San Marcos Daily Record: ‘An Ocean Away'
Mon, 2006-01-16 15:42 | 
talldavid
On April 4, 1968, a 10-man Marine reconnaissance team was sent out on a mission on Dong Ma Mountain in what was then the Republic of South Vietnam. They were to locate a North Vietnamese observation post on the south side of the mountain and destroy it. The Dallas Girl recon team made it to the top of Dong Ma the following day, but before they were able to destroy the observation post they were ambushed in a round of enemy fire. Twenty-three-year-old Second Lieutenant Donald Matocha was killed in the firefight and several other Marines were wounded. They radioed for help and CH-46 helicopter pilot Ron Gatewood and his team hoisted the men out one at a time.Read the rest...
Tags: 2nd Lt. Donald Matocha
Tue, 2006-01-10 13:29 | talldavid
By QUALA MATOCHA
Home at last. After missing in action in South Vietnam since April 5, 1968, the remains of U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Donald John Matocha finally came home to his family and friends in the small Southeast Texas town of Smithville.
Lt. Matocha...Donald,
You shall grow not old
As we that are left grow old
Age shall not worry you
Nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember you.
The lost Marine was laid to rest with full military honors Saturday. A crowded Smithville Recreation Center filled with his sisters and brothers, their families, extended families, military personnel, fellow Aggies from Texas A&M University and Gov. Rick Perry, also a Texas A&M graduate, gathered to say "welcome home."
Family Links
Tue, 2006-01-10 13:26 | talldavid
Matocha Family Links
- Rethlake Family
- ...your website here...
Do you know of any other family websites that we should list?