TFH 3/24: Sergeant Walter K. Singleton, USMC

Walter Keith Singleton was born on the third anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor - December 7, 1944 - in Memphis, TN. After high school in August 1963, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and switched to the active Marines the following year.

Singleton served as an infantryman with the 2nd Marine Division (2nd Battalion/6th Marines) and as a marksmanship instructor at both Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and the United States Naval Academy before being sent to war in Vietnam.

He arrived in Vietnam on November 13, 1966 and joined 1st Battalion/9th Marines, then part of the 3rd Marine Division. Forty-five years ago today - March 24, 1967 - Sergeant Singleton's company ran up against a deeply entrenched enemy force. They took heavy fire and heavy casualties. Walter Singleton took it upon himself to rescue his comrades and change the course of the battle. He gave his Corps and Country his life, and a grateful Nation gave him our highest honor.



From Medal of Honor Citations for the Vietnam War (M-Z):

*SINGLETON, WALTER K. 


Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division. Place and date: Gio Linh District, Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam, 24 March 1967. Entered service at: Memphis, Tenn. Born: 7 December 1944, Memphis, Tenn. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Singleton's company was conducting combat operations when the lead platoon received intense small arms, automatic weapons, rocket, and mortar fire from a well entrenched enemy force. As the company fought its way forward, the extremely heavy enemy fire caused numerous friendly casualties. Sensing the need for early treatment of the wounded, Sgt. Singleton quickly moved from his relatively safe position in the rear of the foremost point of the advance and made numerous trips through the enemy killing zone to move the injured men out of the danger area. Noting that a large part of the enemy fire was coming from a hedgerow, he seized a machinegun and assaulted the key enemy location, delivering devastating fire as he advanced. He forced his way through the hedgerow directly into the enemy strong point. Although he was mortally wounded, his fearless attack killed 8 of the enemy and drove the remainder from the hedgerow. Sgt. Singleton's bold actions completely disorganized the enemy defense and saved the lives of many of his comrades. His daring initiative selfless devotion to duty and indomitable fighting spirit reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps, and his performance upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. 

Sergeant Walter K. Singleton is memorialized on Panel 17E, Line 39 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. He rests in peace at the Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens in his home town of Memphis, TN. There is a barracks aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico named for him, which his family regularly visits to pay tribute. He's also memorialized by a highway and a community center in Tennessee, but no United States Navy warship has ever borne his name - listening, Gabrielle Giffords?

1st Battalion/9th Marines is today attached to the 8th Marine Regiment and is part of the 2nd Marine Division and II Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The 3rd Marine Division is currently headquartered on Okinawa and is the core of the III Marine Expeditionary Force.