The battalion suffered its first casualties from battle action on 13 October 1966
when a quarry site near An khe was attacked by an estimated enemy platoon.
the attack started at the end of the day as the security and work force
prepared to depart. The attack was well planned and timed. It resulted
in 2 U.S. KIA and one WIA. Enemy losses were unknown.

PFC WILLIAM JOSEPH COX
299th Engineer Battalion (Cbt)
23 year old married Caucasian male
Saginaw, Michigan
born: 22 October 1942
religion: Roman Catholic
MOS: 12A10 Combat Engineer
arrived in Viet Nam: 26 September 1966
date of casualty: Thursday 13 October 1966
hostile, died while missing
died of burns
body was recovered
Wall location: Panel 11E - line 72

SP5 DENNIS WALTER WATERMAN
630th Engineer Company (LE)
22 year old married Caucasian male
Logan, Iowa
born: 2 May 1944
religion: Latter Day Saints, Mormon
length of service: 1 year
MOS: 62E20 Heavy Construction Equipment Operator
arrived in Viet Nam: 25 January 1966
date of casualty: Thursday 13 October 1966
hostile ground casualty
gunshot, small arms fire
body was recovered
Wall location: Panel 11E - line 73
The quarry was named in his honor

(Kaoru Honda) served....in the Army....16 years of service... Nice guy.
Platoon leader in D Company. He was a native Hawaiian. I remember the incident. We were in the chow line, and Kaoru and several others loaded up in the back of a 3/4 to head out. The driver's sidekick apparently had his M14 loaded and off safety, leaning up against the dashboard, the butt on the floor. When the driver took off, the rifle fell back against the seat and went off, shooting a round into the back of the 3/4, killing Kaoru.
per Neil Reed D/299

SP5 KAORU HONDA
D/299th Engineer Battalion (Cbt)
39 year old single Mongolian male
Hilo, Hawaii
born: Sunday, March 11, 1928
religion: Buddhist
Regular Army MOS: 12B30 Combat Engineer
arrived in Viet Nam: Tuesday, January 31, 1967
date of casualty: Sunday, September 3, 1967
Non-hostile, died of other causes
Unknown / Not reported (Ground casualty)
Province: Unknown/Not Reported
Wall location: Panel 25E - Row 92

LTC DOMINGO IGNACIO AGUILAR
39 year old married Caucasian male
299th Battalian Commander
Ithaca, New York
born: 31 May 1928
religion: Roman Catholic
MOS: 1331 Combat Engineer Unit Commander
arrived in Viet Nam: 5 October 1967
date of casualty: 8 December 1967
aircraft accident
Kontum Province
Wall location: Panel 31E - line 62

Stony died Jan 8th 1969 on road between Engineer Hill and Big Base when rough
terrain crane lost steering. Stony was one of the kindess people I've met in a lifetime.
Homer Johnson             15th Egnr Co 10/68-5/69

SP4 GERALD DUANE STONEMETZ
15th Engineer Co (LE)
21 year old single Caucasian male
Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania
born: Sunday, November 30, 1947
religion: Protestant - no preference
Regular Army
MOS: 62B20 Construction Equipment Repairer
arrived in Viet Nam: Sunday, April 14, 1968
Date of casualty: Wednesday, January 8, 1969
Non-hostile, died of other causes
Vehicle loss, crash (Ground casualty)
Kontum Province, South Viet Nam
Wall location: Panel 35W - line 57

In March 69 a young kid named Russell (SP4) was fatally burned when a 5 ton hit a box
mine on a minesweep south of Tan Canh (below Dak To)...... He made it to the hospital
before dying a few days later.                     per Sgt Charles Rice A/299 (Feb 69-Mar 70)

SP4 RONALD PATRICK RUSSELL

20 year old single Caucasian male 4th Inf Div (attached to A/299th) El Cajon, California born: 6 November 1948 Religion: Methodist Regular Army MOS: 12B20 Combat Engineer arrived in Viet Nam: 14 July 1968 Date of Casualty: Tuesday, 4 March 1969 Hostile, died of wounds Burns (Ground casualty)

Kontum Province, South Viet Nam
Wall location: Panel 30W - Row 39
buried: 12 March 1969, Fort Rosecrans Nat'l Cemetery, San Diego, California

PFC Lavern Lamey and PFC Larry Lacaeyse....were both killed on March 5th 1969. If I am not mistaken, they were killed by sappers, at their perimeter guard bunker while on guard duty. ....They were infantry types [transfered or detached from the 4th Infantry Division], having arrived just a couple weeks before.
per Jay Gearhart, 2nd Plt, 15th engrs 299th engrs from the Dak To Days (1969).

