February 5, 2005
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing on behalf of a fellow United States Marine who served with me in the Republic of Vietnam during the period of December 27, 1967 to January 29, 1969.
His name is;
Social Security Number: 147-XX-XXXX
Rank while in Vietnam: Lance Corporal, USMC
For most of the time that Lance Corporal (LCpl) Roy Stanford was in Vietnam, I was serving with him, including the fact that I was the Commanding Officer of the 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion, (Rein), 1st Marine Division, (Rein) and FPO San Francisco, California 96602. This battalion was located in the area of DaNang, Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam.
The mission of the 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion was in support of Marine Corps Units of the 1st Marine Division, as well the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. In addition LCpl. Roy Stanford’s Company, Bravo Company, 3rd Amphibian Tractor Company, provided direct support to the Marines from the Republic of Korea in the area of Hoi An.
An example of the operations that the 3rd Amphibian Tractor Battalion was engaged in is extracted from Command Chronology
Dated 1-30 September 1968
“During this period, the Battalion supported 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Battalion, 7thMarines, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines, the 5th Marines, 1st Engineer Battalion, Task Force X-ray and the Republic of Korea Marines. Technique of employment consisted of two platoons (+) to the ROK’s, a platoon (+) to 2/1, tfx, and the 5th Marines; a platoon to 1/7,3/7/and 3/27: and a section to 3/1,1/26/2/27/and 1st Engineers. Company “B”Command, Group (-) continued their role of direct support to the ROK’s at Hoi An.”
In addition to the heavy support provided to military units in the DaNang area, the Battalion was responsible for the Tactical Area of Responsibility in the area known as the Marble Mountains south east of DaNang.
This Battalion area required Marines patrols for a 24 hour period, each day. The population of the Vietnamese in this TAOR exceeded 6000 people. In addition there was a Leper Colony.
During the period of 1968-1969, the Battalion Contonment was engaged in operations that included 5 Battle Stars. It was involved with significant operations in the TOAR during the TET Offensive in January 1968. It was an intense area of daily combat and was involved in several major engagements against enemy forces of the Viet Cong and the North Vietnam Army; including VC/NVA Sapper units that penetrated the defenses of the Battalion Contonment.
As a Radio Operator with the 3rd Platoon of “Bravo” Company, LCpl. Roy Stanford was involved in daily combat activities against the Insurgent Communist (Viet Cong, North Vietnam Army) Forces.
His activities included assignments to combat foot patrols as a radio operator in the Battalion TAOR. He also participated with his Bravo Company Platoon as the radio operator on many tactical/combat missions. These include:
Operation “Eager Yankee” Thua The in Province
While serving with Bravo Company, in direct support of 2nd Republic of Korea, Marine Corps Brigade in combat operations against the VC/NVA’s.
Lance Corporal Roy Stanford’s combat record while serving with the 3rd Amphibian Tractor is worth of note. His involvement and contact against enemy forces is indicative and similar to Marines that suffer from severe combat stress and fatigue.
As his Battalion Commanding Officer during the example of Battalion Operations from the Command Chronology set forth above, I can testify as to the extent of combat operations that Roy Stanford was engaged in. His military service to the United States Marine Corps and to the United States of America are exemplary.
Respectfully submitted,
Roy Edward Stanford
465 Central Park West
Apartment #301
New York, NY 10025
Operation “Houston IV” Thua Thein Province
Operation “Swift Play/Allen Brook” Quang Nam Province
Operation “Mameluke Thrust” *
Operation “Dodge City”*
Operation “Talladega Canyon”*
Operation “Maui Peak”*
Operation “Sabine Draw”*
Operation “Daring Endeavor”*
Operation “Meade River”*
Operation “Taylor Common” *
Frank C. Chace, Colonel, USMC (Ret)
2800 North Flagler Dr.
West Palm Beach, Fl 33407