Two Marines decorated for actions during Khe Sanh: 'If one of us earned it, all of us did'

Via LH

 

Bobby Moffatt and Joe Cordileone were privates first class when they advanced on Hill 881 South in Vietnam, on April 30, 1967. The Battle of Khe Sanh was their first firefight, and, they said, the worst day of their lives.

The two former Marines, now in their 60s, were honored Friday for their bravery in that battle: Cordileone was awarded the Silver Star and Moffatt the Bronze Star with V for combat valor.

Both said they were simply doing their jobs.

Company M, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, was advancing to secure the hill that day when they were attacked by a much larger force, according to the award citations. The hill turned into “a deadly killing zone,” and Cordileone’s platoon leader and every automatic and heavy weapon Marine was either killed or severely wounded.

Cordileone attacked several enemy fighters, and, when he realized enemy snipers were targeting the wounded Marines laying on the battlefield, he charged into the line of fire again and again to move them to safety.

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