The story of the last Navy SEAL to die during the Viet Nam war was shrouded for nearly forty years in secrecy. His father, a retired Navy captain, spent his last years lobbying for the country to recognize his son’s sacrifice, but died before seeing justice done.
Separated in life, they now share a common grave in Arlington National Cemetery.
It started with a risky plan:
U.S. airmen being held as prisoners of war at the infamous prison known as the “Hanoi Hilton” began planning an escape, according to Proceedings. The prisoners planned to steal a boat and travel down the Red River to the Gulf of Tonkin.
When military officials got word of the escape plans through intelligence operations, they sent Navy SEAL Team One on a rescue mission called Operation Thunderhead.
(Lieutenant Melvin Spence) Dry commanded the team’s Platoon Alpha, which was assigned to carry out the mission. He and about a dozen other SEALs headed to sea aboard a submarine, the USS Grayback.
Once close enough to the coast, Dry and other SEALs were to head for a small island off the mouth of the Red River in a mini-submarine attached to the larger ship, establish an observation post and watch for the escaped prisoners, according to Proceedings.
The SEALs never made it to the island.
Read the rest. There’s no happy ending here, although it is a story of love and perseverance. And though there may no real gladness in a posthumous Bronze Star, there is a sense of honor, the satisfaction of justice being done, and a long wrong righted.
One hopes that there is at last peace in a small plot of Virginia earth.
no greater love.
be thou at peace.
You know, sometimes the military is really, really stupid when it comes to holding onto obsolete information.
Great story – Thanks.
A great story indeed…and difficult to get through. That we had and still have such men is of some comfort… RIP Lt Dry. Best