PVT. Gary Arland Hendrickson, was KIA March 1, 1967 in Vietnam, at Cam Lo where 28 Marines and Sailors also lost their lives. Gary was with 3/3/3 India Co. which was an elite Group http://www.33usmc.com/CC/a67-03.pdf
Gary was a machine gunner along with one other guy Ron Blanton from NC. Ron was lead that day and as they went up a hill fighting the NVA, Ron's Machine Gun jammed. Gary' was carrying another weapon, handed his weapon to Blanton. When they finished they headed back down the hill, a NV soldier came up from a spider nest and shot Gary because he was carrying the machine gun. Blanton told me that a sgt came by and said lets go. Blanton said I am not leaving Hendrickson. Gary told him Blanton Go I am not dead yet. That was the last thing Gary said and took his last breath. Ron Blanton said he and Gary didn't have a unit they were with all the time. They were sent to different units that needed them.
I was contacted by Mr Blanton Aug of 07. Who gave me the story about Gary. I had contacted a website with India 3-3-3 I just wanted to know if he died alone, funny what you still wonder about after those many years. Then to think someone would help you find that person. God is Good and the Internet is such a good source of information.
My father lost 3 brothers during WWII to Korea. in 2000 I found out about his brother missing in action Bud Ball Everything was on the internet. Then a newspaper in a Denmark newspaper, posted my info, which in turn put me into contact with 3 family members who had fishing boats and saw the plane explode B17 and the bodies hitting the water in front of them. When they tried to get to the men, a German convoy stopped them from helping.
This year I met Charlie Morse, from Maine. He was Gary's best friend in Nam. They were together up until two weeks before Gary was killed at Cam Lo. Charlie came back here to Ottawa to meet all of our family. We learned many things that we hadn't known before. Gary was promoted to LCpl shortly before he was killed. He has 8 medals and some citations. His mom Lorraine is missing a medal and some other things. Charlie is getting an updated DD214 for her. Charlie and Gary were on the Rockpile when they were coming off of it and moving on, around Feb 12th, Charlie was carrying the tripod and ammunition behind Gary, slipped and fell down a hill and landed on the tripod, it went into his back, he was taken to the hospital and there for a yr and a half. That is why he and Gary weren't together when Gary was killed.
Ron Blanton was carrying the gear when he and Gary were going up a hill to take the enemy, The machine gun jammed and Blanton and Gary changed out weapons and started down the hill. Gary was in front of Ron, when a guy came up from the spider nest and shot Gary, Ron in turn shot and killed that guy. Ron was with Gary trying to get a corpsman to him when Gary told Ron I am not dead yet go on with the guys. Those were Gary's last words. Ron is from North Carolina Ron gave me the last part of this info in 07 Sept. Ron still has problems dealing with this and still hears Gary saying that to him. Ron and I talked for quite sometime on the phone. I assured him God knew who was coming come and who wasn't I told him I was so thankful for knowing what happend, because for 40 yrs I just wanted to know that he wasn't alone and because Ron came back I found out what happened.
Charlie has struggled with not being there when Gary went down, felt like he desserted Gary. The mind is a strange thing. Survivors guilt I searched the internet for Gary's company and came across a website of India Company 3/3/3 Thanks to Richard Brown one of our Classmates who is in our Vietnam Veterans Group. Thru that site, I was in contact with Blanton, then a Craig Slaughter from 3/3/3/ contacted me with 4 more guys names, one who was Charlie. Charlie and I have been in contact with each other for 3 yrs. Charlie said it was healing for him to meet us and Gary's mom, nephews etc. It was a healing for them and me too. The Internet is such a powerful thing. Who would think after 40 yrs you would find out something so intricate. This is posted due to people asking me what went on so now I know. Everyone only had good things to say about Gary. I still miss him so much, Semper Fi Cuz.
