TFH 1/7: Three "CAP" Marines, Three Navy Crosses

During the Vietnam War, the United States Marine Corps realized that the fight against the Viet Cong communist insurgency couldn't succeed unless isolated Vietnamese populations were made better able to defend themselves against the enemy. Reinforced Marine rifle squads began to be assigned to villages and hamlets to train the local militias and fight along side them. In 1967, the practice was formalized by the III Marine Amphibious Force as the Combined Action Program.

CAP Marines volunteered for this duty. As one former member of CAP has written:

Images of fanatical Viet Cong pouring out of the villages, jungles, and rice paddies hovered in the mind of each of us as we hunkered down for our first night of sleep in such supposedly hostile territory. That first night each new Marine and Corpsman counted the friendly faces of a handful of Americans, then looked with mixed emotions at a poorly equipped platoon of Vietnamese Popular Forces, the local village "militia". 

Each Marine or Corpsman certainly pondered the distance to the nearest American military base. Each calculated how long it would take for help to arrive. Each knew that, when needed, help would probably not arrive in time.

Forty-five years ago on January 7, 1968, the Viet Cong attacked Nuoc Ngot village. Three of the CAP Marines embedded there showed exceptional valor while fighting along side the citizen-soldiers of the village. One ran repeatedly through enemy fire to resupply his comrades with ammunition. The squad leader rallied all the defenders and while suffering his own wounds, saved the life of a Vietnamese child. The third shielded fellow fighters from the blast of enemy explosives with his own body. All three Marines gave their lives. All three were posthumously decorated with the Navy Cross.

Navy Cross Citation for Lance Corporal John Caldwell Calhoun:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal John Caldwell Calhoun (MCSN: 2328321), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as an Automatic Rifleman with Combined Action Platoon H-6, Third Combined Action Group, III Marine Amphibious Force, in the Republic of Vietnam on 7 January 1968. Corporal Calhoun's platoon, while defending an outpost in Nuoc Ngot Village, Thua Thien Province suddenly came under a heavy volume of mortar and rocket fire, followed by an aggressive assault by a numerically superior Viet Cong force. The enemy quickly seized the northern wall of the compound as the Marines and Popular Forces soldiers moved to the sandbagged southern wall. During the ensuing fire fight, the Marines became dangerously low of ammunition. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Corporal Calhoun unhesitatingly ran across 30 meters of fire-swept terrain to obtain the ammunition and deliver it to his comrades. Ignoring the danger around him, he repeatedly crossed the hazardous area, resupplying the defenders, until he was mortally wounded. His heroic and timely actions inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in repelling the enemy force. By his conspicuous valor, strong initiative and complete dedication to duty, Corporal Calhoun upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

All other records I was able to find list Calhoun as a Lance Corporal (E-3) not a Corporal (E-4). It's entirely possible he received a posthumous promotion and the award citation is correct. He rests in peace at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Mattapan, Massachusetts, and his name appears on Panel 33E, Line 68 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Navy Cross Citation for Staff Sergeant Claude Hesson Dorris:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Staff Sergeant Claude Hesson Dorris (MCSN: 1547450), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as the Marine Squad Leader/Advisor of Combined Action Platoon H-6, Third Combined Action Group, III Marine Amphibious Force, in the Republic of Vietnam. During the early morning hours of 7 January 1968, Sergeant Dorris' platoon was defending an outpost in Nuoc Ngot Village, Thua Thien Province. Suddenly, the compound came under a heavy volume of mortar and rocket fire, followed by an aggressive assault by a numerically superior Viet Cong force. The enemy quickly seized the northern wall of the compound as the Marines and Popular Forces soldiers moved to the sandbagged southern wall. Realizing that several Marines had been in their living quarters when the attack commenced, Sergeant Dorris unhesitatingly exposed himself to the hostile fire to ensure that the Marines were manning their fighting positions. Although painfully wounded in both legs soon after the attack commenced, he resolutely crawled from one burning hut to another, ensuring that none of his men had been trapped in the structures. Observing a wounded Vietnamese boy run into the compound, Sergeant Dorris skillfully administered first aid to the child. Despite the enemy fire impacting around him, he fearlessly remained in his dangerously exposed position in an attempt to halt the advancing enemy force until he was mortally wounded by an enemy rocket round. His heroic and timely actions inspired his men and prevented the enemy from overrunning the compound. By his courage, bold initiative, and selfless devotion to duty, Sergeant Dorris upheld the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps, and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Staff Sergeant Dorris' name is on Panel 33E, Line 66 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and he rests in peace at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky.

Navy Cross Citation for Corporal Robert Charles Rusher:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Corporal Robert Charles Rusher (MCSN: 2278308), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Squad Leader with Combined Action Platoon Hotel-6, Third Combined Action Group, at Nuoc Ngot Village, Phu Loc District, Thua Thien Province, Republic of Vietnam. During the early morning hours of 7 January 1968, Corporal Rusher's compound came under heavy enemy mortar, rocket, and ground attack including sappers and enemy troops attempting to gain entry into the compound. Corporal Rusher fearlessly and courageously rallied his men and began delivering accurate fire on the enemy soldiers who were returning fire and detonating satchel charges. During the heat of the battle, two enemy soldiers, firing small arms and carrying a satchel charge, dashed toward Corporal Rusher and a fellow Marine. With deliberate and exacting fire, Corporal Rusher killed both, but not before the enemy soldiers were successful in hurling their satchel charges at him and his comrade. Displaying extraordinary heroism, Corporal Rusher placed himself between the impending blast and his comrade, thereby protecting his fellow Marine with his own body. As the charge detonated, Corporal Rusher absorbed the full brunt of the explosion and was mortally wounded. By his dauntless courage, intrepid fighting spirit and grave concern for another, he served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Corporal Rusher rests today in the St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Lakefield, Minnesota. His name is on Panel 33E, Line 74 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Here is a contemporaneous film clip about the Combined Action Program:

III Marine Amphibious Force is today known as the III Marine Expeditionary Force and is comprised of the 3rd Marine Divsion, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and the 3rd Marine Logistics Group. Their headquarters is at Camp Courtney on Okinawa.