Mortally wounded in action while on jungle patrol near Phuoc
Vinh, Vietnam
David Ray Gatton was born November 30, 1946 at St Mary’s
Hospital in Pierre, South Dakota to Robert Cecil and Maxine
Anna (Ohrmund) Gatton. He was the oldest of four children
with one brother Don and two sisters, Judy and Janet. David
received his education in Sully and Hughes county schools
and graduated from Harrold High School in 1965. He enjoyed
hunting and fishing and was involved in many activities and
sports while in high school. His favorite hobby was
restoring antique cars. In the fall of 1965 he attended
automotive technical school in Wichita, Kansas while working
for Beech Aircraft Company.
Pfc. David R. Gatton was drafted and inducted into the
Army on March 16, 1966. He received basic training at Fort
Leonard Wood, Missouri and jungle warfare training at Fort
Polk, Louisiana. His unit flew out of Travis Air Force Base,
California, on September 9th 1966, and arrived in Vietnam
Sunday morning September 11, 1966. Pfc. David Gatton served
with Company B, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, 1st Infantry
Division, located north of Saigon.
Pfc. Gatton’s brother, Don, wrote,
No one wants to go to war, David was
no different. He had hoped desperately to avoid duty in
Vietnam, but when presented with it, he faced the
situation bravely and uncomplainingly.
In a letter to his parents dated
September 15, 1966, Pfc. Gatton wrote, in part,
Things are a lot different over here
than I had imagined. I have come to the conclusion that
we are here for a worthy cause. I think if the people
back home, who are against the war, could see what it is
really like here, they would change their minds.
Later he wrote,
It is hard to imagine how poor these
people are without really seeing it. I’m glad I’m here,
if for no other reason than to find out how lucky I am
to live in the United States.
On the evening of December 28, 1966, Pfc. Gatton’s squad
was in an ambush position on a road crossing near Phuoc Vinh.
The patrol made contact with a large enemy company. During
the engagement, Pfc. David Gatton was mortally wounded by
mortar fragments. He was air evacuated to an Army hospital
where he died Saturday morning, December 29, 1966. He
received the Purple Heart and on May 23, 1967 was
posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device
for Valor. The citation reads in part:
For heroism in connection with
military operations against a hostile force: On December
29, 1966, PFC Gatton was a member of a patrol which had
set up an ambush at a cross road. Suddenly, the unit
made contact with a large hostile force and came under
devastating automatic weapons, mortar and small arms
fire. PFC Gatton unhesitatingly began to lay an intense
base of fire on the advancing insurgents, successfully
repelling several assaults. As ammunition became
dangerously low, the patrol began to withdraw where it
could call in artillery and link up with another fire
team. En route to the pre-selected site, the American
unit became violently engaged with another Viet Cong
force. Pfc David Gatton courageously elected to stay
behind and maintained a steady volume of deadly fire on
the insurgents until his comrades had reached cover. He
was mortally wounded in the process of rejoining his
unit. His extraordinary heroism and selfless display of
devotion to duty and personal bravery is in keeping with
the finest traditions of the military service and
reflect great credit upon himself, the 1st Infantry
Division and the United States
Army.
On November 11, 1967 the Government of South Vietnam
posthumously awarded Pfc. Gatton with the Gallantry Cross
with Palm and the Military Merit Medal. Pfc. David Gatton’s
body was returned to Pierre, South Dakota where his family
held his funeral on January 8, 1967. Internment was in the
Pierre Riverside Cemetery with full military honors.
His brother and sisters remember Dave with pride and miss
their loving brother’s smile and charm. He was a great
brother and will continue to be missed.
This entry was respectfully submitted by Cole O’Conner,
7th Grade, Stanley County Middle School, Fort Pierre, South
Dakota, April 14, 2005. Information for this entry was
provided by Don Gatton, Blanding, Utah, brother of David,
Judy Gatton, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Janet Livingston,
Lees Summit, Missouri, sisters of Pfc. David Ray Gatton.
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