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Amethyst heart
Amethyst
heart
L/Cpl Bernard Himes
Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm awarded for valor and heroic conduct while fighting the enemy
Bern Joined the Marine Corps right after graduation from Punxsutawney Area  High School, in May of 1967.  He was too young at 17 to join on his own,  so my parents had to sign papers to get him into the Marines.  Bern wanted to be a Marine because he thought they were the toughest and the bravest.  Signing the papers for him to go to the Marine Corps is something I know my parents still think about,  but is seldom mentioned in their home.  Berns basic military speciality  was 2141 tank repairman,  but he did not get to go to Vietnam with a tank battalion.  In February of 1968,  with the Tet Offensive many Marines were sent to Vietnam as infantrymen,  even though their mos was in other areas such as tankers, engineers, cooks etc.  Theres an old Marine saying that every Marine is first and foremost a basic riflemen.  In many cases this was true.  These men made up a unit that was very special.  They were the men of the 3rd Battalion,  27th Marine regiment.  President Johnson went to California to see these Marines off to Vietnam,  in February of 1968
On the morning of  May 17th 1968  Bern was assigned a fire team leader,  in the 3rd Platoon, India Co.,  27th Marines.  At approximately 11:00 am  India Co.  was conducting a search and destroy mission on Operation Allen Brook,  in Southern Quang Nam Province.
While walking through an open area the Marines cam upon a dry river bed,  with a densely wooded tree line,  on the north bank.  India Co.  came under heavy enemy mortor and small arms fire.
A hostile enemy explosive device detonated near Bern. The Platoon Corpsmen and fellow Marines immediately administered medical aid,  however Bern failed to respond and died of  wounds from the explosive device.
Final resting place, Adrian
Anita Roman Catholic Cemetery
Danang,
May 1968
May 17th, 1968 would prove to be one of the worst days of the Vietnam War for India Co. There were twenty Marines killed and scores wounded that day.  India Co.  had been caught out in the open with very little cover.  Although Bern was killed on May 17, 1968 his remains were not returned to us until June 2nd, 1968.  Bern was laid to rest about a mile from his home on June 5th, 1968.  
My brothers cheerful disposition,  attention to duty,   and his conduct as a man and a Marine, won for him the respect of all who knew him,  and he was keenly missed by his fellow Marines after his death.

Bern recieved the Vietnamese Service medal,  Vietnamese Campaign,  National Defense, Purple Heart,  Gallantry Cross with Palm and Military Merit Medal.  The Military Merit Medal and Gallantry Cross with Palm were presented to his parents at a formal ceremony  at the Marine Corps Base in New Castle Pennsylvania,  Sept.  21st 1969  along with accompanying Citations.  Bernard was cited for exhibiting a spirit of good will and cooperation and setting a brilliant example for his comrades in arms.
Vietnam, May 1968
The 3rd Battalion 27th Marines were awarded both a Presidential Unit Citation and a Meritorious Unit Citation for their particiation in Operation Allen Brook,  for valorious achievment against North Vietnamese Army forces during engagments on Go Noi Island, Quang Nam Province Republic of Vietnam,  from 17 to 28 May,  1968.  India Co.  was awarded a second Meritorious Unit Citation,  while attached to the 7th Marines,  during the early fighting of the operation.
Reed and Phyllis Himes Sept 21st,  1969
Marine Corps Base,  New Castle Pa.

 

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