In Loving Memory of ... LCPL. DANNY RAY BROTZ.
*** USMC S. Vietnam Vietnam BROTZ, DANNY RAY E3 NR 1967/04/30 1967/05/08 Recovered - 1/16/1974 DETROIT, MI
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in me, your brother, sisters and those who knew you and loved you. You will live on because we remember you!
DANNY RAY BROTZ - Marine Corps - LCPL - E3
Age: 20
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Jul 7, 1946
From: DETROIT, MI
Religion: PROTESTANT
Marital Status: Single - Parents: Father, Russell F. Brotz of Detroit, Mich., Born May 16, 1902 and Died Dec. 1978 in Detroit, MI.at the age of 76 yrs old and Mother, Lorene Fisk Brotz also of Detroit, Born est. 1914 in Kentucky, now living in Michigan, Married July 1, 1941.
* Paternal Grandparents, Valentine Brotz and Annie/Anna Schuster Brotz.
* Maternal Grandparents, James W. Parker and Nancy York Parker.
***** You were very special to me. I miss you and wish you were here hunny. You would of been 68 years old with me now, but everyday i think of you. I love you Danny Ray, forever. I hope you wait for me, when it's my time to come up there in that big blue sky, where the light shines brightly. So, Danny, I hope the life that you lived, you lived with your heart. You lived free and full. I know the memories you gave me, I won't ever forget. Down here in Madison Heights it's getting lonley. You see, I moved when you died. Detroit has gotten very ruff now and I couldn't let our two children live there. I hope you won't be mad. As I leave this remembrance, I bid you fair well for now. It's not a permanent goodbye, I will always talk to you through my heart. I can replace you and have never found a man like you yet, so i'm still a widow...Now the time has come that we all must part, but forever I will remember, my sweet husband.
Marie Brontz
***** United States Census, 1920
Name: Valentine Brotz
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1920
Event Place: Detroit Ward 19, Wayne, Michigan, US
Gender: Male
Age: 61
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Own or Rent: Rent
Birth Year (Estimated): 1859
Birthplace: New York
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Valentine Brotz Head M 61 New York - GRANDFATHER
Anna Brotz Wife F 59 New York - GRANDMOTHER
Helen Johnston Daughter F 24 Michigan
Clarence Brotz Son M 19 Michigan
Russell Brotz Son M 17 Michigan – YOUR DADDY
Walter Johnston Son-in-law M 24 Michigan
Virginia Johnston Granddaughter F 0 Michigan
***** ( Photo ) - The picture I sent of CPL Joseph Mieczkowski was taken from a Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division (Kilo 3/9/3) platoon photo that I have. I have all my brother marines' photos done the same way. I served in Kilo 3/9/3 with Joe. His name is on the Kilo 3/9 honor Roll and is one of my fallen brothers. I had that picture in my "Kilo folder". We, the brothers of kilo, have been sending them to several sites in memory of our brothers.
-- Robert Chiominto, LCPL, Kilo Co, March 1967 to April 1968, 09/24/2012
***** Danny, as a little boy I remember idolizing you on the baseball field. I remember you could throw the ball left handed as well as right. A great player. I ended up in Viet nam a few years later. We lived on the east side of Detroit.
RIP MY FRIEND
RICHARD NAHAS
LCPL - E3 - Marine Corps - Selective Service
Length of service 1 years
Casualty was on Apr 30, 1967
In QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
Body was recovered
Panel 18E - Line 119
Other Personnel in Incident: The 16 Kilo Company marines killed on 30 April 1967 in their part of the "Hills Fight" are:
LCPL Edwin Aponte Newark NJ
LCPL John Burdette Appleton Louisville KY
PFC William Russell Beller Salina KS
LCPL Danny Ray Brotz Detroit MI
LCPL George Andrew Cervantes Redlands CA
CPL Thomas George Graff North Olmsted OH
2LT Stephen Thomas Hepner Glendale AZ
PFC Richard Hernandez San Antonio TX
CPL Timothy James Ives Colorado Springs CO
CPL Antonio Mendoza Biola CA
CPL Joseph Mieczkowski Philadelphia PA
LCPL Alexandro Nevarez Stockton CA
LCPL Freddie Richard Pitts Fort Walton Beach FL
LCPL James Edward Priebe Cleveland OH
LCPL Gordon Edward Stoudt Allentown PA
1LT John Braxton Woodall East Alton IL
In early April 1967 the North Vietnamese Army's 325C Division (18th, 95th, and 101st Regiments) moved through Laos and positioned itself to capture the combat base at Khe Sanh. By 25 April the 18th Regiment had emplaced itself on Hill 861, one of three hills which controlled key terrain around Khe Sanh. The 3rd Marine Division commander determined that the three hills had to be denied to the enemy.
