| Full Name | Bruce (Jerry) Brinke | Previous Duty Station | Echo Co. 2/27 |
| Service Branch | USMC | Location In Area | Platoon CP |
| Unit | 3rd Plt, Echo Co. 2/4 | Date Arrived In Area | 02/69 |
| Date Entered | 01/68 | Main Job In Area | Radioman |
| Date Discharged | 07/69 | Rank When There | L/Cpl |
| Highest Rank | Cpl | Date Left Proximity | 02/26/69 |
| MOS | 0311 | Next Duty Station | 109th Army Hospital, Japan |
| Boot Camp Location | PISC | Medals Received |
Note:
Living in Mruphy, NC and working for USPS.
I was Lt. Hunts radioman in 3rd platoon, E-2/4. As I recall he hadn't been in country but a couple of months. We had been running Ops along the DMZ prior to being sent to LZ Russell. The night of the 24th/morning25th, I was in platoon CP, as I recall all the LP's started indicating movement. I believe Hunt, Corpsman Woy, L/Cpl Minor, and possible another corpsman and myself were monitoring radio traffic. A short time later I heard mortars being tubed in the distance and the platoon CP took a direct hit right off. I believe the NVA were already inside the wire because shortly a satchel charge detonated inside the cp and another outside on the rightside looking up the hill. The first charge killed Lt. Hunt, wounded me as well as started the CP on fire. When I got my senses about me, I knew Lt. Hunt was KIA and assumed the others also, I attempted to get out of the CP. when L/Cpl Minor came up to help me. As we started out a gook was standing right next to us at which time he sprayed us with his AK, but by Gods good grace, only hit me once and Minor once. I can't tell you to this day why he or the others didn't finish me off, I do know the Lord allowed me to live for a reason. I never saw another Marine except Gunny Huck, until I made my way to the top at daylight. The one thing that will always stick in my mind is as I crawled up that hill, the body parts, don't guess I'll ever forget that.
Semper Fi, Jerry Brinke Cpl. USMC