History of the Walking Dead
Walking Dead 1st Battalion 9th Marines have a well established legacy. When you look back at history the 1st Battalion 9th Marines was not active for long. When their time was called however they performed above and beyond the call of duty. The Marines deployed to Vietnam earned them the name Walking Dead. As a result, their legacy is etched into Marine Corps history.
The history of the Walking Dead is traced back to their formation at the end of World War I. On 20 November,1917, the 9th Marine Regiment was formed at Quantico, Virginia. The 9th Marines did not see combat during WWI because the Armistice Agreement signed on 11 November, 1918. Furthermore, the United States celebrated victory the military wide draw-down would begin. As a result, the 9th Marine Regiment was deactivated on 25 April, 1919.
9th Marines stationed in San Diego
On 12 February 1942, the Regiment was re-formed at Camp Elliot San Diego, California. The 9th Marines were attached to the Third Marine Division. They would fight alongside them in the Pacific Theatre against the Japanese during World War II. The 9th Marines participated in the battles of Bougainville, the Northern Solomons, the battle of Guam, and Iwo Jima. In addition, they were deactivated after the surrender of Japan on 31 December, 1945.
The 9th Marines reformed again on 17 March, 1952 at Camp Pendleton, CA. On March 8, 1965, the 9th Marines landed on Red Beach in South Vietnam. They were the first conventional ground combat unit in Vietnam. Especially relevant, the 9th Marines including 1st Battalion “The Walking Dead” would take part in all major operations in Vietnam. In addition, the 9th Marines were one of the most highly decorated units in Vietnam.
Walking Dead Medal of Honor Recipients
The citations of the 9th Marines include 7 Medal of Honor recipients. Two of them are from The Walking Dead, 1st Battalion (highlighted). The Medal of Honor recipients are:
Thomas P. Noonan
Thomas E. Creek
Wesley L. Fox
William D. Morgan
Alfred M. Wilson
John P. Bobo
Walter K. Singleton
Accomplishments of the Walking Dead
During the Vietnam War the 1st Battalion earned its nickname the Walking Dead by sustaining the highest KIA (Killed In Action) rate in Marine Corps history. From 1965 to 1969 the Walking Dead engaged in the enemy a total of 47 months and 7 days of combat in Vietnam. During that time 747 Marines and sailors were killed in action, with two missing in action. Furthermore, the KIAs would attribute to a 93.63% of the entire Walking Dead Battalion.
Walking Dead Platoon Photo
The Walking Dead Battalion would participate in a total of 44 major operations in Vietnam. Most notably:
– Deckhouse V
– Prairie IV
– Buffalo
– Kentucky
– Dewey Canyon
– Frequent Wind
The USMC “Walking Dead” Logo with Grim Reaper and Lighting Bolt
The Walking Dead uses the Grim Reaper with a lighting strike in the middle for their Battalion logo. The Walking Dead used the Grim Reaper as their Battalion logo because they were in the thick of war. In conclusion, wherever they walked “death” was sure to follow the enemy! So the Grim Reaper and a lighting bolt were a fitting choice.
Veterans of the Walking Dead from Vietnam
9th Marine Veterans
The 9th Marines stayed intact until 1994. They were again deactivated again due to budget cuts. They resurrected out of the ashes however. Later to have great Marines under its ranks. Most noteworthy, Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter. Also former Commandants General Joseph Dunford and Robert H. Barrow.
Although currently deactivated, the 9th Marines has forged its legacy in Marine Corps history. Much respect goes to the legacy of the warriors that laid down life and limb. Like a hungry lion caged we may some day call again on the 9th Marines. Lest an enemy tempt the sovereignty of our great nation and find itself on the receiving end!
First of all, these warriors deserve our utmost respect. They fought the good fight in the killing fields across the globe. In addition, many noteworthy men were forged in the 9th Marines. This is why Devil Dog Shirts is honored to compose this piece to capture their legendary history.
