Medal of Honor: Melvin Earl Newlin – Vietnam War – July 3–4, 1967

Name: Melvin Earl Newlin
Rank: Private First Class
Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
War: Vietnam War
Unit: Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force
Date of Action: July 3–4, 1967
Location: Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

On the night of 3–4 July 1967, Private First Class Melvin Earl Newlin was serving as a machine gunner attached to the 1st Platoon, Company F, defending the Nong Son outpost in Quang Nam Province.

Newlin and four fellow Marines occupied a key bunker along the defensive perimeter when the enemy launched a fierce and well-coordinated attack supported by mortars and infantry.

The opening bombardment seriously wounded Newlin and killed the four Marines fighting beside him.

Alone at his position, he propped himself against his machine gun and poured devastating fire into the advancing enemy.

Although repeatedly struck by small-arms fire, he drove back two determined assaults against his bunker.

During a third attack, an exploding grenade wounded him again and knocked him unconscious.

Believing him dead, the enemy bypassed his position and continued toward the main Marine defenses.

Moments later, Newlin regained consciousness.

Despite his severe wounds, he crawled back to his machine gun and opened fire into the rear of the advancing enemy force, creating confusion and inflicting heavy casualties.

He then observed enemy soldiers attempting to turn a captured 106mm recoilless rifle against other Marine positions.

Immediately shifting his fire, Newlin killed or wounded the enemy crew before they could bring the weapon into action.

He then redirected his machine gun against the main attacking force.

His relentless fire disrupted the assault so severely that the enemy abandoned their attack on the Marine bunkers and turned once again to eliminate his position.

Newlin successfully fought off two more assaults against his bunker before finally being mortally wounded.

His lone stand shattered the momentum of the enemy attack, buying the time needed for the remaining Marines to organize their defenses and repel the assault.

Private First Class Melvin Earl Newlin's extraordinary courage, determination, and selfless devotion to duty reflected the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

Medal of Honor Citation

NEWLIN, MELVIN EARL

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force.

Place and date: Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, 3–4 July 1967.

Entered service at: Cleveland, Ohio.

Born: 27 September 1948, Wellsville, Ohio.

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, 2nd Battalion, on 3 and 4 July 1967.

Private First Class Newlin, with four 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 four comrades.

Propping himself against his machine gun, 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, Private First Class 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 106mm 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 machine gun position.

Valiantly fighting off two more enemy assaults, he firmly held his ground until mortally wounded.

Private First Class 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 uphold the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.