Melvin E. Newlin

[Vulture6]

MELVIN EARL NEWLIN
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, USMC


Melvin Earl Newlin, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during July 1967 in Vietnam, was born 27 September 1948, in Wellsville, Ohio. He graduated from Wellsville High School, 6 June 1966.

On 18 July 1966, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at Cleveland, Ohio, and was ordered to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, where he received recruit training with the 1st Recruit Training Battalion. Upon graduation in September 1966, he was transferred to Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and underwent infantry training with the 2d Infantry Training Battalion, 1st Infantry Training Regiment, then completed weapons special training.

In October 1966, he was assigned duty as a machine gunner with Company F, 2d Battalion, 2d Marines, 2d Marine Division, at Camp Lejeune.

He was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam in March 1967, and joined the 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, and participated in numerous operations, including Operations New Castle, Mountain Goat, Union, and Calhoun. While serving as a machine gunner with the 1st Platoon in Quang Nam Province, he was mortally wounded on 4 July 1967. He had been promoted to private first class, 1 January 1967.

His medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnamese Military Merit Medal, the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Private First Class Newlin was survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph L. Newlin, three brothers, and two sisters.

Citation:For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machine gunner attached to the 1st Platoon, Company F, 2d Battalion, on 3 and 4 July 1967. Pfc. Newlin, with 4 other marines, was manning a key position on the perimeter of the Nong Son outpost when the enemy launched a savage and well coordinated mortar and infantry assault, seriously wounding him and killing his 4 comrades. Propping himself against his machine gun, he poured a deadly accurate stream of fire into the charging ranks of the Viet Cong. Though repeatedly hit by small-arms fire, he twice repelled enemy attempts to overrun his position. During the third attempt, a grenade explosion wounded him again and knocked him to the ground unconscious. The Viet Cong guerrillas, believing him dead, bypassed him and continued their assault on the main force. Meanwhile, Pfc. Newlin regained consciousness, crawled back to his weapon, and brought it to bear on the rear of the enemy causing havoc and confusion among them. Spotting the enemy attempting to bring a captured 106 recoilless weapon to bear on other marine positions, he shifted his fire, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and preventing them from firing the captured weapon. He then shifted his fire back to the primary enemy force, causing the enemy to stop their assault on the marine bunkers and to once again attack his machine gun position. Valiantly fighting off 2 more enemy assaults, he firmly held his ground until mortally wounded. Pfc. Newlin had singlehandedly broken up and disorganized the entire enemy assault force, causing them to lose momentum and delaying them long enough for his fellow marines to organize a defense and beat off their secondary attack. His indomitable courage, fortitude, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of almost certain death reflect great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.