I was with 1/9 in Khe Shan for the siege in 1968, I was with Headquarters group and had a hooch next to the 155’s. Do we ever have any reunions?
Terry,
We appreciate you reaching out Warfighter! If you are a combat vet we have an organization that you would defintely be interested in. It is called warriorreunionfoundation.org Some good Marines I served with run the non-profit. WRF acts as a liaison in the coordination of effort. They even pay for plane tickets to fly everyone to the spot. You should go check it out brother! Semper Fi!
Sgt Wyble USMC (Ret)
hq@devildogshirts.com
Semper Fi Brother.
I was spared Khe Shan, but dewey Canyon was a lot of “fun”
1/9 68-69 USMC 68-75
E.C.
My father is battling lung cancer stage 4 from agent orange. He is going to Sloan bc the VA gave him little to no hope. We now have doctors willing to CURE him! He has Medicare Part A but no Part B until July. We are desperate to find 6 months of financial help as radiation and chemo are expensive. Any ideas? Thank you!
Of course. Create a GoFundMe page, then share on all Marine Corps veteran pages that you can find. I will post it and pin it to the top of Devil Dog Shirts Facebook Page for a week. You will probably need to get permission from other admins so you can post to more than one FB page. Devil Dog Shirts is still a baby compared to many military companies like Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children, RangerUp, or GruntStyle. So I would also try them out. As our page only has 130k followers, theirs go to a million. Thank you for reaching out. I will have your father in my prayers. I hope all goes well.
Semper Fi!
Sgt Wyble USMC (Ret)
hq@devildogshirts.com
Hello my dad served 67-69
He was from houston tx
Robert (bobby) George Watson
Anybody know him? Passed away in 2000. Thanks
Hello Andrew,
The only way you would probably be able to look up an old Marine is by their awards citations, if they even received an award. Other than that, the military does not keep a public database of all those who have served. This is due to internal force protection measures. We can not have a former enemy combatant targeting veterans and their families. Thank you for your interest in Devil Dog Shirts Andrew. Semper Fi!
Sgt Wyble USMC (Ret)
hq@devildogshirts.com
Want to get some, Hoo..rah !!
Sgt.Stanhope Mason III
1/9 1975-1976
Camp Schwab
The Walking Dead
Sgt Kevin L Murray
81 mm mortar platoon
H&S Company 1st Bn 9th Marines 1976-1977
Proud to have served!
One hell of a unit 1/9 The Walking Dead. Served with them 1975.
Stanhope “Stan” Mason III
THEY LEFT US AT THE END OF THE ROCK, “OKINAWA” THERE WE WAITED TO COME BACK TO THE WORLD.
Big Big Shout out to All Our Bro’s With 11th Eng Bn And My Very Close Grunt Brothers of 1/9 2/9 3/4 2/5 26 Marines
Leatherneck Square
All Along MacNamaras Wall
3rd MarDiv ICorp 1967-1968 CPL
I was with 11engs D company 1968 dong ha capt brinkley then with 3ed engineer with 1/9 semper fi brother
I served with 3rd platoon, Charlie Company from New Year’s Day 1969 until we boarded the ship for Okinawa. A boatload of Marines ready to leave that Hell!
Alpha Co. 1st Bat. 9th Marines, RLT -26 aboard the Duluth 1967 Vietnam .One HELL of a ride!
I too was on the Duluth 1967 Walking Dead, R.L.T.-26th
“We walked the Walk “
My Uncle was part of the 1/9 during Vietnam. He recently passed away and I would like to learn more about his service and any metals, awards he may have earned. I was told that he had 2 purple hearts but have no proof of this. What is the best way to find out more about him?
My dad served with 1/9 as NCO in Operation Prarje 11. His photo frquently appears on sniper sites and he is featured by name in at least two books. Howard J. Greene passed away 3.31.2019 at the age of 82. He was buried at Arlington in June 2019. He earned two Purple Hearts and one Bronze Star.
