Gary Glenn Margerum
Gary Glenn Margerum was born 4-Jan 1947. His parents were Horace G. Margerum (1914-1965) and Mildred Delores Werle (1917-2021). Gary had three siblings: Linda, Cheryl and Chris. Gary attended Normandy High School in St. Louis Count MO.
Gary served in the U.S. Marines and attained the rank of Corporal. He served in Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines in Vietnam, from October 1966 until October 1968.
The 27th Marines was activated during the Vietnam War on 1-Jan 1966. The 2nd and 3rd battalions were stationed at Camp Pendleton California while the 1st battalion was at Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii. During 1967, the 2nd and 3rd battalions were brought up to strength. After the Tet Offensive in 1968, President Lydon B. Johnson authorized an increase in U.S. troop strength in Vietnam and the 27th was one of the units sent. They became the first Marine regiment to fly into a combat zone.
Between 14-21 February, the rest of the regiment landed troops including Echo Company. With Gary in their ranks, they were deployed by sea and air from Camp Pendleton to Da Nang. Military Airlift Command planes flew more than 3,300 men of the regiment from California to Vietnam. By 17-Feb the 27th Marines headquarters, together with those of battalion landing teams (BLT) 2/27 and 3/27 opened their command posts at Da Nang.
During March, the 1/27th Marines remained in reserve while the other two battalions conducted over 2,900 small unit patrols throughout its TAOR (Tactical Area of Responsibility) resulting in about 310 contacts, 182 initiated by the Marines and the remainder by the Viet Cong (VC). At the end of March, 1/27th Marines were moved north to provide security of Route 1 between Hue and Phu Bai Combat Base and the protection of Tan My Base. Their deployment overseas put a severe strain on manpower in the Marine Corps and they were returned to the United States before the close of 1968.
In November 1968, Gary married Miss Karen Adele Stevens at Ascension Church. They lived in Florissant, Hazelwood, St. Louis, and O’Fallon Missouri.
For his service, in the Marines and Vietnam, Gary Margerum was likely awarded:
- Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
- Vietnam Service Medal
- Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
- Marine Good Conduct Medal