After heavy fighting, the Marines captured Hill 661, decimating the 18th Regiment, and turned toward Hills 881 North and 881 South, defended by the NVA 95th Regiment.
The initial assault on Hill 881 South was made by elements of the 3rd and 9th Marines on 30 April and was not successful - the enemy was well entrenched on the crest of the steep hill and vigorously resisted the Marine advance. By nightfall, the Marines withdrew from the hill, having lost 44 men from Kilo 3/9 and Mike 3/3, with well over a hundred wounded. Hill 881 South was subjected to heavy supporting arms fire on 01 May and captured on 02 May.
Mike 3/3 had led the assault. According to Murphy's The Hill Fights, Mike 3/3 started the day with 161 men on their rolls. At day's end, they had 80 - 25 dead had been brought out, 54 were wounded, and 2 were missing in action, an accounting which is supported by the 3/3 Command Chronologies for April and May 1967.
There actually were three missing Marines:
Sergeant Milton E. Prescott, who had disappeared and was not found after the hill was secured. His remains were recovered in September 1971 and he was buried in Willow Springs, Illinois, on 23 Sep 1971.
Lance Corporal Danny R. Brotz, a rifleman with Kilo 3/9. LCpl Brotz's remains were found on 31 May 1967, but were not identified until 16 January 1974 - more than two years after Sergeant Prescott was brought home to his family.
The 2nd Platoon's point man, Pfc Randy N. McPhee, who was killed by grenades just as 2nd Platoon entered the battle. Although he was known dead, his body was not recovered during the withdrawal, nor could he be located after Hill 881S was secured. His remains have not been recovered.
Mike 3/3's dead were
2ndLt Joseph R. Mitchell, Alexander City, AL (Bronze Star "V")
SSgt Karol R. Bauer, Philadelphia, PA
SSgt John V. Chutis, Elizabeth, PA
Sgt Milton E. Prescott, Blue Island, IL
Cpl Bobby J. Ard, Tupelo, MS
Cpl William D. Early, Akron, OH
Cpl Douglas P. Hallock, Schenectady, NY
Cpl James Mines, New Brunswick, NJ
Cpl Robert J. Schley, Oregon, WI (Navy Cross)
Cpl Larry M. Smith, Martinsville, IN
LCpl Michael I. Colley, Birmingham, AL
LCpl Robert J. Kotik, Mc Kees Rocks, PA
LCpl Michael R. Morgan, Bethpage, NY (Silver Star)
LCpl Francis M. Palma, Philadelphia, PA
LCpl Peter Mazzillo, Avenel, NJ
LCpl Frank T. Roth, Philadelphia, PA
LCpl Marvin A. Schafer, Butler, KY
Pfc James A. Randall, Somerville, AL
LCpl Charles Shiver, Wichita Falls, TX
LCpl James H. Whisenhunt, Crescent City, CA (Silver Star)
Pfc George B. Byrd, Orlando, FL
Pfc Charles H. Duty, Bluff City, TN
Pfc Jerry W. Hood, Cincinnati, OH
Pfc Randy N. McPhee, Long Beach, CA (Body not recovered)
Pfc Peter R. Ommen, Central City, SD
Pfc Ricky G. Smith, Gadsden, AL
Pfc Dorsey B. Williams, Johnson City, TN
**************************************************
.
