewien, "No Purple Heart by the grace of God." Photo courtesy of Jerry Lewien.
I had carried a radio on my share of patrols and LPs [listening posts]. Nothing prepared me for what was to come.
Midnight Resupply Run
​
The first of September 1968, I was assigned as the radio operator for my platoon replacing Cpl. James Everly who had been the platoon radio operator. About 8 September, we came out of the field to the Rockpile. We were occupying pre-made positions just above a stream. We had not had a resupply for a few days and had not had any chow. Upon seeing the stacks of C-rations belonging to the artillery unit behind us, it was obvious what I had to do.
​
When it was dark, another Marine and I did a low crawl over to the stack and each took a case of C-rations and back to our lines we went. We distributed what we had but needed more. We returned to the stack and each took two cases, which was a big mistake. We were caught.
​
I explained the situation and was scared out of my wits, when our captor said, “Next time just ask.”
Away we went.
