2,706 U.S. Marines and Sailors were killed in action during the Vietnam War while serving in the Fighting Fifth Marine Regiment. Their sacrifice is not forgotten. With your help, each and every one of them will be honored with a beautiful new Memorial Monument at the 5th Marines’ Memorial Garden, Camp San Mateo, Camp Pendleton, California.
This is a major undertaking. The monument will include the names of all 2,706 casualties and will offer a restful park-like setting for visitors. The monument builder is Rock of Ages of Graniteville, Vermont, the world’s leading granite quarrier and memorial manufacturer. Our goal is to raise the necessary funds ($400,000) over the coming months, with the monument dedication targeted for Memorial Day, 2017.
Any memorial monument to be installed aboard a military base requires approval by that service’s Chain of Command. This monument project has received initial approval and the “green light” to proceed with fund-raising efforts. If for any reason, this monument project does not come to fruition, all donations made will be returned to the donor.
Our project team includes the leadership of the 5th Marine Regiment, the 1st Marine Division Association, the 1/5 Vietnam Veterans Association, and the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group (a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization who, as fiduciary, are managing all donated funds in a secure trust fund.)
You can help! First and foremost, you can “pass the word” to family, friends and business associates, especially those who served in the Fighting Fifth in any era. We believe that any Marine or Sailor who served in the 5th Marines will want to see this mission accomplished.
And you can donate. We are seeking the $20.00 individual donation, the $50,000.00 corporate or organizational donation, and everything in between. We are confident that our veteran’s networks and friends of the 5th will have no problem raising the money to fund this project. The attached project brochure will help you pass the word and facilitate donations.
For more project details, images of the monument design, and online donations, please visit our website at 5th Marines Vietnam Memorial.
Should you have any questions, please contact me. We hope you will join our team and help us make this dream come true.
Semper Fidelis!
Steve Colwell, 1/5 Vietnam Veteran
Project Leader, 5th Marines Memorial Monument
3301 Celinda Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
stephenbcowell[at]gmail[dot]com
Nicholas Warr, Treasurer
1/5 Vietnam Veterans Association
P. O. Box 1117
Flat Rock, NC 28731
(828) 696-2388 office
(828) 243-8708 cell
5 comments
Is there a tentative date for completion of our monument?
Greg Smith
H&S 2/5 1969
Yes Roger, Would Like To Know, If FOX 2/5, Is Still Having A Reunion. I Saw It On Here 3 Years Ago, Now I Can Get There ! “69-70” Liberty Bridge NAM, FOX 2/5 REIN…. Now > No Matter What It Takes To “KEEP THEM ALIVE” ! 2005 D.A.V. Sr. Vice Commander, Chapter 80, C.P. In. A Libra, = CHICAGO So. Sider , 1968 Penn. R.R. B&B Supervisor, 1994. YES SIR, Every Day, The Right Way, All The Way, No Matter What They Say ! Today, GOD Yes or No ? Ha Ha, ( Veterans Crisis Line ) # is 1- 800-273-8255 .
I served with Echo and H&S 2/5 and HQ 5th (CO Col Anthony Lukeman) from ’76-’77 and ’78-’80 and we were at 33 Area, Camp “Mad” Margarita, Camp Pendleton. At the Regimental HQ in the Flag Pole “Triangle” were plagues commemorating the 5th Marines actions in WW I, WW II, and Korea. Did these memorials get transferred to 62 Area San Mateo when the regiment moved? I sure hope so, because I burned a lot of elbow grease polishing those plagues on field day. I was with 1/9 in May ’78 based at Camp Schwab when we retuned from our Float onboard the USS Denver (LPD-9) and relocated to the barracks at Camp Hansen that 1/4 had just vacated as they had just relocated to Twentynine Palms. It was the first “move ” of the new “Unit Rotation” program. HQMC had decided that it was better to rotate entire battalions than to move individual Marines for 1 year deployments to 3rd MarDiv Okinawa.
I was with H&S 1/5 from March of 1958 to I believe the fall of 1959. The entire 5th Marine Regiment was at Camp Margarita in Camp Pendleton, where it had been for many years. Now I understand the 1st Recon Bn is there. When I was with the 1st Recon Bn from fall of 1959 to May of 1960 we were at Camp Horno to the North. Even in 1987 when I made a visit to Camp Margarita the 5th Marine Regiment was there again. The fall of 1959 was when the Corps started its rotation of 3rd Marine Divn Regimental Battalions on Okinawa with 1st Marine Divn units at Camp Pendleton. Since I was too short and was not planning on re-upping at that time, I was transferred out of the 5th Regt. to the 1st Recon Bn as stated above.
Now I see that the 5th Marine Regiment Memorial is to be put in at Camp San Mateo. I guess I would have preferred to see the Memorial at Camp Margarita. But I guess the Corps knows better since they have changed everything up at Camp Pendleton. Will there be any mention of the 5th Marine Regt. having been at Camp Margarita for so many years prior to their now being at Camp San Mateo? Will the 5th Marine Regt. be sent to another location at Camp Pendleton in the future? Just wondering!
was in 5th marines, but in a whole new location, parris island south carolina during bootcamp. was 1972. lot of things happened while we were serving. would like to thank all of our fellow marines for having the honor to have served togetter. may god bless each and everyone that served.