*** USMC S. Vietnam Vietnam BROTZ, DANNY RAY E3 NR 1967/04/30 1967/05/08 Recovered - 1/16/1974 DETROIT, MI
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in me, your brother, sisters and those who knew you and loved you. You will live on because we remember you!
DANNY RAY BROTZ - Marine Corps - LCPL - E3
Age: 20
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Jul 7, 1946
From: DETROIT, MI
Religion: PROTESTANT
Marital Status: Single - Parents: Father, Russell F. Brotz of Detroit, Mich., Born May 16, 1902 and Died Dec. 1978 in Detroit, MI.at the age of 76 yrs old and Mother, Lorene Fisk Brotz also of Detroit, Born est. 1914 in Kentucky, now living in Michigan, Married July 1, 1941.
* Paternal Grandparents, Valentine Brotz and Annie/Anna Schuster Brotz.
* Maternal Grandparents, James W. Parker and Nancy York Parker.
***** You were very special to me. I miss you and wish you were here hunny. You would of been 68 years old with me now, but everyday i think of you. I love you Danny Ray, forever. I hope you wait for me, when it's my time to come up there in that big blue sky, where the light shines brightly. So, Danny, I hope the life that you lived, you lived with your heart. You lived free and full. I know the memories you gave me, I won't ever forget. Down here in Madison Heights it's getting lonley. You see, I moved when you died. Detroit has gotten very ruff now and I couldn't let our two children live there. I hope you won't be mad. As I leave this remembrance, I bid you fair well for now. It's not a permanent goodbye, I will always talk to you through my heart. I can replace you and have never found a man like you yet, so i'm still a widow...Now the time has come that we all must part, but forever I will remember, my sweet husband.
Marie Brontz
***** United States Census, 1920
Name: Valentine Brotz
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1920
Event Place: Detroit Ward 19, Wayne, Michigan, US
Gender: Male
Age: 61
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Own or Rent: Rent
Birth Year (Estimated): 1859
Birthplace: New York
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Valentine Brotz Head M 61 New York - GRANDFATHER
Anna Brotz Wife F 59 New York - GRANDMOTHER
Helen Johnston Daughter F 24 Michigan
Clarence Brotz Son M 19 Michigan
Russell Brotz Son M 17 Michigan – YOUR DADDY
Walter Johnston Son-in-law M 24 Michigan
Virginia Johnston Granddaughter F 0 Michigan
***** ( Photo ) - The picture I sent of CPL Joseph Mieczkowski was taken from a Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division (Kilo 3/9/3) platoon photo that I have. I have all my brother marines' photos done the same way. I served in Kilo 3/9/3 with Joe. His name is on the Kilo 3/9 honor Roll and is one of my fallen brothers. I had that picture in my "Kilo folder". We, the brothers of kilo, have been sending them to several sites in memory of our brothers.
-- Robert Chiominto, LCPL, Kilo Co, March 1967 to April 1968, 09/24/2012
***** Danny, as a little boy I remember idolizing you on the baseball field. I remember you could throw the ball left handed as well as right. A great player. I ended up in Viet nam a few years later. We lived on the east side of Detroit.
RIP MY FRIEND
RICHARD NAHAS
LCPL - E3 - Marine Corps - Selective Service
Length of service 1 years
Casualty was on Apr 30, 1967
In QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
Body was recovered
Panel 18E - Line 119
Other Personnel in Incident: The 16 Kilo Company marines killed on 30 April 1967 in their part of the "Hills Fight" are:
LCPL Edwin Aponte Newark NJ
LCPL John Burdette Appleton Louisville KY
PFC William Russell Beller Salina KS
LCPL Danny Ray Brotz Detroit MI
LCPL George Andrew Cervantes Redlands CA
CPL Thomas George Graff North Olmsted OH
2LT Stephen Thomas Hepner Glendale AZ
PFC Richard Hernandez San Antonio TX
CPL Timothy James Ives Colorado Springs CO
CPL Antonio Mendoza Biola CA
CPL Joseph Mieczkowski Philadelphia PA
LCPL Alexandro Nevarez Stockton CA
LCPL Freddie Richard Pitts Fort Walton Beach FL
LCPL James Edward Priebe Cleveland OH
LCPL Gordon Edward Stoudt Allentown PA
1LT John Braxton Woodall East Alton IL
In early April 1967 the North Vietnamese Army's 325C Division (18th, 95th, and 101st Regiments) moved through Laos and positioned itself to capture the combat base at Khe Sanh. By 25 April the 18th Regiment had emplaced itself on Hill 861, one of three hills which controlled key terrain around Khe Sanh. The 3rd Marine Division commander determined that the three hills had to be denied to the enemy.
