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Dalton’s
Fallen from the Vietnam War
MICHAEL
JAMES CASEY
Personal
Data:
Birth
Date:
August
25, 1944
Birth
Place:
Race:
Caucasian
Religion:
Roman
Catholic
U.S.
Citizen: Yes
Father’s
Name:
Mother’s
Name:
Sibling
Names:
Marital
Status:
Married
Wife’s
Name:
Offspring
Names:
Education:
Schools
Attended:
High
School Diploma:
Selective
Service Data:
SSS
Local Board Number:
SSS
Local Board Location:
SSS
Registration Date:
SSS
Registrant Description:
Military
Service Record:
Entry
Date:
Entry
Mode:
Entry
Location:
Home
of Record:
Dalton, Massachusetts
Service
Branch:
Marine
Corps
Service
Component:
Reserve
Rank:
Second
Lieutenant
Rank
Abbrev:
2LT
Pay
Grade:
O1
MOS:
0302
MOS
Title:
MOS
Background:
Awards
Received: click
here for Navy
Cross citation; research pending on other awards
Badges
Earned:
Posthumous
Promotion:
Length
of Service:
Southeast
Asia Tour Data:
Date
Tour Commenced: October
2, 1967
Major
Command:
1st
Marine Division
Land
Assignment:
Regiment:
1st
Marines
Battalion:
1st
Battalion
Company:
C Company
Casualty
Data:
Casualty
Date:
March
18, 1968
Casualty
Time:
Casualty
Age:
Casualty
Data 1: Hostile,
Died
Casualty
Data 2: Gun,
Small Arms Fire
Casualty
Data 3:
Ground
Casualty
Casualty
Province:
Thua
Thien
Casualty
Country:
South
Vietnam
Located
In Or Near:
Body
Recovered:
Yes
Burial/Memorial:
Burial
Location:
Burial
Plot Location:
Burial
Date:
Consigned
Funeral Home:
Military
Escort Name:
Dalton’s Fallen Casualty Order:
1st
Vietnam
Veterans Memorial Panel Number:
45E Line Number:
18
*Casey,
Michael J.
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)
Co. C, 1st Bn., 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division
Date of Action: March 18,
1968
Citation:
The Navy Cross is awarded to Second Lieutenant Michael J. Casey, United States
Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Platoon
Commander with Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division
(Reinforced), in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of
Vietnam. On the afternoon of 18 March 1968, during Operation FORT, Lieutenant
Casey's company was maneuvering across a large open area in Thua Thien Province.
Suddenly, the Marines came under intense automatic weapons, mortar, recoilless
rifle and antitank rocket fire from a well-concealed North Vietnamese Army
force. Reacting instantly, Lieutenant Casey rapidly deployed his men, ably
directing their fire and shouting words of encouragement to them. Realizing that
the forward elements of his platoon was dangerously low on ammunition and that
several wounded Marines were lying in an area exposed to the hostile fire, he
unhesitatingly ran across seventy meters of fire-swept terrain, distributing
weapons and ammunition. Picking up a wounded man, he ignored the enemy fire
impacting around him and carried the casualty to the platoon's defensive
perimeter. On two other occasions, he fearlessly exposed himself to distribute
urgently needed ammunition and to move wounded Marines to covered positions.
With complete disregard for his own safety, Lieutenant Casey stood in full view
of the enemy, while skillfully directing supporting arms fire and air strikes
against the enemy positions. When hostile snipers began firing from concealed
emplacements to the rear of his platoon, he again rose to his feet, attracting
the attention of the snipers and drawing their fire away from his men. While
pinpointing the enemy's positions, he was mortally wounded by a burst of
automatic weapons fire. His bold initiative and sincere concern for the welfare
of his comrades were an inspiration to all who served with him, and contributed
significantly to the accomplishment of his unit's mission. By his exceptional
courage, aggressive fighting spirit and selfless devotion to duty, Lieutenant
Casey 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.
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