Hello, I was not in the Marines but a volunteer in 1967-68 at the 10th AirEvac staging center Andrews Airforce Maryland. We received all the wounded just in from Viet Nam that lived east of the Mississippi. Those that lived west of it went to Sandiego directly. There we made sure they were all stabilized then we would take them depending on their service to either Waler Reed or Portsmouth. I can recall talking to a lot of Marines from the 1/9 but can’t remember their names I just remember how young we all were. Thank you for your service those guys were something else.
Cpl. Rod.
Reporting…
Aco.1/9 75-76
2nd.Sq.Ld.
OUTSTANDING – Ooh-RAH
My brother was with Bravo Co. 1/9 2nd Platoon. He was with them when the outfit got ambushed in July 1967. I think there was 167 lost that day but, he survived with quite a few bullet holes. I was stationed in Quantico and he was flown into Andrews AFB so I got to see him that day before he ended up at Portsmouth NH naval base for 9 months. He passed away in 2012. It might have taken 40 odd years but that was finally took him. I was just wondering if any one might have any pictures during that period taken at Kae Sahn or Con Tien. Maybe he would be in some. He got in country in Nov or Dec 1966. His Name was David E King. He was a likable person.We miss him . Thanks,
My father Bobby Earl Jordan was one of the replacements. He arrived to B 1/9 On July 4 1967. He was wounded at Con Thien on Nov 7 1967 Operation Kentucky. When he was medivacted out there was one man left from when my father arrived. All the other Marines were replacements. That lone Marine Clarence Vernon Mobley was killed in 18 June 1968. He was killed while running to the aircraft to take him home.
my brother, bernie kappen e-5(sgt), was in the 1/9 from sep 67′ tp sep 68′. his 214 says he was in brovo co. he passed away on Oct 25,2009, 12 years ago today. i think about him everyday and especially today. he rarely spoke about his time in nam other than telling me “everyday is a gift”. never expected to come home.
My husband Scott R Swyck (Age 63),served with the Walking Dead in 1978 to 1981 (I do believe), he is trying to search for some of the guys he served with. I hear tons and tons of stories (mainly about a guy Named Mike Masters). I know it was peace time when they served but I feel it would be amazing to hopefully get him and some of the guys connected. If anyone one knows of any of the guys that served then and Stationed at Camp Pendleton who may know my husband. Please reach out anytime, I would love to hear from anyone. May God bless.
Thank You
Vicki
My Father, Ralph T Hinton III served as a navy corpsman in the 1/9 “last of the walking dead”. He died in 1999 in a car wreck and I want to know more about this. I can’t find his name anywhere online. Any help on how to search would be great thanks!
Gil Jenkins Bravo 1/9 1972-1977
I SERVED WITH 1/9 IN VIETNAM FROM OCTOBER OF 1967 UNTIL OCTOBER OF 1968 IN HEADQUARTERS COMPANY. I WAS AT KHE SAHN FROM WHEN THEY ATTACHED US TO THE 26TH MARINES I BELIEVE IN JANUARY ‘68 AND WHEN WE LEFT WE WALKED OUT OF KHE SAHN (CANNOT FOR SURE REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE OPERATION) BUT AFTER THAT BEFORE THEY RETURNED US TO THE REAR WE TOOK A WALK THROUGH HUE TO BE SURE EVERYTHING WAS SECURE THERE. THIS WAS NICE TO COME ACROSS AND HEAR ALL YOUR COMMENTS. SEEMS LIKE A LIFETIME AGO AND YET ALMOST LIKE YESTERDAY. WHEN I READ ABOUT THE FELLA WHO SAID “EVERYDAY IS A GIFT “ I COULD NOT AGREE MORE AND AM FORTUNATE TO “STILL BE SITTING UP AND SUCKING AIR”. SEMPER FI