PFC LARRY GENE LACAEYSE
15th Engineer Company (LE)
20 year old single Caucasian male
Reeseville, Wisconsin
born: Thursday, August 26, 1948
Religion: Roman Catholic
Selective Service Army
MOS: 62M20 Rough Terrain Forklift And Loader Operator
arrived in Viet Nam: Tuesday, December 17, 1968
date of casualty: Wednesday, March 5, 1969
Hostile, died
Artillery, rocket, mortar (Ground casualty)
Kontum, South VietNam
Wall location: Panel 30W - Row 46

PFC LAVERN MICHAEL LAMEY
15th Engineer Company (LE)
19 year old married Caucasian male
Milan, Michigan
born: Monday, November 7, 1949
Religion: Roman Catholic
Regular Army
MOS: 62K20 Grader Operator
arrived in Viet Nam: Monday, December 16, 1968
date of casualty: Wednesday, March 5, 1969
Hostile, died
Artillery, rocket, mortar (Ground casualty)
Kontum, South VietNam
Wall location: Panel 30W - Row 047

SP4 DONOVAN RUSSEL FLUHARTY
15th Engineer Co (LE)
21 year old married Caucasian male
Beaver, Pennsylvania
born: 25 May 1947
Religion: Presbyterian
Regular Army
MOS: 62L20 dozer operator
arrived in Viet Nam: 27 October 1968
Date of casualty: Tuesday, 20 May 1969
Hostile, died
Artillery, rocket, mortar, (ground casualty)
Dak To, Kontum Province, South Viet Nam
Wall location: Panel 24W - line 58

The following personnel of the 15th Engineer Company (Light Equipment) were killed at Dak To, Kontum province, South Viet Nam when the commo bunker they were in received a direct hit from a 122mm rocket on Wednesday, 28 May 1969. SFC Perkins died of the wounds received in that attack 12 days later.

SP4 FLOYD EDWARD BARBER

15th Engineer Co (LE) 23 year old single Caucasian male Franklin Ohio born: 11 April, 1946 Religion: Protestant Regular Army MOS: 62E20 Heavy Construction Equipment Operator arrived in Viet Nam: 18 June 1968 date of casualty: Wednesday, 28 May 1969 Hostile, died Multiple fragmentation wounds (ground casualty)

Dak To, Kontum Province, South Viet Nam
Wall location: panel 23W - line 5

1ST SGT DUDLEY JAMES BENEFIEL, JR
15th Engineer Co (LE)
36 year old married Caucasian male
Hagarstown, Illinois
born: 30 May, 1932
Religion: Baptist
arrived in Viet Nam: 8 March 1969
Regular Army
MOS: 12Z50 Combat Engineer Senior Sergeant
date of casualty: Wednesday, 28 May 1969
Hostile, died
Multiple fragmentation wounds (ground casualty)
Dak To, Kontum Province, South Viet Nam
Wall location: Panel 23W - line 51

SP5 JAMES STEPHEN COLOMBERO

15th Engineer Co (LE) 24 year old single Caucasian male McCloud, California born: 13 May, 1945 Religion: Roman Catholic MOS: 71B20 Clerk-Typist arrived in Viet Nam: 8 April 1969 date of casualty: Wednesday, 28 May 1969 Hostile, died 122mm rocket (ground casualty)

Dak To, Kontum Province, South Viet Nam
Wall location: Panel 23W - line 6

SP4 VALENTINE MARION DWORNIK

15th Engineer Co (LE) 20 year old single Caucasian male Detroit, Michigan born: 13 November, 1948 Religion: Roman Catholic Regular Army MOS: 44C20 Welder arrived in Viet Nam: 8 January 1969 date of casualty: Wednesday, 28 May 1969 Hostile, died 122mm rocket (ground casualty)

Dak To, Kontum Province, South Viet Nam
Wall location: Panel 23W - line 8

SP4 EDWARD THOMAS KIEZKOWSKI

Company Clerk, 15th Engineer Co (LE) 20 year old sigle Caucasian male Butler, Pennsylvania born: 5 August, 1948 Religion: Roman Catholic MOS: 36K20 Tactical Wire Operations Specialist arrived in Viet Nam: 22 September 1968 date of casualty: Wednesday, 28 May 1969 Hostile, died 122mm rocket (ground casualty)

Dak To, Kontum Province, South Viet Nam
Wall location: Panel 23W - line 9

1LT FRANKLIN LEROY KOCH
Company Commander
15th Engineer Co (LE)
25 year old married Caucasian male
Wheaton, Illinois
born: 22 June, 1943
Religion: Lutheran
Army Reserve
MOS: 0663 Engineer Equipment Officer
arrived in Viet Nam: 24 July 1968
date of casualty: Wednesday, 28 May 1969
Hostile, died
122mm rocket (ground casualty)
Dak To, Kontum Province, South Viet Nam
Wall location: Panel 23W - line 9

SP4 DAVID ROY MANN

15th Engineer Co (LE) 20 year old Caucasian male Earlville, IIlinois 13 September, 1948 Religion: Baptist MOS: 71H20 Personnel Specialist arrived in Viet Nam: 20 April 1969 date of casualty: Wednesday, 28 May 1969 Hostile, died Multiple fragmentation wounds (ground casualty)

Dak To, Kontum Province, South Viet Nam
Wall location: Panel 23W - line 10

SP4 DENNIS RAY MEETZE
15th Engineer Co (LE)
20 year old single Caucasian male
Lexington, South Carolina
born: 27 December, 1947
Religion: Lutheran
Regular Army
MOS: 64B20 Heavy Vehicle Driver
arrived in Viet Nam: 12 November 1968
date of casualty: Wednesday, 28 May 1969
Hostile, died of wounds
other causes (ground casualty)
Dak To, Kontum Province, South Viet Nam
Wall location: Panel 23W - line 10