After heavy fighting, the Marines captured Hill 661, decimating the 18th Regiment, and turned toward Hills 881 North and 881 South, defended by the NVA 95th Regiment.
The initial assault on Hill 881 South was made by elements of the 3rd and 9th Marines on 30 April and was not successful - the enemy was well entrenched on the crest of the steep hill and vigorously resisted the Marine advance. By nightfall, the Marines withdrew from the hill, having lost 44 men from Kilo 3/9 and Mike 3/3, with well over a hundred wounded. Hill 881 South was subjected to heavy supporting arms fire on 01 May and captured on 02 May.
Mike 3/3 had led the assault. According to Murphy's The Hill Fights, Mike 3/3 started the day with 161 men on their rolls. At day's end, they had 80 - 25 dead had been brought out, 54 were wounded, and 2 were missing in action, an accounting which is supported by the 3/3 Command Chronologies for April and May 1967.
There actually were three missing Marines:
Sergeant Milton E. Prescott, who had disappeared and was not found after the hill was secured. His remains were recovered in September 1971 and he was buried in Willow Springs, Illinois, on 23 Sep 1971.
Lance Corporal Danny R. Brotz, a rifleman with Kilo 3/9. LCpl Brotz's remains were found on 31 May 1967, but were not identified until 16 January 1974 - more than two years after Sergeant Prescott was brought home to his family.
The 2nd Platoon's point man, Pfc Randy N. McPhee, who was killed by grenades just as 2nd Platoon entered the battle. Although he was known dead, his body was not recovered during the withdrawal, nor could he be located after Hill 881S was secured. His remains have not been recovered.
Mike 3/3's dead were
2ndLt Joseph R. Mitchell, Alexander City, AL (Bronze Star "V")
SSgt Karol R. Bauer, Philadelphia, PA
SSgt John V. Chutis, Elizabeth, PA
Sgt Milton E. Prescott, Blue Island, IL
Cpl Bobby J. Ard, Tupelo, MS
Cpl William D. Early, Akron, OH
Cpl Douglas P. Hallock, Schenectady, NY
Cpl James Mines, New Brunswick, NJ
Cpl Robert J. Schley, Oregon, WI (Navy Cross)
Cpl Larry M. Smith, Martinsville, IN
LCpl Michael I. Colley, Birmingham, AL
LCpl Robert J. Kotik, Mc Kees Rocks, PA
LCpl Michael R. Morgan, Bethpage, NY (Silver Star)
LCpl Francis M. Palma, Philadelphia, PA
LCpl Peter Mazzillo, Avenel, NJ
LCpl Frank T. Roth, Philadelphia, PA
LCpl Marvin A. Schafer, Butler, KY
Pfc James A. Randall, Somerville, AL
LCpl Charles Shiver, Wichita Falls, TX
LCpl James H. Whisenhunt, Crescent City, CA (Silver Star)
Pfc George B. Byrd, Orlando, FL
Pfc Charles H. Duty, Bluff City, TN
Pfc Jerry W. Hood, Cincinnati, OH
Pfc Randy N. McPhee, Long Beach, CA (Body not recovered)
Pfc Peter R. Ommen, Central City, SD
Pfc Ricky G. Smith, Gadsden, AL
Pfc Dorsey B. Williams, Johnson City, TN
**************************************************
.
In Loving Memory of ... LCPL. DANNY RAY BROTZ.
