![]() From the USMC, 1/9 perimeter, Alpha Company Commander Captain ``Mac'' Radcliffe bravely led twenty volunteers from 2 squads of the 2nd Platoon A CO 1/9 to relieve his brave Marines on Hill 64, and systematically cleared all remaining NVA early on February 8, 1968. The 1st Platoon (reinforced) of A CO 1/9 Marines held against a numerically superior NVA force on Hill 64. These tenacious foes were locked in savage trench warfare, and often engaged in hand-to-hand combat. The overwhelming attack by the NVA on the waiting 1st Platoon (reinforced) of A CO 1/9 Marines on Hill 64 is an example of some of the most brutal combat of the Vietnam War. on the foggy morning of February 8, 1968, the Battle for Hill 64 began with a barrage of mortars, recoilless rifles, satchel charges, RPGs, and automatic weapons, in a determined multi-pronged assault by a reinforced battalion from the 101D Regiment of the 325C NVA Division against the ``Walking Dead'' platoon. ![]() The NVA had been ferociously attacking other nearby bases, camps, and hills almost every day for weeks prior to the attack on Hill 64, in an effort to completely isolate the KSCB. The NVA moved past Hill 64 for the attack at the KSCB with several NVA Divisions in the immediate area, or staged nearby. Hill 64, manned by 64 young and brave Americans, was detached from any friendly forces, due to its location 600 meters west of the 1/9 Command Post Perimeter and a mile from the KSCB in the middle of no-man's land. Somehow, these Marines survived with minimum water, food, sleep, and were exposed to the elements while surrounded by tens of thousands of NVA assault troops. The Hill 64 Marines dug and fortified their position for two weeks while the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) was frequently trying to kill them with artillery and sniper rounds. In other words, Hill 64 was shaped like a football with a perimeter of concertina wire, tangle-foot single strand barbed wire, and Claymore mines connected by integrated and concentric trenches with bunkers throughout, dug deep and lined with sand bags. Hill 64 was 60 meters long, 40 meters wide, and 20 meters in height. The Alpha-1 outpost was a small hill named Hill 64 because of the 62 Marines, including Jerry, and two Navy Corpsmen, who were dug in at a defensive position. ![]() The 1st Platoon of A CO 1/9 (reinforced) was assigned a forward defensive position called the Alpha-1 outpost. Their mission was to protect the southern perimeter of the 26th Marines (reinforced) at the KSCB. The 1/9, the ``Walking Dead'', were rapidly moved from Camp Evans and flown in by helicopter to the Khe Sanh Combat Base (KSCB) on January 22, 1968. CPL Jerry Burkhead was an M-60 Machine-Gun Squad Leader in Weapons Platoon reinforcing 1st Rifle Platoon of Alpha Company 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment (A CO 1/9) in I Corps, the ROV. This is the story of Corporal Jerry Burkhead and the brave Marines who fought for Hill 64 during the Vietnam War. On February 8, 1968, during the Tet Offensive by the North Vietnamese Army, Jerry was killed in action in Quang Tri, South Vietnam-officially the Republic of Vietnam (1955 to 1975). He joined the United States Marine Corps and deployed from Camp Pendleton, California to the Republic of Vietnam (ROV) in November 1967. He was a 1966 graduate of Parksley High School and a member of Zion Baptist Church. Jerry's large family was the center of his life and the source of his strong character and values. Burkhead and brother to Maxine Cherrix (Esley), Colleen Walker (Brice), Janet Williams (Alton), Shirley Johnson (Aaron), Virginia Burkhead, Judi Zimmerman (Doug), Edwyn (Winnie), Dumont (Peggy), Lindo (Pat), Joe (Shirley), and John Daniel (JD). Those who knew Jerry well lived fuller lives because of his presence in theirs. His family asked me to submit the following remarks: Corporal (CPL) Jerry Clark Burkhead, United States Marine Corps, will forever be remembered by family and friends for his caring heart, unwavering loyalty, mischievous nature, and wry sense of humor. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the family of the late Corporal Jerry Clark Burkhead, to commemorate the brave sacrifice of Corporal Burkhead and his fellow Marines who were lost in the Battle for Hill 64 on Februduring the Vietnam War.
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