On March 24, 1969, PFC Ronald L. Coker from Nebraska, was serving as Point Man for Second Platoon, Company M, 3/3 Marines, near the Quang Tri province.
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During a patrol, he encountered five enemy soldiers on a narrow jungle trail. After he wounded one of them, the squad pursued the rest into a cave. As the squad neared the cave, it came under intense hostile fire, seriously wounding one Marine and forcing the others to take cover.
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Observing the wounded man lying exposed to continuous enemy fire, Coker disregarded his own safety and moved across the fire-swept terrain toward his companion. Although wounded by enemy small arms fire, he ignored his injuries and continued to crawl across the hazardous area.
As he began to drag his injured comrade, a hostile grenade landed on the wounded Marine. Unhesitatingly, Coker grabbed the grenade with both hands and turned away from his wounded companion but, before he could dispose of the grenade it exploded. Severely wounded but undaunted, he continued to drag his brother. Two more enemy grenades exploded near him inflicting still further injuries.
Possessed only with the safety of his comrade, Coker, with supreme effort, continued to attempt to crawl and pull the wounded Marine with him. His heroic deeds inspired his fellow Marines to such aggressive action that the North Vietnamese fire was suppressed sufficiently to enable others to reach him and carrying him to a relatively safe area where he later succumbed to his extensive wounds.
For his actions and sacrifice, at the age of 21, PFC Coker was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. #brotherhood #hardcore #marines #semperfi #stayzero #zerofoxtrot