JAY R. VARGAS Dinh To, Vietnam April 30, 1968

Marine Corps Maj. Jay R. Vargas, commanding offi - cer, Company G, 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade, was wounded April 30, 1968, while relocating his unit under heavy enemy fi re. The next day, despite his injuries, Vargas combined Company G with two other companies and led his men in an attack against the fortifi ed village of Dai Do. Through intense enemy rocket and artillery fi re, Vargas successfully maneuvered his men across 700 yards of open fi eld and established a foothold on the enemy’s perim- eter. When elements of his battalion became pinned down, Vargas led his reserve platoon to their aid and ral- lied his men to continue fi ghting, while destroying sev- eral enemy bunkers. Vargas was wounded again by grenade fragments but

refused aid as he maneuvered about the area, reorganizing his unit into a strong defense perimeter at the edge of the village. Shortly after the line was secure, the enemy commenced a series of counterattacks that lasted throughout the night. None was able to break through. Reinforced the next morning, Vargas’ Marines launched an assault on Dinh To, which resulted in yet another vicious enemy counterattack that devolved into brutal hand-to-hand fi ghting. Vargas, who later was promoted to captain, was wounded a third time

while providing encouragement and assistance to his fi ghting force. Wit- nessing his battalion commander sustain a serious wound, Vargas ignored his own injuries to run to the man’s aid and carry him to a protected posi- tion before he resumed supervising his men and organizing the battalion’s perimeter defense.

MO IMAGES: ABOVE RIGHT, COLIN HAYES; TOP LEFT AND RIGHT, USMC

— Don Vaughan is a freelance writer based in North Carolina. His last feature article for Military Offi cer was “Defusing PTS,” September 2015.

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