MORE ON BATTLE THAT CHANGED THE WAR IN VIETNAM
Have you heard about the Vietnam War Medal of Honor
recipient from Western Pennsylvania who was captured while working in the
Pentagon and held captive for decades in a rural hamlet in Eastern North
Carolina?
That would be Colonel Joe Marm, U.S. Army (Ret.). He shared his story with me recently, “My
date for a 1986 military ball in Washington was a farmer’s daughter from
Fremont, NC. By day, she was a
caseworker for Senator Jesse Helms.”
Basically, that’s how the capture began. In 1987, Marm and Deborah Yelverton were
married. In 1995, he retired with 30
years military service. The family moved
to Fremont, NC where they became involved with Deborah’s family hog farm
business, Yelverton Farms.
Now, for the Medal of Honor part – not as Pollyannaish as
the capture.
His 1964 diploma and degree in finance from Duquesne
University was just five days old when Joe Marm realized he might be drafted
into the Army versus starting his march towards Wall Street. “I went to Army Officer Candidate School via
the college option program, graduating in April, 1965. After completing Ranger School, I was ordered
to Fort Benning – rumors were, that was a sure ticket to Vietnam.”
The rumors were correct – by November 14, 1965, 2nd
Lieutenant Joe Marm and his Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 7th
Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) were engaged in
the first major battle of the Vietnam War – the Battle of la Drang Valley.
As a note, this battle was well chronicled in WE WERE
SOLDIERS ONCE…AND YOUNG, the best-selling book written by COL Hal Moore and war
correspondent, Joe Galloway – more on this later.
Marm picks up the story, “It was pretty quiet when we were
inserted, but it heated up very quickly.
One of our platoons was facing annihilation as they were cut off and
surrounded by enemy troops. My platoon’s
rescue attempt of the trapped men stalled in the face of heavy resistance from
a bunker filled with North Vietnam regulars – we started taking heavy
casualties.”
Excerpts from after-action reports tell more of that story
than would Marm, “Showing indomitable courage and facing enemy forces estimated
at regimental size, 2nd LT Joe Marm ordered the bunker
hand-grenaded. When that failed to
destroy the bunker, he personally fired an anti-tank missile at the
bunker. When that failed, he made a
30-meter dash through open enemy fire and dropped a hand grenade into the
bunker. That worked well, and Marm
eliminated survivors of the bunker with his M-16.”
Congress was even more succinct when wording Marm’s Medal of
Honor citation, “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the
risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in la Drang Valley, Republic
of Vietnam on November 14, 1965.”
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| COLONEL JOE MARM, US ARMY (RET.) MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT |
Marm fills in a missing point, “During the assault, I was
hit in my left jaw. The bullet exited
through my right jaw, it certainly ruined my day! By the grace of God, it missed my juggler
vein by an inch or two. I was airlifted out
and hospitalized for 90 days in the States.”
His Medal of Honor was presented by Secretary of the Army,
Stanley R. Resor, on December 19, 1966.
“I don’t know if President Lyndon Johnson was in town that day or not --
if so, he was keeping a low profile in regards to Vietnam.”
At his request, and after signing multiple waivers, then
Captain Marm returned for a one-year combat tour in Vietnam in 1969, during
which he commanded an infantry company in the field.
During his Army career, Marm completed the Infantry Officers
Advanced Course, Armed Forces Staff College, and earned a master’s degree in
psychology from the University of Georgia.
He also served as a Ranger School instructor and taught at West Point. He retired as a colonel.
As of 2016, the Marms have four children and eight grands. Two of their sons are in the Army. Deborah Marm serves on the staff of both U.S.
Congressmen Walter Jones and George Holding.
Per Joe Marm, now 74, “Deborah is a good Methodist and I am
a good Catholic – we also enjoy going to each other’s churches.”
From his travel schedule, it is obvious there are many
demands on a Medal of Honor recipient – such as the several hours he generously
shared with Bill Trivette, of the West Point Society, and me. “It could take
all my hours, but I am honored to wear the medal – I am just a caretaker of the
medal for thousands of others who served, many of whom made the ultimate
sacrifice.”
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| JOE MARM PATIENT, KIND AND ENDURING TO WOULD-BE WRITERS |
Don’t miss this part – Joe Galloway will be speaking at a
luncheon engagement sponsored by the West Point Society on June 1, 2016 at
Grandover Resort – Medal of Honor recipient Joe Marm will be in attendance as
well.
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| BEAUTIFUL HOME OF DEBORAH & JOE MARM IN TREMONT, NORTH CAROLINA |
Until seating capacity is breached, reservations may be made
at https://secure.west-point.org/wps-piedmont/luncheon/.
Contact Harry Thetford at htthetford@aol.com
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