In Memory

Gregg Gifford

Gregg Gifford

According to the Find A Grave database (Memorial #62004612):

Gregory Allen Gifford was born March 11, 1948 in Billings, Montana, and died February 8, 1968 in Tam Ky, Vietnam. He was a hospital Corpsman 3rd Class in the US Navy. (For further detail, see Gary Daniel's entry below.)

Greg was laid to rest in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Billings, Montana.



 
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10/26/15 10:05 PM #1    

Gary Daniel

Greg was with a Combined Action Group which lived with Viet Namese people and their soldiers in a hamlet near Da Nang.  Another similar hamlet was under attack by a major force.  Greg was a corpsman (Navy medic) attached to the Marines.  A Captain asked for volunteers to go help the other hamlet, and 16 volunteer Marines and Corpsman Gifford set out.  The 17 were heading into an overwhelming enemy force which quickly over-powered the 17.  Of the 17, two were captured, two escaped by various means, and twelve were killed.  One wounded, named Greeno, was unconcious for several minutes.  When he awoke among the dead, a young NVA soldier with an AK-47 motioned for him to lie down again and be still.  Later, Greeno recalled that the young NVA was the same kid from the hamlet that was often given candy by the Marines.  Greg left behind his future wife, Mary Maxfield (West 67), a brother, his mom and dad.  That was Feb. 8, 1968.  The wounded Marine, Greeno, gave statements later that pointed directly at the outstanding aid that Greg gave to the wounded and dying.  While wounded himself, Greg rendered aid, and before  long, it was all over.

The two captured Marines died in captivity.  One was Dennis Hammond, who has some links attached to his saga, which can lead to the story which I have paraphrased.  I thank Tom Brew for discovering the on-line information about the Marines and Greg while Tom was volunteering in Arizona on a project.

 


10/31/15 10:27 AM #2    

Stephen Wyard

"Giff" and I were close friends since early childhood.  The great times we had growing up are just too numerous for me to even recall.  I remember, when he and "Ike" joined up in the Navy's ealy program for high school students, my (and others) trying to convince them to stick with school.  To no avail.  They were determined to help our country the best way they knew how.  When Gregg was sent home after his first injuries and had the option not to return, he was even more convinced his services were needed, and he went back.  They eventually paid the ultimate price fighting for us, for a cause they felt justified their actions.  Some years later I searched and found his name on the Viet Nam memorial in Washington, DC.  I touched it and choked, tears welled up in my eyes, as they are now doing, again.


11/08/15 03:52 PM #3    

Don Lillis

As a former marine we always had the greatest respect for navy corpsman.  It was one of the toughest jobs in the military.


05/28/16 09:55 AM #4    

Tom Brew

Memorial Day is a time to remember our friends and family lost over the years.  Gif was a good friend with whom I had some great times in high school.  I was honored to serve as a pall bearer for him, but at 19, what a wake up call it was as to the fragility of life.  


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