[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 20 (Wednesday, February 3, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E105-E106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE FOR HILL 64

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. E. SCOTT RIGELL

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 3, 2016

  Mr. RIGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the family of the 
late Corporal Jerry Clark Burkhead, to commemorate the brave sacrifice 
of Corporal Burkhead and his fellow Marines who were lost in the Battle 
for Hill 64 on February 8, 1968 during the Vietnam War. His family 
asked me to submit the following remarks:
   Corporal (CPL) Jerry Clark Burkhead, United States Marine Corps, 
will forever be remembered by family and friends for his caring heart, 
unwavering loyalty, mischievous nature, and wry sense of humor. Those 
who knew Jerry well lived fuller lives because of his presence in 
theirs. Jerry was born in Justisville, Virginia. Jerry is the youngest 
son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Burkhead and brother to Maxine Cherrix 
(Esley), Colleen Walker (Brice), Janet Williams (Alton), Shirley 
Johnson (Aaron), Virginia Burkhead, Judi Zimmerman (Doug), Edwyn 
(Winnie), Dumont (Peggy), Lindo (Pat), Joe (Shirley), and John Daniel 
(JD). Jerry's large family was the center of his life and the source of 
his strong character and values. He was a 1966 graduate of Parksley 
High School and a member of Zion Baptist Church. He joined the United 
States Marine Corps and deployed from Camp Pendleton, California to the 
Republic of Vietnam (ROV) in November 1967. On February 8, 1968, during 
the Tet Offensive by the North Vietnamese Army, Jerry was killed in 
action in Quang Tri, South Vietnam--officially the Republic of Vietnam 
(1955 to 1975). This is the story of Corporal Jerry Burkhead and the 
brave Marines who fought for Hill 64 during the Vietnam War.
   CPL Jerry Burkhead was an M-60 Machine-Gun Squad Leader in Weapons 
Platoon reinforcing 1st Rifle Platoon of Alpha Company 1st Battalion, 
9th Marine Regiment (A CO 1/9) in I Corps, the ROV. The 1/9, the 
``Walking Dead'', were rapidly moved from Camp Evans and flown in by 
helicopter to the Khe Sanh Combat Base (KSCB) on January 22, 1968. 
Their mission was to protect the southern perimeter of the 26th Marines 
(reinforced) at the KSCB.
   The 1st Platoon of A CO 1/9 (reinforced) was assigned a forward 
defensive position called the Alpha-1 outpost. The Alpha-1 outpost was 
a small hill named Hill 64 because of the 62 Marines, including Jerry, 
and two Navy Corpsmen, who were dug in at a defensive position. Hill 64 
was 60 meters long, 40 meters wide, and 20 meters in height. In other 
words, Hill 64 was shaped like a football with a perimeter of 
concertina wire, tangle-foot single strand barbed wire, and Claymore 
mines connected by integrated and concentric trenches with bunkers 
throughout, dug deep and lined with sand bags. The Hill 64 Marines dug 
and fortified their position for two weeks while the North Vietnamese 
Army (NVA) was frequently trying to kill them with artillery and sniper 
rounds. Somehow, these Marines survived with minimum water, food, 
sleep, and were exposed to the elements while surrounded by tens of 
thousands of NVA assault troops. Hill 64, manned by 64 young and brave 
Americans, was detached from any friendly forces, due to its location 
600 meters west of the 1/9 Command Post Perimeter and a mile from the 
KSCB in the middle of no-man's land.
   The NVA moved past Hill 64 for the attack at the KSCB with several 
NVA Divisions in the immediate area, or staged nearby. The NVA had been 
ferociously attacking other nearby bases, camps, and hills almost every 
day for weeks prior to the attack on Hill 64, in an effort to 
completely isolate the KSCB. At 4:15 a.m. on the foggy morning of 
February 8, 1968, the Battle for Hill 64 began with a barrage of 
mortars, recoilless rifles, satchel charges, RPGs, and automatic 
weapons, in a determined multi-pronged assault by a reinforced 
battalion from the 101D Regiment of the 325C NVA Division against the 
``Walking Dead'' platoon.
   The overwhelming attack by the NVA on the waiting 1st Platoon 
(reinforced) of A CO 1/9 Marines on Hill 64 is an example of some of 
the most brutal combat of the Vietnam War. These tenacious foes were 
locked in savage trench warfare, and often engaged in hand-to-hand 
combat. The 1st Platoon (reinforced) of A CO 1/9 Marines held against a 
numerically superior NVA force on Hill 64.
   From the USMC, 1/9 perimeter, Alpha Company Commander Captain 
``Mac'' Radcliffe bravely led twenty volunteers from 2 squads of the 
2nd Platoon A CO 1/9 to relieve his brave Marines on Hill 64, and 
systematically cleared all remaining NVA early on February 8, 1968. CPL 
Jerry Clark Burkhead was 21 years old as he and his ``Brother'' Marines 
fought for each other, Hill 64, A CO 1/9, the ``Walking Dead'', the 
KSCB, I Corps, the RVN, and America. Sadly, 28 brave Americans were 
killed in action that foggy morning. The Battle for Hill 64 was the 
last all-out attack by the NVA on the KSCB American and Allied Forces 
during the 77 day siege of the KSCB. All KSCB veterans from January 
20th to April 1, 1968 later received the Presidential Unit Citation for 
extraordinary heroism in action against the numerically superior NVA 
forces. Devotion to duty by A CO 1/9 Marines was exemplified during the 
Battle of Hill 64.
   Captain ``Mac'' Radcliffe said of those who fought in the Battle for 
Hill 64: ``There is a price for freedom, it is called obedience. 
Obedience to country, to the call it places upon its young men in war, 
and obedience to oneself. The men in this story paid that price, some 
with their very lives. We honor them with the memory of their 
sacrifice. May it never be forgotten?''

[[Page E106]]

   CPL Jerry Clark Burkhead, USMC, was posthumously awarded the Purple 
Heart, Presidential Unit Citation (January 20, 1968 to April 1, 1968), 
National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Tet 
Counteroffensive Campaign Bronze Battle Star (January 30, 1968 to April 
1, 1968), and the Vietnam Campaign Medal for his efforts and sacrifice 
during the Battle for Hill 64.
   Jerry: we miss you every day, love you every second, and mourn your 
passing while bravely and selflessly defending the freedom of people 
everywhere and these United States of America while so young and strong 
in life.

                          ____________________