photo #8410707

57 years ago, on July 4, 1968, Private First Class Melvin E. Newlin, age 20, served as a machine gunner with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. His unit was defending a forward outpost in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam. That night, under monsoon rain and poor visibility, a North Vietnamese Army force launched a coordinated, close-range assault against the Marine position using small arms, automatic weapons, mortars, and grenades. Newlin was posted at the edge of the perimeter, operating a machine gun in one of the most exposed sectors. When the enemy broke through the initial defensive line, they overran part of the position. A grenade exploded near Newlin’s post, seriously wounding him and throwing him from his weapon. He stayed in place and resumed firing. Despite his injuries, he continued to engage the attackers at close range, laying down suppressive fire that disrupted the momentum of the assault. A second grenade exploded inside his fighting hole, knocking him unconscious. Enemy forces moved past his position, assuming he had been killed. Newlin regained consciousness, reloaded his machine gun, and resumed firing into the enemy’s rear. His sudden return to action caught them by surprise. He inflicted further casualties and caused chaos among the attackers, slowing their advance. He was wounded again but continued to fire. His position then came under focused enemy fire. He was hit multiple times and killed while still manning his machine gun. His actions stalled the enemy advance and allowed other Marines in the outpost to regroup and mount an effective defense. Newlin’s refusal to leave his post, his persistence in returning to action after being wounded and knocked out, and his final stand played a key role in blunting the attack. Private First Class Melvin E. Newlin was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The award was presented to his family by President Richard Nixon on April 20, 1970. He is buried in Grandview Cemetery in Florence, Ohio.