Menzies, Alexander John
Marines Lance corporal
Alexander John Menzies, age 20, from Wayne County Walworth, New York .
Service era: Vietnam
Military history: Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines
Date of death: Saturday, April 2, 1966
Death details: Silver Star citation: “Cpl Menzies’ platoon was pinned down in an open field by an estimated company (strength) of Viet Cong. When one fo the M-60 machineguns ran low of ammunition, Cpl, Menzies, with total disregard for his own safety, crawled through 20 meters of withering enemy small-arms and machinegun fire to obtain needed ammunition. Returning through the same hail of deadly fire, he carried the ammunition back to the machinegun, thereby allowing continued use of the weapon. Observing that his squad leader had been hit…he crawled into the exposed area and pulled him to safety. Returning to his machinegun position, Cpl. Menzies was fatally wounded…He gallantly gave his life in the cause of freedom.”
Source: National Archives, Democrat and Chronicle (1966)