*** USMC S. Vietnam Vietnam BROTZ, DANNY RAY E3 NR 1967/04/30 1967/05/08 Recovered - 1/16/1974 DETROIT, MI
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in me, your brother, sisters and those who knew you and loved you. You will live on because we remember you!
DANNY RAY BROTZ - Marine Corps - LCPL - E3
Age: 20
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Jul 7, 1946
From: DETROIT, MI
Religion: PROTESTANT
Marital Status: Single - Parents: Father, Russell F. Brotz of Detroit, Mich., Born May 16, 1902 and Died Dec. 1978 in Detroit, MI.at the age of 76 yrs old and Mother, Lorene Fisk Brotz also of Detroit, Born est. 1914 in Kentucky, now living in Michigan, Married July 1, 1941.
* Paternal Grandparents, Valentine Brotz and Annie/Anna Schuster Brotz.
* Maternal Grandparents, James W. Parker and Nancy York Parker.
***** You were very special to me. I miss you and wish you were here hunny. You would of been 68 years old with me now, but everyday i think of you. I love you Danny Ray, forever. I hope you wait for me, when it's my time to come up there in that big blue sky, where the light shines brightly. So, Danny, I hope the life that you lived, you lived with your heart. You lived free and full. I know the memories you gave me, I won't ever forget. Down here in Madison Heights it's getting lonley. You see, I moved when you died. Detroit has gotten very ruff now and I couldn't let our two children live there. I hope you won't be mad. As I leave this remembrance, I bid you fair well for now. It's not a permanent goodbye, I will always talk to you through my heart. I can replace you and have never found a man like you yet, so i'm still a widow...Now the time has come that we all must part, but forever I will remember, my sweet husband.
Marie Brontz
***** United States Census, 1920
Name: Valentine Brotz
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1920
Event Place: Detroit Ward 19, Wayne, Michigan, US
Gender: Male
Age: 61
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Own or Rent: Rent
Birth Year (Estimated): 1859
Birthplace: New York
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Valentine Brotz Head M 61 New York - GRANDFATHER
Anna Brotz Wife F 59 New York - GRANDMOTHER
Helen Johnston Daughter F 24 Michigan
Clarence Brotz Son M 19 Michigan
Russell Brotz Son M 17 Michigan – YOUR DADDY
Walter Johnston Son-in-law M 24 Michigan
Virginia Johnston Granddaughter F 0 Michigan
***** ( Photo ) - The picture I sent of CPL Joseph Mieczkowski was taken from a Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division (Kilo 3/9/3) platoon photo that I have. I have all my brother marines' photos done the same way. I served in Kilo 3/9/3 with Joe. His name is on the Kilo 3/9 honor Roll and is one of my fallen brothers. I had that picture in my "Kilo folder". We, the brothers of kilo, have been sending them to several sites in memory of our brothers.
-- Robert Chiominto, LCPL, Kilo Co, March 1967 to April 1968, 09/24/2012
***** Danny, as a little boy I remember idolizing you on the baseball field. I remember you could throw the ball left handed as well as right. A great player. I ended up in Viet nam a few years later. We lived on the east side of Detroit.
RIP MY FRIEND
RICHARD NAHAS
LCPL - E3 - Marine Corps - Selective Service
Length of service 1 years
Casualty was on Apr 30, 1967
In QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
Body was recovered
Panel 18E - Line 119
Other Personnel in Incident: The 16 Kilo Company marines killed on 30 April 1967 in their part of the "Hills Fight" are:
LCPL Edwin Aponte Newark NJ
LCPL John Burdette Appleton Louisville KY
PFC William Russell Beller Salina KS
LCPL Danny Ray Brotz Detroit MI
LCPL George Andrew Cervantes Redlands CA
CPL Thomas George Graff North Olmsted OH
2LT Stephen Thomas Hepner Glendale AZ
PFC Richard Hernandez San Antonio TX
CPL Timothy James Ives Colorado Springs CO
CPL Antonio Mendoza Biola CA
CPL Joseph Mieczkowski Philadelphia PA
LCPL Alexandro Nevarez Stockton CA
LCPL Freddie Richard Pitts Fort Walton Beach FL
LCPL James Edward Priebe Cleveland OH
LCPL Gordon Edward Stoudt Allentown PA
1LT John Braxton Woodall East Alton IL
In early April 1967 the North Vietnamese Army's 325C Division (18th, 95th, and 101st Regiments) moved through Laos and positioned itself to capture the combat base at Khe Sanh. By 25 April the 18th Regiment had emplaced itself on Hill 861, one of three hills which controlled key terrain around Khe Sanh. The 3rd Marine Division commander determined that the three hills had to be denied to the enemy.
