Unrecovered Valor: The Story of CPL James M. Trimble and PFC Anthony J. Pepper at Khe Sanh

In the rugged hills of northwest Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, the Battle of Khe Sanh raged as one of the most intense and symbolic confrontations of the Vietnam War. Amidst this larger struggle, individual acts of courage and sacrifice unfolded—stories that have too often remained untold.

One such story belongs to Corporal James M. Trimble and Private Firs Class Anthony J. Pepper, two U.S. Marines whose bravery in combat has never been forgotten, despite their bodies never being recovered.

In April 1968, the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division was positioned at Hill 558, approximately two miles northwest of the embattled Khe Sanh Combat Base (KSCB). The battalion had held the position since January 16, working tirelessly to improve its defenses while repelling repeated North Vietnamese Army (NVA) attempts to break through to KSCB from the northwest.

As part of Operation Pegasus, the battalion’s mission was to keep enemy forces from infiltrating the combat base and to clear the NVA from Hill 700, a strategic saddle between Hills 881 and 861. Intelligence indicated that NVA forces might be using the high ridge west of Hill 558 as an observation and firing point. To confirm this, a long-range patrol was ordered for April 6, and Company G of 2/26 was assigned the dangerous reconnaissance task.

The company set out at 7:00 AM, reaching the ridge around 11:30 AM. One platoon was deployed in a line formation as the company cautiously moved toward the crest. Before they could secure the high ground, they made contact with a well-positioned NVA force, which unleashed a barrage of automatic weapons fire and grenades from a grassy overlook—fully visible from Khe Sanh.

During the intense firefight, two Marines—CPL Trimble and PFC Pepper—were seen taking cover in a bomb crater as the engagement escalated. Tragically, an enemy mortar round made a direct hit on the crater. Both men were believed to have been killed instantly. Under sustained fire, and with growing casualties, the unit was forced to withdraw around 6:00 PM, unable to recover the two fallen Marines.

The next day, a follow-up operation returned to the scene and successfully recovered the remains of eight Marines who had fallen during the battle. However, despite an extensive search of the crater and surrounding area, the remains of CPL Trimble and PFC Pepper could not be located. With no further leads, both men were officially listed as Killed in Action / Body Not Recovered (KIA/BNR).

Their case remained open for decades. On June 24, 1993, a joint American-Vietnamese recovery team, under the direction of the Joint Task Force for Full Accounting (JTFFA), revisited the area to search for evidence. Although no remains or personal effects were recovered at the site, enough information was gathered to warrant additional planned recovery efforts.

(2 Photos Larry Burrows TIME Magazine)