John Andrew Scarpinato
Lance Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps

When Lance Corporal John Andrew Scarpinato arrived in Vietnam on 25 June 1967, he was assigned to D Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.

On 7 June 1968 the 1st Bn, 26th Marines were conducting a sweep along the Bon Song River. Alpha 1/26 was providing a screening force along the river while Delta 1/26 was moving through the hills along the river. Charlie 1/26 was in echelon behind Delta, with the Command Group and H&S Company bringing up the rear. As Delta 1/26 crested a ridgeline they took fire from a trenchline. The company established a base of fire, flanked the trenchline, and forced the NVA to withdraw, but they didn't withdraw very far; a second set of fortifications lay only 50 yards behind the first. Charlie 1/26 sent help and Delta buckled down to assaulting the second trench line and once again forced the NVA from their lines. This action, though costly, was only a prelude. The NVA troops engaged by Delta 1/26 were a covering force for the NVA main body, which withdrew into the Alpha 1/26 position and were engaged by the Alpha 1/26 Marines in a bloody fight. During this battle, LCpl Scarpinato was killed in action when he sustained wounds from small arms fire. His body was recovered.

By the time the NVA escaped through the gap between Alpha's flank and the oncoming Delta Marines, 19 other Marines and 2 Sailors were also KIA:

A Company:

2ndLt Paul M. McGrath, Rye, NY
SSgt Donald M. Cuff, Wilmington, DE
Cpl George A. Essary, Chattanooga, TN
Cpl Jerome D. Kupperschmidt, Sandwich, IL
Cpl Gregory A. Shelley, Palisades Park, NJ
LCpl Edward L. Bradford, Westville, OK
LCpl Kevin M. Coyne, Silver Spring, MD
LCpl Michael W. Travis, Sweetser, IN
Pfc Michael P. Becker, Omaha, NE
Pfc Jerry N. Christman, Williams, AZ
Pfc Carl M. Middlebrooks, Baltimore, MD
Pfc Alton L. Staples, Cincinnati, OH
Pfc Ernest L. Wesley, Stockbridge, GA

C Company:

Cpl David E. Dixon, Miami, FL

D Company:

2ndLt Samuel J. Hannah, Reily, OH (Silver Star)
Sgt Thomas R. Cores, Del Rio, TX
Cpl Normand C. Deschaine, Lewiston, ME
Cpl Johnnie B. Espy, Montclair, NJ
LCpl David O. Auen, Blairsville, PA

H&S Company:

Medals and Awards

Purple Heart
Combat Action Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal

Honors

The name John A Scarpinato is located on Panel W59 Line 27 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.