After heavy fighting, the Marines captured Hill 661, decimating the 18th Regiment, and turned toward Hills 881 North and 881 South, defended by the NVA 95th Regiment.
The initial assault on Hill 881 South was made by elements of the 3rd and 9th Marines on 30 April and was not successful - the enemy was well entrenched on the crest of the steep hill and vigorously resisted the Marine advance. By nightfall, the Marines withdrew from the hill, having lost 44 men from Kilo 3/9 and Mike 3/3, with well over a hundred wounded. Hill 881 South was subjected to heavy supporting arms fire on 01 May and captured on 02 May.
Mike 3/3 had led the assault. According to Murphy's The Hill Fights, Mike 3/3 started the day with 161 men on their rolls. At day's end, they had 80 - 25 dead had been brought out, 54 were wounded, and 2 were missing in action, an accounting which is supported by the 3/3 Command Chronologies for April and May 1967.
There actually were three missing Marines:
Sergeant Milton E. Prescott, who had disappeared and was not found after the hill was secured. His remains were recovered in September 1971 and he was buried in Willow Springs, Illinois, on 23 Sep 1971.
Lance Corporal Danny R. Brotz, a rifleman with Kilo 3/9. LCpl Brotz's remains were found on 31 May 1967, but were not identified until 16 January 1974 - more than two years after Sergeant Prescott was brought home to his family.
The 2nd Platoon's point man, Pfc Randy N. McPhee, who was killed by grenades just as 2nd Platoon entered the battle. Although he was known dead, his body was not recovered during the withdrawal, nor could he be located after Hill 881S was secured. His remains have not been recovered.
Mike 3/3's dead were
2ndLt Joseph R. Mitchell, Alexander City, AL (Bronze Star "V")
SSgt Karol R. Bauer, Philadelphia, PA
SSgt John V. Chutis, Elizabeth, PA
Sgt Milton E. Prescott, Blue Island, IL
Cpl Bobby J. Ard, Tupelo, MS
Cpl William D. Early, Akron, OH
Cpl Douglas P. Hallock, Schenectady, NY
Cpl James Mines, New Brunswick, NJ
Cpl Robert J. Schley, Oregon, WI (Navy Cross)
Cpl Larry M. Smith, Martinsville, IN
LCpl Michael I. Colley, Birmingham, AL
LCpl Robert J. Kotik, Mc Kees Rocks, PA
LCpl Michael R. Morgan, Bethpage, NY (Silver Star)
LCpl Francis M. Palma, Philadelphia, PA
LCpl Peter Mazzillo, Avenel, NJ
LCpl Frank T. Roth, Philadelphia, PA
LCpl Marvin A. Schafer, Butler, KY
Pfc James A. Randall, Somerville, AL
LCpl Charles Shiver, Wichita Falls, TX
LCpl James H. Whisenhunt, Crescent City, CA (Silver Star)
Pfc George B. Byrd, Orlando, FL
Pfc Charles H. Duty, Bluff City, TN
Pfc Jerry W. Hood, Cincinnati, OH
Pfc Randy N. McPhee, Long Beach, CA (Body not recovered)
Pfc Peter R. Ommen, Central City, SD
Pfc Ricky G. Smith, Gadsden, AL
Pfc Dorsey B. Williams, Johnson City, TN
**************************************************
.