We got hit with one of our regular 122 mm rocket attacks and a group of our folks were
standing by the runway at Dak To waiting to take a chopper south. They figured the first
round must have got them, since 122s travel faster than sound. Either that or the noise
of the chopper covered the "paper ripping" sound of the rockets. Killed at the same time
was an Air Force LTC who just happened to be there. He'd come up on a plane the day
before with an AF general to inspect the AF communications running the air strip. Some
how or other, the LTC got bumped from the general's flight -- and it cost him his life.
(He took one bit of 122 shrapnel in his heart. He had his flak jacket open. If it had
been closed, he'd have lived!) Both of these 299th casualties were in HQ Company.
1LT Trotter had just come up to Dak To a few weeks before from B Comopany.
He became the 299th adjutant. I met him one time, and then he was killed less
than a week later. SP4 Peonio was a legal clerk. I knew him fairly well -- a nice
looking young guy.                     per Sgt Charles Rice A/299 (Feb 69-Mar 70)

SP4 STEPHEN JOSEPH PEONIO
Legal Clerk, HHC/299 Engineers
24 year old single Caucasian Male
Denver, Colorado
born: 19 August 1944
Religion:
Selective Service
MOS: 71B20 Clerk-Typist
arrived Viet Nam: 15 December 1968
date of casualty: Sunday, 1 June 1969
Hostile, died
Artillery, rocket, mortar (Ground casualty)
Kontum Province, South Viet Nam
Wall location: Panel 23W - Row 39

1LT THOMAS MICHAEL TROTTER
Battalion Adjutant, HHC/299 Engineers
27 year old married Caucasian male
Carthage, Illinois
Date of Birth: Wednesday, March 25, 1942
Religion:
Army Reserve
MOS: 2110 Adjutant
arrived Viet Nam: 20 January 1969
date of casualty: Sunday, 1 June, 1969
Hostile, died
Artillery, rocket, mortar (Ground casualty)
Kontum Province, South Viet Nam
Wall location: Panel 23W - Row 40

SFC LUTHER RIVES PERKINS
2nd Platoon Sgt
15th Engineer Co (LE)
40 year old married Caucasian male
Shreveport, Louisianna
born: 2 February, 1929
Religion: Protestant
Regular Army
MOS: 62M40 Rough Terrain Forklift And Loader Operator
arrived in Viet Nam: 30 July 1968
date of casualty: Monday, 9 June 1969
Hostile, died of wounds received Wednesday, 28 May 1969
burns (ground casualty)
Dak To, Kontum Province, South Viet Nam
Wall location: Panel 22W - line 6

About 23 May 69 (if memeory serves me), we lost the 2d platoon leader and his RTO/driver. That was 1LT Gerald Wayne Cameron from Houston, TX -- a hell of a nice black guy who got drafted, trained as infantry, but got sent to Engr OCS. SP4 Monte Jones, 20 years old and from Sydney, OH was his driver. Monte'd also been drafted and trained as infantry, until ending up in the 299th. (The Army never trained enough 12Bravos and used to send us 11Bravos all the time.) Monte Jones was hit in the right thigh, the bullet tearing through his femoral artery. LT Cameron had almost made it to cover, when he saw Monte go down. He turned and ran to help him -- and took a bullet through the neck before he reached him. Without a medic around, Monte bled to death.
per Sgt Charles Rice A/299 (Feb 69-Mar 70)

1LT GERALD WAYNE CAMERON
2nd Plt Leader A/299
25 year old single Negro male
Houston, TX
born: 24 March 1944
Religion: Protestant
Army Reserve
MOS: 1331 Combat Engineer Unit Commander
arrived in Viet Nam: 26 August 1968
Date of casualty: Monday, June 23, 1969
Hostile, died
Multiple fragmentation wounds (Ground casualty)
Kontum Province, South VietNam
Wall location: Panel 22W - Row 117

SP4 MONTE RICHARD JONES
RTO/driver, 2nd Plt A/299
21 year old married Caucasion male
Sidney, OH
born: 1 March 1948
Religion:
Army Selective Service
MOS: 12B30 Combat Engineer
arrived in Viet Nam: 16 December 1968
Date of casualty: Monday, 23 June 1969
Hostile, died
Multiple fragmentation wounds (Ground casualty)
Kontum Province, South VietNam
Wall location: Panel 22W - Row 121

SGT ROBERT JOSEPH GLADU
20 year old married Caucasian male
St Louis, Missouri
born: Monday, 24 October 1949
Selecive Service, Army
Religion: Roman Catholic
MOS: 12B40 Combat Engineer
arrived in Viet Nam: Sunday, 15 March 1970
Date of casualty: Wednesday, 1 July 1970 hostile, small arms fire, ground casualty
Binh Dinh Province, South Vietnam
Wall location: Panel 9W - line 108

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page created 15 December 2000
last updated 24 January 2002 at 10:47 AM