Page 45 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2020- Online Magazine

MARINE CORPS
VIETNAM

AMARILLO

was a great flash, as Tom's body
rose with the explosion and then
fell to the ground. This inspired the
rest of the Marines in the convoy to
finish their vital mission. Tom was
18 years old when he died for his
country.
A year later, he was awarded the
Medal of Honor. Ross, Sr., Bobbie,
Roy and Ross, Jr. were invited to
the White House to receive Tom's
leader said of him, "Tom was Medal of Honor. Tom also received
proud to be a Marine. He a Purple Heart, National Defense
always did his job and had an Service Medal, Vietnam Service
unblemished record." He was Medal, Combat Action Ribbon,
promoted to Lance Corporal. Republic of South Vietnam Military
Merit Medal, Vietnam Campaign
Roy joined the Marine Corp in Medal, Pistol Expert and Rifle
1969 and served two tours in Vietnam. He died at the Expert. He was the youngest soldier in Texas history
age of 53 of the adverse effects of Agent Orange. Ross to receive the Medal of Honor.
joined the Marines is 1971 and was stationed in Camp
Pendleton in California. What a legacy of all three In November 2005, the Amarillo VA Medical Center
Creek boys serving their country! was named after Tom Creek.

On Friday, February 13, 1969, Tom volunteered to *HistoryNet.com
be one of six Marines who would
ride with and protect a convoy that
was to take supplies to the Vandegrift
Combat Base. Tom knew none of
them but knew that supplies, food and
ammunition had to be delivered for
the U.S. military personnel fighting
further north. Each of the six who
volunteered drove his own truck.
Tom was in the lead when they got
ambushed. They were on the very
dangerous Route 9 near Cam Lo
Resettlement Village. Tom jumped
out of his truck to take a position from
which he could return fire. The other
five stayed behind with the trucks.
Tom got hit in the neck. He began
running back towards the convoy.
While he ran, with blood running
down his neck, an enemy grenade
landed near the trucks. Tom yelled at
his fellow Marines, "I've got it, Mac!"
as he dove on the grenade. There

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