*** USMC S. Vietnam Vietnam BROTZ, DANNY RAY E3 NR 1967/04/30 1967/05/08 Recovered - 1/16/1974 DETROIT, MI
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in me, your brother, sisters and those who knew you and loved you. You will live on because we remember you!
DANNY RAY BROTZ - Marine Corps - LCPL - E3
Age: 20
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Jul 7, 1946
From: DETROIT, MI
Religion: PROTESTANT
Marital Status: Single - Parents: Father, Russell F. Brotz of Detroit, Mich., Born May 16, 1902 and Died Dec. 1978 in Detroit, MI.at the age of 76 yrs old and Mother, Lorene Fisk Brotz also of Detroit, Born est. 1914 in Kentucky, now living in Michigan, Married July 1, 1941.
* Paternal Grandparents, Valentine Brotz and Annie/Anna Schuster Brotz.
* Maternal Grandparents, James W. Parker and Nancy York Parker.
***** You were very special to me. I miss you and wish you were here hunny. You would of been 68 years old with me now, but everyday i think of you. I love you Danny Ray, forever. I hope you wait for me, when it's my time to come up there in that big blue sky, where the light shines brightly. So, Danny, I hope the life that you lived, you lived with your heart. You lived free and full. I know the memories you gave me, I won't ever forget. Down here in Madison Heights it's getting lonley. You see, I moved when you died. Detroit has gotten very ruff now and I couldn't let our two children live there. I hope you won't be mad. As I leave this remembrance, I bid you fair well for now. It's not a permanent goodbye, I will always talk to you through my heart. I can replace you and have never found a man like you yet, so i'm still a widow...Now the time has come that we all must part, but forever I will remember, my sweet husband.
Marie Brontz
***** United States Census, 1920
Name: Valentine Brotz
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1920
Event Place: Detroit Ward 19, Wayne, Michigan, US
Gender: Male
Age: 61
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Own or Rent: Rent
Birth Year (Estimated): 1859
Birthplace: New York
Father's Birthplace: Germany
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Valentine Brotz Head M 61 New York - GRANDFATHER
Anna Brotz Wife F 59 New York - GRANDMOTHER
Helen Johnston Daughter F 24 Michigan
Clarence Brotz Son M 19 Michigan
Russell Brotz Son M 17 Michigan – YOUR DADDY
Walter Johnston Son-in-law M 24 Michigan
Virginia Johnston Granddaughter F 0 Michigan
***** ( Photo ) - The picture I sent of CPL Joseph Mieczkowski was taken from a Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division (Kilo 3/9/3) platoon photo that I have. I have all my brother marines' photos done the same way. I served in Kilo 3/9/3 with Joe. His name is on the Kilo 3/9 honor Roll and is one of my fallen brothers. I had that picture in my "Kilo folder". We, the brothers of kilo, have been sending them to several sites in memory of our brothers.
-- Robert Chiominto, LCPL, Kilo Co, March 1967 to April 1968, 09/24/2012
***** Danny, as a little boy I remember idolizing you on the baseball field. I remember you could throw the ball left handed as well as right. A great player. I ended up in Viet nam a few years later. We lived on the east side of Detroit.
RIP MY FRIEND
RICHARD NAHAS
LCPL - E3 - Marine Corps - Selective Service
Length of service 1 years
Casualty was on Apr 30, 1967
In QUANG TRI, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
Body was recovered
Panel 18E - Line 119
Other Personnel in Incident: The 16 Kilo Company marines killed on 30 April 1967 in their part of the "Hills Fight" are:
LCPL Edwin Aponte Newark NJ
LCPL John Burdette Appleton Louisville KY
PFC William Russell Beller Salina KS
LCPL Danny Ray Brotz Detroit MI
LCPL George Andrew Cervantes Redlands CA
CPL Thomas George Graff North Olmsted OH
2LT Stephen Thomas Hepner Glendale AZ
PFC Richard Hernandez San Antonio TX
CPL Timothy James Ives Colorado Springs CO
CPL Antonio Mendoza Biola CA
CPL Joseph Mieczkowski Philadelphia PA
LCPL Alexandro Nevarez Stockton CA
LCPL Freddie Richard Pitts Fort Walton Beach FL
LCPL James Edward Priebe Cleveland OH
LCPL Gordon Edward Stoudt Allentown PA
1LT John Braxton Woodall East Alton IL
In early April 1967 the North Vietnamese Army's 325C Division (18th, 95th, and 101st Regiments) moved through Laos and positioned itself to capture the combat base at Khe Sanh. By 25 April the 18th Regiment had emplaced itself on Hill 861, one of three hills which controlled key terrain around Khe Sanh. The 3rd Marine Division commander determined that the three hills had to be denied to the enemy.
