Melvin Earl Newlin-Wellsville, OH
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 40° 36.276 W 080° 39.522
17T E 528874 N 4494921
Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient for action at Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam on July 4, 1967. He was killed in action. He is buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Wellsville, OH in Section 18, Lot 47.
Waymark Code: WMXRA8
Location: Ohio, United States
Date Posted: 02/18/2018
Views: 0
He was born on September 27, 1948 in Wellsville, OH and died on July 4, 1967 in Vietnam. His Medal of Honor information and citation is: *NEWLIN, MELVIN EARL
• Rank and Organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF
• Place and Date: Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, 4 July 1967
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machine gunner attached to the 1st Platoon, Company F, 2d Battalion, on 3 and 4 July 1967. Pfc. Newlin, with 4 other marines, was manning a key position on the perimeter of the Nong Son outpost when the enemy launched a savage and well coordinated mortar and infantry assault, seriously wounding him and killing his 4 comrades. Propping himself against his machinegun, he poured a deadly accurate stream of fire into the charging ranks of the Viet Cong. Though repeatedly hit by small-arms fire, he twice repelled enemy attempts to overrun his position. During the third attempt, a grenade explosion wounded him again and knocked him to the ground unconscious. The Viet Cong guerrillas, believing him dead, bypassed him and continued their assault on the main force. Meanwhile, Pfc. Newlin regained consciousness, crawled back to his weapon, and brought it to bear on the rear of the enemy, causing havoc and confusion among them. Spotting the enemy attempting to bring a captured 106 recoilless weapon to bear on other marine positions, he shifted his fire, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and preventing them from firing the captured weapon. He then shifted his fire back to the primary enemy force, causing the enemy to stop their assault on the marine bunkers and to once again attack his machinegun position. Valiantly fighting off 2 more enemy assaults, he firmly held his ground until mortally wounded. Pfc. Newlin had single-handedly broken up and disorganized the entire enemy assault force, causing them to lose momentum and delaying them long enough for his fellow marines to organize a defense and beat off their secondary attack. His indomitable courage, fortitude, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of almost certain death reflect great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps and upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
Armed Service: Marines
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