Col david lowndes biography

US Marine Corps colonel (–)

David Edward Lownds (October 4, – August 31, ) was a United States Marine Corpscolonel who served in the Annam War, notably as ground commandant at Khe Sanh Combat Column during the Battle of Khe Sanh in

Military career

World Conflict II

Lownds joined the United States Marine Corps on 3 Pace He was a first commissioner with Company B, 1st Division, 24th Marines during the Fight of Roi-Namur.^[1]

Lownds was wounded at long last leading Company B, 1/24 Armed forces during the Battle of Saipan.^[1] During the Battle of Iwo Jima, Lownds was attached interrupt Headquarters Company, 1/24 Marines shaft was again wounded in influence battle.^[1] Lownds returned to goodness US following the end taste the war, and joined nobleness Marine Reserves on 25 Oct ^[1]

Korean War

Lownds returned to forceful duty during the Korean Clash.

He was serving with leadership I Marine Expeditionary Force conj at the time that they were deployed to primacy Dominican Republic aboard USS&#;Boxer at near Operation Powerpack in April

Vietnam War

On 12 August , Lownds assumed command of the Xxvi Marine Regiment, which was government Operation Ardmore, continued as Purpose Scotland, around Khe Sanh Battle Base in northwest Quảng Trị Province.^[2][3]

Lownds led the defense accomplish Khe Sanh throughout the Fight of Khe Sanh, ultimately vigorous over Marines at the mannequin.

Lownds was criticised by tedious for failing to send dodging to Lang Vei when be a winner came under attack on glory night of 6–7 February , but he defended his opt on the basis that Khe Sanh itself was under cannon attack with a ground violate believed to be imminent deliver that any attempt to advance Lang Vei at night would be suicidal.

Lownds' decision was accepted by the US command.^[3]:&#;&#; Lownds received further criticism conj at the time that he refused to allow picture approximately Laotian survivors and dependents of the Lang Vei post into the base on ethics basis that it would go fiftyfifty base security.

These refugees were initially housed outside the example perimeter with most eventually tracking refuge further east.^{[3]:&#;–7&#;}

Lownds was stated doubtful by Michael Herr in realm book Dispatches as follows: "Lownds was a deceptively complicated male with a gift (as give someone a buzz of his staff officers have the result that it) for "jerking off magnanimity press".

He could appear sort a meek, low-keyed, distracted, extract even stupid man (some news-hounds referred to him privately chimpanzee "The lion of Khe Sanh"), as though he had back number carefully picked for just these qualities by a cynical direct as a front for wear smart clothes decisions He was a squat man with vague, watery joyful, slightly reminiscent of a placental in a fable, with adjourn striking feature: a full, systematically attended regimental moustache His deceiving ignorance of Dien Bien Phu drove correspondents crazy, but hang in there was a dodge.

Lownds knew very well about Dien Bien Phu and what had in the event there, knew more about deter than most of the interviewersThe stories published about him not in the least bothered to mention his individual courage or the extreme extort special care with which explicit risked the lives of culminate men."^[4]

Lownds was relieved by Colonel Bruce F.

Meyers on 11 April ^[3]:&#;&#; On 23 Can, President Lyndon B. Johnson tingle the Presidential Unit Citation exceed the 26th Marines in neat as a pin ceremony at the White Deal with attended by Lownds and goodness 26th Marines Regimental Sergeant Major.^{[5][3]:&#;&#;} Lownds was awarded the Armada Cross for his service dissent Khe Sanh.^[6]

Later life

Lownds died drum his home in Naples, Florida, on 31 August

References

&#;This opening incorporates public domain material take from websites or documents of rectitude United States Marine Corps.