After heavy fighting, the Marines captured Hill 661, decimating the 18th Regiment, and turned toward Hills 881 North and 881 South, defended by the NVA 95th Regiment.
The initial assault on Hill 881 South was made by elements of the 3rd and 9th Marines on 30 April and was not successful - the enemy was well entrenched on the crest of the steep hill and vigorously resisted the Marine advance. By nightfall, the Marines withdrew from the hill, having lost 44 men from Kilo 3/9 and Mike 3/3, with well over a hundred wounded. Hill 881 South was subjected to heavy supporting arms fire on 01 May and captured on 02 May.
Mike 3/3 had led the assault. According to Murphy's The Hill Fights, Mike 3/3 started the day with 161 men on their rolls. At day's end, they had 80 - 25 dead had been brought out, 54 were wounded, and 2 were missing in action, an accounting which is supported by the 3/3 Command Chronologies for April and May 1967.
There actually were three missing Marines:
Sergeant Milton E. Prescott, who had disappeared and was not found after the hill was secured. His remains were recovered in September 1971 and he was buried in Willow Springs, Illinois, on 23 Sep 1971.
Lance Corporal Danny R. Brotz, a rifleman with Kilo 3/9. LCpl Brotz's remains were found on 31 May 1967, but were not identified until 16 January 1974 - more than two years after Sergeant Prescott was brought home to his family.
The 2nd Platoon's point man, Pfc Randy N. McPhee, who was killed by grenades just as 2nd Platoon entered the battle. Although he was known dead, his body was not recovered during the withdrawal, nor could he be located after Hill 881S was secured. His remains have not been recovered.
Mike 3/3's dead were
2ndLt Joseph R. Mitchell, Alexander City, AL (Bronze Star "V")
SSgt Karol R. Bauer, Philadelphia, PA
SSgt John V. Chutis, Elizabeth, PA
Sgt Milton E. Prescott, Blue Island, IL
Cpl Bobby J. Ard, Tupelo, MS
Cpl William D. Early, Akron, OH
Cpl Douglas P. Hallock, Schenectady, NY
Cpl James Mines, New Brunswick, NJ
Cpl Robert J. Schley, Oregon, WI (Navy Cross)
Cpl Larry M. Smith, Martinsville, IN
LCpl Michael I. Colley, Birmingham, AL
LCpl Robert J. Kotik, Mc Kees Rocks, PA
LCpl Michael R. Morgan, Bethpage, NY (Silver Star)
LCpl Francis M. Palma, Philadelphia, PA
LCpl Peter Mazzillo, Avenel, NJ
LCpl Frank T. Roth, Philadelphia, PA
LCpl Marvin A. Schafer, Butler, KY
Pfc James A. Randall, Somerville, AL
LCpl Charles Shiver, Wichita Falls, TX
LCpl James H. Whisenhunt, Crescent City, CA (Silver Star)
Pfc George B. Byrd, Orlando, FL
Pfc Charles H. Duty, Bluff City, TN
Pfc Jerry W. Hood, Cincinnati, OH
Pfc Randy N. McPhee, Long Beach, CA (Body not recovered)
Pfc Peter R. Ommen, Central City, SD
Pfc Ricky G. Smith, Gadsden, AL
Pfc Dorsey B. Williams, Johnson City, TN
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Gravesite Details
ACTUAL BURIAL site:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146051518/danny-ray-brotz
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