Allen, Joseph Ebert (Joe), 1st Platoon

Allen, Joseph Ebert (Joe), 1st Platoon

17 July 1945 – 24 May 1968
Long Beach City Cemetery, Long Beach, MS

Platoon Commander with Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines,  FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF:  KIA 24 May 1968.”

01-allen-joe2Joseph Ebert Allen was born on 17 July 1945 in New Orleans, LA to Mr. and Mrs. Ebert Ayers Allen. His mother later remarried Col. Nunez C. Pilet, of Bay St. Louis. He had a sister, Barbara Allen. He spent most of his childhood in Pass Christian where he briefly attended elementary school before entering Christ Episcopal Day School in Bay St. Louis.  He attended Gulfport West Junior High School where he received the God and Country award from the Joe Graham Post 119, American Legion.  He was an honor student and student body president. Joe was a Cub Scout, attaining the rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts and was elected to the Order of the Arrow.   Upon receiving his Eagle Scout Award, he stated, “I’ve been real lucky in having good leaders, good teachers and good friends who have given me much of their time and taught me so many of their skills.” He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Pass Christian where he served as acolyte and Crucifer before entering Tulane University on a full Naval Reserve Officer Training Scholarship which he received on graduation from Gulfport High School in 1963.

An honor graduate of Gulfport High, Joe had an outstanding career at Tulane where he was elected to the military fraternities, Scabbard and Blade, and initiated into Kappa Delta Pi, honorary leadership fraternity. He was an officer of the junior class at Tulane and was selected for a summer cruise to Europe with a group of midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. He received his wings from paratrooper school at Ft. Benning, GA while a junior and served as battalion executive officer and commanding officer.  On graduation, he received the Marine Corps Reserve Officers Association Plaque and the Award of Merit. He also was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega social fraternity and served as its president in his senior year. He graduated from Tulane with a double major in English and Latin American studies and was selected for intensive training in the Vietnamese language.

Upon graduation from Tulane, Joe was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the USMC with a regular commission.  Reporting to his first assignment in June 1967, Joe became part of 1st Platoon, A Company, Basic Officers’ Class 1-68.  Late in the course, Joe received his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) assignment of 0301, Basic Infantry Officer and orders to report to Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, Western Pacific Ground Forces following graduation. The class graduated on 22 November 1967.

Joe arrived in Vietnam on 11 Feb 1968 and was killed on 24 May 1968 by hostile small arms fire during an Operation Houston night engagement 12 KM south-southeast of the Phu Bai airfield—Thua Thien Province, UTM Grid YD950050.  Joe’s name on The Wall is at Panel 76E, Line 003. Joe was buried in the Long Beach City Cemetery in Long Beach, MS. Second Lieutenant John Joe Ebert Allen was awarded a silver star for gallantry in action during the Vietnam War.

USMC Resume:
The Basic School Class 1­68 Alpha Company, 1st Platoon, Jun-Nov 1967
Vietnam: 11 Feb 1968 ­ 24 May 1968; Platoon Commander with Company D, First Battalion, Fifth
Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF
Silver Star, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon

The following is an excerpt of his Silver Star award:
“The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant Joe Ebert Allen (MCSN: 0-103089), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Rein.), FMF, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On the evening of 24 May 1968, Second Lieutenant Allen’s platoon established an ambush on a suspected enemy infiltration route in Thua Thien Province. Alertly observing a numerically superior North Vietnamese Army force moving near his position, he immediately adjusted mortar fire on the enemy and quickly led his platoon to an advantageous position from which the Marines commenced delivering accurate fire upon the hostile force. Although painfully wounded in the initial moments of the fire fight, he boldly moved among his men, shouting words of encouragement and directing their fire. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Second Lieutenant Allen was maneuvering his squads into an assault formation when he sustained a second wound from an enemy hand grenade. Steadfastly refusing medical aid, he advanced to the most forward position and fearlessly led a determined assault on the enemy positions until he fell seriously injured by the hostile fire. Inspired by his bold leadership and resolute determination, his men continued the attack, killing ten enemy soldiers and seizing numerous weapons. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty, Second Lieutenant Allen upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.”
Action Date: May 24, 1968,
Service: Marine Corps,
Rank: Second Lieutenant,
Company: Company D,
Battalion: 1st Battalion,
Regiment: 5th Marines,
Division: 1st Marine Division (Rein.), FMF

Personal Reflections about Joe Allen:
Colonel and Mrs. Pilet received a letter Tuesday from their son dated May 15, 1968, in which he wrote:: “Not much to report.  Everything is going well here and my platoon is still doing a fine job for me. We are doing nearly all of our work at night now since that’s about the only time that the Vietcong (North Vietnam Army) are moving.  At first everyone thought that the Vietcong had the advantage at night, but right now we are proving different. Documents and letters we have captured indicated that the North Vietnam Army is tired of this war and don’t understand why they are here.  They are hungry and their supply lines are inadequate.  They are fine soldiers and I have a great deal of respect for them.  As good as they are, the Marines are better. I feel that I have done a lot here to have my men prepared and with one exception (a few nights ago a couple of our captured got away) we have taken full advantage of our contacts with them. Captain Harrington always accepts my ideas and plans and they have proved fruitful so that always makes me happy.  It’s just like hunting, and the same techniques I learned when I hunted behind our house apply.”

