HARPER, RALPH LEWIS

Name: Ralph Lewis Harper
Branch/Rank: United States Marine Corps/E3
Unit: HS/1/4 3 MAR DIV
MOS: 0341 = Mortarman
Date of Birth: 14 January 1948
Home City of Record: INDIANAPOLIS IN
Date of Loss: 06 June 1968
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 163436 North 1064534 East UTM: XD877334
Status (in 1973): Killed In Action/Body Not Recovered
Category: 5
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: CH46A 151940
Missions:

Other Personnel in Incident: Paul Burgard KIA; Kurt LaPlant, Luis
Palacios, Jose Sanchez all KIA/BNR

Refno: 1203

Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews and CACCF = Combined Action
Combat Casualty File. Information update with details from the Vietnam
Veterans Helicopter Pilots Association Historian, Gary Rousch.

REMARKS:

CACCF/CRASH/NON-AIRCREW/QUANG TRI Province/I Corps


Incident number: 68060610.KIA
Unit: CO D 1 BN 4 MAR 3 MARDIV
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
for Troop Extraction, Hot Area.
While on Landing Zone this helicopter was Climbing at unknown feet and
unknown knots in South Vietnam

A count of hits was not possible because the helicopter burned or exploded.

Casualties: 02 INJ, 05 DOI

Both mission and flight capability were terminated.

Summary: Helicopter was forced down by enemy small arms fire. The helicopter
made an emergency landing, crashed and rolled down a mountain. The aircraft
was destroyed by fire.

The crew consisited of BURGARD, PAUL E; Passengers: were:
LCP HARPER RALPH LEWIS, MC, PX, BNR; LCP LAPLANT KURT ELTON, MC, PX, BNR;
PFC SANCHEZ JOSE RAMON, MC, PX, BNR; LCP PALACIOS LUIS FERNANDO, MC, PX, BNR;
PFC BURGARD PAUL EDWARD, MC, PX, KIA;

LCP Ralph Lewis Harper's body was not recovered from an incident on 06/06/68
while performing the duty of Passenger. He was 20.4 years old at the time of
his death, and had been a Marine for only one year. His Wall location is
59W-004.

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