THREAD: Today is the 50th anniversary of the battle of Mutter's Ridge, where Marine 2nd Lt. Robert Mueller would receive the Bronze Star with Valor for his actions in combat. I told the story of Mueller's time at war earlier this year in WIRED: ... wired.com/story/robert-m…
1) It was less than a month into Mueller's tour in Vietnam, fighting with a maneuver battalion in Quang Tri Province along the DMZ, the home of some of the most intense combat the US would face in the entire Vietnam war.... wired.com/story/robert-m…
2) Mueller volunteered for the Marines after Princeton; at first medically unfit, he spent a year rehabbing injured knees before he entered OCS, then went onto Army Ranger School—a rare honor for a Marine—then Army Jump School .... wired.com/story/robert-m…
3) Finally, he deployed in November 1968—at 24 years and 3 months old—heading a platoon for Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, aka, the "Magnificent Bastards.".... wired.com/story/robert-m…
4) Mutter's Ridge was the unit's first major engagement during Mueller's deployment—and it would be the worst combat most of those Marines would see. I spoke to other men in the unit and they all recalled the precise date: 11 December.... wired.com/story/robert-m…
5) The day began with Fox Company trying to take Mutter's Ridge, one of the anonymous unmarked hills along the DMZ that the US would fight over for nearly the entire war.... wired.com/story/robert-m…
6) Fox was ambushed soon after breakfast, and Mueller's platoon sent forward as part of the rescue force. “Lieutenant Mueller called, ‘Saddle up, saddle up,’” Marine Willie Sparks told me. Mueller's platoon quickly came under heavy fire too.... wired.com/story/robert-m…
7) The firefight atop Mutter's Ridge would last nearly eight hours, as the Marines faced down some 200 North Vietnamese Army, many hidden away in a large bunker complex.... wired.com/story/robert-m…
8) Mueller's platoon took numerous casualties. As Marine VJ Maranto told me, “[Mueller] had remarkable composure, directing fire. It was sheer terror. They had RPGs, machine gun, mortars.” .... wired.com/story/robert-m…
9) Two Marines in Mueller's unit were killed: Cpl. Agustin Rosario and Lance Cpl. Robert W. Cromwell. Mueller himself rescued a third mortally wounded Marine: Johnny Liverman, wounded down below US lines along with another Marine, Willie Sparks. ... wired.com/story/robert-m…
10) As Sparks was lying on the ground, he heard a shout from atop the ridge, “Who’s that down there—are they dead?” It was Lieutenant Mueller. Sparks hollered back, “Sparks and Liverman.” “Hold on,” Mueller said, “We’re coming down to get you.” ... wired.com/story/robert-m…
11) "That day was the second heaviest fire I received in Vietnam,” Marine David Harris told me. “Lieutenant Mueller was directing traffic, positioning people and calling in air strikes. He was standing upright, moving. He probably saved our hide.” ... wired.com/story/robert-m…
12) His Bronze Star commendation read, “2nd Lt. Mueller’s courage, aggressive initiative & unwavering devotion to duty at great personal risk were instrumental in the defeat of the enemy... keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps.” / END wired.com/story/robert-m…
