[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 130 (Friday, October 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2075]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E2075]]
            IN HONOR OF 7TH LANCE CORPORAL JAMES R. SARGENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 2005

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, today, 7th Lance Corporal James R. Sargent 
USMC, was laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery after being listed as 
missing in action for more than 37 years.
  Lance Corporal Sargent, a native of Anawalt, WV, was a true American 
hero and today marks the end of a long journey for his family and 
friends.
  Lance Corporal Sargent, like so many West Virginians, answered our 
Nation's call to arms. He wore the uniform and gave his life for 
freedom's cause.
  Lance Corporal Sargent was part of an artillery platoon airlifted to 
provide support to the 11th Mobile Strike Force, which was under threat 
of attack from North Vietnamese forces near Kham Duc in South Vietnam. 
On May 9, 1968, the Strike Force had been directed to reconnoiter an 
area known as Little Ngok Tavak Hill near the Laos-Vietnam border, in 
the Kham Duc Province. Their base came under heavy attack by North 
Vietnamese Army troops, but after a 10-hour battle, all of the 
survivors were able to withdraw from the area.
  LCpl, Sargent, one of 13 Marines killed in this battle, was awarded 
the Meritorious Unit Commendation for his heroism at Ngok Tavak. The 
Bible says in the book of John, Chapter 15, Verse 13, ``Greater love 
has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.'' 
Today we honor not only Lance Corporal Sargent, but all of the 
soldiers, airmen and Marines who, through commitment and courage, have 
answered the call to protect the ones they love. This is truly the 
greatest gift one can give.
  I would also like to submit for the Record The Secretary of the Navy 
Citation for the Meritorious Unit Commendation--a detailed account of 
Lance Corporal Sargent's heroism:

       The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in presenting the 
     Meritorious Unit Commendation to: Detachment, Battery D, 
     Second Battalion, and Thirteenth Marines, First Marine 
     Division (Reinforced)

                                Citation

       For heroic achievement in action against enemy Viet Cong 
     and North Vietnamese forces during the defense of the 
     Civilian Irregular Defense Group camp known as Ngok Tavak on 
     10 May 1968. The detachment, consisting of one officer and 43 
     enlisted men, was tasked with the mission of providing 
     artillery support to the camp. In the early morning, while 
     providing this support to a mixed force of U.S Army 
     Special Forces and Vietnamese irregulars, the detachment's 
     defensive position came under attack by a determined and 
     well equipped enemy force of estimated battalion size. 
     Employing an intense mortar barrage, grenades and heavy 
     small-arms fire, the enemy breached the outer defensive 
     wire in two places and surged through the wire in superior 
     numbers, launching a series of assaults directly against 
     the small defensive perimeter the Marines had formed 
     around their howitzers.
       Although seriously depleted by heavy casualties, including 
     the detachment commander and the platoon sergeant, the 
     gallant men of the detachment steadfastly met and contained 
     each assault with withering fire from automatic weapons, 
     grenades, and point-blank individual weapons. On separate 
     occasions, Marines braved the hail of grenade fragments and 
     automatic weapons fire to man a 4.2-inch mortar, an 81mm 
     mortar, and a 30-caliber machine gun belonging to the Special 
     Forces Detachment. Although continually exposed, they brought 
     the fires of these weapons to bear on the attacking enemy and 
     inflicted heavy casualties.
       When the survivors of the detachment were ordered to 
     abandon their position, mute evidence of their ferocity as 
     fighting men lay about them in the form of 31 confirmed enemy 
     dead. The successful evacuation of the position was completed 
     under the direct observation and fire of the remaining enemy 
     force. Accompanied by the surviving Civilian Irregular 
     Defense Group forces, the men of the detachment marched for 
     six hours through dense enemy-infested jungle until 
     successfully extracted by helicopter. Of the original 
     detachment, 13 Marines were killed in action and 20 were 
     wounded in action. By their effective teamwork, aggressive 
     fighting spirit, and individual acts of heroism and daring, 
     the artillerymen of this detachment achieved an illustrious 
     record of courage and skill in keeping with the highest 
     traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval 
     Service.
       All personnel attached to and serving with Detachment, 
     Battery D, Second Battalion, Thirteenth Marines, First Marine 
     Division (Reinforced), during the cited action, are hereby 
     authorized to wear the Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon.

     For the Secretary of the Navy, L. F. CHAPMAN, JR., Commandant 
     of the Marine Corps.

                          ____________________