Sherry Ball (Wright-Anderson)
PVT. Gary Arland Hendrickson, was KIA March 1, 1967 in Vietnam, at Cam Lo where 28 Marines and Sailors also lost their lives. Gary was with 3/3/3 India Co. which was an elite Group http://www.33usmc.com/CC/a67-03.pdf
http://www.33usmc.com/IndiaCo.html
Gary was a machine gunner along with one other guy Ron Blanton from NC. Ron was lead that day and as they went up a hill fighting the NVA, Ron's Machine Gun jammed. Gary' was carrying another weapon, handed his weapon to Blanton. When they finished they headed back down the hill, a NV soldier came up from a spider nest and shot Gary because he was carrying the machine gun. Blanton told me that a sgt came by and said lets go. Blanton said I am not leaving Hendrickson. Gary told him Blanton Go I am not dead yet. That was the last thing Gary said and took his last breath. Ron Blanton said he and Gary didn't have a unit they were with all the time. They were sent to different units that needed them.
I was contacted by Mr Blanton Aug of 07. Who gave me the story about Gary. I had contacted a website with India 3-3-3 I just wanted to know if he died alone, funny what you still wonder about after those many years. Then to think someone would help you find that person. God is Good and the Internet is such a good source of information.
My father lost 3 brothers during WWII to Korea. in 2000 I found out about his brother missing in action Bud Ball Everything was on the internet. Then a newspaper in a Denmark newspaper, posted my info, which in turn put me into contact with 3 family members who had fishing boats and saw the plane explode B17 and the bodies hitting the water in front of them. When they tried to get to the men, a German convoy stopped them from helping.
Sherry Ball (Wright-Anderson)
This year I met Charlie Morse, from Maine. He was Gary's best friend in Nam. They were together up until two weeks before Gary was killed at Cam Lo. Charlie came back here to Ottawa to meet all of our family. We learned many things that we hadn't known before. Gary was promoted to LCpl shortly before he was killed. He has 8 medals and some citations. His mom Lorraine is missing a medal and some other things. Charlie is getting an updated DD214 for her. Charlie and Gary were on the Rockpile when they were coming off of it and moving on, around Feb 12th, Charlie was carrying the tripod and ammunition behind Gary, slipped and fell down a hill and landed on the tripod, it went into his back, he was taken to the hospital and there for a yr and a half. That is why he and Gary weren't together when Gary was killed.
Ron Blanton was carrying the gear when he and Gary were going up a hill to take the enemy, The machine gun jammed and Blanton and Gary changed out weapons and started down the hill. Gary was in front of Ron, when a guy came up from the spider nest and shot Gary, Ron in turn shot and killed that guy. Ron was with Gary trying to get a corpsman to him when Gary told Ron I am not dead yet go on with the guys. Those were Gary's last words. Ron is from North Carolina Ron gave me the last part of this info in 07 Sept. Ron still has problems dealing with this and still hears Gary saying that to him. Ron and I talked for quite sometime on the phone. I assured him God knew who was coming come and who wasn't I told him I was so thankful for knowing what happend, because for 40 yrs I just wanted to know that he wasn't alone and because Ron came back I found out what happened.
Charlie has struggled with not being there when Gary went down, felt like he desserted Gary. The mind is a strange thing. Survivors guilt I searched the internet for Gary's company and came across a website of India Company 3/3/3 Thanks to Richard Brown one of our Classmates who is in our Vietnam Veterans Group. Thru that site, I was in contact with Blanton, then a Craig Slaughter from 3/3/3/ contacted me with 4 more guys names, one who was Charlie. Charlie and I have been in contact with each other for 3 yrs. Charlie said it was healing for him to meet us and Gary's mom, nephews etc. It was a healing for them and me too. The Internet is such a powerful thing. Who would think after 40 yrs you would find out something so intricate. This is posted due to people asking me what went on so now I know. Everyone only had good things to say about Gary. I still miss him so much, Semper Fi Cuz.