 

Baker, David Lyng (Dave/Bakes), 1st Platoon

Baker, David Lyng (Dave/Bakes), 1st Platoon

26 April 1945 – 13 November 1980
Unknown Loc: Pax River Helo Accid, MD, 20670

David Lyng Baker (Dave) was born 26 April 1945 in Abilene, TX to John Barnard Baker and Caroline Prescott Hoar. Dave’s father was a class of 1936 graduate of University of Michigan Law. He was married to Caroline and working as a corporate attorney in South Milwaukee when WWII broke out. Joining the US Army in July 1942, he was stationed at Abilene Army Air Base when Dave was born. Dave graduated from South Milwaukee High School ]in 1963 and moved on to the US Naval Academy graduating in the class of ‘67.

01-baker-dave2From his USNA ’67 Biography: “South Milwaukee Senior High was the starting point for the “Bakes” naval career. Trying to keep track of him was a near impossibility because no one knew what new activity he was engaged in. Varsity sports eluded the wee tyke but he showed his spirt in a sport where size doesn’t matter, Brigade Boxing. Bakes had natural writing and acting talents and second class year was director of Masqueraders. Academics play a major part in his life and he is working towards both Economics and Mechanical engineering majors. He’s decided on Nuclear Power. Success will surely flavor his career.”

Upon graduating from the USNA, Dave was commissioned a 2ndLt in the USMC. He reported to Officers Basic School Class 1-68, Alpha Company and was assigned to the 1st Platoon. Alpha Company graduated on 22 November 1967 and Dave was off to Flight school in Pensacola, FL – Helicopter pipeline. Dave married Lynda Margaret Kosbob, an undergraduate at Hook College in Frederick, MD, at some point between the USNA and flight school. Lynda, hailing from Ridgewood, NJ, and Dave were married in Ho-ho-kus, NJ. A good USNA friend Rufus Artmann was in attendance. Dave and Lynda had three children: Timothy, born March 1971 while Dave was stationed at MCAS Santa Ana; Caroline, born April 1972 in Maryland; and Benjamin, born Apr 1977 while Dave was stationed at MCAS New River, NC. Between children 2 and 3, Dave and Lynda traveled and studied in Sweden on a [Olmstead or Fulbright] scholarship. Before leaving for Sweden they were sent to the American University in DC for a crash course in the language.

In 1980 Dave was assigned to the US helicopter test facility at Pax River, MD. On 13 Nov Dave was killed in a helicopter test flight in a Bell helicopter. The accident was attributed to “mast bumping” where the rotor struck the tail resulting in structural failure. Linda, jointly with another wife, sued Bell. She and her three children agreed to accept a multimillion-dollar settlement from Bell — spread over at least 30 years — in exchange for dropping their suit. Lynda passed away on 24 Nov 2003 in Evanston, IL.

USMC Resume: TBS Class 1-68 Alpha Company, 1st Platoon June-Nov 1967.
Flight School Pensacola, FL – Helicopter pipeline.
MCAS Santa Ana, CA, CH-46 training.
Vietnam
Sweden on a scholarship.
MCAS New River, CH46 pilot and Maintenance Officer.
US Helicopter Test Facility, Pax River, MD – test pilot.

Personal Reflections about Dave Baker:
A recollection from Mike Barretti: Dave [Baker] and Brian [Casey] were in my wedding party on November 26, 1967. Both of them, along with four other of my TBS “friends” Shanghaied me the night before the wedding, and I recall it was Dave and Ken Bruner who were the ring leaders. Dave became a favorite of my sister in law at the wedding, and they danced most of the night. However, Dave had a serious girlfriend at the time, whose name, regrettably, I don’t recall, because they were talking marriage after Dave finished flight training. I lost touch with both guys shortly after, as we went our separate ways, but heard about Brian’s death. Ironically, I didn’t know about Dave’s passing until I saw it in the info circulated for the reunion. Really sad about both of them.”

A recollection from Becky DeCraene: “I did not meet Lynda until she and David moved in with Alan [DeCraene] and me in California when the guys were starting helicopter training [at MCAS Santa Ana CH-46 June 1969]. Alan made the arrangements with David because they had two Irish Setters and we would be finding housing that would accommodate our two dogs, so they and the dogs could stay with us (and let me babysit the dogs) while they looked for housing. For some reason we were scheduled to arrive in CA a week or two before David & Lynda.

While we were in CA, David & Lynda rented a house and Alan & I helped them construct a fence for the yard for the dogs. One was a registered show dog and we went to dog shows with them in Bakersfield and in San Diego. During that time I became able to hear an announcement for “9-12 puppy bitches report to ring 3” without blushing. Alan & I got hooked on dog shows and decided to get an English Setter when he came back from Viet Nam. I located one and brought her home about 4 months after Alan was killed. Bob & I showed English Setters from then until about 1982, all from David’s introduction to the sport.

David Baker was a good guy and a particular help to me when Alan was killed. Alan let me know a lot about what he was doing and how different “watches” worked. I knew he shouldn’t have been on the particular assignment he was on the night he was killed. Lynda told David about my questions and he researched it and got the information to me. He was also able to give me favorable information about the double-amputee they were trying to get the blood to. Alan was still lost to our son and to me, but I knew he was doing exactly what he thought he was meant to be doing. It helped.”

Banning, Johnathon Jacques (John), 1st Platoon

Banning, Johnathon Jacques (John), 1st Platoon
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